Kubuntu 18.04 PMS permissions issue w/ veracrypt drive

[JiG9]

Server Version#: 1.13.5.5332
Player Version#:

Hello,

I am trying to setup PMS on my Kubuntu 18.04 install. My box has 3 internal drives:
500gb SSD Windows 10
500gb SSD Kubuntu 18.04
12tb HDD Shared file storage where my Movies and Shows folders are. Format = ntfs.

The storage drive is encrypted w/ Veracrypt. I use it for both OSes. I am not using a keyfile for the storage drive, just a manually-entered password upon login. I am relatively new to linux, trying to make the switch to Kubuntu 18.04. I’ve used Veracrypt and PMS on Windows 10 for over a year with no problems.

I have read pieces of these threads about permissions on linux getting PMS to “see” folders:

Cannot add libraries in Ubuntu 18.04

I am new to Plex and am having a terrible time adding libraries after a successful install. My media are USB 3.0 attached and exist in the /media/‘userid’/driveID. I am logged into the system as myself and have direct access to all drives, but PLEX will not see the drive my library is on. Can someone help me sort this out? I consider myself to be fairly experienced, but cannot seem to overcome what looks like a user or group permission issue. Many thanks in advance, Steve

W: Conflicting distribution: https://downloads.plex.tv/repo/deb public InRelease (expected public ..

plexmediaplayer.list contains: deb https://downloads.plex.tv/repo/deb/ public main but I get the below message every update. Full message when running sudo apt-get update: W: Conflicting distribution: https://downloads.plex.tv/repo/deb public InRelease (expected public but got ) I’m not sure if it’s not working or not as my currently installed version matches the latest public release however this notice only recently cropped up for me.

Ubuntu 18.04 - PMS Permission denied while scanning media library

Hi all, I’m not an expert in using Ubuntu, What I did. I’ve installed Plex following this doc : https://linuxize.com/post/how-to-install-plex-media-server-on-ubuntu-18-04/ Then, to manage correctly my added ssd that should store the media library, I’ve also followed this doc ( Using other hard drives Windows or Linux with PMS) : https://forums.plex.tv/t/linux-tips/276247/2 Unfortunately now i’m getting “Permission denied” while scanning media library. So, now my ssd is not mounting in my h…

Linux Tips

Customizing your Plex configuration on systemd based systems This information is intended for those systems where cat /proc/1/comm returns systemd. On systems which use Systemd (Ubuntu 16+, Fedora 26+, Centos 7+, Debian 8+,) you create this customization file which SystemD reads prior to launching PMS. This file is independent of the default configuration and service control mechanisms in /lib/systemd/system/plexmediaserver.service. Your customization override is preserved across updates, un…

Things I have done & things I am struggling with:

I have setup veracrypt to launch on startup (login), after which I enter the decryption password, and mount the “storage” drive contents to /storage, a folder I created under root (/). On Win10, I set both veracrypt and PMS as startup applications. I am hesitant to do so on Kubuntu, because I figure PMS would struggle to find a directory that doesn’t exist until mounted by Veracrypt after I manually enter the decryption password. Another problem for another day.

I have tried Chuck’s 4-step solution here:

Cannot add libraries in Ubuntu 18.04

From your OP, I understand you are new to PMS. I deduce from your most recent post that you’re also new to Linux? All this fuss happens because of how Linux handles security and how Gnome (desktop manager) handles your disks. If you’re willing to experiment with me, there might be an easier way to do this. If this doesn’t accomplish the goal then there is no harm. sudo usermod -a -G sfarber plex sudo systemctl stop plexmediaserver You sign out and back in sudo systemctl start plexmedia…

and it didn’t seem to work. I note that some think adding plex to this group is a bad idea, rather than just changing permissions. I figured I’d try the easiest thing first.

I have read that the problem has to do with how linux sets permissions for drives or devices.

I have read to avoid using /media, since this is a system reserved location, so I created the /storage folder instead.

