Changing server computers

[randolph_precise_ca]

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I have two problems, no doubt at least partially self inflicted.

I bought a new mini-PC to use as a server, and just set it up as a Windows11 running system with a couple basic apps and then installed Plex. My bad, I did not do any research on how to change servers before I started down this path, so I just connected the 2 external drives to the system, opened Plex, went to Add Library and added them. One drive contains all movies, the other half movies half TV shows.

First problem, because of a misunderstanding on my part about how to add them (and I forgot since the last time I did this) I added the two movie drives as libraries, so now I show 3 libraries - Movie, Movie and TV Shows. Is there any was to easily combine those two movie locations (D: and E:/Movies) into a single library, Movies ? This is the way it was previously.

Second (or maybe should be first), after some reading and finding the article on how to switch server computers, I now see I should not have done the above exactly like that or when. I believe the instructions describe a process of copying over a number of Plex files from the old computer first, and then “connecting” and adding the libraries locations. However, this ran for several days before I discovered it and seems like it kind got itself installed ok. Without a very detailed audit I don’t know how I could tell if all was ok.

So, any suggestions on what to do at this point? Just leave the new install alone and hope it all gets sorted by itself? Or should I go ahead at this point and follow all the steps in the article and copy the files over. It’s from this article Move an Install to Another System | Plex Support.

And re the first question, how to combine those two now.

Thx for any help, sorry for the noob questions.

[OttoKerner]

@randolph_precise_ca

Is there any was to easily combine those two movie locations (D: and E:/Movies) into a single library, Movies ?

Remove the second library.
Edit the first library, go to the “Add Folders” tab and add the second drive.

@randolph_precise_ca

now see I should not have done the above exactly like that or when. I believe the instructions describe a process of copying over a number of Plex files from the old computer first, and then “connecting” and adding the libraries locations. However, this ran for several days before I discovered it and seems like it kind got itself installed ok. Without a very detailed audit I don’t know how I could tell if all was ok.

This would only have been necessary if you wanted to bring over any and all metadata from your old server.
If you don’t miss anything on your completely fresh server installation, by all means continue to use it as it is.

[randolph_precise_ca]

Thank you for the reply Otto, and my apologies for the slow response, I got waylaid with a minor crisis.

The first sounds simple enough, I will do so.

On the second, I can see where some customizations and MetaD are missing so would like to bring that over from the old server. As I read through the article I referenced I the section entitled Copy Server Data From the Source System is too vague for me meagre knowledge. It says that, then there are some additional links on where to find them, but when I get there I find a large amount of folders and files, many of which don’t look obviously relevant.

Should I be copying all of them? Or just some, and if so do you know which ones, or is this explained in more detail somewhere else.

Note I am assuming that even at this somewhat advance stage it would be ok to just copy the old server files to the new server, then fire it up and let it digest for a while. Or not?

Appreciate the help so far….

[OttoKerner]

@randolph_precise_ca

but when I get there I find a large amount of folders and files, many of which don’t look obviously relevant.

These are the innards of Plex server. They are not supposed to be intuitively understood by end users.
The point is to copy the whole Plex data folder over to the new machine, replacing what the new server has put in there so far.
The process can take hours, depending on how many media you have.
If you know the command line, you can use robocopy which is included in Windows.

Neither the old, nor the new Plex server software must be running during the copy process. If they do, the copy will fail and you end up with a damaged database.

If you have a lot of media which cannot be matched, and where you added your own metadata, you want to ensure that:
All media files should be accessible under the exact same drive letter and folder path, as they were on the old server.
See how you change a storage drive’s letter in Windows: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/storage/disk-management/change-a-drive-letter

[randolph_precise_ca]

Slow again, but got it all done. Small glitch because external drives (all my media) reassigned themselves (drive letters changed) when I plugged in the drive containing the transferred Plex Media Files. So then a bunch of movies & TV shows showed Unavailable. Pretty quick to diagnose and fix in Manage Libraries. So at the moment, as far as I can tell with some moderate exercising of the new setup, is that all is good. Moving the Installation process worked as described.

Thank-you very much Otto for your prompt responses and patience. Much appreciated.