Moving plex server to new HW

Plex Media Server
1

Hi

Trying to move my plex server from a pie4 to a x86. Have dietpi installed on both with plex running OK.
I’d now like to move all the data files to the new unit (libraries, seen, etc).

I have copied /var/lib/plexmediaserver/Library/Application Support/Plex Media Server from one to the other. But the server then doesn’t start…

Help appreciated

2

on the new system:

sudo chown -R plex:plex /var/lib/plexmediaserver

UID / GID always changes from system to system.

1 Like
3

This presumes I have to copy “/var/lib/plexmediaserver” from the old to the new server, right? With everything in it…

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4

OK. Copied all run the command and the server starts. But plex app doesn’t find it. Also http://xxxx:32400/web/.

Also the old one isn’t found if the new one is running (both have different IP’s). I’d like to be able to run both concurrently. What do I have to change and where on the new one.

Thx in advance!!

5

I responded to what you stated you have already done.
Is this not the case?

6

Yes but I deleted and recopied all. Both servers now have equal data in /var/lib/plexmediaserver. Chown done.

But I can’t find the new server in the browser and the old one only if the new one isn’t running.
So I presume I have to edit a file in the new server for both to show.

7

Good. now we can address that.

  1. You “cloned” the original to be the new. This means they’re both using the same ID numbers at Plex.tv
  2. Because the ID numbers are the same, Plex.tv thinks they are the same server.
  3. Plex/Web , which reads from Plex.tv, will only show one of them.

You have two choices but one is much easier than the other.

Easiest:

  1. Stop Plex on the new machine
  2. Delete Preferences.xml
  3. Sign out of Plex/web (upper right corner)
  4. Start Plex on the new
  5. Open it by IP address
  6. Begin the setup wizard but DO NOT create new library sections.
  7. Continue through the setup wizard to verify/set any preferences.
  8. Arrive at the dashboard.
  9. Restart the first server.
  10. Settings - Authorized Devices - Server (Dropdown)
  11. Find the older (check the “last seen” field) and remove the older instance names which previously colided.
8

Thanks! Both servers online now.

Is there a way to keep them in sync? I I tomorrow want to copy all again I just hav to keep the new “Preferences.xml” instead of overwriting and both servers won’t collide again, right?

9

No. Plex doesn’t work that way.
The database is not distributed / shareable across multiple hosts.

If you want them in sync, have them share the same media.
That’s the best you can hope for.

10

What are you trying to Sync between the two?
If you want to Sync your watched history then use Track TV

11

Ideally the library and seen status. I see that I can’t sync directly.
I was meaning syncing via copying the folders under /var/lib/plexmediaserver… (with plex stopped of course).

12

OK. Repeating the question (without wanting to be a pita):
I tomorrow want to copy all again I just have to keep the new “Preferences.xml” instead of overwriting and both servers won’t collide again, right?

13

“Preferences.xml” contains the server’s identity.

If you preserve that information, you are free to copy the other data.

14

Great! Thank You.

15

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