Library Scan runs endlessly on latest QNAP version

Plex Media Server NAS & Devices
1

Ever since the latest update the scan for one of my music libraries (premium) gets stuck or better said it runs endlessly. After a while the scan status updates on the bottom of the screen vanish but the circle on the sidebar still keeps turning. I had this running for 3 days now without any results. The other music libraries update just fine.

I adhere strictly to the suggested folder structure for the music library so this is not a problem of cluttered files needed to be sorted out by Plex. Plus I haven’t made any relevant changes to library itself (deleting or adding files in a big manner).

Any ideas?

2

Noticing (I think) the same issue here - movies I encoded today do not have box art nor synopsis information, and when I try to click on the server option, it says “server settings are unavailable”

Previously encoded movies also take FOREVER to load up on my computer.

I’m not sure if it’s due to a) PLEX update, b) QNAP update, c) something else

1 Like
3

Is it really that hard to get a reply? I thought as premium members we were entitled to at least a minimum of support…

The problem still persists and it seems to be stuck at certain albums/artists if the alert section can be trusted. If I however setup another library (no matter if a premium with the exact same settings or a basic one) Plex works through these albums without problems.

I have no desire to delete the database and scan it anew as I have tons of ratings, playlists etc. in the old one. Please help guys!

4

Attached are the logfiles, maybe you guys can make some sense out of it.

Thank you very much in advance!Plex Media Server Logs_2018-07-31_14-36-46.zip (4.4 MB)

5

Are you on a Mac? …I had to stop spotlight from indexing my Plex media which would trigger Plex to rescan.

6

Nope, I am on a Windows PC. Plex is however running on a QNAP NAS.

7

does Windows have a file indexing service that may be triggering it?

8

No, nothing like that as it is running on a QNAP. And it is not that keeps starting all over again, it is just that it gets stuck at a certain point of the scan and won’t continue so you get the turning wheel at the library but no progress is made in the progress bar at the bottom of the screen. This can go on for days without anything happening until you manually kill the process. It will however be unfinished and several files will not have been added as it gets stuck somewhere midway.

9

I’ve been trying to replicate the problem here and cannot.

The biggest issue with music is curating it. PMS is not the best at parsing and matching music (as we all know).

To that end, I have done the following and have no problems with it running perpetually.

  1. Bite the bullet and run all the media through a good tool like Picard which both sets the tags correctly and renames the files into Plex directory structure and format. ( renaming rue below). Particularly
  • I have a destination (output) directory different from the drag/drop input directory.
  • Picard deletes all the old directories as it empties them.
  • I clean up what’s left and useless.
  • When all matching is done, I move the output back, as a block, to where it originally came from.
  • Done.

  1. Start by creating a basic library

  2. Don’t “throw” everything at it at once. I have a small-moderate library and even with perfect naming & tags, it takes time. Instead, give it a block, e.g. /share/music/A -> /share/music/B or one genre at a time /share/music/rock

$if2(%albumartist%,%artist%)/
$if2(%albumartist%,%artist%) - %album%/
$if($gt(%totaldiscs%,1),Disc %discnumber%/,)
$num(%tracknumber%,2) - %title%
10

Hi Chuck,

thank you very much for your detailed answer.

Unfortunately the problem is not with curating the music. I stick very strictly to the preferred Plex format in terms of folder management (single folder for each artist, named after the artist, single folder for each album named after the album title etc.). All files are also neatly tagged beforehand through MP3tag in all relevant fields from artist, album title, song title, song number, genre, cover artwork etc.

The scan itself is set to get all information from metadata of the files only, no matching or anything needed.

Patience also does not help, as I have had the scan running for multiple days without any progress after a certain point.

