# Move Plex Server from Linux to Linux VM

**URL:** <https://forums.plex.tv/t/move-plex-server-from-linux-to-linux-vm/883503>\
**Category:** Plex Media Server\
**Tags:** server-linux\
**Created:** [July 25, 2024, 2:10pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/move-plex-server-from-linux-to-linux-vm/883503 "2024-07-25T14:10:04Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Showing post:** 2

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**Author:** ![ChuckPa](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/chuckpa/32/79710_2.png) [@ChuckPa](https://forums.plex.tv/u/ChuckPa)\
**Post date:** [July 25, 2024, 5:22pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/move-plex-server-from-linux-to-linux-vm/883503/2 "2024-07-25T17:22:49Z")

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One of the beauties of Linux is the simplicity of doing this.

1. Stop Plex
2. sudo bash
3. cd /var/lib/plexmediaserver
4. tar cf /home/PlexBackup.tar ./Library ( I presume `/home` is safe & has enough space for this)
5. Now copy/move “PlexBackup.tar” somewhere safe or directly into the new VM
6. Recreate the equivalent existing media mount points into the VM so PMS won’t know or care that you’ve moved it into the VM.
7. Install PMS in the VM and immediately stop it
8. Restore the tar ball back into the VM’s /var/lib/plexmediaserver
9. Confirm everything is chown -R plex:plex
10. away you go

You’re effectively cloning the real machine into the VM. 😉

> [@Linux Tips](https://forums.plex.tv/t/linux-tips/276247/7):
>
> Backup, Restore, or Clone your PMS installation Backing up your PMS data involves the same steps you’ll need if you were to clone your PMS and take to a new computer, reinstall the operating system, or just want a backup for safe keeping. Making the Backup (General Steps) Stop PMS Invoke the root shell Create the backup image Copy the image to the new system, perform your OS reinstallation, or whatever task you need Restoring a backup image (General Steps) (Re)install PMS itself if on a ne…

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