Migrating DSM 6 to 7 without prior notice of advised steps --> no migration happened

[Storm_ryder]

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I have run into some trouble when I just updated DSM 6 to DSM 7.
I was unaware of the steps to take before doing this, so now my Plex setup is broken.
I have seen others with similar problems in this thread and post:

Plex Media Server - Synology DSM 7 Preview - Issues ( Archive )

I am going to give you the commands to “encourage” it to work for you Prerequisite: DSM 7 package installed – failed state (this created the username) DSM package – Uninstall - Remove all data (non-recoverable) option a. This clears out apphome. I believe you said your Plex share is on Volume 1. The above commands don’t care where it is. It will find the existing Plex shared folder (where your metadata still lives) What this does: Goes to the Plex share Gives the new Plex use…

The problem user noyse seems to have experienced is similar to mine.
I dit the following (which I now know is wrong, but unfortunately I can not turn back the time.

DSM 6 before upgrading
In DSM 6 I had Plex server in de Plex folder (volume1/Plex)
My movies and series were located in separate folders like (volume1/movies)

Upgrading to DSM 7
I upgraded to DSM 7 (DS415+)
When I started DSM 7 I saw multiple messages from different apps, I think I did choose ‘repair’ when I this was prompted in Package Center for Plex (not sure).
I upgraded Plex Media Server with the version that is available in the Package Center.
After installing I was asked to continu as Normal or Claim the Server. I collected a token and claimed the server. After that I got a message that no connection could be made to Plex (so I could not even see my Plex whatsoever.

Setting permissions
After that I found the posts about setting the permissions for the new user Plexmediaserver. I did this for all folders (volume1/Plex, volume1/movies, etc.). I gave Admin/Read/Write.
I restarted Plex but this did not change a thing.

Installing Plex Media Server from Plex.tv
After that I found out that I had to uninstall the Plex version from the Package Center (the first option, only uninstalling so no erasing) and after that installed the most recent version from Plex.tv (64bit intel).
During installation I was asked again to continue as Normal or Claim the server. I am not sure any more what I choose. I did not get any messages about migration or anything, just that installation was successful.

After this I could see Plex again but the libraries (Movies, Series, Home Movies) were visible, but not available.
I then made the mistake (another one :)) by going to ‘Authorized devices’ and saw 2 servers. One with DSM 6 and one with DSM 7, both were offline. Which seemed strange because the DSM 7 one was running. I then deleted the permission for the server with DSM 6.
The libraries (Movies, etc.) then disappeared from my Plex server. And now it seems I have a complete new installation.

I can add the folders as new libraries, but this will take forever to rearrange and get the correct metadata and subs again.
I can still see the volume1/Plex folder and it still has all the folders inside with metadata etc.

Migration never started??
To me it seems as if the migration never started and like I said; you helped noyse with something similar. But in the post there seemed to have been a command which you edited out later (I guess).

Can anyone help me with getting my old libraries back again?

[ChuckPa]

@Storm_ryder

Please confirm for me you have a fully populated “Plex” shared folder (not PlexMediaServer) with Library/Application Support/Plex Media Server and all the sub-folders under Plex Media Server ?

[Storm_ryder]

I can confirm this.

[ChuckPa]

Perfect!

1. Uninstall the DSM 7 Plex app with the ERASE option.
   – This removes the unwanted instance which currently exists

2. Now I’d like you to review and then follow this How-To.

Synology FAQ - Questions, Answers, and a few How-To's

FAQ 27 - Migrating an existing PMS from DSM 6 to DSM 7 Upgrading PMS from DSM 6 → DSM 7 DSM 7 no longer allows us to go find the metadata directory and use it across volumes before starting PMS (This is the lack of “root” privilege blocking). As such we require the following two conditions are met we will attempt to automatically migrate you; You have an existing DSM 6-created PMS installation and PMS is installed on the SAME STORAGE VOLUME as the “Plex” shared folder (this is critical) …

