Can't get Plex install to move successfully to Volume 2 on DS920

Plex Media Server NAS & Devices
1

Server Version#:7.2.1.69057
Plex 1.29.2.6364

Recently had a drive on Volume 1 dying. Bought new bigger drives and created Volume 2. Moved all shared folders to Volume 2. The Plex app was still on Volume 1 (now running on a single drive).

I then followed this guide: (essentially following this guide https://support.plex.tv/articles/201370363-move-an-install-to-another-system/)

  • Logged out of Plex
  • Turned off the package in DSM7
  • Backed up the entire Plex Media Server folder
  • Uninstalled Plex completely
  • Reinstalled Plex
  • launched it and did a basic setup
  • turned it off in DSM
  • copied the backup folder to overwrite the new install
    Now when i go to ipaddress:32400/web, my browser cannot find anything

I have tried 4 or 5 times already and I now fear my original plex files may be corrupted after a copying error during install 3. I get an error when trying to copy the drivers folder.
Question: How do i export only the viewing metadata? I am ok with having the server rebuilding all of the files metadata, even if it will take a while, but I would like to keep the viewing data.

2

You can change the volume PMS is stored on in Control Panel - Shared Folder
(This works for ANY shared folder)

  1. With Plex stopped-
  2. Control Panel → Shared Folder
  3. Highlight the “PlexMediaServer” shared folder
  4. Click “EDIT”
  5. You will see which volume it’s currently stored on.
  6. Click the dropdown and change the volume.
    Screenshot from 2024-01-31 00-22-26
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  7. Click “SAVE”
  8. Wait for DSM to finish moving the data.

To get Plex back will take some more work.

COPYING the backup on top of the system is what breaks it.

All the files aren’t owned by PlexMediaServer anymore and need to be fixed.

Read through this. It’ll show you what you need to do to fix the PlexMediaServer shared folder.

3

Thank you for the quick reply!
I am gonna look into the FAQ you linked to, but before that, I wanted to check with you on the method you described. I moved the shared folder to volume 2 before the process i described here (forgot to mention it) but the app was still show as being located on volume 1. From what I understand there is no way around having to reinstall plex to move it to a different volume on synology.

4

DSM keeps packages and data (our server info) stored separately.
This allows us to move either as we wish.

To get plex to install where you want, you change the DSM default.

Package Center - Settings

  1. Change to “Ask me”.

Screenshot from 2024-01-31 00-59-31
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  1. Now uninstall + KEEP the DSM 7 Plex app (Your server data won’t be removed)

  2. When you next install the package, It’ll ask you were the executables should be stored.

5

I tried to do exactly that but it wanted to force me to reinstall it on Volume 1, telling me there already was an install on Volume 1 and refusing to do anything else but to install it there

6

My PlexMediaServer shared folder is on Volume 1

I install PMS on Volume 2

Screenshot from 2024-01-31 02-53-10
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DSM confirms to install on /volume2

Screenshot from 2024-01-31 02-53-32
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Installation successful

Screenshot from 2024-01-31 02-50-46
Screenshot from 2024-01-31 02-50-46754×569 46.2 KB

7

I unfortunately no longer have access to the error message but this was not an option for me. It refused to install on volume 2 after having been uninstalled from volume 1.

I have tried setting the folder and file permissions straight as per the FAQ32 that you pointed me to. Unfortunately, it does not work.
To get back to my original question, how do i extract my viewing metadata from the plex folder to import it into a new install?

8

This is a strange one, I left the plex install to its own device after having run the script and getting a failure when trying to access it. I came back to it 2h later, and it is now working. The other strange thing is that the server name is not the one i defined in the latest install.
Anyway, it seems to be restoring the viewing metadata and has most of the files, so i am gonna take this as a win.
Thank you for the help!

9

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