The problem seems to lie in the scan itself that just stops at certain point after scanning a few albums. The logs Plex Media Server Logs_2018-08-10_16-25-03.zip (6.0 MB)
offer the following before it gets stuck:

DEBUG - Adding file for scanner: “/share/CACHEDEV1_DATA/Media/Music/Metal && Rock/Martiria/The Age Of The Return/02 A Cry In The Desert.mp3”
Aug 10, 2018 16:24:25.750 [0x7f1418022800] DEBUG - Adding file for scanner: “/share/CACHEDEV1_DATA/Media/Music/Metal && Rock/Martiria/The Age Of The Return/11 Revenge.mp3”
Aug 10, 2018 16:24:25.750 [0x7f1418022800] DEBUG - Adding file for scanner: “/share/CACHEDEV1_DATA/Media/Music/Metal && Rock/Martiria/The Age Of The Return/05 Exodus.mp3”
Aug 10, 2018 16:24:25.750 [0x7f1418022800] DEBUG - Adding file for scanner: “/share/CACHEDEV1_DATA/Media/Music/Metal && Rock/Martiria/The Age Of The Return/09 Hell Is Not Burning.mp3”
Aug 10, 2018 16:24:25.750 [0x7f1418022800] DEBUG - Adding file for scanner: “/share/CACHEDEV1_DATA/Media/Music/Metal && Rock/Martiria/The Age Of The Return/07 The Cross.mp3”
Aug 10, 2018 16:24:25.751 [0x7f14083c6700] DEBUG - HTTP 200 response from GET http://127.0.0.1:32400/:/metadata/updateProgressMessage?message=Scanning%20Martiria%2FTime%20Of%20Truth
Aug 10, 2018 16:24:25.753 [0x7f1418022800] DEBUG - Directory had 12 files, database had 0 files, can’t skip.

The last line seems to be the key here but I can’t figure out what to make out of it. The directory definitely has files in them. I also tried deleting this particular album but it only leads to the scan getting stuck at another album.

Anyone got an idea?

11

"Directory has 12 files, database had 0 files … " means none of these entries are in the DB so it will try it AGAIN.

Regarding your naming, which my template provides, the punctuation between track number and title

drwxr-xr-x. 2 chuck chuck    4096 Mar  7 20:16 ./
drwxr-xr-x. 5 chuck chuck    4096 Aug 13  2017 ../
-rw-r--r--. 1 chuck chuck 5861179 Aug 11  2010 01 - It's Growing.mp3
-rw-r--r--. 1 chuck chuck 4405520 Aug 11  2010 02 - (I'm a) Road Runner.mp3
-rw-r--r--. 1 chuck chuck 5002576 Aug 11  2010 03 - Wichita Lineman.mp3
-rw-r--r--. 1 chuck chuck 3617764 Aug 11  2010 04 - Why Baby Why.mp3
-rw-r--r--. 1 chuck chuck 4115023 Aug 11  2010 05 - Some Days You Gotta Dance.mp3
-rw-r--r--. 1 chuck chuck 6889519 Aug 11  2010 06 - Seminole Wind.mp3
-rw-r--r--. 1 chuck chuck 4229851 Aug 11  2010 07 - Suzanne.mp3
-rw-r--r--. 1 chuck chuck 3957062 Aug 11  2010 08 - Hound Dog.mp3
-rw-r--r--. 1 chuck chuck 6338720 Aug 11  2010 09 - Sadie.mp3
-rw-r--r--. 1 chuck chuck 5257576 Aug 11  2010 10 - On Broadway.mp3
-rw-r--r--. 1 chuck chuck 3687463 Aug 11  2010 11 - Summertime Blues.mp3
-rw-r--r--. 1 chuck chuck 3806225 Aug 11  2010 12 - Not Fade Away.mp3
-rw-r--r--. 1 chuck chuck   41496 Aug 11  2010 james_taylor-covers-(2008)-front.jpg
-rw-r--r--. 1 chuck chuck     693 Mar  7 20:16 James Taylor - Covers.m3u
[chuck@lizum James Taylor - Covers.110]$
12

Hi Chuck,

thanks again for the quick reply.

