Server Version#: 1.25.0.5246-7000
Player Version#: various
Long time Plex user here, with a large library of mostly music (8000 albums) and ~150 movies and a handful of TV shows. PMS is installed on my Synology NAS DS918+ and I’ve never had any problems accessing my content from various clients (Mac, Android, iOS, web) and through the Alexa skill.
Last week PMS lost access to my media library. Not sure what triggered this, but I suspect it was a permissions related issue caused by either deleting an album through the client, or logging in to the filesystem via SMB. I also think the permissions were improperly configured since I’ve always been able edit all metadata EXCEPT the year an album or movie was released.
I was able to claim my server but doing so triggered a rescan and rebuild of my metadata. Not something i want to do since I have spent (too) much time adding custom artist images, album reviews, and other metadata.
I aborted that process, ensured I had a clean backup of my library and my good metadata, and based on my understanding of updates to Plex’s admin permissions model I decided to upgrade my NAS to DSM7 and install the latest PMS install. I granted Plex the necessary permissions updates based on this helpful YouTube video How to Upgrade the Plex Package on Synology DSM 7 - YouTube.
But in short, my PMS is still having problems accessing my old metadata and I’m pretty sure it’s related to an incorrect folder structure. After the upgrade and the aborted attempt to rescan my library, here’s what I have:
SynologyNAS
\ Plex
\ Plex library < media files and metadata i want to keep
\ Application Support
\ Plex Media Server
\ Cache
\ Codecs
..
\ Movies
\ Music
\ TVShows
\ tmp_transcoding
\ PlexMediaServer
\ AppData
\ Plex Media Server < new server install here with aborted metadata
\ Cache
\ Codecs
\ ..
\ tmp
Hoping a fix is as simple as moving some files into the proper folder structure, but I’m not sure what the appropriate structure is. Appreciate the help!
Followup request for feedback on a proposed solution:
Would simply moving the contents of my current \Plex\Plex library\Application Support\Plex Media Server folder to Plex\PlexMediaServer\Appdata\Plex Media Server fix the issue? Not sure if there are linkages in the metadata that would not migrate forward and force PMS to do another rescan of my media (what i’m trying to avoid).
I would like to separate my media files from PMS config files and metadata - would creating a new Media folder under the PMS root (ie \Plex\Media) break associations between my content and metadata? Or would the process of pointing PMS at my libraries pick up those linkages and avoid a rescan.
Any other tips on optimizing my folder structure would be appreciated!
Thanks much, I’m dead in the water now adn suffering withdrawal from Plex and my content!
It appears, based on what you show, you are going to need to scan your media again at least one time – HOWEVER – done correctly, you won’t lose any watch history or customizations.
Good point and I’ve seen those warnings. My media is currently in the old DSM 6 hierarchy:
Plex
\Plex library
\Application Support
\Movies
\Music
\TV Shows
This was a byproduct of migrating from an old Netgear ReadyNAS but that is ancient history.
Installing DSM 7 stubbed out the new \PlexMediaServer folder structure so if you have recommendations on how to reorganize my content and minimize lost customizations (esp music metadata such as artist and album photos, album reviews, box sets, collections etc) I am most obliged.
If the migration was able to surgically pull “Plex Media Server” out of “Library/Application Support” , which is how I wrote it,
Then,
You can keep any structure you want in the “Plex” share.
Moving the application data to “PlexMediaServer” was the goal.
DSM 7 required the move
Separating media from application data == BIG WIN for us.
Ability to easily backup all the application data without worrying about media mixed into it. == BIG WIN for you. (HyperBackup is perfect for this now)
As long as you leave “PlexMediaServer” (in its entirety) alone,
The DSM7 install didn’t move the contents of my old Plex Media Server out of App Support - that folder remains, all 55GB of my metadata etc
Post migration, when PMS couldn’t find my media I pointed it to the media folders (inside the old \Plex library folder) which triggered the library rescan and started recreating the metadata inside \PlexMediaServer\AppData\Plex Media Server\Metadata
So at this point it sounds like I must rescan my entire library (?) And given that, in the name of keeping things clean, I am inclined to move my media files to this:
\PlexMediaServer
\AppData
\Media < new media folder here
\Movies
\Music
\TV Shows
Presumably the order of operations would be: 1) move the media 2) rescan. Any tips on preserving my metadata?
