Synology DSM 7 - Plex Media Server Installation Issue

[Juax]

Plex Server has been working great until now on my Synology NAS DS916+. But I am having a problem with updating the plex media server after DSM 7.x update. Screwed-up - did not realize I had to read up on things that needed to be done first for PMS, before updating my NAS to DSM 7.x.

As this is my first post - apologies in advance if it lands in the wrong area, or if this issue has already been answered. Here goes…

After updating my NAS with DSM 7 I received an alert from DSM to update PMS. So I downloaded PMS for DSM 7.x and tried to manually install it using “normal installation” and “use PMS internal storage” settings. Summary page shows PMS will be installed on volume 1 - (which is correct as I only want metadata on volume 2 where my media folder are located).

Install failed with the following error message - “Incorrect installation volume. Found an upgradable PMS installation on volume 2. Select Volume 2 as the installation volume and try again or delete it from the plex share to start over”.

My problem is - PMS does not show up in Package Center - So I cannot select it and perform a clean uninstall.

My Plex folder is located in volume 2. See attached folder/subfolder structure.

Before performing install I did change “systems internal user” permissions for plex folder and my media folders.

How do I remove PMS from Volume 2? If it is located inside the plex folder - then which folder(s) is it? Can I simply delete these folder(s) and still keep my metadata intact and then reinstall PMS for DSM 7?

Or should I backup the complete plex folder/subfolder to my PC - delete the existing plex folder on my NAS and plex user account - perform a new PMS install - manually copy specific plex folder/subfolders from my PC that has my metadata to the new plex folder. If this is the way to go - which folders should I copy back onto the NAS?

Hoping there is a safe way to reinstall PMS on volume 1 and protect my existing metadata on volume 2.

Thanks for your help.

[ChuckPa]

Please take a step back and relax a bit. You’ve made some assumptions, which are incorrect and a small mistake.

1. There is no software in the Plex share. That’s all data (your server’s metadata)

2. You forgot to select the installation volume (volume 2) for the package -or- you have the default set for volume 1. “Always ask me” is best.
   

   

3. DSM 7 does not allow us to split application from data during installation. we will need do that after.

To recover from this is straight forward.

1. If you do have the DSM 7 package installed
   -and-
2. It’s on the wrong volume (volume 1)
   –and–
3. You still have all your metadata in the Plex share (which it looks like it is). (volume2)

–then–

1. Uninstall the DSM 7 package – ERASE option. (we don’t want that invalid installation)

2. Correct the package center Settings.

3. Install again and select Volume2 as the installation volume.

4. You’ll now go through the process of migrating the DSM 6 data into the DSM 7 structure.

5. When it’s complete (which can take a LONG time – Don’t interrupt it), the Plex shared folder will be empty.

6. During this process, you can examine the “Migration.log” file and see what it’s doing. Ignore any errors you see. What you’re looking for are the markers I write for each stage. The most critical, and final, is Start: Migrate Plex Media Server. It will look like the block below. When cleaning is complete, it’s all done.

Plex Media Server migration to DSM 7 started:  Mon Aug  9 21:45:08 -05 2021
=== Mon Aug  9 21:45:08 -05 2021 === Start: Change ownership
=== Mon Aug  9 21:54:18 -05 2021 === Completed: Change ownership
=== Mon Aug  9 21:54:18 -05 2021 === Start: Convert symbolic links
=== Mon Aug  9 22:02:17 -05 2021 === Completed:  Convert symbolic links
=== Mon Aug  9 22:02:17 -05 2021 === Start: Migrate Plex Media Server
=== Mon Aug  9 22:02:17 -05 2021 === Completed:  Migrate Plex Media Serverr
=== Mon Aug  9 22:02:17 -05 2021 === Start: Clean /volume1/Plex
=== Mon Aug  9 22:02:17 -05 2021 === Completed: Clean /volume1/Plex

Any questions

[Juax]

Thanks ChuckPa,

Followed your instructions from step 2 to 6. Step 1 did not apply to me as there was no PMS pkg to erase on any volume (1 and 2).

Here is screenshot of installation completion.

Below is the migration log.