Well, the thing is it does not try again. The logs just end there and I can let it run for 3 or 4 days and this will have been the last entry even though the wheel at the library keeps spinning and definitely not all files have been scanned. I mean it also says “can’t skip” which seems to be an error message since searching for “skip” through the logs this message does not appear neither for albums that are new, nor for the old ones already there.

Besides that the files are already in the database as I can see (and listen to) the album. This album has been in my Plex library for a quite a while in fact. Normally these old albums end up in the logs like this:

Aug 10, 2018 16:24:25.700 [0x7f1418022800] DEBUG - Skipping over directory 'Saxon/Unleash The Beast', as nothing has changed; removing 11 media items from map

I also tried adding the punctuation just like in your example to no avail. Exact same result.

There are two older issues for this in the forum. In at least one case it seems it was solved with a reboot (tried that, does not help) and the other one never managed to fix it. See here:

and here:

https://forums.plex.tv/discussion/180232/music-library-still-being-refreshed-after-2-days

13

Easy fix then. “Plex Dance”.

Move it out to an unmonitored area
Scan files
Empty Trash
Clean Bundles
When done cleaning , move it back (enmasse)
Scan again

14

But this means I lose all my carefully cultivated playlists, ratings, etc. - right?

15

I apologize, i did not speak to this in my last post.

Aug 10, 2018 16:24:25.700 [0x7f1418022800] DEBUG - Skipping over directory 'Saxon/Unleash The Beast', as nothing has changed; removing 11 media items from map

Tells me it found the files, found them all in the DB, removed them from further consideration.
This is normal.

There has to be something else, completely unmatched, which is triggering it to keep scanning.

I want to step this up a few notches.

  1. Stop PMS
  2. Edit Preferences.xml
  3. Add LogNumFiles="10" and save it
  4. Start PMS
  5. Make sure only DEBUG logging is enabled.
  6. Now scan the music section.
  7. As soon as it completes, download the ZIP of the logs and attach.
  8. Now the scanner and server logs will need reading through line-by-line and checked off against what you have as ‘truth’ (the directories & files themselves if need be)

If you rename your files , YES, your playlists will be nullified. Don’t want to do that.

touch provides the means by which we can trigger the file appearing as new without name change .
We’ll do that if it comes to it

