HELP: DEFCON 5: Plex Server appears to be corrupting files and HD Directory

Plex Media Server
1

Server Version#: 1.42.2.10156 (although behavior was in previous version, but had not been identified yet…)
Player Version#:

OK… here’s the scenario… I was previously running an earlier version (albeit fairly recent) of the Server on an Intel Mac. Let me layout my setup with respect to my HD’s for this setup:

Boot Drive

External Drive

Media Drive (1-8)

[Yes, the Media Drives were also external as well, but this is to separate them as explained below]

Now, the server ONLY had four pieces of software running on it: Plex Server, A HD Cataloger, and a Backup, and an online cloud drive.

The Backup software would backup the Plex database and preferences from the BOOT DRIVE to the EXTERNAL DRIVE.

The Catalog Software would catalog the media drives based upon a schedule (with the last numbered MEDIA DRIVE getting catalogued each night as it was the drive most often getting new material). The Catalog Software would save to a directory that I designated to be backed up using cloud based backup.

Due to certain circumstances, I decided to update the mac to new M4 Mac Mini. In the course of setting up my new server, I noticed several files that become corrupted. I replaced them from my primary storage unit where I verified that they were OK after replacing the corrupted files.

Fast forward a few days, and I’m noticing more corrupted files scattered across multiple MEDIA DRIVES, and these files were not necessarily ones that I viewed using PLEX. They all seemed to be just random files. I stopped the Catalog Software from automatically updating and again replaced the corrupted files. After a couple of more days, more corrupted files. In addition, random drives seemed to have their directories corrupted or had random directories that had their permissions reset to something where I couldn’t read them. I could always fix the issue, but this never should’ve happened to begin with. [Yes, I am the administrator and the only user on the machine]

At this point, I was very frustrated. I stopped using Plex at all and went through the laborious process of getting a new HD, copying everything from each MEDIA DRIVE, reformatting said Media Drive, and copying everything back so that it was exactly as it was before.

Now, we have every drive freshly reformatted and all content copied back. Started using Plex again. The Cataloging Software is not used, but the BACKUP SOFTWARE to backup the Plex preferences/database is used.

Within a very short time, I’m getting corrupted files again. Corrupted HD Directory again. Corrupted permissions again. Essentially, the only software touching the drives is PLEX SERVER, but I could not figure out what rhyme or reason why random files on specific drives or why specific drives had directory/permissions issues…

After a couple of more days, it dawned on me… it appears to affect drives on which content resides on that I actually watch. For instance, if I watch an episode of a TV Show that resides on MEDIA DRIVE 2, something will happen to that drive when I check it the next morning (corrupt HD directory, permissions issues, or corrupt files, although not necessarily the files that I watched…. just other random files on that same drive)

[There are two different TV’s watching. One is an Android OS straight up, and the other is some variant of AndroidOS with the company’s own skin. This issue happens on drives no matter what TV is used]

This obviously can’t continue. I’d appreciate some assistance.

2

Except, Plex is reading the files but not modifying them (if it even has permissions to do anything beyond that).

I think that the version of the Plex player app, not your Plex Media Server.

3

I understand that the server is NOT supposed to be writing, but there is a distinct correlation between the drives that get issues and where the content resides that views them.

[ORIGINAL CONTENT DELETED]

UPDATE: I misunderstood what you meant by player app vs server version… updated accordingly. Thanks!

4

This sounds more like a hardware issue than anything - like a failing hard drive, bad RAM, or faulty cables. The only software related issues that could cause this would be OS errors, malware, or poorly written programs (which Plex is not), and power-related events (like surges or improper shutdowns).

To try to diagnose and fix the issue, can you run any disk and memory diagnostic tools? Perform a system file check?

5

Not hard drive issues. The HD are all different sizes and brands. Newer ones and old ones alike are having the issue. Cables aren’t an issue as they are all encased in tower casing. There was no problem during the month it took to copy/reformat/copy back process for all drives. RAM wouldn’t be an issue as a) this is a newer machine (not impervious mind you), but b) also went across two different machines.

No OS errors or issues. No Malware. No surges (none happened, plus on a quality surge protector/battery backup).

Long ago done. Nothing.

6

There are ways to tell what programs or processes accessed a file.
Also you can tell what process has a file open.

I would suggest setting up a test environment where you buy a small, new drive and place a very small number of files and directories on it in your tower case. That should limit the amount of data you have to analyze. Still happening? Move the drive to an external dock.

7

Not sure what the mac equivalent is, but procmon (Process Monitor from sysinternals) would tell you exactly what is causing it if you created a demo library for testing purposes. But I am 99.9999% plex is not at fault.