I originally installed PMS via the Discover software center in Kubuntu, but the version it installed was outdated, so I had to manually install via .deb file off plex website instead. I hope this was the right thing to do. The application does say my server version is the latest, so I guess that means everything is OK.

I read Chuck’s response here:

Ubuntu 18.04 - PMS Permission denied while scanning media library

Very subtle points is all you forgot: set the base permissions on the directories themselves, before you mount up the media. probably forgot to extend read-only permission into your media. Contrary to the information provided from that other web site, Plex only needs READ permission. It needs Read-Write if you’re going to use DVR/LiveTV and have it record directly into your main media storage. Most of us keep DVR separate since it’s largely transient. We move it manually if we really…

and thought maybe I messed up the permissions for the /storage folder, so I followed those directions, using:

sudo find /storage -type d -exec chmod 755 {} ;
sudo find /storage -type f -exec chmod 644 {} ;

Prior to mounting my storage drive using veracrypt. This did not work. I had previously tried this after mounting the drive with veracrypt. That did not work either. If I view the file properties of a movie file via window manager Dolphin, I see that the permissions have not been changed. Plus, PMS still cannot see the folders.

I read here:

Linux Tips

Customizing your Plex configuration on systemd based systems This information is intended for those systems where cat /proc/1/comm returns systemd. On systems which use Systemd (Ubuntu 16+, Fedora 26+, Centos 7+, Debian 8+,) you create this customization file which SystemD reads prior to launching PMS. This file is independent of the default configuration and service control mechanisms in /lib/systemd/system/plexmediaserver.service. Your customization override is preserved across updates, un…

about systemd installs, which I have determined I have, but I don’t see a:
/lib/systemd/system/plexmediaserver.service
folder or file, so I am stumped about this.

I still believe this is a permissions problem, but I don’t know why my permissions changes aren’t “sticking”. I am worried that the dynamic nature of this drive (having to mount manually per login) might make assigning permissions non-permanent as well. I would like to only have to set this up once on this installation. I suspect I’m missing something very obvious…

Any advice for what I might be doing wrong?

Best regards!

[ChuckPa]

I am installing Kubuntu now to see if I can replicate your problem however Kubuntu has a history of not being 100% compatible for reasons I never had time to determine. Being a derivative of what’s officially supported did not afford it any priority since it’s not officially supported

[JiG9]

Ok, thanks for your support!

I have not used either KDE or Gnome or MATE flavors of Ubuntu long enough to have a strong opinion on which I prefer. Plex compatibility is a major requirement of mine for any linux distro I go with, though, so I this is certainly worth my consideration.

It’s quite possible I just did something wrong and the answer lies in the above links and I just haven’t realized it yet.

Is it true that Ubuntu MATE is also not officially supported by Plex?

[ChuckPa]

It must be what you did with your encryption.

You must remember Plex runs as user plex and not you. That said, your encryption software will likely require a different key for user plex to access it.

Officially it’s not supported. Unofficially, it’s working fine. I just installed it, taking all the defaults, grabbed all the updates, added nfs-common, mounted the media and it’s running now adding metadata flawlessly

[JiG9]

I wasn’t having any more luck yesterday. I booted back into Win10 yesterday to watch some content on Plex. I have been troubleshooting a weird problem on Win10 for a while: file permissions being all screwed up (allegedly), inability to open my own iTunes library, cannot save files to my own desktop or most folders on my system. I realized that, during the most recent Win10 major update, windows turned on a bunch of security-related options w/o my knowledge or consent (part of the reason I’m trying to make an OS jump). Specifically, Controlled Folder Access was turned on, and locked me out of a lot of my own folders. I just realized this today.

https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_10-files/cant-save-to-documents-folder-after-fall-creators/b1274473-6dcd-4bbf-8040-6ba1bc79287f

I wonder if this is why my storage drive is having so much trouble getting the permissions changed. I will check it out and report back within 1 week.