16

i have the same problem

Aug 15, 2018 19:51:56.876 [0x7f62c9827800] DEBUG - Skipping over directory '[1991] - The Official Techno Club Compilation Volume Two', as nothing has changed; removing 26 media items from map.
Aug 15, 2018 19:51:56.876 [0x7f62c9827800] DEBUG -     * Scanning directory /volume1/music/[sampler]/[1989] - Sound Of Belgium - New Beat Sampler (parent: yes)
Aug 15, 2018 19:51:56.876 [0x7f62b8bff700] DEBUG - HTTP requesting GET http://127.0.0.1:32400/:/metadata/updateProgressMessage?message=Scanning%20[1991]%20-%20The%20Official%20Techno%20Club%20Compilation%20Volume%20Two
Aug 15, 2018 19:51:56.877 [0x7f62c9827800] VERBOSE -     * Noting that '[1989] - Sound Of Belgium - New Beat Sampler' was updated at 2018-08-15 14:45:54
Aug 15, 2018 19:51:56.877 [0x7f62c9827800] VERBOSE -     * Taking directory '[1989] - Sound Of Belgium - New Beat Sampler' (36705) out of the map (49 left)
Aug 15, 2018 19:51:56.877 [0x7f62c9827800] DEBUG - Adding file for scanner: "/volume1/music/[sampler]/[1989] - Sound Of Belgium - New Beat Sampler/01-Belga Zone-Bulgarian House.mp3"
Aug 15, 2018 19:51:56.877 [0x7f62c9827800] DEBUG - Adding file for scanner: "/volume1/music/[sampler]/[1989] - Sound Of Belgium - New Beat Sampler/02-Techno Doctor-Full Acid Mix.mp3"
Aug 15, 2018 19:51:56.877 [0x7f62c9827800] DEBUG - Adding file for scanner: "/volume1/music/[sampler]/[1989] - Sound Of Belgium - New Beat Sampler/03-Brainstorm (2)-Suicide Acid.mp3"
Aug 15, 2018 19:51:56.877 [0x7f62c9827800] DEBUG - Adding file for scanner: "/volume1/music/[sampler]/[1989] - Sound Of Belgium - New Beat Sampler/04-Spock Jr.-Acid Alien.mp3"
Aug 15, 2018 19:51:56.877 [0x7f62c9827800] DEBUG - Adding file for scanner: "/volume1/music/[sampler]/[1989] - Sound Of Belgium - New Beat Sampler/05-BX-8017-CCCP House.mp3"
Aug 15, 2018 19:51:56.877 [0x7f62c9827800] DEBUG - Adding file for scanner: "/volume1/music/[sampler]/[1989] - Sound Of Belgium - New Beat Sampler/06-Bassline Boys-Warbeat (Germany Calling).mp3"
Aug 15, 2018 19:51:56.878 [0x7f62c9827800] DEBUG - Adding file for scanner: "/volume1/music/[sampler]/[1989] - Sound Of Belgium - New Beat Sampler/07-Noise Boys-Megabeat.mp3"
Aug 15, 2018 19:51:56.878 [0x7f62c9827800] DEBUG - Adding file for scanner: "/volume1/music/[sampler]/[1989] - Sound Of Belgium - New Beat Sampler/08-Secret Code-Wall Street.mp3"
Aug 15, 2018 19:51:56.878 [0x7f62c9827800] DEBUG - Adding file for scanner: "/volume1/music/[sampler]/[1989] - Sound Of Belgium - New Beat Sampler/09-Fax Yourself-Psyko Beat.mp3"
Aug 15, 2018 19:51:56.878 [0x7f62c9827800] DEBUG - Adding file for scanner: "/volume1/music/[sampler]/[1989] - Sound Of Belgium - New Beat Sampler/10-Secret Code-Perestroika.mp3"
Aug 15, 2018 19:51:56.878 [0x7f62c9827800] DEBUG - Adding file for scanner: "/volume1/music/[sampler]/[1989] - Sound Of Belgium - New Beat Sampler/11-BX-8017-Take An Acid.mp3"
Aug 15, 2018 19:51:56.878 [0x7f62c9827800] DEBUG - Adding file for scanner: "/volume1/music/[sampler]/[1989] - Sound Of Belgium - New Beat Sampler/12-Public Relation-Vava.mp3"
Aug 15, 2018 19:51:56.879 [0x7f62b8bff700] DEBUG - HTTP 200 response from GET http://127.0.0.1:32400/:/metadata/updateProgressMessage?message=Scanning%20[1991]%20-%20The%20Official%20Techno%20Club%20Compilation%20Volume%20Two
Aug 15, 2018 19:51:56.884 [0x7f62c9827800] DEBUG - Skipping over directory '[1989] - Sound Of Belgium - New Beat Sampler', as nothing has changed; removing 12 media items from map.