• Important points -
  – Make certain to check the “Apply to this folder, subfolders, and files” boxes when setting permissions
  – When it does start migrating (which will start automatically when you install the DSM 7 app again) – Don’t interrupt it
  – You can always follow the progress by opening another tab to the Syno and looking at the ‘Migration.log’ (Plex shared folder). This file will be created and track progress after about 2 minutes
  – Migration of metadata takes about 3 minutes per 1000 indexed media items.
  (Syno CPUs aren’t the fastest so be patient with it)

3. When all is complete, the “Plex” shared folder will be empty except for any other files you placed there.

4. In the future, please remember PlexMediaServer is more fragile than it was in DSM 6. In DSM 7, I do not have ‘administrator’ privilege. I can’t fix any permission problems at startup or installation. (which is why you are so heavily involved in the migration. I’d have done migration for you if I had privileges)

ASK QUESTIONS BEFORE YOU BEGIN

[Storm_ryder]

OK, quick question;
I pick the third (red) option when uninstalling the current PMS installation?

[ChuckPa]

Yes,

The Red option (Erase) removes the unwanted DSM 7 plex installation.
The Plex shared folder is kept completely safe during uninstallation.

Like the new menus ??

[Storm_ryder]

Check!
I did that and checked the permissions once again, they are good (full control also for all the sub folders).

Now I need to install Plex again. Just to be sure; the downloaded version (intel 64bit) and NOT the version from package center. Correct?

[ChuckPa]

As long as you download the right version for your Syno from Plex, you’re OK.

If you use Remote Access a lot, I will offer you an older version.

It seems there is a regression with Remote Access as of PMS 1.32.5.7210

Remember, it will sit at INSTALLING a long time (until completed)
Be patient with it.

[Storm_ryder]

Don’t use it normally. But we will be going on vacation next week, so we will need Remote Access I think. Which version would you suggest? And where can I get it?

[ChuckPa]

Synology 64 bit?

Manual Install this SPK

PlexMediaServer-1.32.1.6999-91e1e2e2c-x86_64_DSM7.spk

It is slightly older but predates a few issues.
It will be most stable for you while on vacation

[Storm_ryder]

Thanks for this version.

As soon as I install this version I get the following prompt.
Is this still correct or is something wrong?
And what should I choose? Because previously I tried both with no succes in starting the migration.

[ChuckPa]

yes, this is correct. Normal installation.

It will do the rest for you.

[Storm_ryder]

It is running ‘installing’ now. As you predicted this might take a while.
Luckey I raised the time out to 65000 seconds (or minutes) so this should not be a problem.
I have like 1000 movies and 40 tv-series in my library, so not extremely big.

Still installing for the last minutes, so the signs are good

[ChuckPa]

Open a new tab to the Syno.

Using the Synology Text Editor. open “Plex/Migration.log”

You can follow the progress.

[Storm_ryder]

It already finished, I guess it was successful?
Will wait to do anything else until I get your confirmation (or tell me something is wrong).

[ChuckPa]

Now confirm the Plex shared folder is empty.

The last thing you need to do is change shared folder permissions for your media

Synology FAQ - Questions, Answers, and a few How-To's

FAQ 29 - DSM 7 - Give PlexMediaServer access to your media When you migrate to DSM 7, or are installing a server for the first time, folks forget to read the popup at the end of every installation which tells them about how to set permissions. This FAQ shows in detail how to do what those instructions state. When might you need to perform these steps? When upgrading, changing permissions from Plex to PlexMediaServer is overlooked. Installing Plex for the first time, new installation…

(This is the installation completion message with screenshots to show How-To)

[Storm_ryder]

It seems empty.

And the permissions were already done before (I gave full control to the old Plex-shared folder and to the folders containing movies and series). To be sure, yes I have set the permissions to sub folders and files as well. So I guess this is good to go?

[ChuckPa]

For your media, you don’t need full control.

I don’t use DVR so Plex only has Read-only access to my media.

If you don’t use the Plex shared folder for anything, you can delete it.
You can also delete user Plex (it is abandoned in DSM 7)

[Storm_ryder]

I changed the permissions for the media folders.

Maybe I am to impatient, but now I get the following message when I try to open Plex.

[ChuckPa]

That’s the database upgrading. Give it a minute

PMS does this now. It won’t open the web server until DB updates are complete.

“Maintenance”