I bungled my DSM7 migration. How do I get my metadata back?

[Craemer]

Came home to my Plex not working even though the Synology server was fine. Thought I’d just check for updates and saw the DSM7 update, did that. Then I saw you needed to give Plex some permissions and did that as well.

However I went wrong somewhere along the way because I now have my old Plex library which is unavailable, and a new Plex library which doesn’t feature any of my metadata, manually picked posters, date added, watch history, etc. I suppose I accidentally created a new library instead of properly migrating my original library, and I never really solved my original library’s unavailability in the first place.

Can anyone point me towards the solution for this? I’ve been troubleshooting this for days now without success. Thank you!

[ChuckPa]

Pretty simple, albeit a lot of clicking, task to recover.

1. VERIFY all your metadata still exists in the “Plex” shared folder.

2. If this is correct,

3. Uninstall the DSM 7 Plex package – select the ERASE option (to remove the empty DSM 7 server instance)

4. Download the package from Plex.tv/downloads if you haven’t already. Do not use the Synology Package Center version.

5. Reinstall the package again and observe as it starts giving you instructions (where needed) to perform the migration -or- sits at ‘Installing’ for an extended period while it actually performs the migration.

Please see the documentation here:

DSM 7 - Plex Media Server - Release Info & Migration instructions

Plex Media Server for Synology DSM 7 - Release This document is to share changes made with DSM 7 and resolve any unforeseen issues before you attempt migrating to DSM 7 for Plex use YOU ARE URGED TO READ THIS THREAD COMPLETELY BEFORE PROCEEDING OR ASKING QUESTIONS DO NOT INSTALL Synology BETA software UNLESS INSTRUCTED. This thread is a LIVING document. Expect it to change. Synology’s DiskStation Manager (DSM) has undergone significant changes in version 7.0. Many of those changes affected …

[Craemer]

Thanks for the help, however I must be doing something wrong:

1. I verified that there is a folder called Metadata on my Synology at the DSM 6 level: /volume1/Plex/Library/Application Support/Plex Media Server/ . It’s about 1.4GB and 25k files so I suppose that’s my correct metadata.
2. I then uninstalled the DSM 7 Plex package using the ERASE option
3. Downloaded the package from Plex.tv/downloads.
4. I then used the link you provided to start the installation.

Here’s where my process diverts: I don’t get scenario 1 or 2. It immediately prompts me to choose between a normal installation or an install using a Plex Claim token.
Thanks for the help. I’m a total rookie.

[ChuckPa]

@Craemer

I’m sorry, I left that out by accident

1. Normal installation is what you want at this point.
2. We’ll use your existing server’s credentials

[Craemer]

So where do I continue the installation process in your link?
I ran Plex after installing and it just started without migrating anything.
I re-erased Plex package and re-installed it and gave Plex all permissions - same problem.
It even created new library… now I have three : /

[ChuckPa]

@Craemer

You have three what ? Three servers listed ?

Please show me. I need more information.
I see multiple servers listed on your account. I can clean that up.
I am more interested in what exists on your machine.

Please also tell me:

1. Do you have a shared folder named PlexMediaServer?
2. Is it empty ?

[Craemer]

Three libraries I suppose? “GroenbrugDS” twice (new ones which are empty / with bad metadata) and “Groenbrug Plex” (my old library with everything in order but which is unavailable).

I’ve uploaded a screenshot of my NAS folders. Please let me know if I can do anything else. And once again thank you, I really do appreciate your help.

Should I copy my data to one of the Plex folders?

[ChuckPa]

Thank you

1. I am not concerned about your data. It is always safe

2. From this point forward, please do not use Windows File Explorer to view or manage Plex files on the NAS. Windows will damage the names & files because SMB does not support what’s needed.

3. I can see now that you had a compound failure at installation. This usually occurs when the “Repair” button is pressed after upgrading from DSM 6 but is easily recovered now that we know what happened.

Therefore:

1. Uninstall Plex again. Again use the Erase option.

2. Control Panel - Shared folders

3. DELETE the PlexMediaServer shared folder (KEEP THE PLEX SHARE)

4. NOW, with your metadata in the “Plex” shared folder,

5. Install PMS you downloaded from Media Server Downloads | Plex Media Server for Windows, Mac, Linux, FreeBSD and More using Package Center “Manual Install”.

6. You will now get installation failure messages (until the installer is satisfied all conditions are correct).

7. Screenshot the instructions the installer gives you if necessary. If you do not, you can end up with a “System Error 0” failure (which is a permissions fault)

8. When everything is correct, the installer will sit in the ‘Installing’ screen for quite some time (3 minutes for each 1000 items you have indexed in Plex) while it processes each item.

