I screwed up really bad. My plex library was working, and then I did something, I don’t know what I did, but the entire library is gone. I was trying to set up port forwarding (I didn’t tpouch anything on the router) through plex and I made it so the server was insecure or something, and now it’s empty. It’s still on my nas- a Synology NAS DiskStation DS1520+ but I can’t seem to re-add any libraries. I’m frustrated and freaking out. When I open Plex media server from my nas, it opens http://192.168.1.152:32400/web/index.html#!/ and it says my home screen is empty. There is no option anywhere that I can see that allows me to add any libraries to my server. What am I doing wrong? Help!! Thank you!
Stop deleting stuff! LOL
I’m looking at Plex.tv to see what happened.
I see you deleting.
Please wait a moment until we figure out what happened
I see where you deleted your active DSM 7 server
That’s not a problem to recover
What’s the IP address ? 192.168.1.152 ?
I’m sorry! Yes the IP is 192.168.1.152
sorry for delay.
Did you delete the PlexMediaServer shared folder ?
If you haven’t, then we can easily bring everything back.
Let me know and then I’ll get Plex.tv ready for you.
No problem, sorry for my delay as well. I’m just so thankful someone is willing to help me.
No I did not delete the PlexMediaServer shared folder. Let me know what I need to do. Thank you so much!!
Given you haven’t deleted the PlexMediaServer shared folder,
We’ll trust its contents are still there and valid.
This step is a bit of a 
but will get it back for you
- Stop PMS
- FileStation → Navigate PlexMediaServer/AppData/Plex Media Server
- DELETE Preferences.xml
- Package Center → Uninstall Plex package – KEEP Files option (first button)
At this point, all the server metadata is there and we’re ready to create a new instance with the existing data.
- Package Center - Manual Install -
Manually Install the same version you just Uninstalled. - – HOWEVER –
- Use the Plex Claim Token option
- Click “Get Plex Claim Token” link
- COPY the token from the new browser tab which opens
- Come back to the installer,
- PASTE that token into the box
- Click NEXT NEXT DONE
At this point it will install the code again, find the existing server files,
and, most importantly, create a new server instance
(It will have the same “hostname” as your Synology … BE CAREFUL)
Open Plex/Web
Confirm you see the old and new.
Go into the new one and confirm everything is there.
Go to Settings - Server
Check & fix any preferences which got lost when we reset Preferences.xml
Let me know when you’re done.
I’ll make certain Plex.tv is all cleaned up
Ok I am working on this now, but one question so far- where is it keeping the files once I uninstall plex package? Sorry if it’s a stupid question. I am going to do the manual install now but I don’t know where the files are now that I uninstalled.
Thank you so much!
On a Synology, they do a really neat storage structure.
-
The first volume you create (Volume 1) is the base for everything (until you add more volumes)
-
They create a “AppStore” to hold all the programs you install.
This is where we install the Plex software -
What we do is create a separate shared folder “PlexMediaServer”
It holds all the metadata & media info because it can grow to be larger than would fit in the AppStore -
When you uninstall PMS, with the KEEP FILES option, you’re telling the package to keep all the PMS files in the PlexMediaServer shared folder.
DSM will still do its part and remove the programs but all your server’s media data will remain.
WOW, it worked!!! I see my movies and tv shows and music libraries again and they work. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU. That wasn’t even as hard as I thought it was going to be!!!
Now the next question i have is, when I first started up the server again it informed me that it is “insecure.” This is what screwed me up in the first place- I tried to fix that. can you help me fix that or should I hop on over to the correct forum for that?
And also it says that the library has an “indirect” connection. That’s another thing I’ve been meaning to fix. Can you help with that, or is that another question for another forum.
Thank you so much for your time, I truly appreciate it. You’ve been a lifesaver.
When you “start it up” (Open in Plex/web),
Normal operation is to communicate to port 32400 on the Synology.
When it can’t, it looks for another path.
Since we used the Claim Token technique, Plex.tv knew how to talk to it.
Plex/Web sends the requests (and gets replies from) to Plex.tv
This is “indirect” connection.
Because it’s indirect, it can’t be 100% secure (totally private on your LAN)
The usual cause of this problem (on Synology) is the Synology firewall
(Control Panel - Security - Firewall)
Do you have it enabled ?
Hmmmm. I checked about the firewall- I do not have it enabled on my Synology. Any other ideas? Thanks!!
I should add, I’ve never done anything to any ports on my router, I’ve tried and I don’t understand how to do that. I think that may be the problem? I have verizon fios, if it helps.
Next question –
Is your computer and Syno on the same 192.168.1.x subnet ?
Well I checked after googling how to find out my ip address, and it says for my computer it’s 192.168.1.156, so yes, I guess it is.
This is going to be something silly. (it ALWAYS is)
Let’s try:
- Open the web browser
- Now open http://192.168.1.152:32400/web
- When you see the Plex/web app load and open – This is a DIRECT connection.
Ok i opened that link. and I get the following:
Plex Web
would like to sign in to your Plex account
This application is at 192.168.1.152 and is not hosted by Plex. Continue only if you recognize this server and wish to grant access.
And a sign in option.
Yep… Sign in.
It’s not hosted by Plex because it’s your server hosted on your Syno
(strangely worded)
Ohhh ok. I signed in. Now what should I do? It says not secure at the top in the address bar.
Show me?
If it’s what I think — NOTHING to worry about.
Look like this?
Totally expected and ok. LAN → LAN by IP address. (there is no cert to secure it)
If you open https://app.plex.tv/desktop
Then the browser goes secure.
PMS is secure over HTTP because it’s encrypted inside that connection.
(double encryption isn’t beneficial)
