Struggling with migration from DSM 6 to DSM7

Plex Media Server NAS & Devices
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Please read all of this before proceeding.

Synology forced Plex to make a lot of changes for DSM 7. Unfortunately, it is not possible to simply update DSM and have Plex work.

The Plex Data Folder is now /PlexMediaServer instead of /Plex. Also, PMS runs under the PlexMediaServer username instead of Plex.

The normal process is covered in FAQ 27 - Migrating an existing PMS from DSM 6 to DSM 7.

It reads as if your system is basically halfway migrated. You need to back up a few steps, then start the migration again.

The process is straightforward - set some permissions, uninstall PMS, then re-install it and let it migrate. It will delete the new instance of Plex Media Server and migrate your old server.


Question: Do you still have the /Plex shared folder with the database and other files?

In /Plex/Library/Application Support/Plex Media Server/ you should see many folders for Logs, etc. The database files are in …/Plug-in Support/Databases.


Question: The NAS has the new /PlexMediaServer shared folder as well, correct?


IMPORTANT: If the answer to either question is “No,” then stop.

If Yes to both, then the migration from Plex on DSM 6 to Plex on DSM 7 failed. Your old server is still there (in /Plex), but the files did not migrate.

Here’s how to proceed:

NOTE: This will completely remove the new instance of Plex Media Server, then restore your old server.


Step 1: Login to the NAS. User must have admin rights.


Step 2: Control Panel → Security. Set logout timer to a large value such as 3600. You can change it back when finished.


Step 3: Give user PlexMediaServer full control of the /Plex shared folder.

  • Control Panel → Shared Folder. Select Plex and Edit.

  • On Permissions Tab, change Local User to System Internal User.

  • For user PlexMediaServer, select Custom. Select all boxes - Admin/Read/Write. Click Done.

  • IMPORTANT: You will be back at the Edit Shared Folder window. Check the box to “Apply to this folder, sub-folders, and files.” Save.


Step 4: Give user PlexMediaServer permission to access your media files.

  • Repeat step three for the shared folders holding your media. Give either read-only or read-write access. Admin rights are not needed.

  • Note: Read only is sufficient for Plex Media Server. Read-write is needed if you are recording using LiveTV/DVR, creating optimized copies, etc.


Step 5: Completely remove the new server from your system.

  • Launch Package Center and uninstall Plex Media Server.

  • When prompted, choose “Erase all of Plex Media Server from this system (Not Recoverable).” This removes the new server from your system.

  • When the uninstall finishes, use File Station and look in /PlexMediaServer. If there are any files there, delete them. The folder must be empty.


Step 6: Re-install Plex and start the migration.

  • Re-install Plex Media Server. When prompted, choose a “Normal” (not Claim Token) installation. Use the current public or beta version available on plex.tv. Note there is a separate build for systems running DSM 7.2.2+. It is OK to use the version in Package Center (you can upgrade later if desired). EDIT: Synology Package Center currently has PMS v1.29.2.6364. It is incompatible with PMS releases 1.40+ due to database changes. Use the current version of Plex Media Server available on plex.tv

  • This will start the migration. The installer will move the files from /Plex to their correct location in /PlexMediaServer.

  • The installation will take some time. A rough estimate is 1 minute for every 1000 media files on the server (movies/shows/etc).

  • If possible, do not logout. It won’t hurt anything, the migration will continue, but you will not be able to see the progress. This is the reason for increasing the logout timer earlier.


Step 7: When complete, claim the server.

  • When the process completes, /Plex should be empty except for a migration.log file.

  • From a system on the same network, login using the IP address of the NAS. For example, if the NAS is 10.1.2.3, use http://10.1.2.3:32400/web.

  • Do not use app.plex.tv, a domain name, click the Open button in Package Center, etc. Those methods cannot be used for claiming. Once claimed, then they’re OK.

  • Once claimed, you should see your libraries, etc.

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