Also, If I backup the PLEX folder and my media database, is that all I will need to recover to an “as is” system?
Thanks.
- Stop Plex
- Back up the “Library” folder and all below it
- Start Plex
That’s it.
Thanks for the reply ChuckPa. I assume that is how I can make another backup of the backup directory of my user data. Is that right?
But I wanted to know how to check if Plex is automatically backing up my user data? I have seen posts that question this.
I also wanted to know if backing up that backup directory is all I need to back up to recover my systems as it is now, “As Is”?
I have seen other posts that say to you need to backup some registry settings and I know they are not in that directory. A little confusion remains here.
Sorry if I am being redundant, but better safe than sorry. Thanks.
- Yes, that’s what you need to backup.
- As for the backup completion status (whether successful or not), you must check the report or have it mail you status upon completion.
- There are many ways to backup a Synology but every one can send you a status email when the job is complete “successful” or “error – and reason”
If you’re referring to the backups of the database itself?
In File Station:
Plex/Library/Application Support/Plex Media Server/Plug-in Support/Databases
You’ll see database backups
I was referring to just the user data and not my media.
How do I get a report emailed to me? I do not see any option for that.
That is correct. All the metadata lives in the Plex share.
If you’ve placed media in the Plex share, you need move it out ASAP.
It is not intended for that purpose whatsoever.
Storing media and metadata in the same share has caused PMS to fail in many instances because users set PMS to monitor the entire share for changes and causes infinite / constant scanning.
I am about to change how metadata is stored to prevent this.
Metadata will be locked away in a different area.
Once done, the Plex share can be used for media if so desired as I will abandon what exists but not create after that time.
You need only need 2 things to recover/restore/duplicate an existing plex system.
- the plex database, this is backed up automatically every 3 days and stored wherever the path in the settings is configured for.
the database contains all your play history, ratings, basic metadata (but not images/subs/etc).
- the preferences, this stores your server ID/name/preferences. see the section in the first link ‘backup additional settings’
this is NOT backed up automatically, you will need to manually store a copy somewhere (you don’t don’t normally really need to keep it updated unless you have reset or reconfigured your server to a different name or something)
Tekno, thanks for the clarification and the links.
"2. the preferences, this stores your server ID/name/preferences. see the section in the first link ‘backup additional settings’
this is NOT backed up automatically, you will need to manually store a copy somewhere (you don’t don’t normally really need to keep it updated unless you have reset or reconfigured your server to a different name or something)"
I have a preferences.xml file in the backup directory and it is dated as of today. I assume that is being backed up with the other files in that folder. Is this the file you are referring to? Because apparently it is being backed up.
I am running Plex on a Synology NAS.
on linux, yes that is it.
plex doesn’t back it up, so must be some kind of backup specific to your nas.
plex only backs up the database, Plex Web > settings > scheduled tasks > backup database every 3 days / backup destination
Ok, so all I have to do is backup the Plex backup directory and my media for a complete restore, (As Is) if disaster happens?
the backup directory in the plex settings, is ONLY the database, as explained above. Keep an extra copy of the preferences, and your fine.
if you want a complete backup/restore, then backing up the entire plex data folder, as your picture above shows, this is a TON more data (metadata posters/cache/images/previews/etc), so choose according to your own preferences.
All the important stuff is in the DB, the rest can be re-downloaded by plex if necessary.
if you ever have to restore, you will need to ensure that the permissions are set correctly (normally plex:plex for the plex folders (not media) on linux).
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