New hard drive install. Trying to move all media files and the PMS database

Plex Media Server
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Server Version#: 1.21.1.3876
Player Version#: 1.25.0.1511-47afccd4

**TLDR: **
1. (SOLVED) I need help/confirmation regarding moving PMS application data and editing registry keys.
2. (SOLVED) I need advice on moving multiple libraries and making sure that the play history etc is properly tagged to these media files in their new location.

It seems that sources on the site are slightly out of date or some offer conflicting information. I hope to get this figured out in the thread below and offer help to anyone else experiencing the same issues. I want to make my HDD->SDD transition as seamless as possible, but having a couple of issues along the way.

I have plex running on an external hard disk drive (HDD) and I’m finally able to upgrade to an internal solid-state drive SSD. I’ve poked around here and found the following related topics.

I found one link that brought me to general server info and it matched my setup, but it was missing the critical piece of info I needed to find… the path where local app data is stored. I was able to find one registry entry showing the path that I’m currently using, but I don’t know how to tell the Plex server that I want to move it. Does editing the registry key do everything I need?

I clicked the button to identify the article as not helpful just to notify mods. I sent the following text and got a response within minutes.

Based on this article, Settings > Server > General should include “The Path where Local Application Data is Stored”. That button does not exist on my plex server. I checked my registry and see that I currently have LocalAppDataPath set to H:\Plex\AppData. I can not find where to change these settings in the server and I’m trying to change from external HDD to internal SSD.

Response received from Tom80H Plex Ninja (Moderator)

Thanks for letting us know.
The early posts indeed refer to an older version of this. Further in the thread is a reference to a conclusive explanation/procedure on how to move that (setting is currently only available as an advanced/hidden setting; needs to be changed directly in the Registry)

EDIT Tom80H included this link and somehow I missed it. This should take care of moving the PMS Application Data. Moving the plex database to a new drive - #7 by OttoKerner

My next concern is to get all of my media files from the HDD over to the SSD. I’ve got enough room with the new 2TB SSD. I intend to just copy-paste the data. I don’t want to lose play history, movie ratings, or any other data that I have been accumulating in the server over the past couple of years. What is the best way to migrate all of my (multiple) library’s data to the new location and not confuse the database?

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If your SSD is large enough to accomodate all data which are currently on the external drive, it is easy enough to clone the drive and then switch the drive letters around so that the SSD has the drive letter which the external drive has before.

Don’t try to move too many things at once. Chances are that you’ll confuse things if you haven’t done the procedure yet.

Btw. there is not really a necessity to put media files onto an SSD.
I’d put the Plex data folder onto an SSD, yes. But for media files it feels like a giant waste.

3

I’ll be updating my post shortly, seems as though Tom80H had sent me some links that I overlooked. However, his response only addresses issue #1 of 2 (where my plex app data is stored). My other concern, moving the media files is still a toss-up.

Unfortunately, I can’t clone the drive because the source HDD is 6TB. That drive is also used for data storage of several other apps so I’m a bit leery about reassigning drive letters.

Duly noted… I’ll focus on the Plex Server application data first.

My objectives here are to minimize any excessive wear to my HDD, and to have an internal solution for all my plex stuff instead of an external USB connected device that kids have been known to yank on. So first of all, every night at 3 am, plex runs through its scheduled tasks. I can audibly hear the HDD grinding away for a while as it goes through its process. If I move only the plex application data to the SSD, will that no longer be as prevalent? The SSD was my solution for minimizing wear on a cheap HDD that I bought for minimal use and weekly backups. Alternatively, I considered a WD Red instead of an SSD, but squeezing it into my HTPC tiny case seemed like a PITA. I realize that this is a subjective topic… I’m open to suggestions. If I find a better use of my SSD rather than just holding movie files and music, that’s great. I was just unsure of the lifespan of my external HDD being used extensively every day.

4

Yes, the scheduled tasks are accessing the data folder a lot more. So there will be definitely less noise with an SSD.
But some tasks are also accessing your media files. But that is very “light” usage, since the files are being read linearly from start to finish. Never randomly, like it is with e.g. databases etc.
So the load produced by (usually only) “reading” media files is very low and should pose no issue for any kind of disk drives.
A drive which can’t even handle that kind of load needs to be removed from your setup, urgently :wink:

5

Mods can mark this one closed. The most beneficial tutorial I found was in the following post: [HowTo] An extended guide on how to move the Plex data folder on Windows

I missed the step about updating the registry for PlexUpdateService, but once I re-read the guide, it was an easy fix. Now all is well and new media has been added without issues. I’ve decided to leave all my media files where they are, so that removes the second issue I had mentioned.

Thanks to the guide above, I was able to get my PMS application data moved to my SSD. I was surprised to see that it was 20+ GB of data. Having moved it over, I’ve noticed a significant decrease in the read/write and general data access to my external hard drive. It is a $100 Seagate and I trust it for data storage, but I was concerned that it was being over-used. I do not like the fact that all my media is on the external drive – kids have already knocked it over a time or two. But until I can find a decent 2.5" drive that fits in my SFF HTPC, I will live with it as it is.

Thanks again to those who took the time to help me.

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