DSM 7 - Plex Media Server - Release Info & Migration instructions

[ChuckPa]

Plex Media Server for Synology DSM 7 - Release

This document is to share changes made with DSM 7 and resolve any unforeseen issues before you attempt migrating to DSM 7 for Plex use

YOU ARE URGED TO READ THIS THREAD COMPLETELY BEFORE PROCEEDING OR ASKING QUESTIONS

DO NOT INSTALL Synology BETA software UNLESS INSTRUCTED.

This thread is a LIVING document. Expect it to change.

Synology’s DiskStation Manager (DSM) has undergone significant changes in version 7.0.

Many of those changes affected how Plex Media Server operates. We have been working closely with Synology to ensure compatibility.

Please read carefully all which follows BEFORE upgrading to DSM 7 and upgrading or installing PMS for DSM 7.

• DO NOT USE “Repair”

• DO NOT CREATE ‘PlexMediaServer’ username. The package creates it for you.

• DO NOT use the Package Center version. Package Center offers Beta which is no longer compatible. You must download Plex from Plex.tv/downloads.

• Do Not Panic if something doesn’t work.

• Ask if you have any questions BEFORE you start guessing or trying something.

• Share any other concerns or suggestions.

Some known limitations and cautions to observe.

1. Builds are are now available on the Plex Downloads page. Any changes needed to the package will be announced and supported in the “Issues” thread as necessary.

2. Plex Media Server (the application) and its data (your metadata) must reside on the same storage volume. PMS itself is only 250 MB of storage requirement and should not be a factor.

3. How PMS is administered on Synology has completely changed. We are working as quickly as possible to provide alternative methods for performing the same tasks as before (backup, restoration, migration, and database repairs).

4. We’ve automated migrating existing DSM 6 installations to DSM 7 (upgrade). You will receive a message from Package Center if it was able to automatically upgrade you. Most storage upgrades are instantaneous.

Summary of Changes

1. The Plex Media Server package name is now PlexMediaServer

2. You will need to grant permission for System Internal User - PlexMediaServer just as you previously did for user Plex. This change was unavoidable.

3. The user we run as is now is an internal system user called PlexMediaServer

4. For each share that you wish Plex Media Server to access, you need to go and set read/write permissions for the PlexMediaServer system internal user.

5. We have new install and uninstall options to assist with access to logs as well as starting over if required.

6. We no longer store app data in the Plex share (more info below)

7. If you had a previous Plex share we will guide you through the process of migration.

8. Packages are only signed when installed from Synology’s servers.

9. Plug-ins are not supported in DSM 7 at this time. Due to changes required for DSM, Plug-ins might never return. The known alternative method is to use Containers for applications like Tautulli

10. The plex installer now provides a Synology-style GUI for providing installation options. This same menu system affords options during upgrades and when uninstalling.

11. The GUI supports 8 different languages (based on your DSM configured language). We used the 8 most frequently used language by Plex’s customers. If your language is not listed and you feel it should be, please reach out to us and we’ll endeavor to add it (with your assistance)

New Package options during install

• Normal Installation (default for most)

• Install using Plex Claim Toke
  – Allows you to claim (or reclaim) the server should the credentials get damaged.
  – Also allows you to claim the server if it’s on a different network.

New Package options during uninstall

• Uninstall Only. Keep all existing files for future re-installation. (this is the default and retains existing DSM 6 behavior)

• Sign out and unclaim this server. Keep all existing files for future re-installation. This allows you to sign out/unclaim the server if you wish to reclaim it as another user.

• Erase all of Plex Media Server from this system. (Not Recoverable) This allows you to start over as a clean setup. No libraries or preferences will be retained.

‘Plex’ shared folder changes

Because the DSM data area storage structure has changed, we were forced to make some decisions. After discussing all the possible configurations out there, we came up with what we think is the best for everyone.

1. We’ve abandoned the Plex share. We access it one time, during installation, to migrate your existing Plex installation.

