While I know its fairly easy (on linux) to move a plex server from one machine to another (basically just pick up and move one’s /var/lib/plexmediaserver directory and ensure that the mounts are available in the same location with the same content). I’m wondering if its possible for me to “clone” the server in a similar way, so that I can run both in parallel without the need to rescan all my content? it would be a new independent server, but all its cached data would be copied over. Eventually, when I’m happy that new machine is setup correctly, I’d decomission the original plex server.
Yes. it’s very easy to clone.
So easy that you can get yourself in trouble 
Linux Tips has the answer
thanks the Preferences.xml was the info I didn’t know.
Doing so won’t enable you to run the original and the clone at the same time.
You need to provide a new identity to the clone server.
See Does migrating databases move users as well? - #6 by OttoKerner
Do also edit the FriendlyName preference, to make it distinguishable from the original.
yes, I figured I’d just copy the Preferences.xml from a temp one I create on said server?
In practice my process would be
- create a temp server. copy its Preferences.xml out
- copy entire plexmediaserver dir to new server, overwrite its Preferences.xml with version from above
- bang on new server to make sure its ready
- decomission old server and copy it’s Preferences.xml into the clone, to make it no longer a clone, just completing the move.
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Yes, a viable method.
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