Migration from Windows to Synology NAS

[life.without.music.i.cant.go]

Continuing the discussion from Migration of Metadata from Windows to DSM 7.0 Plex:

@ChuckPa

My instructions above

Here we go – Ride the wild software time. On Windows Turn off all automatic updating Disable “Empty Trash” Save those settings Stop Plex (we’re about to clone it) Create a ZIP file of the “Plex Media Server” folder (the one that contains all the metadata underneath it) On DSM Create a shared folder named Plex (case sensitive) In that shared folder, create this structure (old DSM 6 'cuz it’s easiest) Plex/ Library/ Application Support/ Copy the ZIP file to the Plex shared fo…

Are correct.

@ChuckPa Is this still true in Feb 2024? The referenced thread closed two years ago
Server Version#:
Player Version#:
<If providing server logs please do NOT turn on verbose logging, only debug logging should be enabled>

[ChuckPa]

Yes, the process is unchanged.

You need to get the Windows server files in the Plex/Library/Application Support/Plex Media Server structure, and with the permissions for PlexMediaServer to have ‘Full Control’ permissions so the DSM 7 installation package can do what it needs to do.

What’s happening is we’re placing the windows files where DSM 6 server files would be. The installer sees those files and does a normal import/migration into DSM 7

You can also refer here:

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

FAQ 26 - Migrate from another OS → DSM 7 Migrating from another PMS installaton to Synology DSM 7 requires a little bit of up-front work. The basic procedure is: Prepare the existing installation for copying Create a “Plex” shared folder on DSM which will be the base share for importing. Create the folders “Plex/Library/Application Support” Copy the “Plex Media Server” folder and contents into “Application Support” Manually set permissions of the Plex share, and all files in the shared fo…

[life.without.music.i.cant.go]

@ChuckPa

@ChuckPa

2. Create a “Plex” shared folder on DSM which will be the base share for importing.
3. Create the folders “Plex/Library/Application Support”

I want to verify ^^^

After I create the shared folder “Plex”, I then create a regular folder “Plex” followed by “Library” & “Application Support” or is the regular folder “Plex” redundant?

Server Version#:
Player Version#:
<If providing server logs please do NOT turn on verbose logging, only debug logging should be enabled>

[ChuckPa]

1. Create Shared Folder Plex
2. In it, create: Library/Application Support
3. Copy Plex Media Server into Application Support

Now you’ll need to uninstall + erase the DSM 7 package you have installed.
If you don’t have it installed, then install and immediately Uninstall + Erase.
(There is a race condition and this is the only way to get around it in DSM 7)

Once the “System Internal User” PlexMediaServer exists, everything will go normally.

[life.without.music.i.cant.go]

Thanks for getting back to me. I’m going to give this a go with a fresh install. Crossing my fingers that my next post will say that all went well and I finally have a successful migration. If not I will probably have more questions

[ChuckPa]

The race condition is dumb.

1. You need to grant PlexMediaServer Full Control of the files before installing the DSM 7 app.

2. If this is the first install then there is no PlexMediaServer user.

3. DSM 7 will create the PlexMediaServer user for us at first install attempt but that’s too late for you to set the permissions.

This is the result of Synology stripping everyone’s privileges and forcing us to change username and shared folder in DSM 7. Such a waste

[life.without.music.i.cant.go]

@ChuckPa

So just to be clear >>>

Manual install latest PMS version for DSM7+

Create afore mentioned folders / path

Place Windows files

Verify that PlexMediaServer user exists.

Uninstall PMS

Reinstall PMS

Change permissions to allow PlexMediaServer user access to files.

Scan files and watch the magic happen

[ChuckPa]

Sorry for delay, was AFK.

PlexMediaServer must have “FULL CONTROL” of all folders and files in the Plex shared folder

See below.. You can apply this from FileStation → Properties as well.

