When I first installed Plex server I installed it onto my system (running windows 10). I had content hard drives on other computers spread around the house network on other computers.
I now have the opportunity to repurpose one of the computers and make it available just to run Plex and have all my media content on that one system consisting on a few large capacity hard drives.
Would it be easier just to repurpose that system, adding all the content hard drives onto the larger capacity ones and re-install Plex onto that computer or migrate the existing setup?
Also, by doing this I am concerned that the plex app on my LG smart TV (wireless network access won’t be able to find the new set up, or does it search for it?
Thanks for any advice
James
The first thing to consider is if you want to keep your viewing stats, upcoming episodes, on deck movies etc, in that case it’s better to transfer the installation to the new machine. Once Plex is on the new server you’ll have your library with all files missing because you probably don’t have the remote drives anymore. Just disable automatic trash empty and library cleanup and add the new folders to the library. Since the movies are the same and the file names are the same, all media should be “collated” to the entries in the existing library. You’ll have all your movies with a “2” number on top. Now clean up the library to get rid of the missing files entries and you’ll have all your movies back without duplicates.
I am not bothered about keeping the viewing stats and upcoming episodes etc. The server has only been going a couple of weeks and the only things watched has been Game Of Thrones and a few movies. so I reckon that a fresh install would be better.
My main worry is that the Plex app on the LG TV won’t find the new install
Just start over - it’ll be quicker in the long run and save a few gray hairs until later - when they show up with the ‘wild’ ones growing out of every nook and cranny.
If your LG goes blind - do this:
Now would be an excellent time to bring all your material into compliance so you won’t have to worry about ‘matching issues’:
https://support.plex.tv/hc/en-us/categories/200028098-Media-Preparation
Paying particular attention to:
https://support.plex.tv/hc/en-us/articles/200220687-Naming-Series-Season-Based-TV-Shows
Because there is virtually ZERO wiggle room in TV Show Libraries.
If you do a clean install the only issue will be re-indexing your library. If this is not a problem I don’t think you’ll have issues making the Plex app recognize the new server. Just avoid using the same server name, not that it won’t work, but it’s easier to tell who’s who if the two servers have different names
