Server Version#: 1.41.2.9200.72009200 (Synology)
Player Version#: 8.43 (iadOS)
Hi
I am reorganizing my Synology NAS and want to erase all data and change the Volumes & Folder structure. I’ve already backed up the movies & TV shows to external drives.
How do I backup/preserve the Plex metadata & status of the shows & movies I’ve watched,
so that after installing Plex on the NAS, the metadata & “watched” counts are preserved?
Thanks
Watched State: Enable Sync Watch State & Ratings
Plex Documentation → Account Information → Sync Watch State & Ratings
It is an account, not server, setting. Have anyone you share with enable it as well. Not supported for Managed Accounts.
Metadata
If you have custom artwork, descriptions, collections, etc., you need to save the Plex Data Folder from the current installation. This also saves watched status and ratings, but it is still a good idea to enable the Sync Watch Status feature mentioned above as a backup.
Use Hyper Backup to make a backup of the current Plex Data Folder. You’ll then restore after re-installing Plex (that’s the high level, there are other steps). Do not just copy the Plex Data Folder to a backup location. Using Hyper Backup preserves file permissions.
See Move an Install to Another System. Be sure to disable Empty Trash Automatically.
The Synology FAQ - Questions, Answers, and How-To’s also has useful information.
You can make an image (perfect) backup of everything
1, Install HyperBackup
2. Make a full backup of the PlexMediaServer shared folder to another destination folder (to hold the backup)
3. Perform any moving / reorganizing you want – but save that HyperBackup backup
4. When all is complete, RESTORE that backup. Hyperbackup will recreate & restore the PlexMediaServer shared folder
5.
Thanks @ChuckPa
So, to be a bit clearer. on the specific order of things…
Steps 6-9 are where I’m mostly concerned
This is the first time I’ve used Hyperbackup.
Is it normal for this screen to be displayed for a long time, when the progress bar already shows 100%?
The size of the backup is very small, only 16GB.
I’m running a backup now to confirm what you see.
I’ve not used HyperBackup in DSM 7.2.2 so want to be certain about what to expect.
Progress report. Here’s where it’s at.
It should complete within the next couple hours. (This is a little DS418j)
That 16GB backup took over an hour:
Your backup task Local Copy 1 is now complete.
Backup Task: Local Copy 1
Backup Destination: satashare1-1 / PlexMediaServer_HyperBackup
Start Time: Mon, Dec 9 2024 12:03:45
Duration: 1 hour 7 minutes 4 seconds
Whereas slightly more than 1 TB took
Your backup task TimeMachineBackup_HyperBackup is now complete.
Backup Task: TimeMachineBackup_HyperBackup
Backup Destination: satashare1-1 / TimeMachineBackup_HyperBackup
Start Time: Mon, Dec 9 2024 13:56:58
Duration: 3 hours 26 minutes 20 seconds
Mine finally finished.
Looking through the logs and watching it, I think they changed something about the verification, perhaps a second pass, after the main backup itself, is complete.
I was in front of the computer when the 1.X TB backup finished.
When the progress bar hit 100, the dialog box immediately showed that the copy completed.
On the 16GB backup, it took more than 30 minutes to show complete, after the progress bar hit 100%.
I’m glad to know about Hyper Backup now!
@FordGuy61
This worked great- using HyperBackup. My prior attempt just copying the folder failed
for some strange error.
Thanks!
I"m about to do the restore.
I’m being prompted to restore the system configuration, but don’t know if I should do that or not.
You’re correct. You do not want the system configuration.
You would only use that if you want to bring over most/all of the configuration from before.
not sure i understand why hyperbackup?
Cant one just copy or “pack” the Plex folder and move that one too somewhere else?
I would assume all work on the NAS is done from, windows or linux or some other “desktop”…
A file copy does not preserve ownership & permissions. If you copy the files, you have to reset ownership & permissions afterwards.
It’s not the video
Data that I’m referring to, it’s the metadata, watch states, artwork that I had to download manually in the PlexMediAServer directory that need special handling. When I tried copying that folder manually the copy failed for some permissions issue. Hyperbackup solved that effortlessly.
This is the first time
I’ve used Hyperbackup and I definitely recommended it.
Unless you run as ‘root’ on the Syno, and can create a tar backup, you will not have the permissions necessary to handle everything in the PlexMediaServer shared folder.
Mucking it up easily leads to a corrupted server.
HyperBackup runs as root, Provides a GUI, and recreates everything needed along the way.
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