Secondary (backup) Plex server questions

General Discussions
21

Thank you for this last link, it really helps!

I think I’ve identified a mistake I am doing. Replicating the Library folder from Server1 to Server2 I also overwrite the Preference.xml which as I understand it’s instead unique per-installation.
So I’ve excluded the Preference.xml from my rsync script for the time being and have issued the

apt install --reinstall plexmediaserver command.

Still… my secondary server only see the primary under MORE.

P.S. Is there any other file I should not replicate to the Secondary Server?

I really appreciate your time in helping me to resolve this issue!

22

Precisely.

Not to my knowledge, but I could be wrong here.
Maybe @ChuckPa has an idea about that?

23

I have finally made some progression!

managed to get through the initial “found a server” setup on the secondary, completed that logged out and back in on both sites.

Now:
primary server sees both,
Samsung TV (LAN connected to primary) sees both
Windows client (LAN connected to primary) sees only secondary
secondary server only sees itself.

I did try to log out back in on all the devices and also restart program/app/server process, not luck.
How can I move forward from here?

Thanks!

24

Ok I think I fixed this. Basically, despite being logged in (and out) using the top right icon (Account/sign Out/Sign in) I finally got asked to re-2sign in" clicking on Sync on the left. I clicked on it even if I don’t use it, and performed the “second” login that way.
After that I can now see both servers on the Secondary too.

I feel like I run a marathon :-p

Many thanks for the support provided, I hope this can help other users as well.

TL;DR

Working on the primary server only (Y.Y.Y.Y being the secondary server IP) and assuming you have a password less way to log into each other server (e.g. SSH key exchange):

  1. transfer your media from primary to secondary
  2. stop the primary plex (e.g. systemctl stop plexmediaserver)
  3. stop the secondary plex (e.g. ssh Y.Y.Y.Y systemctl stop plexmediaserver)
  4. transfer the Library folder except the Preferences.xml file and (suggested) the cache Logs and Crash Reports folders e.g. rsync -aPh --delete-before --exclude "Preferences.xml" --exclude "Cache" --exclude "Crash reports" --exclude "Logs" --safe-links --size-only /var/lib/plexmediaserver/* Y.Y.Y.Y:/var/lib/plexmediaserver
  5. start the primary plex
  6. start the secondary plex

If any issue seeing both servers from the clients log out and log back in clicking on the “sync” link on the left of the web interface

Once on both servers you see both servers you can ping the libraries

25

A final point… very, very, very important!

  • make sure you handle the secondary server configuration from a device within the same LAN, E.g. do not attempt to set up the secondary server using a device sitting in the primary location (even if they have end to end private VPN connectivity) this will not work. You must be within the same LAN. Or at lease you need to SSH in a use port forwarding to make it appears as if you were on the same box as the server.
26

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