9. If DSM kicks an error and wants you to sign in again – That’s fine.

10. The installer, even if not visible, will continue to run until complete.

11. DO NOT RESTART DSM until it is done.

12. In the Plex shared folder, you will find – “Migration.log”

13. This file details where it’s at in the migration process.

14. The final step is “Clean: /volume*/Plex” where it removes all of Plex’s extra files from the Plex shared folder.

I have seen where installation with migration needs anywhere from 5 minutes to 2 weeks (480 GB of metadata) so judge accordingly but do not panic.

[Craemer]

I’ve screenshotted every step I took, but the installer just finishes swiftly without prompting any failure message… Thanks for your patience.

[ChuckPa]

I really wish you did not make them one big image. I can’t read it.

I think I can see where it ran through again.

If I am understanding what happened, we should now be at the last stage.

1. Uninstall again – ERASE option
2. Verify “PlexMediaServer/AppData” is empty when uninstalled.
3. Install the package again.
4. IF it does not install then we must manually reset permissions inside the Plex shared folder

Please advise your progress.

[Craemer]

I’m sorry, on my end I can click the image and it shows the full size picture in a new tab.
Will update using separate images.
I erased Plex on the NAS.

Then, this time, I only emptied the "PlexMediaServer/AppData” folder and did not erase the PlexMediaServer shared folder itself. I had to delete one folder and some text files saying ‘don’t place media here’:

I then did another manual install, but the installer immediately succeeded and said “installation succesful”. For the fourth step I’m already including some of the permissions inside the Plex shared folder so you can see the current situation:

and for the PMS folder:

Edit: the ‘Data’ shared folder also has complete permissions for the Plex user

[ChuckPa]

Please see this image.
https://global.discourse-cdn.com/plex/optimized/4X/4/b/3/4b3ecd0a09599df05c8484e6d487f0577df6047a_2_689x511.png

PLEASE STOP.

It appears as if you are attempting to apply DSM 6 Plex rules to DSM 7.

This will NOT work.

DSM 7 is an entirely new environment at the security and application level.

It took me 8 months to make Plex work on DSM 7. ( I am the package author & support engineer )

If you do not follow my instructions as given,

1. You will never get your metadata to port over properly

2. I will not be able to help you.

[ChuckPa]

From the top

1. Uninstall the Plex package – ERASE option ( I believe you have done this )

2. Delete shared folder “PlexMediaServer”

Now, to manually assign permissions for migration to work, we will set them using File Station

1. File Station

2. From the left panel - Right-click “Plex” → Properties → Permission tab

3. Click “Create” to add permission for “PlexMediaServer” (it will be in the scroll down list. Check the box as shown.
   

   

4. Click the mouse again in another part of that window so “PlexMediaServer” now shows in the top window.

5. Check ALL the boxes for the permissions. This is “Full Control”
   

   

6. Click “Done” to close the permission selection window

7. Check the box “Apply to this folder, sub-folders, and files” in the permissions window

8. Click SAVE to apply permissions to the entire “Plex” shared folder. (DSM 7 installation will need these permissions to do its work).

9. When complete,

10. “Manual Install”, Normal Installataion, click through until it starts.

11. Now it will sit there.

[ChuckPa]

I saw your comment, I understand that language barriers can be very frustrating. I am bilingual myself.

I wrote the above instructions with the hope they are easy to understand and implement.

[Craemer]

Holy ■■■■ it worked!
Thank you so much for your patience getting me through all of this!
Now I only need to remove the empty two empty unavalable libraries called GroenbrugDS, and I’m OK right?

Thank you so very very much, I just didn’t understand what I did wrong, you are a lifesaver!!

[ChuckPa]

I’m glad it worked.

If you have unavailable servers,

You can remove them in Settings - Authorized Devices - Server (dropdown)

or I can. If you want me, please tell me their exact names.

PS: I do have this all documented , including the procedure, in

DSM 7 - Plex Media Server - Release Info & Migration instructions

Plex Media Server for Synology DSM 7 - Release This document is to share changes made with DSM 7 and resolve any unforeseen issues before you attempt migrating to DSM 7 for Plex use YOU ARE URGED TO READ THIS THREAD COMPLETELY BEFORE PROCEEDING OR ASKING QUESTIONS DO NOT INSTALL Synology BETA software UNLESS INSTRUCTED. This thread is a LIVING document. Expect it to change. Synology’s DiskStation Manager (DSM) has undergone significant changes in version 7.0. Many of those changes affected …

[Craemer]

The two identically names ones can be deleted. They are both names GROENBRUGDS. And i want to keep the Groenbrug Plex one. Thank you.

My initial mistake was wanting to update quickly when I came home. When I later read your instructions, I had already done something wrong and I didnt succeed in retracing my steps and fixing my error. Sorry for that.

Once again, thank you very much. I’m so happy now. Can I shoot you a paypal or something?

[ChuckPa]

From Plex/Web, Control-F5 to force reload the browser app.

You should no longer see those servers.

Thank you for the offer but this is why I’m here; to help.

If you wish , you can send off an email / tweet / something to Plex HQ and let them know .

[Craemer]

I certainly will! Once again, a very big thank you and have a great weekend.