Moved plex to a new server, and now I can't get it back online

General Discussions
1

I moved my Plex configuration to a new server today, following this guide: https://support.plex.tv/articles/201370363-move-an-install-to-another-system/

My old server was Ubuntu 16.04, and the new server us Ubuntu 18.04

After moving the files, I started the server and it was online (I could see all my content). However, the guide suggested that I sign my server out, and back in. After signing it out, it disappeared. When I access it via IP:32400, I can only see my friend’s servers (mine is not in the list), and I can’t see the server tab in Settings.

I then tried following this guide, to no avail: https://support.plex.tv/articles/204281528-why-am-i-locked-out-of-server-settings-and-how-do-i-get-in/

I tried renaming Preferences.xml, and letting the application create a new one. After doing this, when I connect to the IP:32400, it looks for servers for about 5 seconds, and then says my server is not available. But my server (and only my server) shows up in the list. If I go to Settings > Server, I get a “Server settings unavailable” page.

Any ideas how I can restore services? The new server is on exactly the same IP/port as my previous server, so this is not a firewall/port forwarding issue. While it is not on the same network as my client (It’s in a DMZ), I did try moving it to the inside network (same as client), and had the exact same experience. I also verified that my client network is listed in the allowedNetworks value, as it was prior to the server move.

2

When you moved the files from one system to another UID/GID is the first thing to change. Did you reset ownership of all files and directories in /var/lib/plexmediaserver to the new plex:plex UID/GID ?

Additionally: Cloning will cause this type overload of naming. Care must be taken to avoid the old masking the new.

3

@ChuckPA said:
When you moved the files from one system to another UID/GID is the first thing to change. Did you reset ownership of all files and directories in /var/lib/plexmediaserver to the new plex:plex UID/GID ?

I did a “chown -R plex:plex *” from the /var/lib/plexmediaserver, and verified that the ownership was correct afterwards. The service is running, and the page is accessible on 32400. I just can’t see my server on the page (ironically).

4

I should also add that I tried shutting the new server down, and brought the old server back online as a test. I have exactly the same experience with the old server. Is there some way to reset the “link” between the server and my account?

5

Resetting the link =

  1. Settings - Devices - Delete the server ID you want gone
  2. Go to Settings - Server - General on that server, sign it out, sign it back in. The new server UUID/particulars will be updated at Plex.tv
6

@ChuckPA said:
Resetting the link =

  1. Settings - Devices - Delete the server ID you want gone
  2. Go to Settings - Server - General on that server, sign it out, sign it back in. The new server UUID/particulars will be updated at Plex.tv

I was able to remove the server from the devices list. My shared disappeared (as expected), but I still cannot see my server in the Settings > Server tab. In fact, since doing that, I can’t see the Server tab at all, and I don’t see my server in the list of servers.

7

I fixed it… The problem was the fact that I am not using an RFC1918 address (10.0.0.0/8, 172.16.0.0/12, 192.168.0.0/16) for the server network. I created a 10.0.0.x network, and placed the server and my client in that network. I was immediately able to access the server interface, and claim the server.

This should be changed in the way Plex handles networks. I had my network included in the allowedNetworks statement in Preferences.xml, but it was ignoring it because the server and client were not on private networks.

Thanks for your help, though. I probably wouldn’t have gotten it working if you hadn’t shown me how to delete my server from the devices list (and then be allowed to reclaim it).

8

Ok… Somehow Preferences.xml was corrupted in the move. If the new server IP is on the same subnet as the old, this also explains why you can’t see Settings - Server. (Remember RFC1918 rules regarding subnets as this is what governs which clients can see and ‘unclaimed’ server. Are both on the same subnet as defined by the netmask?)

  1. Stop PMS on the new system
  2. mv Preferences.xml Preferences.xml.old
  3. Start the new PMS
  4. Open http://ip.addr.of.server:32400/web
  5. Sign in and BEGIN the new setup (we’re only performing a soft restart)
  6. Proceed through as if setting up the server, giving it a new temporary name for now, but DO NOT create any new shares. Your existing shares will be waiting for you
  7. Upon completing the setup wizard, you’ll arrive at the dashboard and see all your shares.
  8. Settings - Server is now visible to you (it’s claimed as yours)
  9. Review all your preferences as some will have been reset in the soft-reset
  10. Settings - Devices will now allow you to more clearly see any old instances of server(s). Delete as appropriate
  11. Rename the new temporary name to take the name you wish it to have.
9

In the time it took me to write the reply, HAHAHAHA :slight_smile:

Good deal… All resolved.

10

I’m sorry, man! Thanks for taking the time to write up the reply! That surely would’ve led me there, if I wasn’t already changing the network.