VPNs, Plex, and DSM 7 still have the same relationship
If Remote Access is active before the VPN is activated, the wrong IP will be registered at plex.tv
If the VPN provider does not allow incoming connections, Remote Access will fail.
In DSM 6, Placing media in the “Plex” shared folder was dangerous because mistakes would cause Plex to index itself and fail.
In DSM 7, The “Plex” shared folder is now 100% free for you to use as you wish. You CANNOT use the “PlexMediaServer” shared folder without incurring my wrath for the same reasons plus a WHOLE LOT MORE! . LOL
– Why? you ask? Simple, DSM 7 has stripped our ability to repair file permissions in the PlexMediaServer shared folder. It further hides “PlexMediaServer” permissions from FileStation. Only manual intervention via the shell (scheduled tasks or ssh diretly) can repair the damage
I do have a question –
If the torrent is a legal one, Why are you worried about hiding your IP address? Hmmmm ?
I have installed Plex on my DS920+ which is running DSM 7. The installation will not create the PlexMediaServer share on my volume. I previously had Plex on another synology and I backed up all my app data. I thought I could just paste it into the new synology, but… after installation there is no PlexMediaServer folder to paste anything into. What am I missing??
I am not sure where to go, as my situation seems slightly different than the other ones I’ve read and I’m not sure what next step to take.
What happened: I updated my Synology from DSM6 to DSM7 yesterday. At the time of update I had the latest beta of Plex installed (not sure what version, but whatever I had downloaded from the web client of the plex site within the last three weeks.)
After updating to DSM7 I got the error message that Plex needed to be repaired. I foolishly assumed pressing the button would fix things without reading anything online, so I pressed the button. Repair process failed the first time, and it asked me to allow the PlexMediaServer needed permissions. I followed instructions and gave the System Internal User PlexMediaServer permissions read/write permissions for the “Plex” folder (not “Plex Media” where I have media stored on the same volume.)
Then I tried to click the “Repair” button again. This time it seemed to go into a never-ending repair that seemed to be stuck and not doing anything. I thought about trying to stop it or turn off the NAS, but cooler heads prevailed and I decided instead to leave the house for a couple hours and let it run.
When I returned several hours later, I shut down the NAS without checking on the status of the repair. Cleaned out the NAS of dust and turned it back on the next day. Everything seemed fine, the ‘repair’ seemed to have worked and the Plex server is up and running.
Then I saw all these threads online and I’m worried I totally messed up somehow. I checked the plex browser page and saw there is an update available. I don’t want to install it like I used to manually just yet, so I thought I would ask you first - what should I do at this point?
Version installed is: 1.21.0-3744
Version I downloaded from the plex page (but haven’t installed yet): 1.25.2.531
Plex Web says it is version 4.72.0
I’m confused where to go from here.
That’s very unfortunate you made a mess which needn’t have happened.
I have written several How-To’s to perform the migration and how to repair damage caused when folks hit repair.
Please read below. ASK QUESTIONS before taking any actions.
It comes down to this:
Do you have Plex/Library/Application Support/Plex Media Server still existing ?
If you do –
– UNINSTALL + ERASE option to remove the errant DSM 7 installation.
Install any version higher than 1.24.2.4973 (current Public release will do)
Now let it install, taking however long it needs – DO NOT RESTART DSM.
( Use Resource Monitor if you need to watch “PlexMediaServer” doing its conversion tasks )
When complete, Check the Plex shared folder. If you STILL have Plex/Library/Application Support/Plex Media Server/Preferences.xml and all your metadata,
– UNiNSTALL + ERASE again . This is the 2nd rogue install which can happen with “Repair” but this step does not happen often. BE CAREFUL.
On this third installation, you should now have a clean system and be performing the final / real migration
Plex/Migration.log will contain all the logging details of the steps it’s performing. The final step is “Cleaning: /volume1/Plex”. When that completes
– Plex share will be empty
– New PlexMediaServer shared folder will exist which contains ONLY your server data
Thank you so much for responding so quickly - and on Christmas Eve to boot! Incredible support, and I am so grateful for it.
A question related to #1 ( “1. Do you have Plex/Library/Application Support/Plex Media Server still existing?” ): Are you referring to the “Plex” folder that is listed under File Station on my primary drive? I looked under File Station > Plex and that folder is empty. No sub folders or anything else in it.
So I do not have Plex/Library/Application Support/Plex Media Server existing. There is just an empty Plex folder.
What do I do? Just a simple uninstall of Plex and reinstall the version higher than 1.24?
I checked my plex on xbox and computer and I was mistaken, none of the files play currently.
(I haven’t done anything since my first post, wanted to be sure of which step to take next.)
It tells me that you have. at least, migrated your Plex server from DSM 6 → DSM 7
Would you now mind, using FileStation,
Open FileStation
Right-click “PlexMediaServer” → Properties
If all your server data is there, it should take some time to count up the number of files and folders. You can watch it count as it does.
I’m interested in the total amount of disk space + files + folders. This will tell me if you have an empty server or it’s sitting there fully populated.
I have just upgraded to DSM 7 and installed the latest plex I downloaded from plex.tv. 1.25.2.5219. Everything went well. I have added back all my libraries and it scanned just fine but it does not seem to have any of the what I have watched, etc. I see the old databases still on disk from the DSM 6 install, they are huge compared to the new DSM 7 install. Is it as easy as just stopping plex, moving those databases over and starting it up again?
thank you for the help here.
you are in this situation because you most likely hit “Repair” for Plex after upgrading to DSM 7.
Under most cases , this is ok but DSM 7 changed everything AND broke “repair” as you upgrade from 6 → 7.
The resolution here:
Uninstall the package → ERASE option to remove the errant DSM 7 Plex data
Reinstall (Manual Install) the same package again.
As it starts, it will ‘fail’ but give you instructions in the final popup. Follow those instructions.
You know it’s working right when -
– The package sits at “Installing” for a long time (this is the installer converting everythng from DSM 6 → DSM 7
– In a new browser window to the NAS, Open the “Plex” share in FileSation.
– After a few minutes you’ll see 'Migration.log". This is the installer reporting its progress.
The DSM 6 → DSM 7 migration instructions, with screenshots are here:
@ChuckPa
thanks for the advice and you are correct. I did hit the “repair” option. my fault for not coming here first and seeing what was up. I followed your directions above and 2 things. 1. I do not get a “fail” when I install. I have already updated the permissions on the internal plex user so maybe that is why? 2. it says it is successful but it is not migrating any data over, i do not see the ‘Migration.log’ anywhere.
here are some images to show what my files system looks like. Please let me know what information I can provide to move forward. thank you.
thank you. I think I have it now. the install is taking much longer and I see ‘Migration.log’ thanks for your help and patience here. much appreciated.
There is no “PlexMediaServer” folder!
This is what I am seeing:
Under the old “Plex Media” folder, where I store all my media that is used in Plex, I believe it is the same size it was as before the update. (There don’t seem to be any doubled files)
Sorry Chuck, I am confused (maybe I am not understanding correctly)
I went to Control Panel > Shared Folder and I sorted alphabetically by name and this is all I am seeing (I am logged in as the user with full admin privileges):
No, if you recall - I am only currently at the stage of "I messed up and hit the repair button twice after upgrading to DSM7’
I’m just trying to figure out the safest way to backtrack and undo / fix what I did before proceeding.
This is my current version. I still haven’t uninstalled or re-installed anything yet since hitting the repair button. Should my next step be to uninstall the older version and try installing the newer one?
