Updated original post to reflect the collaborative input throughout this thread. Anything else we might have missed, please call out now while we enjoy developer focus on backup/restore.
Huge thanks to development team for these first backup implementations!
the new PMS has an option "backup database every three days". Is this what we've been looking for ?
It’s a start, but if you see the wish list from first post of this thread there are still a few items outstanding. Thus I have crosslinked this thread from the announcement thread hoping to attract developer attention to the currently still missing items…
-y1
Boom! Searching for threads before posting works!!!
Implement this! Please!!
yeah, but reading before posting doesn't ? is it broken? ...^^
Like i said one post before, its already implemented.
Maybe a restore function is missing. but thats all.
Show me where I can do a full backup or schedule a full backup of all PMS related data to another folder/drive and when something happens and you have to reinstall PMS, the option to restore from backup all sources/folders/meta data/user watched/unwatched in one simple package?
The PMS backup currently implemented is basic at best and will hopefully lead to this!
Maybe you should read before jumping down my throat! This doesn’t exist and is what the OP of this thread has requested!
lol...
Settings -> Server -> Scheduled Tasks ... There is an option for the Time you want to take actions and an field for your backup-folder-path ... and yes, it includes just everything of the Plex-Database ... like "all sources/folders/meta data/user watched/unwatched"
Like i said, a restore function would be great. but still, thats all. whats your problem? :)
Like i said, a restore function would be great. but still, thats all. whats your problem? :)
i really don't understand what you are meaning..
In summary, these functions would be highly useful:
backup(all, or just seen/unseen-status)- DONE
restore / migrate (manual restore-button of allor just seen/unseen-status) - DONE
change section path (useful when migrating from one server to another or changing mount-point) - DONEstore/read metadata to media folder (for easier migration)- Double-Request - it's the same as above - DONE
Override default backup location-DONE
Autobackup every X hours - DONE (every 3 Days)
Just like the Plex-Devs, i don't see any reason for only backing up seen/unseen status ...
So again, whats your problem?
I would say this thread can be closed - because the initial request is already implemented. If you want something else/further , you should make another thread.
Or maybe you should explain what you mean. Not just saying "I want what the Topic-Starter said" , which is, again, already implemented.
But it’s not.
https://support.plex.tv/hc/en-us/articles/201553286-Scheduled-Tasks
In the red warning on that page it states the backup does not backup meta data.
https://support.plex.tv/hc/en-us/articles/201539237
Everything in that second link should be under an automated backup procedure. With a simple restore function upon installing PMS. Maybe even as an option to be asked during installation if the user wishes to restore a previous Library/PMS.
If it needs a new thread. Sure. Happy to oblige. 
If it needs a new thread. Sure. Happy to oblige. :)
Why?
Your request is IMHO fully compatible with the OP.
And also note, that you'll want the settings backed up as well....
(Windows = registry, Linux=preferences.xml)
/T
ok. i didn't knew that the scheduled backup is kind of a "small backup" .. than , you are totally right. thats not what we requested.
but a topic like "scheduled backup as real backup/restore" would be take more attention to this issue.
because, i think, like myself, people think that the scheduled backup is already a real backup.
But it's not.
https://support.plex.tv/hc/en-us/articles/201553286-Scheduled-Tasks
In the red warning on that page it states the backup does not backup meta data.
https://support.plex.tv/hc/en-us/articles/201539237
Everything in that second link should be under an automated backup procedure. With a simple restore function upon installing PMS. Maybe even as an option to be asked during installation if the user wishes to restore a previous Library/PMS.
If it needs a new thread. Sure. Happy to oblige. :)
And what could be beneficial for some, but not in the OP, would be the following (If you after all should consider a new thread, which i discourage) would be:
An option to backup the database, just like now
An option to include the settings, as my above thread mentioned
An option to also backup MetaData, but in order to avoid it harvesting all avail diskspace, use rdiff-backup or siml. tool
An option to restore for novice users
/T
I was never going to create a new post. I was merely going along with snikay’s suggestion as I figured he’d soon realise once I posted the links that he wasn’t fully aware of Plex’s limited backup abilities.
My metadata is 50GB. I’m happy to have that in a backup on another drive and automatically topped up every few days. I’m not happy to redownload 50GB of data every time I need to rebuild/restart!
I don’t speak for anyone but myself. But users with PlexPasses aren’t only using Plex for one or two movies. They’ve curated libraries or media. Plex is a wonderful tool to give have it all at our fingertips. But when the unfortunate happens.
And it does!
We NEED a full backup option WITH full restoral function.
Rebuilding libraries isn’t fun. I feel for the guys with basic specced NAS drives. This sorely needed function would take the pain away with a simple scehduled daily task of protecting itself with a restorable backup.
Ouch, I didn't know that the backup didn't include the metadata. This is kind of a nasty surprise, although it would be a much worse surprise if I would have found out when I really needed a restore. I assumed (Yeas, I know I shouldn't do that) that the backup option itself new what was vital for a full system restore...
What is the purpose of the small backup from the webgui then? It is a file of 19MB (in my case) but what does it contain? Is it just a DB-dump of files and their locations?
Jaap
Ouch, I didn't know that the backup didn't include the metadata. This is kind of a nasty surprise, although it would be a much worse surprise if I would have found out when I really needed a restore. I assumed (Yeas, I know I shouldn't do that) that the backup option itself new what was vital for a full system restore...
What is the purpose of the small backup from the webgui then? It is a file of 19MB (in my case) but what does it contain? Is it just a DB-dump of files and their locations?
Jaap
It's a dump (backup) of the database, and that's all.....
Metadata is stored outside the database, and is as such not part of this
/T
i would really appreciate a statement of a Dev or a Plex-Ninja ... What the heck is the "small" backup function for ?!?!
i'm going to use cronjob again to backup the whole database...
i would really appreciate a statement of a Dev or a Plex-Ninja ... What the heck is the "small" backup function for ?!?!
i'm going to use cronjob again to backup the whole database...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ubw5N8iVDHI&feature=kp :D
The database is open, unless you shut down PMS before
The scheduled backup will back it up online, as well as truncate the WAL and transaction into it.
Use your cron job instead to move the backed up files offline
/T
ok... so is the small-database-backup like a backup of information - and than plex knows what to download again, to restore everything? or is it even less? i still don't get it really.. :D
"The database is open, unless you shut down PMS before"
so the PMS should be shutdown before backup? i didn't knew that.
The database contains metadata.
To see what, try this:
Select a movie from the WebAdmin, then press the "3 dot" icon at the lower left, and select info.
In short, it contains a list of sections, a list of the medias, as well as a list of pointers to downloaded art, posters, theme music etc.....
If you have a crash, you'll either need to restore your downloaded stuff, or restore from a backup you your self make.
And located in the Library/Media and Library/MetaData directories
/T
