Cannot Find Server (no preferences.xml)

Plex Media Server Desktops & Laptops
1

I managed to wreck the preferences.xml file and subsequently just wiped out everything in the path /var/lib/plexmediaserver/Library/Application Support/

Obviously I should not have done that.
The messaging upon trying to connect says:
“A server could not be found. Download and install Plex Media Server, and it will appear here.” but I’ve completely reinstalled the software pkg, but still the server cannot be found.

I read some posts for suggestions but many don’t apply or didn’t help.
I tried to logon via http://127.0.0.1:32400/web/index.html but it won’t. “Firefox can’t establish a connection to the server at 127.0.0.1:32400.”
logs.txt (25.0 KB)

I believe I’ve attached the logs and hopefully that is helpful.
Thanks in advance.

2

I have located what I suppose to be all the deleted files and folders from /var/lib/plexmediaserver/Library/Application Support/ and have restored them.
But I still cannot sign into the server.
Neither http://127.0.0.1:32400/web/index.html or http://localhost:32400/web but it won’t.
“Firefox can’t establish a connection to the server at …” error messages.
I’ve dropped the firewall to test it. No help.
It should have nothing to do with Ports as I’ve changed nothing there and besides, I checked again the settings and the port is still open.

Got to be some way to get this all restored and working. Anyone?

3

Where did you restore them from? The trash?

Not knowing what you actually have, I will assume this is the case.
I also assume the browser is running on the same machine as the server. If this isn’t the case, please advise.

  1. sudo sh
  2. systemctl stop plexmediaserver
  3. chown -R plex:plex /var/lib/plexmediaserver
  4. find /var/lib/plexmediaserver -type d -exec chmod 755 \;
  5. find /var/lib/plexmediaserver -type f -exec chmod 644 \;
  6. cd "/var/lib/plexmediaserver/Library/Application Support/Plex Media Server"
  7. mv Preferences.xml Preferences.xml.save
  8. systemctl start plexmediaserver
  9. In terminal Window, open http://127.0.0.1:32400/web
  10. Be greeted by the sign-in and Got It windows
  11. Now observe the setup wizard helping you setup a new server. – This is expected.
  12. Proceed setting up a new server – EXCEPT – Do not create new Library sections
  13. SKIP creating new sections. Your existing will be waiting
  14. Continue through setup until you arrive at the Dashboard
  15. Settings - Devices - Servers
  16. Look for the old instance of the server and this new one. Remove the old one.
4

EXCELLENT! Here I had to make this change:

    1. find /var/lib/plexmediaserver -type d -exec chmod 755 {} \ ;

Without the brackets at the end it was crying “chmod: missing operand after ‘755’”
But I found that answer and it seems to have worked, so I followed the same convention on this line.

    1. find /var/lib/plexmediaserver -type f -exec chmod 644 {} \ ;

Got down to the last two steps and it’s a little different, but Settings, Authorized Devices, I didn’t see an old instance but there is the new one there now!

    1. Settings - Devices - Servers
    1. Look for the old instance of the server and this new one. Remove the old one.

But all seems to have went well as far as I can tell.
So Im sitting in the browser here : http://127.0.0.1:32400/web/index.html#!/settings/devices/all
On the left is the settings choices, and I see the server name I defined (same as before)
Has a green circle with a padlock on it next to the server name.
However if I click onto the Home Icon the browser shows

There was an unexpected error loading the dashboard
Please visit our forums if you continue to experience problems

Don’t want to mess it up so afraid to poke around. :wink:

5

I should perhaps add that I DO see all the library names that I defined previously under Libraries on the left side of the screen. But if I choose any one of them, the same error panel about the dashboard results. I did go that much further and wanted to be sure to mention in case it matters.

6

Thanks for catching my {} omission! That would have been awkward :man_facepalming:

To confirm what Plex.tv thinks it knows about your servers (or lack thereof), go to Plex.tv , and Launch the Plex-hosted web app.

It should return with the same information.

Back to running from http://127.0.0.1:32400/web

On the left is the settings choices, and I see the server name I defined (same as before)
Has a green circle with a padlock on it next to the server name.

At this point, I don’t think we’re easily going to be able to pull this off. This is one of those cases where “Premium Support” and someone like me getting hands-on could get it done but Forum-level isn’t working out.

This said,

  1. Stop Plex
  2. cd /var/lib/plexmediaserver
  3. sudo mv Libfrary Library.old
  4. Start Plex
  5. Setup a full new instance.

after you’ve got everything done, we can transfer your watched list to the new install.

7

It’s a coup! :smile:
Nice job! All seems to be working properly at this point.
Once I logged in and accessed by the http://plex.tv/ link and logged into https://app.plex.tv/desktop#, I saw all the libraries pop in with the same last watched, etc. all looking good.
But it still wouldn’t show me anything via http://127.0.0.1:32400/web
But b/c I’m an old DOS baby that can’t get over it, I logged out and rebooted things.
Back into http://Plex.tv signed in and this time directly to http://127.0.0.1:32400/web and voila! All is revealed there as well now. Switched back to https://app.plex.tv/desktop# and all looking good there still. I think it’s a winner!
You surely have great karma. Thanks so much!

8

I grew up when “Phosphor Green” was the color LOL

9

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