I have multiple servers that share a common media storage system. I also have built and torn down many servers for many reasons, (corrupted profiles, new systems, testing, boredom) As a result the files have gotten scanned, indexed, matched, analyzed repeatedly.
I think it would be very beneficial to have the option to store those results in the folder with each file as a way for Plex to be able to avoid duplicating work that another server has done.
My idea would be for Plex to store a file with each item that essentially is an export of the regular database. I’m not saying to use this as a replacement for the database but as a way to share metadata and file details without having each server start from the begining.
Example: Server Alpha scans the library and writes the matches to the file in the folder. I go on Server Alpha’s library and fix any broken matches, and custom posters, Alpha then updates the metadatafile with the changes.
Server Bravo adds the same folders as a library. When it does the scan if finds the metadata file and accepts the information and adds it to the library without having to run an agent scan.
Server Bravo is set to do file analysis and intro finding. It runs those tasks and saves the details to the metadata file. When server Alpha rescans the library it reads the metadata file and sees the changes and adds those details to it’s own database. Server Charlie has better processing so it does chapter thumbnails. It stores a copy of those with the media and adds it to the metadata file. Servers Alpha and Bravo, see the metadata change and import the chapter screenshots and don’t have to do the processing over.
Yes I know it would use more storage space. But there are already warnings about things like thumbnails taking more space.
I would also suggest to include an option to remove all metadata files if you want to start over.