1. PlexMediaServer FULL CONTROL acl defined
2. “Apply to this folder, sub-folders, and files” checkbox

[life.without.music.i.cant.go]

@ChuckPa

I finally made this happen. Previously, I had only given the PlexMediaServer user full control starting with the Plex Media Server folder and subs. I realized my mistake this morning when I saw your last post. Edited to allow full control to Plex shared folder and all subs etc. Followed by a fresh install and the magic happened.

Thanks so much for your assistance and for sticking with me until I got it sorted out. Much appreciated

Edit: Two quick questions >>>

1. When setting automatic scans should I tick the box for “include music libraries in automatic updates”? This is an additional setting from Windows to Linux and it warns that it may cause problems with large music libraries, so I’m not sure.

2. Once I’m completely satisfied that everything is in good order I want to delete my old server from my Windows laptop. What is the best way to go about that? I’m only familiar with “authorized devices” and not sure if that will actually delete the server.

Thanks again!!

[FordGuy61]

@life.without.music.i.cant.go

Once I’m completely satisfied that everything is in good order I want to delete my old server from my Windows laptop. What is the best way to go about that? I’m only familiar with “authorized devices” and not sure if that will actually delete the server.

Plex Documentation → Uninstall Plex Media Server

After uninstalling, check Authorized Devices. If the server is still listed, delete it.

[life.without.music.i.cant.go]

@FordGuy61

I don’t plan to uninstall Plex from my laptop. I just want to eliminate the server because I just migrated to a NAS. Does removing it from authorized devices actually delete the server? Or does it just make it inaccessible? Is this the ONLY way to delete a server?

[FordGuy61]

Removing a Plex Media Server from Authorized Devices removes it from your Plex account. Nothing is deleted from your laptop (the software is not uninstalled).

Afterwards, if you launch Plex Media Server on the laptop, it will be in an unclaimed state.

[life.without.music.i.cant.go]

@FordGuy61

Afterwards, if you launch Plex Media Server on the laptop, it will be in an unclaimed state.

This sounds to me like the server is just being abandoned and left to be claimed again.

What I want to do is to make it non-existent, or as close to that as possible, but I want to keep Plex on my laptop to interface with the new server on my NAS. I’m also keeping a copy of my media on my laptop as backup.

What I’m considering doing is, first, removing the old server from authorized devices, then deleting all Plex related files from my laptop, with the exception of the executable. Or maybe it would be better to uninstall Plex from the laptop, then delete any files left behind, followed by a clean installation.

Thoughts?

[FordGuy61]

@life.without.music.i.cant.go

@FordGuy61

Afterwards, if you launch Plex Media Server on the laptop, it will be in an unclaimed state.

This sounds to me like the server is just being abandoned and left to be claimed again.

Exactly. Removing the server from Authorized Devices unclaims the server and removes it from your Plex account.

@life.without.music.i.cant.go

What I want to do is to make it non-existent, or as close to that as possible, but I want to keep Plex on my laptop to interface with the new server on my NAS. I’m also keeping a copy of my media on my laptop as backup.

Not sure what you are trying to accomplish.

There is no server to server communication. Each Plex Media Server is independent of any other Plex Media Server server.

If you want to keep PMS on the PC as a backup / test / whatever server, that is perfectly fine and supported. Leave PMS installed on the PC and configured to not run at startup. Claim it so it is assigned to your account. When you want to use PMS on the PC just launch the server and you’re good to go.

Example:

I have two Plex servers.

The primary server runs on an Ubuntu based PC. This is the server I use to watch media and that I share with friends and family. It runs 24x7.

The secondary server runs on a NAS. I use it to test new PMS features/releases before updating the primary server. It also servers as an emergency backup in case the primary server were to fail. The server is claimed. No libraries are shared with friends/family. Also, no libraries are pinned to any of my client Home screens. I can access the server any time I want by scrolling down to “more” on one of my clients. If the primary server were to fail, I can easily share libraries from the backup with friends/family until the primary is back online.

