I have a few questions before I add a new hard drive for my media

Plex Media Server Metadata & Adding Files
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Server Version#: 1.23.6.4881 (Plex server)
Player Version#: 4.62.1 (Plex web)

Background:

  • I have a windows 10 machine with the Plex database on my C drive (NTFS)
  • I have a 4 TB hard drive on my router which stores my media (NTFS)
  • My 4 TB media hard drive is running out of space (190 GB left)
  • A few months ago, I bought a 8 TB hard drive, USB-3 SuperSpeed, (preformatted as exFAT)
  • I was initially planning on switching my old hard drive with my new one but I realized later that my new one was USB-3 and not a router-connected type one
  • I may now decide to connect my new HD to the back of my old one, since my old HD has a USB-3 SS port, thus providing 12 TB in total
  • Recently, I read a lot on your forums about adding/replacing new hard drives and trying not to lose any previously associated posters, etc

Questions:

  • I read on your forums that Plex prefers/requires (?) an NTFS drive but maybe I’m confused and it only requires it for the database portion. Can you clarify? Can the media drive be exFat?
  • Can I plug in an exFat drive to the back of an NTFS drive? They are both WD brand.
  • I guess one option is to directly plug in my new hard drive to my computer, but I don’t have any direct usb ports left and my usb hub is only the USB-2 style anyway (with slower 480 Mb/s). Would that be okay for Plex to retrieve data or too slow?
  • Will I lose any cover art, posters, etc, by using exFat?
  • Are there any other concerns that I should be aware of? Since I haven’t done anything yet, I haven’t messed up anything yet.

thanks so much

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That is the drive where the Plex database and metadata are stored. That needs to be a drive that supports symbolic links. AFAIK exFat does not so you cannot put your Plex data folder there, but using it for media is just fine.

Can I plug in an exFat drive to the back of an NTFS drive? They are both WD brand.

I don’t know. That depends on the 4TB drive. Check it’s owners manual.

I guess one option is to directly plug in my new hard drive to my computer, but I don’t have any direct usb ports left and my usb hub is only the USB-2 style anyway (with slower 480 Mb/s). Would that be okay for Plex to retrieve data or too slow?

USB2 may be slow but still should be fast enough to playback videos. Things like scanning your library at first may be a little slow since that makes tons of small calls to all the files.

Will I lose any cover art, posters, etc, by using exFat?

Not if it’s used for media.

Are there any other concerns that I should be aware of? Since I haven’t done anything yet, I haven’t messed up anything yet.

Not off the top of my head.

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