Plex Media Server migration to DSM 7 started: Fri Aug 27 15:29:52 PDT 2021
=== Fri Aug 27 15:29:52 PDT 2021 === Start: Change ownership
=== Fri Aug 27 15:29:54 PDT 2021 === Completed: Change ownership
=== Fri Aug 27 15:29:54 PDT 2021 === Start: Convert symbolic links
=== Fri Aug 27 15:29:55 PDT 2021 === Completed: Convert symbolic links
=== Fri Aug 27 15:29:56 PDT 2021 === Start: Migrate Plex Media Server
=== Fri Aug 27 15:30:11 PDT 2021 === Completed: Migrate Plex Media Server
=== Fri Aug 27 15:30:11 PDT 2021 === Completed: Migrate Plex Media Server
=== Fri Aug 27 15:30:11 PDT 2021 === Start: Clean /volume2/Plex
=== Fri Aug 27 15:30:12 PDT 2021 === Completed: Clean /volume2/Plex

I did back-up my plex folder before installing new DSM 7 & pkg. It size is around 23GB (23k+ files). Also extended the login time to 50,000 minutes - in case migration depends on me remaining logged-into the NAS.

Have not done anything after the install. How long will it take for the migration to complete. It has already been 24 hours and the plex folder is still empty except for the migration log file.

Thanks.

[ChuckPa]

The migration is complete when you get that popup.

Your migration.log confirms it’s complete.

Does the server startup for you OK?
Are you able to access PMS just as you did before upgrading?

Lastly, please also confirm, as the log file states, the Plex share is empty.

(It’s supposed to be empty after migration. The installer takes DSM 6 data from the Plex shared folder and moves it to the new location for DSM 7 and does other processing)

[Juax]

Hi ChuckPa,

1. The server starts and I was able to login and confirm all the media library folders and files.

2. I am assuming that it is now ok to delete the old plex folder - please confirm.

3. I am assuming the plex user account is still required and should not be deleted - please confirm.

4. Moving forward how do I go about backing up my metadata?

Thanks.

[ChuckPa]

@Juax

1. Excellent.

2. Yes, you are free to delete it or use it however you want. maybe put media there ?

3. When the updated packaging is released formally, which you can also install now if you want, you will have a shared folder named PlexMediaServer.

4. The PlexMediaServer shared folder isn’t like the old Plex share. It’s a lot different and exists only to allow
   a. Backup & Restore of your data
   b. Extremely careful access to the Preferences if you need it.

if you’d like, you can take the couple minutes to upgrade now. It is effortless.

[Juax]

Hi ChuckPa,

1. Deleted old plex folder.

2. Download and manually installed latest plex update. Install was successful.

3. Did not find a shared folder on my NAS named PlexMediaServer or @apphome. In the plex server app under settings - there is a backup directory specified (see below).

Should I leave this alone or can I change this as follows:

a. Create a new PlexMediaServer shared folder in Volume 2

b. Verify same access rights for Plex User and System Internal user as before.

c. Then point the backup directory to this new folder location?

Thanks.

[ChuckPa]

You don’t create the new shared folder. DSM must do it during package installation else nothing will work. (I tell DSM the package needs it and DSM does it. That’s how it works)

What you show in your screenshot is an existing PMS installation on Volume 2.

To manage how things are working for you, when you install my package (2.0) from the preview thread,

1. DSM will create the new shared folder for us.
2. I will create and populate the contents with what exists under @apphome.

You can now either

1. install the update I have (on top of) what you have (UPDATE)
   -or-
2. Uninstall w/ KEEP option then INSTALL on Volume2 (necessary)

I would suggest just doing a normal update/upgrade.
The package will do the rest automatically.

It might take a moment but that’s normal while DSM gets things in order

You can read about my changes here.

Further down you’ll find 1.24.2.4955.
This should be installable as an update/upgrade for you

DSM 7 - Finalized Configuration (PMS 1.24.2.4973) - Release information

DSM 7 - Finalized Configuration (Packaging 2.0) - Release Information See below for updates Since DSM 7.0-41890 finalized, I’ve had time to digest everyone’s input as well as review what we ultimately ended up with in DSM 7.0 Looking at all the issues faced, there was one overriding problem which could not be solved – Plex’s data was not accessible from the GUI or other Synology tools such as Hyper Backup. An important issue for most was the data area could not be moved. It took some t…

[Juax]

Hi ChuckPa,

Many thanks for clearing things up for me. Read your forum preview and have decided to err on the cautious side - will wait for the public release version, and then upgrade.

