QNAP Packaging - PlexData share - Forum Preview April 2020

Plex Media Server NAS & Devices
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Introduction

This Forum preview is to introduce and collect comments about a possible change in how Plex Media Server is managed on QNAP systems.

Primary goals to accomplish are:

  1. Ability to backup and restore your Plex installation (metadata) without use of the command line.

  2. Allow easy access to log files and plug-ins when PMS isn’t operating.

  3. When uninstalling, save the metadata in an admin-only accessible location for potential later use (when reinstalling) similar to how QTS Video Station saves your data when you uninstall. Once uninstalled, the admin is free to delete or backup the metadata as deemed appropriate.

  4. Improve feedback to you (the admin) about PMS’s operational state as well as improving package management feedback in both the Event Notifications window and the system log.

  5. Incorporate the functionality of PMSLibShare and have it track through “migrate to” relocation of the volume PMS is installed on to facilitate access to Plug-ins & Logs from File Station at all times. (PMSLibShare functionality)

Current Status:

A. Installation

  1. If the PlexData share exists
  2. And it contains a Library directory
  3. The PlexData/Library directory and its contents will be ‘recovered’ and put into position as the ‘current’ PMS configurtion.
  4. PMS will then “resume” using this previously “saved” configuration data.

B. Uninstallation

  1. If the PlexData share exists: Your PMS metadata will be moved there. Depending on size, this could take several minutes. QTS notification messages will advise of the progress.

  2. If the PlexData share does not exist: The PlexData share will be created on the same volume as PMS is currently installed on (performance hint). Saving your data will only require a few seconds to complete.

C. Integration with daily operation.

  1. Once created, the PlexData/Library link in File Station will always track the current location as soon as PMS starts again. This means: Regardless which Volume PMS is stored on you can always access it using PlexData/Library in FileStation.

  2. When you migrate Plex to another volume using the App Center’s “Migrate To” function, PMS will update the PlexData linkage when it starts next (upon completion of the migration usually)

  3. The PlexData share allows only user admin to access it. This blocks unauthorized access to the email address used and PlexOnlineToken.

D. Implementation Notes

  1. Inspection of the QPKG installation directory will now show a scripts subdirectory.
    The files placed here are integral to the functionality.

  2. Under normal circumstances, the contents of these files would be integrated into the package routines.

  3. QNAP’s QDK was not intended for scripts of this complexity level thereby necessitating they be made external. The QDK package routines invoke these scripts as needed during normal installation and un-installation processing.

Warning:

This has been tested on several different QNAP systems. While problems are not expected, this warning is provided regardless.

Use of these packages is intended for only those users who:

  1. Know how to backup their existing PMS metadata and restore it if needed.
  2. Can afford possible server down time
  3. Are willing to help test the major functionality provided.

Questions?

Please ask any and all questions before installing

Temporary links to the packages

These are packages which I created. QTS will issue an ‘Unknown’ warning when installing because they are not signed by the Plex build system. (Developers cannot sign packages on their workstations).

ARMv8 (64 bit)

ARMv7 (32 bit) - Hardware floating point (neon)

ARMv7 (32 bit) - Software floating point

Intel X86_64 (64 bit)

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:frowning: I wish I could test this but as I have only 1 QNAP and the Plex Server is used a lot on it I cannot afford the downtime… Sorry

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