Backing up Server Poster Thumbnail Art

[rusty2187]

Hi - I am new to Plex Sever. I have several files that I want to add/match poster thumbnails to all my movie files to, but I am concerned that my media server computer is old and may fail in the next year or two. All my files are on external hard drives, but I don’t want to spend hours adding Thumbnail art only to lose it all if my server computer dies. Is there a good way to backup all my work so that if the server computer dies I can add the external drives to a new computer and still have all the poster thumbnail matching/adding intact?

[FordGuy61]

Plex Docs → Your Media
→ Local Media Assets – Movies
→ Local Media Assets – TV Shows

You can add the artwork to the same folder as the media.

Plex Docs → Advanced Topics
→ Backing Up Plex Media Server Data
→ Move an Install to Another System

You can also regularly backup your Plex Data Folder. If / when your current server dies (or you replace it), you can move the Plex media folder to the new system.

[FordGuy61]

You can also use WebTools-NG to export existing posters and art. It can run on a different host than your Plex Media Server. Click on Assets to see available downloads.

I ran a quick test with WebTools installed on my Windows 10 desktop. I was able to export artwork/posters to my PC from my Plex Media Server running on Ubuntu.

See the link below. You can setup a custom export. Drag the desired fields from Available to Custom.

The Wiki link on the GitHub page has additional information on installation, configuration, etc.

WebTools-NG

Posters are still there. It’s xls export that’s disabled, as well as export from photo library First parameter starts with an ? and not an ´&` So correct line would be: {MY-PMS-IP-HERE}:32400/library/metadata/124552/thumb/1649212325?X-Plex-Token={MYTOKENHERE} All of it Edit: And forgot… To export posters and or art, use a custom level like: [image]

[rusty2187]

Thank you FordGuy61.
So if you backup your media server, and the server dies, if you put the backup data on the new server and attach your external hard drive with your files will it remember all the links between your poster icons and your files? or would you have to manually relink the poster images to the files again? When you edit a poster preference and add the artwork, do those images go to the same folder as the media?
Sorry, I am such a novice on this I am not sure I am even asking the right questions.

[FordGuy61]

@rusty2187

So if you backup your media server, and the server dies, if you put the backup data on the new server and attach your external hard drive with your files will it remember all the links between your poster icons and your files?

Yes. It is not as simple as just moving a tar/zip file. There are other steps involved. They are covered in the “Move an Install…” document linked in my prior post.

@rusty2187

When you edit a poster preference and add the artwork, do those images go to the same folder as the media?

If you edit a movie (pencil icon) and upload a picture (drag & drop, enter url), the picture is stored in the Plex Data Folder, not in the folder with the media. The Plex Data Folder contains the database, metadata, artwork, etc for the media on your Plex Media Server.

If desired, you can place the poster, etc in the same folder as the movie or TV show. The process is covered in the “Local Media Assets…” documents linked in my prior post. The artwork will stay in the folder with the media instead of being added to the Plex Data Folder.

[rusty2187]

This is very helpful. Thank you.
So, just to make sure I understand correctly if can back up my data (for Windows) by:

1. Coping my plex media server file to a backup external hard drive
2. Export the registry info to a backup external hard drive

Then if my computer dies, I can restore all the settings, poster art links, etc. by:

1. Installing the Plex Server Software on the new computer
2. Replacing the plex media server file on the new computer with the backup file I created on my external hard drive
3. Import the Registry Setting to the new computer from file registry file backup I created on my external hard drive

Does that pretty much cover the process? Also, I am guessing my external hard drive(s) would have to be named with the same letter that they showed on the previous computer (external dive labeled as “E” on the old computer would have to be named as the “E” drive on the new computer etc).

That doesn’t sound too difficult (although it would be nice to have a one click “backup button” with the Plex program). If I am missing an important step int eh process please let me know and thanks again.

[FordGuy61]

That’s the process. Just follow the support document step by step.

You need to stop Plex Media Server before making a backup of the Plex Data Directory. The database files need to be closed when making the backup.

@rusty2187

Also, I am guessing my external hard drive(s) would have to be named with the same letter that they showed on the previous computer

Easier, but not required. The part in the support document about editing libraries on the new server is in case the drive letter changes on the new server.

If the drive letter changes, be sure not to empty the trash, either manually or automatically, before adding the new paths to your libraries. ← This is why step 1 is to disable emptying of trash automatically after a scan.

[rusty2187]

Excellent! This has helped so much! Thank you so much for providing your expertise on this