Have a great rest of the week and thanks once again for being patient and so helpful.

Best.

[The-Dons]

Hi ChuckPa, I apologise in advance for bringing up the same issue, it must be doing your head in.

I read your Plex Media Server for Synology DSM 7 - Release a couple of times and thought I followed your instructions, however the result shows otherwise.

To start I have a Synology DS1517+ now running DSM 7.0.1, the Shared Folder now looks like the screenshot below, even though I have given Full Permissions.

As a result when I open Plex I see the following

What other details can I provide you to resolve this issue?

[ChuckPa]

@The-Dons

Please start by looking in the “Plex” shared folder. (PlexMediaServer doesn’t concern us yet)

1. Is your metadata still there? (Library/Application Support/Plex Media Server exists)

Next, a few questions:

1. Is there a “Plex / Migration.log” file ?

2. PMS version you currently have installed ?

3. When you upgraded to DSM 7,

• Was Plex uninstalled before upgrade ?
• If installed, did you click “Repair” after upgrading ?

[The-Dons]

Hi Chuck and thank you for your prompt response.

A1. Yes the “Plex” Shared Folder has the Metadata folder still there.

B1. I found the “Log” folder, however there was no “Migration Log” file, and searching for “Migration” came up empty.
B2. The PMS version installed is 1.24.3.5033-7000

C1. Plex was not unistalled before upgrading to DSM 7.
C2. Repair was not actioned after upgrading.

Thanks in advance for your help.
Garrie

[ChuckPa]

@The-Dons

Thanks for confirming.

That confirms the migration did not engage.

At this point.

1. Uninstall Plex - select the ERASE option while uninstalling to remove the rogue DSM 7 installation data

2. Ensure you’ve downloaded Plex from https://plex.tv/downloads (DSM7 package)

3. Manual Install - the downloaded SPK

As you install, It will start checking permissions to switch from the old username plex to the new username PlexMediaServer.

When it finds something which isn’t correct, it will fail the install and give you a popup. That popup contains instructions for you to do.

As an alternative, at the first failure, you can follow the instructions here.

DSM 7 - Plex Media Server - Release Info & Migration instructions

DSM 6 → DSM 7 Migration Process NOTE: Use the Plex package from Media Server Downloads | Plex Media Server for Windows, Mac, Linux, FreeBSD and More ONLY. Package Center is no longer compatible with Official Release DSM 7.0-41890 and above. Use the following steps then continue below as is appropriate for your configuration. Uninstall the DSM 6 Plex app Control Panel - Shared Folders - Verify the Plex share is spelled “Plex”. If not - Rename it to “Plex-temp” and then back to…

[The-Dons]

Thanks agin Chuck,

Please confirm to select the highlighted uninstall “Uninstall Only”?

Cheers,
Garrie

[The-Dons]

Chuck my next question, which might be why I have the issue in the first place, which of the following 5 packages do I manually install?

[ChuckPa]

Which Synology model do you have ?

If you look here, you’ll find your NAS and the CPU type.

Plex NAS Compatibility

[The-Dons]

I have a Synology DS1517+

I recall doing a manual install with the ARM V7 last time.

Also please confirm to uninstall using the highlighted “Uninstall Only” in my message above?

[ChuckPa]

@The-Dons

@ChuckPa

Uninstall Plex - select the ERASE option while uninstalling to remove the rogue DSM 7 installation data

When your metadata is in the Plex share, waiting to migrate, you want ERASE.

Erase removes (clears out) any existing DSM 7 data so a clean migration can occur.

[The-Dons]

Chuck please confirm the following option,

meaning all exisitng files will be deleted including the “Metadata” files?

[ChuckPa]

Allow me to clarify

1. I NEVER touch media

2. Erase ONLY removes the Plex metadata which is in a DSM 7 structure. It NEVER erases DSM 6 data.

3. When installation occurs, after migration, you DSM 6 data will be moved to DSM 7 structure. (If you erase after migrating – THEN you will lose your metadata)

After you install, you will see a new shared folder – Dedicated for metadata.

The “Plex” shared folder is for you to use as you wish (or delete)
The new “PlexMediaServer” shared folder is for me and the app. It is where your metadata is stored.

Why all the changes? DSM 7 mandated