PMS Synology - location of deleted files

Plex Media Server NAS & Devices
1

Server Version#: 1.30.0.6486
Synology DMS Version#: DSM 7.1.1-42962 Update 3

For most TV shows, I have enabled that episodes get deleted automatically by PMS after a day; this works but where do the deleted files actually go? I can’t see them in any recycle bin on my NAS.

I used to use a Mac mini to run PMS and there I always found the deleted episodes in the bin; but I’ve switched to using a NAS recently and noticed that deleted files seems to vanish.

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To enable Recycle Bin for a shared folder:

  1. Go to Control Panel > Shared Folder. Select a shared folder and click Edit.
  2. Tick the Enable Recycle Bin checkbox.
  3. Tick Restrict access to administrators only if you want Recycle Bin to be accessible for administrators only.
  4. Click OK to save the settings.

To empty Recycle Bin for a shared folder:

  1. Go to Control Panel > Shared Folder. Select a shared folder and click Edit.
  2. Click the Empty Recycle Bin button to remove all deleted files in the recycle bin permanently.

To empty all Recycle Bins:

  1. Go to Control Panel > Shared Folder.
  2. Click Action > Empty all Recycle Bins to remove deleted files in all recycle bins permanently.

Note:

  • You can configure the privilege settings of the Recycle Bin folder. Go to File Station, select a shared folder, right-click on the #recycle folder, choose Properties, and click on the Permission tab.
3

thanks @JaysPlex - I’m aware of this and this is already configured

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But this is all I can see in the recycle bin:

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Permissions for the recycle bin are set for all to have full access

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4

There are two ways to delete files on Synology

  1. Through their API which will put them in the Recycle Bin
  2. A hard Linux ‘delete’ (the default)

Plex uses the Linux form for portability with all Linux-based platforms.

5

ah - thanks @ChuckPa - at least that explains why those files simply vanish; would be nice for Plex to utilise the recycle bin so that it matches the behaviour on other platforms like macOS;

something like this could work:

if [ -d “…/#recycle” ]; then cmd=‘mv foo.mp4 …/#recycle’; else cmd=‘rm foo.mp4’; fi; exec $cmd

you would need a bit more logic to find where the bin is as the starting dir could be much deeper down but essentially this could easily be done.

6

@mw4925

You’re correct… It would need more logic…

And then we’d also have the “Why doesn’t PMS manage my recycle bin after I delete files?” problem.

Mac’s are what they are. Linux NAS boxes are that. unlink() is universal to all.

PMS would need custom code for this on every platform and all the different versions of the various APIs . :fire: Would you like to maintain that code ?

The alternative here is to change the setting in Setting - Server - Library and turn “Allow media deletion” OFF, true?

Before you ask, YES, there was a huge debate about whether it should be ON or OFF by default.

The LiveTV/DVR side of that won. When you’re done watching a recorded program, if you hit “delete” - it works.

Personally, I dont’ give PMS R/W permission for my media.

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thanks @ChuckPa - at least I know how it works now

btw, do you happen to know if PMS behaves on a QNAP NAS the same way as on the Synology NAS when it comes to deleting episodes?

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It behaves the same way. Most NAS vendors use Linux.

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