Can't install update 1.18.5.2260 when plex user is not the owner

[thedavix]

Hi,

I am running plex (1.18.4.2171) with another owner than the standard plex user since always and never had any issue upgrading plex.
However, today trying to update to 1.18.5.2260, I got the following error

Preparing to unpack plexmediaserver_1.18.5.2260-056ab4be9_amd64.deb ...
Removed /etc/systemd/system/multi-user.target.wants/plexmediaserver.service.
PlexMediaServer install: Pre-installation Validation.
**PlexMediaServer install: Error:  "/var/lib/plexmediaserver/Library/Application Support" is not owned by "plex", UID: 112.  Found "myuser" UID: 1000 .  Please correct before continuing.**
dpkg: error processing archive plexmediaserver_1.18.5.2260-056ab4be9_amd64.deb (--install):
 new plexmediaserver package pre-installation script subprocess returned error exit status 1
Created symlink /etc/systemd/system/multi-user.target.wants/plexmediaserver.service → /lib/systemd/system/plexmediaserver.service.
Processing triggers for libc-bin (2.27-3ubuntu1) ...
Errors were encountered while processing:
 plexmediaserver_1.18.5.2260-056ab4be9_amd64.deb

I see in the changelog the following entry
(Ubuntu/Debian) Improve installation in non-standard environments.

I guess it might be related to this, but in my opinion, it is not such an improvement.

Any feedback?
David

[pl_5309]

Create an override.conf file.

Linux Tips

Customizing your Plex configuration on systemd based systems This information is intended for those systems where cat /proc/1/comm returns systemd. On systems which use Systemd (Ubuntu 16+, Fedora, Centos 7, Debian 8,) you create this customization file which SystemD reads prior to launching PMS. This file is independent of the default configuration and service control mechanisms in /lib/systemd/system/plexmediaserver.service. Your customization override is preserved across updates, uninstal…

[ChuckPa]

David,
If you refer to the Plex Media Server installation update issues thread, you’ll find that there is a condition where PMS is legitimately configured without being owned by username plex. That condition has been reduced to a Warning.

In the above text message from Preinstallation verification, it’s telling you it didn’t find any trace of ownership change from user plex to myuser.

I am interested in understanding your configuration and what it is misunderstanding about your configuration. It should have found and digested your systemd override.conf file.

Can you share a bit about how you have PMS configured?

[thedavix]

Hi Chuck,

A couple of years ago I found a tutorial to change the plex user and had the following configuration until today.

1. I had a local.conf file (/etc/systemd/system/plexmediaserver.service.d/local.conf) containing the following lines

[Service]
User=
User=myUser
Group=
Group=myUser

2. Assigned my user as owner of /var/lib/plexmediaserver/

sudo chown -R myUser:myUser /var/lib/plexmediaserver/

However, following Tiebierius’ post, I looked up the override.conf file and applied this solution.
Therefore, I removed the local.conf, added a override.conf

# Identify this as a service override
[Service]

#  These values are only needed if you wish to change user & group
User=myUser
Group=myUser

I left myUser as the owner of the /var/lib/plexmediaserver/ as I tried to change the owner as plex user but plex wasn’t starting due to read/write issues, I hope this is correct.

Reloaded systemctl and restarted plex server, I was now able to update plex successfully.
So it’s all good now.

Thanks

[ChuckPa]

David,

Confirm for me please?

1. /etc/systemd/system/plexmediaserver.service.d/local.conf did not work
2. /etc/systemd/system/plexmediaserver.service.d/override.conf did work
3. Which distro & version this is ?

As for setting ownership of all directories and files under PLEX_MEDIA_SERVER_APPLICATION_SUPPORT_DIR (/var/lib/plexmediaserver/Application Support) to be the User= and Group= values is a required step.

[thedavix]

Hi Chuck

1. Correct
2. Correct
3. Ubuntu 18.04.3 LTS (GNU/Linux 4.15.0-74-generic x86_64)

Hope this helps and thanks for confirming user/group ownership.

[ChuckPa]

David,
Then good. I will need tighten up on the allowed .conf files.

I was trying to be generous and retain backward compatibility by accepting the *.conf file found (provided there is only 1 file present in plexmediaserver.service.d.

It seems that systemd has advanced a bit and I need check again how each of the distros handle it. When this was first written, they did allow local.conf but now that appears to have been deprecated. Before I change to reflect that, I want to be certain I’m in sync with what should be.