2. Once migrated, you are free to use the shared folder as you wish. You are free to remove it entirely.

3. PMS no longer is dependent on a Plex share and will no longer create one when installed on a system.

4. Effective PMS 1.24.2.4973, PlexMediaServer presents a shared folder for the purpose of backing up your metadata and for emergency repairs ONLY.

STORE NO MEDIA IN THE PLEXMEDIASERVER FOLDER

User Plex is no longer needed.

DSM 7 required the username to change. We therefore decided to use PlexMediaServer to match the package name.

As such, you are free to delete user Plex.

The Installer would have done this for you but no longer has any system-level privileges to do so.

CAUTION

Pay Very Careful Attention to instructions

Updated migration instructions with screenshots in next post

1. Uninstall the previous DSM package if still installed.

2. If you have a failed migration with all data still in the Plex shared folder
   – Uninstall & ERASE DSM 7 Plex app.. Install the package again Fresh.

Upgrade Instructions

Please read my next post - DSM 6 Migration Process

Synology - DSM 7.0 Release - Plex Installation (Not Operational) Issues

DSM 7 Release Issues Synology has finally advanced DSM 7.0 to Release status – Complete with more changes. In this thread we will focus and resolve any issues which result from the latest (DSM 7.0-41890) firmware. Reference to existing DSM 7 package features and migration instructions can be found here with the migration procedure beginning with the second post of the thread.: Read below and evaluate your status before proceeding.

AFTER UPGRADE IS COMPLETE

You will want to read this thread so you’re familiar with the updated structure which was released in PMS 1.24.2.4973

DSM 7 - Finalized Configuration (PMS 1.24.2.4973) - Release information

DSM 7 - Finalized Configuration (Packaging 2.0) - Release Information See below for updates Since DSM 7.0-41890 finalized, I’ve had time to digest everyone’s input as well as review what we ultimately ended up with in DSM 7.0 Looking at all the issues faced, there was one overriding problem which could not be solved – Plex’s data was not accessible from the GUI or other Synology tools such as Hyper Backup. An important issue for most was the data area could not be moved. It took some ti…

[ChuckPa]

DSM 6 → DSM 7 Migration Process

NOTE: Use the Plex package from https://plex.tv/downloads ONLY. Package Center is no longer compatible with Official Release DSM 7.0-41890 and above.

Use the following steps then continue below as is appropriate for your configuration.

1. Uninstall the DSM 6 Plex app

2. Control Panel - Shared Folders -

• Verify the Plex share is spelled “Plex”.
• If not - Rename it to “Plex-temp” and then back to “Plex” (How DSM does it) if necessary
• Certain older systems were created with the name “PLEX”.

3. Control Panel - Security - Set the idle timer to 65536 minutes.

• Restart DSM to make effective.

4. Now upgrade to DSM 7

• Setting the idle timeout ensures DSM will not disconnect you during the migration process. You can restore to the default value after migration completes.

5. Restart DSM 7 one more time before starting installation. (yes, it does make a difference)

6. Now begin installation.

Special consideration.

Due to a change which became effective in PMS 1.24.2.4973, once upgrading to PMS 1.24.2.4973 or above, lower versions of PMS for DSM 7 cannot be used.

• The storage locations changed and are not backward compatible.
• Sorry for any inconvenience this might cause.
• We are working with Synology to get them to update the version available in Package Center to avoid future problems.

DO NOT SHUTDOWN OR RESTART during this migration process.

Begin Plex installation here

1. DSM 7 required we change both the service username (Plex → PlexMediaServer) and the shared folder (Plex → PlexMediaServer).

2. The installer will expect the new username “PlexMediaServer” to already exist and have Full Control of the Plex share. It will not so the first attempt to install will fail.
   This is expected.

3. We will now give PlexMediaServer Full Control of the “Plex” shared folder.

• File Station - Right-click “Plex” → Properties → Permission tab.

• Click Create.

• In the username scroll selector, scroll down and find PlexMediaServer.

• Check the box to select it.
  

  

• Also click all three categories of permissions (Administration, Read, Write)
  

  

• Click “Done” to close the Permission Editor.