Aug 15, 2018 19:51:56.884 [0x7f62b8bff700] DEBUG - HTTP requesting GET http://127.0.0.1:32400/:/metadata/updateProgressMessage?message=Scanning%20[1989]%20-%20Sound%20Of%20Belgium%20-%20New%20Beat%20Sampler
Aug 15, 2018 19:51:56.885 [0x7f62c9827800] DEBUG -     * Scanning directory /volume1/music/[sampler]/[1989] - New Beat - Take 5 (parent: yes)
Aug 15, 2018 19:51:56.886 [0x7f62c9827800] VERBOSE -     * Noting that '[1989] - New Beat - Take 5' was updated at 2018-08-15 14:45:54
Aug 15, 2018 19:51:56.886 [0x7f62c9827800] VERBOSE -     * Taking directory '[1989] - New Beat - Take 5' (37231) out of the map (48 left)
Aug 15, 2018 19:51:56.886 [0x7f62c9827800] DEBUG - Adding file for scanner: "/volume1/music/[sampler]/[1989] - New Beat - Take 5/01-Technotronic-Pump Up The Jam.mp3"
Aug 15, 2018 19:51:56.886 [0x7f62c9827800] DEBUG - Adding file for scanner: "/volume1/music/[sampler]/[1989] - New Beat - Take 5/02-Edwards && Armani-Acid Drill.mp3"
Aug 15, 2018 19:51:56.886 [0x7f62c9827800] DEBUG - Adding file for scanner: "/volume1/music/[sampler]/[1989] - New Beat - Take 5/03-Tragic Error-Klatsche In Die Hände.mp3"
Aug 15, 2018 19:51:56.886 [0x7f62c9827800] DEBUG - Adding file for scanner: "/volume1/music/[sampler]/[1989] - New Beat - Take 5/04-Major Problem-I Still Have A Dream.mp3"
Aug 15, 2018 19:51:56.887 [0x7f62c9827800] DEBUG - Adding file for scanner: "/volume1/music/[sampler]/[1989] - New Beat - Take 5/05-B-Art-Streetwise.mp3"
Aug 15, 2018 19:51:56.887 [0x7f62c9827800] DEBUG - Adding file for scanner: "/volume1/music/[sampler]/[1989] - New Beat - Take 5/06-Jade 4U-Rock It To The Bone.mp3"
Aug 15, 2018 19:51:56.887 [0x7f62c9827800] DEBUG - Adding file for scanner: "/volume1/music/[sampler]/[1989] - New Beat - Take 5/07-DNM-French Kiss.mp3"
Aug 15, 2018 19:51:56.887 [0x7f62c9827800] DEBUG - Adding file for scanner: "/volume1/music/[sampler]/[1989] - New Beat - Take 5/08-Cold Sensation-Ghostdance.mp3"
Aug 15, 2018 19:51:56.887 [0x7f62c9827800] DEBUG - Adding file for scanner: "/volume1/music/[sampler]/[1989] - New Beat - Take 5/09-101-Move Your Body.mp3"
Aug 15, 2018 19:51:56.887 [0x7f62c9827800] DEBUG - Adding file for scanner: "/volume1/music/[sampler]/[1989] - New Beat - Take 5/10-Matt's Phantasy Club-Big T.mp3"
Aug 15, 2018 19:51:56.887 [0x7f62b8bff700] DEBUG - HTTP 200 response from GET http://127.0.0.1:32400/:/metadata/updateProgressMessage?message=Scanning%20[1989]%20-%20Sound%20Of%20Belgium%20-%20New%20Beat%20Sampler
Aug 15, 2018 19:51:56.887 [0x7f62c9827800] DEBUG - Adding file for scanner: "/volume1/music/[sampler]/[1989] - New Beat - Take 5/11-Carol-Breakdown [Snowy Red 84 Version].mp3"
Aug 15, 2018 19:51:56.888 [0x7f62c9827800] DEBUG - Adding file for scanner: "/volume1/music/[sampler]/[1989] - New Beat - Take 5/12-Mister Mixi-I Can Handle It.mp3"
Aug 15, 2018 19:51:56.891 [0x7f62c9827800] DEBUG - Directory had 12 files, database had 0 files, can't skip.

Sometimes it helped when i do a start -stop of the plex server but at least it never comes to an end. i had delete all @eadir folders from synology but it did not pretend the scanner from stuck. strangely enough, the scanner has no problem with the cyrillic letters. i can’t figure out from the message what exactly is wrong with the scanner.

17

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