[life.without.music.i.cant.go]

@FordGuy61

Not sure what you are trying to accomplish

I explained fairly clearly what I want to accomplish, but I’ll be more specific.

I originally started Plex with a server on my Windows laptop. Then I got a NAS and created a new server by migrating all of the settings, metadata etc. from the Windows server to the NAS. At this point I basically have duplicate servers on two separate devices. This means that all of the files associated with the original server exist in two places. Now that I’m confident that the migration was successfull and that I won’t need the old server any longer, I want to eliminate any trace of the original Windows server from my laptop. If for no other reason than the fact that those files take up space. That would include, basically, all of the files that I copied over to the NAS and yet still exist on the laptop, along with other files that I’m potentially not aware of (yet).

As I also stated before, I plan to keep my media files on my laptop merely as a backup, but they will no longer be accessed by Plex in any way. I also want to keep a “blank” instance of Plex on my laptop, simply as an interface for the PMS that resides on the NAS.

I hope this is clear enough.

Tell me if you think there is any reason that what I proposed doing in my previous post is not a good idea.

[FordGuy61]

@life.without.music.i.cant.go

I want to eliminate any trace of the original Windows server from my laptop.

This is easy. Uninstall as previously mentioned.

@life.without.music.i.cant.go

I also want to keep a “blank” instance of Plex on my laptop, simply as an interface for the PMS that resides on the NAS.

There is no reason to do that.

There is no interface between Plex Media Server on your laptop and Plex Media Server on your NAS. You do not need PMS on the laptop to manage PMS on the NAS, stream from PMS on the NAS, etc.

Don’t confuse Plex Media Server and the Plex clients such as Plex Web and Plex for Windows Desktop.

The clients and the server are independent of each other.

If you want to watch something on your laptop, point a browser at https://ip.of.nas:32400/web or https://app.plex.tv/desktop or use Plex for Windows. It will stream the file from the NAS to your laptop.

If you have PMS on your laptop it will not be involved in the process. It would have zero knowledge of the process.

[life.without.music.i.cant.go]

Thank you

[life.without.music.i.cant.go]

@FordGuy61

This is easy. Uninstall as previously mentioned.

JSYK an uninstall of PMS from my Windows laptop did not eliminate all of the associated files. After the uninstall I went to the AppData/Local folder and the 11.5 GB folder Plex Media Server still exists.

I understand the rest of what you said. PMS and Plex Web are two different things. I was talking about keeping PMS on my laptop as an easy way to open Plex Web. I do understand that there are other ways to access Plex Web. And I realize that keeping PMS installed is overkill for that purpose. A simple bookmark will suffice

[FordGuy61]

@life.without.music.i.cant.go

JSYK an uninstall of PMS from my Windows laptop did not eliminate all of the associated files. After the uninstall I went to the AppData/Local folder and the 11.5 GB folder Plex Media Server still exists.

@FordGuy61

Plex Documentation → Uninstall Plex Media Server

There are also some Windows registry entries you can remove. See the Uninstall document.

@life.without.music.i.cant.go

I understand the rest of what you said. PMS and Plex Web are two different things.

FYI, if you’re going to watch media on your PC, try Plex Desktop instead of Plex Web. Plex Desktop looks like Plex Web, but is much more capable. It uses the mpv.io player and direct plays most video/audio/subtitle formats. The NAS will not have to transcode as much when using Plex Desktop instead of Plex Web.

Download: https://www.plex.tv/media-server-downloads/?cat=plex+desktop&plat=windows#plex-app
Documentation: https://support.plex.tv/articles/categories/player-apps-platforms/windows-mac-desktop/

[life.without.music.i.cant.go]

@FordGuy61

I do appreciate your assistance. I have a difficult time understanding, however, why I had to go back and forth with you several times about wanting to do a complete uninstall of PMS from my laptop, when you could have easily pointed me to the uninstall link the very first time you chimed in on my post.

Regardless, I’m glad you eventually did and I thank you for the information. All is well.