How do I export and import metadata?

[Electrolove]

I am running Plex on Ubuntu server 20.04. How do I export and import metadata? Can someone provide me with a simple guide please? I mean titles of music files, descriptions of music artists and things like that? I want to learn this because if my Plex server craches for some reason I want to be able to import all data instead of typing it in again. Most of the data comes from locations on the internet but there are a lot of text that I must type in myself. Same for music album covers. Not all are automatically downloaded when I add an album. For example: I add a album and upload the cover myself. But if I reinstall my server that album cover is gone.

[anon18523487]

Plex does not have an export/import feature. However, all of that info is saved in the Plex Database. Just backup the database. If you need to restore, just copy the database back. PMS will even do automatic backups of your database for you if you enable that feature.

[ChuckPa]

If I may add to MovieFan,

If you have custom posters you’ve uploaded, you might want to make a complete “image backup” of the /var/lib/plexmediaserver “Library” directory

With Plex stopped, it would look like:

cd /var/lib/plexmediaserver
sudo tar cf /path/to/where/the/backup/goes/PlexImageBackup.tar ./Library

Now you have a fully operational “snapshot” of the entire system, database and artwork included.

[dane22]

Since you are talking about music libraries, then maybe this one:

[REL] Lambda (Local Assets-Metadata Double Agent) for Plex Metadata export)

Link: https://github.com/ZeroQI/Lambda.bundle Features: Takes Plex metadata and save it locally alongside media files, including collections ‘Local Media Assets’ imports back local metadata exported, and what isn’t supported will be imported back with this agent: collection summary (not yet supported for upload: collection poster, fanart, and not yet supported for upload/download: metadata text fields in NFO file) It supports the export of following Plex metadata: Series: (*)Poster, F…

Above should be able to do as you say, but only for legacy agents though

[Electrolove]

I just made a test. Installed Plex. Did a backup of the whole Plexmediaserver directory with rsync to another server. Installed Plex again and used rsync again in the other direction. Result: Plex refuses to start. Any clues?

UPDATE: I tried it again. Now everything works as expected.

I first installed ubuntu server 22.04, installed plex and uploaded some music albums. I wrote some text in the artist description, uploaded a custom album cover. Took a copy of the Library folder. Then I installed ubuntu and plex again. Uploaded the same albums, uploaded the Library folder and everything looks as before. Great Thanks for all help.