• Check the box to “Apply to this folder, sub-folders and files”.
  

  

• Click SAVE. Observe DSM applying the permission changes to the Plex share.
  

  

4. When complete, close the windows to return the installer page
   

   

5. Click DONE to start the installation.

• If there are no errors, Observe the installer processing your files and “Installing”.
  

  

• If the installer finds something it does not like, follow the instructions given in the popup window and try again.

NOTE: The amount of time required to complete “Installing” will be dependent on the amount of media indexed.

• The installer will require approx 3 minutes for each 1000 items you have indexed.

• The amount of time will increase if you’re installing PlexMediaServer on a different volume than it was installed on with DSM 6. This is because it must copy the files from one drive to another.

WARNING:

• DO NOT restart the Synology until after migration is complete. You will end up with a broken installation which might not be recoverable.

• DO NOT attempt to interrupt the installation unless you fully intend to start from scratch with your Plex installation. Interrupting will result in data loss.

MONITORING:

The installer keeps its status in the log file Plex/Migration.log

This is a sample of what you will find in Migration.log

Plex Media Server migration to DSM 7 started:  Sat Oct 30 15:26:16 EDT 2021
=== Sat Oct 30 15:26:16 EDT 2021 === Start: Change ownership
=== Sat Oct 30 15:29:45 EDT 2021 === Completed: Change ownership
=== Sat Oct 30 15:29:45 EDT 2021 === Start: Convert symbolic links
=== Sat Oct 30 15:34:41 EDT 2021 === Completed:  Convert symbolic links
=== Sat Oct 30 15:34:41 EDT 2021 === Start: Migrate Plex Media Server
=== Sat Oct 30 15:34:41 EDT 2021 === Completed:  Migrate Plex Media Server
=== Sat Oct 30 15:34:41 EDT 2021 === Completed:  Migrate Plex Media Server
=== Sat Oct 30 15:34:41 EDT 2021 === Start: Clean /volume1/Plex
=== Sat Oct 30 15:34:41 EDT 2021 === Completed: Clean /volume1/Plex

When Complete

When installation and migration is complete, you will see a final popup similar to:

[ChuckPa]

Please refer all issues here:

Plex Media Server - Synology DSM 7 Preview - Issues

Plex Media Server for DSM 7 Preview - Issues In this thread, we will discuss and resolve PlexMediaServer issues for DSM 7. Be advised: Any non-DSM 7 issues will be deleted without warning. Breaking out the discussion of issues into spin-off threads, provided all link back here, is welcomed. We want to keep this thread as clean as possible. Please report the issue, providing (as appropriate): targeted screenshots Log files (ZIP) The details for PlexMediaServer DSM 7 preview may b…

[ChuckPa]

DSM 7 - Set permissions for (Media) Shared Folders.

Often, when upgrading, changing permissions from Plex to PlexMediaServer is overlooked.

Sometimes, folders have mismatched permissions within them.

Here is how you remedy the problem.

That message you see at the end of installation is a reminder to you to go check and provides the instructions how to remedy it.

It may not address all problems but does address the vast majority.

1. File Station → Right-click the shared folder → Properties → Permissions tab
   

   

2. Create a new permissions rule for PlexMediaServer
   

   

3. Scroll down and select PlexMediaServer
   

   

4. Set Read & Write permissions
   

   

5. Apply to top level folder (the share) and all sub-folders & files.
   

   

6. SAVE

[ChuckPa]

DSM 7 - Set Plex shared folder permissions

IF migration fails with System error: 0, perform these steps

1. File Station → Right-click the “Plex” shared folder → Properties → Permissions
   

   

2. If no “PlexMediaServer” user is listed, Click CREATE
   

   

3. Scroll down the list of normal and system internal users to find PlexMediaServer
   

   

4. Give all Administration, Read, and Write permissions (Full Control)
   

   

5. Confirm “Full Control” and Apply to this folder, sub-folders and files.
   

   

6. Click SAVE. This may take a long time. Wait for it.