Migration of Metadata from Windows to DSM 7.0 Plex

Plex Media Server NAS & Devices
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1

Server Version#: 1.23.6.4810 (windows) / 1.23.6.4810-15ce0e21a (Synology RS2416+)
Player Version#: N/A

I’ve read through most every thread regarding this at the moment, as well as @ChuckPa 's various threads and guides for migration of metadata for the older versions of DSM and PMS. I have a Windows server I have been using for quite some time, newly updated to the most current server version. I have a brand new (to me) Synology RS2416+, with a brand new fresh installation of the most current PMS version.

It appears that at the moment, there are no current instructions for migration of metadata from Windows to Synology. Is this correct? Any idea when I might be able to perform a migration? Is there a timeframe for a migration path?

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@cooterhatesyou

Please give me a bit here? There will be migration in the near future. DSM 7 is still very much “Wet Paint”.

The final changes to DSM 7 as it was released have given me something I can use.

I am overhauling the new DSM 7 package now to take advantage of it.

3

Cool, thanks Chuck! I just wanted to know if you had an idea of how it was looking. Big faith and love for you.

4

Yes, I have a plan. I’ll be backing off the forums a bit to focus on it.

  1. :boom:

  2. :beer:

  3. :sleeping_bed:

5

This is exactly what I’m looking to do as well, move from PMS on an old Windows laptop to a new install on a DS220+.
I’ve trawled through the other posts before coming across this one. Would I be right in thinking that the comment below will make the transfer of existing metadata way simpler, and I should hold fire on trying to transition for a few days/weeks?

An upcoming release will move the Plex data folder to a new shared folder, /PlexMediaServer , the equivalent of /Plex when running DSM 6.

https://forums.plex.tv/t/synology-dsm-7-release-plex-installation-issues/719845/1365

6

As the new release today marks major changes to databases and Synology support, is the release at the time the one referenced above? Is there a migration path from Windows to Synology?

7

@cooterhatesyou

There is a path.

It’s not “drop in & go” easy because all the pathnames are completely different structure.

Linux is very strict on file permissions where Windows is not.

If you’re OK with that and willing to take the time to walk through, repeating the process for each library section you have defined, then there is a path.

8

For sure, I’m expecting something similar.

Hit me with those sweet sweet instructions.

9

Here we go – Ride the wild software time.

On Windows

  1. Turn off all automatic updating
  2. Disable “Empty Trash”
  3. Save those settings
  4. Stop Plex
    (we’re about to clone it)
  5. Create a ZIP file of the “Plex Media Server” folder (the one that contains all the metadata underneath it)

On DSM

  1. Create a shared folder named Plex (case sensitive)
  2. In that shared folder, create this structure (old DSM 6 'cuz it’s easiest)
Plex/
  Library/
    Application Support/

  1. Copy the ZIP file to the Plex shared folder

  2. Unzip the ZIP

  3. After unzipping move the contents if needed to product the following structure

Plex/
  Library/
    Application Support/
      Plex Media Server     <-- this will have come from Windows machine

  1. Download PlexMediaServer from https://plex.tv/downloads for your Syno

  2. Manual install that SPK file

  3. As it installs, it will find the “Plex” shared folder and immediately (while installing) start migrating it to the DSM 7 structure.

  4. Depending on how much data you have, you might be here a few minutes → hours → whenever.

  5. Open a new window to the Synology, Open the Plex share. Look at the file “Migration.log” . You’ll be able to follow the progress

In case you need to see the steps about granting permissions.

10

After migration is complete and Plex “Claimed”:

  1. Give SystemInternalUser “PlexMediaServer” permission to read your media files (control panel - shared folders )

  2. For each library section

  • Edit the folder settings
  • ADD the new locations (Don’t delete the original yet)
  • Save that
  • Let PMS scan and find the files in their with pathnames
  1. When all are done,
  • Remove the old windows path
  • Let it scan again
  1. Scan files
  2. Empty Trash
  3. Clean bundles
  4. Optimize database
  5. Turn automatic back on
11

Yeah my biggest issue is that a.) I’m already on DSM 7, and b.) Plex is already installed.

I can rip Plex out, if I do so, will it see the “old” file structure and “migrate” it into “new” format?

12

which PMS version is installed ?

If you’re on 1.23.6, I’d really like to prepare to bring you to 1.24.2.4973 or above.

13

HA I lied, I had already uninstalled it, expecting to wait on you to finish being awesome. I can go straight to whatever required version, and create the relevant metadata share before install

14

:slight_smile:

Sounds like a plan.

The installer will always look for a “Plex” shared folder to pull from.

If you “happen” to create a populated one before installing, it won’t know or care and do a migration just as if it were DSM 6 (which is what I wanted)

15

Just purchased a Synology DS920+ and plan to migrate my Windows 10 PMS to it so I can keep all my metadata. I had already installed PMS for Synology DSM 7 Intel 64 v1.24.5.5160 before reading this thread, but haven’t set up anything on it yet. So, I will uninstall PMS from the NAS before following ChuckPa’s instructions above. Thanks, man!

17

I’m a little confused here. The instructions from @trumpy81 seem to conflict somewhat with those of @ChuckPa. For example, ChuckPa suggests moving the PMS folder before installing the Plex package on the NAS so the package installer can process the PMS folder contents, but trumpy81’s instructions state to install the Plex package on the NAS first. Also, the path for the PMS folder in trumpy81’s instructions doesn’t match what I saw as the path created by the Plex package before I uninstalled it.

19

Chuck is a developer. Trumpy is not. Make your own determination.

20

Well, it looks like @trumpy81 has removed the instructions they posted that I was confused about above. trumpy81 had also replied to my comment, correcting the PMS folder path and stating that @ChuckPa’s instructions were probably referring to migrating from DMS 6 to 7. That reply is also removed. Unfortunately, I had begun following trumpy81’s instructions (which were also posted on several other threads but are also now removed). It looks like I will now need to uninstall Plex once again from my NAS and start over following ChuckPa’s instructions, which I probably should have followed to begin with.

21

@bryanhbell

Let me get caught up please.

I will be taking over for Trumpy.

Please tell me where you are at in the process.
I will craft custom instructions to take you the rest of the way.

To be clear; Migration only occurs when PMS is installing, not after.

22

@ChuckPa Thanks for offering to craft custom instructions, but I don’t require it. I’m sure you’re very busy. I don’t mind starting the installation over. Here’s where I am at:

  1. I have copied my libraries from my Windows server to my new NAS.
  2. I have installed PMS For Synology DSM 7 Intel 64-Bit v1.24.5.5173-8dcc73a59 on my new NAS.
  3. I have zipped up the PMS folder on my Windows server and moved the zipped file to my new NAS.
  4. I am currently unzipping it to Plex Media Server/App Data/. It is large, so it is taking a while to unzip.

What I was going to do from here is wait for the unzip to finish and then create the Plex shared folder and move the unzipped Plex Media Server directory to Plex/Library/Application Support/. Then, I was going to uninstall PMS from my NAS and re-install it again so the installer can process my metadata in the “old” Plex directory.