I have done a lot of searching for what to backup.
seems only posts show backup Plex media server folder.
there should be a list of locations and what each does and what is required to keep a backup of to restore if files are lost or migrate without backing everything up.
the folders inside the Plex media server folder have tons of folders. like cache folders.
what exact folders and necessary and which can be ignored and let Plex rebuild?
is only Plug-in Support folder and Preferences.xml required? let Plex redownload the thumbnails and posters.
Depending on your library configuration (Mine for example) you don’t need to back anything up. I have my library configured that plex is able to re-match and download everything in the event of a catastrophic failure.
Depends on what level of backup you are wanting.
Rather than backup plex, which is hard to do unless you stop the server, I just use a program like Acronis and back up the entire server. Multiple times it has saved my life when something broke and it was just easier to restore the entire server to the state it was in the prior day.
I offer this:
- Prerequisite: You don’t customize your metadata after Plex downloads it
- Prerequisite: All your custom posters, etc, are located with the media
Then –
With Plex stopped (yes, this is required for the sake of the databases)
- Backup
Library/Plex Media Server/Preferences.xml(single file) - Backup
Library/Plex Media Server/Plug-in Support(Data and Databases)
Upon restoration,
- Media is in the same location(s) as before
- The Preferences.xml file restores your server’s identity / ownership
- The databases and data directories contain the essentials of your indexed content
- “Refresh All Metadata” will have PMS look in the previously defined media locations.
“Refresh All Metadata” will cause PMS to download all the metadata again.
Upon completion - Optimize database is recommended.
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