Porting database from Windows Linux

Plex Media Server Desktops & Laptops
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1

I know I can copy my Plex Media Server database from one Windows install to another by copying it over.

However I am jumping from Windows 10 to Debian based Linux in the next few weeks.

Can I just copy the database from Windows to Linux as with windows or do I need to create a new database?

Also, does Linux support hardware transcoding like the Windows version of Plex media server does?

2

@bfldworker

You have a long haul ahead of you.

  1. All pathnames and structures are different.
  2. Linux doesn’t have “Drive letters”.

The list goes on.

How skilled are you with Linux?

3

I am skilled, but not as skilled as I am with windows.
I want to move from Windows 10 mainly because Linux is has better stability, the hardware I am using won’t be supported by Windows 11, it runs better headless, I don’t have to reboot once a day, week, month or year, less malware to worry about, Linux support ZFS which I need for RAID cause right now I have raid 0 going and I want and need fault tolerance.

And I don’t need to drop money for a pro version of a os with Linux to encrypt the non Plex media server parts being it also doubles as a home file server.

I am by no means a expert, but I am no noob. But between lack of support with 11 and hardware that IMHO is still good, going the Linux route is smarter both logically and financially.

4

Ok, I can give you the checklist.

Personally, I prefer to port the whole block because it will save time on the back end given that taking just the database already carries a lot of work due to the pathname changes.

the process is this:

  1. With Plex running, Settings - Server - Library - Show Advanced, Turn off all the automatic updating.

  2. Shut down Plex

  3. Sign out of Plex/web (upper right)

  4. Make a ZIP file of the “Plex Media Server” directory (where you see the Media and Metadata sub directories)

  5. Install Plex on the new machine

  6. Stop it

  7. In the terminal window, clean out the temporary it created.

sudo bash
cd "/var/lib/plexmediaserver/Library/Application Support/Plex Media Server"
rm -rf *

  1. Unzip your file from windows there to take the place of what you just removed. The structure should be the same ( Media, Metadata, Plug-ins, etc should be right there in the “Plex Media Server” directory )

  2. Change the file permissions to match that of the username

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

  1. Start it up

  2. Open the server url (it must be on your same subnet and you must use the IP) http://ip.addr.of.server:32400/web

  3. It will greet you with “Got it” (the EULA)

  4. It will also want you to sign in. Go ahead and do that

  5. The setup wizard will start

  6. Since you’re bringing the database with you, you can skip that part.

  7. Set the other options you like as you progress through the wizard until you arrive at the dashboard.

At the dashboard –

For each Library section you’ve defined.

  1. EDIT the section

  2. ADD the new media directory paths – which correspond to the old Windows paths)

  3. DO NOT remove the Windows paths yet. (They are keeping all the info in your database linked together.

  4. As you “OK” the addition of the new locations,
    a. it will start scanning.
    b. You’ll see either a “2” (duplicate) show
    -or-
    c. The “Unavailable” will go away (either one is acceptable)

  5. When all scanning is complete

  6. Advance to the next section and repeat steps 2-5 here.

  7. When you’ve completed adding the new locations, for each library section (again)
    a. EDIT the section again.
    b. REMOVE the old Windows directory paths.
    c. “OK”
    d. Observe it scan again and remove duplicate indicators

  8. When all sections are complete:
    a. Scan Files
    b. Empty Trash
    c. Clean Bundles
    d. Optimize Database

Your work is complete.

Feel free to ask if you have any questions.

5

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