Server Version#: v.1.41.3.9314-a0bfb8370
DSM 7.1.1-42962 Update 7
In short: I cannot stop or uninstall PMS on DSM, or manage it in any way. I want to completely remove PMS from my NAS.
I started on the most recent version of DSM 6.x using PMS which I installed from the package manager and everything worked fine until I realized DSM 6 was EOL’d and I had to update to 7. Here’s an account of what has happened so far:
Updated (twice) to the latest DSM, re-installed Plex as prompted. Accidentally chose the ‘claim server’ option during the re-install. My old plex server is now gone (I don’t mind), and a new empty one is in its place. I tried to follow instructions to update permissions via the plex website, but none of them worked. At this point, the plex server runs, but it cannot be managed in any way via DSM. Someone on reddit suggested installing the latest SPK from the website on top of the existing install. I did that and it is now at the latest verison, and it prompted me with clear and correct instructions on fixing the permissions issues which I was able to follow. I can now add media to the new PMS and everything on it runs perfectly fine.
The problem is that I cannot manage PMS in any way via DSM. Clicking on the entry in package manager just shows a partially blank entry and none of the options (start, stop, update, repair, uninstall, etc) do anything. If I browse around in package manager, clicking on different apps, and then click back onto PMS, it actually shows the entry for whatever the last app I looked at is, instead of any information for PMS. It’s like the whole app is in an umanageable state.
I have no interest in recovering this installation, I just want a complete and clean removal from my NAS. Let me know what other info I can provide to help track down the issue.
You are running into two issues: First, updating from DSM 6 to DSM 7 forced Plex to make changes in how PMS is installed; Second, the buggy DSM 7.1.1 Update 7 and corresponding Package Center problems.
DSM & Package Center
If your NAS supports DSM 7.2 or DSM 7.2.2, then updating to one of those versions of DSM resolves the problems with Package Center. If you update to DSM 7.2.2, then you must download and install the DSM 7.2.2 specific version of Plex Media Server from plex.tv.
If staying on DSM 7.1.1 Update 7, use the Linux command line (SSH) to start/stop/uninstall Plex Media Server. See the thread linked by @tom80H for details.
If running DSM 7.1.1 Update 7, you will have to use the command line to stop/uninstall Plex Media Server.
In Step 5, you will not be able to uninstall & erase. Instead, uninstall using the command line, then, using File Manager, delete the contents of the PlexMediaServer (not Plex) shared folder.
Completely Removing Plex Media Server
If you wish to completely remove Plex Media Server and are running DSM 7.1.1 Update 7:
Stop Plex Media Server via the command line (synopkg stop …).
Uninstall Plex Media Server via the command line (synopkg uninstall …)
Control Panel → Shared Folders: Delete the PlexMediaServer shared folder. If the Plex shared folder exists (from DSM 6), then delete it as well.
Note 1: Use sudo to run synopkg as root. You will need the admin password for the NAS.
Note 2: synopkg has many options. Issue the command without any arguments to see all the options ($ synopkg).
Thanks for all the great info and help to everyone in this thread. I was able to stop the plex service using the synopkg commands, and that enabled me to uninstall it using the package manager UI. I asked it to completely remove all traces of the app but of course it left a lot of mess, but it should be pretty easy to clean up, and indeed plex is no longer running! My device doesn’t support 7.2.2, but I look forward to the update coming soon that hopefully cleans up this issue, but I will definitely use Docker or run apps on other devices going forward. Cheers!
