How do I backup my Plex data (not media) on Synology NAS?

Plex Media Server NAS & Devices
1

I have previously had a system failure and had to set up my Plex from scratch. I would like to save all my data, including artwork and information that I have entered, in case I have to reload everything in the future or move to another NAS.

1 Like
2

Very simply.

  1. Make certain you give your username R/W access to the Plex share
  2. Stop PMS
  3. Open FileStation
  4. Navigate to the Plex share
  5. RIght click on Library and compress to Library.zip
  6. When it completes, move the ZIP file to your safe location off machine
  7. Start PMS
3 Likes
3

Find and save this file.

\Plex Media Server\Plug-in Support\Databases\com.plexapp.plugins.library.db

It’s not everything but it has you watched and setup details.

1 Like
4

@ChuckPA said:
Very simply.

  1. Make certain you give your username R/W access to the Plex share
  2. Stop PMS
  3. Open FileStation
  4. Navigate to the Plex share
  5. RIght click on Library and compress to Library.zip
  6. When it completes, move the ZIP file to your safe location off machine
  7. Start PMS

Is there anyway to avoid having to stop / start the PMS server, since for automation that adds extra steps. I appreciate the need to not grab something that is being written to.

Is there a backup directory (Settings and Library) that Plex maintains itself, which we could back up from, where we can know that the data is not going to be written to in a continuous fashion? For me personally if a backup is within say a 8 - 24 hour period, it isn’t the end of the world.

5

No. You must stop PMS because it uses a SQLite database.
There is no secondary area. The database backs itself up weekly (if the option was enabled in Scheduled Tasks).

6

Thanks Chuck,

Yes a week is a little bit too far behind, to grab the backup database.

It’s scripting time then, probably best if I grab a few beer tokens and sit one off my Unix friends in front of the keyboard. Offering useless comments :wink:

7

The tough part of scripting Synology is how to start/stop services.

If you can find that out, the rest is trivial,

Take a look at /usr/syno/bin/synopkg . This is/was their package start/stop command.
You won’t need those useless comments from *nix friends :wink:

All i needed was a quick google and then read the first link into the Syno forum

admin@moesern:/usr/syno/bin$ synopkg --help
usage: synopkg <command> [...]

command:
	install <spk>
	uninstall <package>...
	version <package>
	list
	log <package>
	query <spk>
	chkupgradepkg [lang]
	start <package>
	stop <package>
	restart <package>
	status <package>
	onoffall start|stop [event] [param]
	is_onoff <package>
	checkupdateall [lang] [user]
	checkupdate <package> [lang]
	pause <package> [skipupgradecheck]
	resume <package>
	stop-depend <service>
	start-depend <service>
	upgradeall [limitonly] [lang] [user]
	install_from_server <package> [volume] [user]

admin@moesern:/usr/syno/bin$
8

@ChuckPA said:
The database backs itself up weekly (if the option was enabled in Scheduled Tasks).

Just a little thing I noticed while setting up a new PMS on my DS918+, that the PMS backups are performed every 3 days. It appears to have changed between version 1.7.5 and 1.9.4.

So potentially a workable solution is grabbing the backup, at 3 days, that isn’t so bad.

I did read about starting stopping services. So if I can find somewhere on the synology to hook the script into, via their automated backups, then that is an option.

Currently setting up docker for non PMS applications (first time), so lots of things on the To Do list :slight_smile: Probably need to have a few days of “Working From Home”.

10

@Skar said:

@ChuckPA said:
The database backs itself up weekly (if the option was enabled in Scheduled Tasks).

Just a little thing I noticed while setting up a new PMS on my DS918+, that the PMS backups are performed every 3 days. It appears to have changed between version 1.7.5 and 1.9.4.

So potentially a workable solution is grabbing the backup, at 3 days, that isn’t so bad.

I did read about starting stopping services. So if I can find somewhere on the synology to hook the script into, via their automated backups, then that is an option.

Currently setting up docker for non PMS applications (first time), so lots of things on the To Do list :slight_smile: Probably need to have a few days of “Working From Home”.

Control Panel - Scheduled Tasks - User Script :slight_smile:

11

Thanks again,. A lot to sort out.

12

Did you find your appropriate script for backing Plex automatically?

13

To make a final post in this thread before closing (I request a new thread if new problems as this is 2+ years old)

  1. Task scheduler - Allows you to create a ZIP file, which is placed in /volume1/Plex of /volume1/Plex/Library1

or

  1. Use the Synology backup app options to automate.
1 Like