Server Version#: 1.20.0.3181
Player Version#:
I have a server (server 1) with 4-6 users remotely accessing it. I recently migrated to a new machine (server 2) with updated hardware and everything migrated fine. I disabled remote access and changed the name of Server 2, as I would not make it live immediately and wanted to do some more testing first. I will run both machines and update the libraries separately as they both connect to a storage server for content. I plan to keep this setup for some time while I am still testing server 2 without remote access, I will slowly decommission server 1 but currently, I still want it to be the only server with remote access.
All the users migrated correctly, I am also using the same Plex Pass account to access both servers. The problem is anything I do on server 2 gets automatically replicated on Server 1, including removing user shares and disabling remote access. If I remove the users from server 2 (which is not online) it automatically gets removed from Server 1. The only way for me to update the libraries or keep server 2 running without affecting server 1 is to turn off server 1.
What I would like to do is have both servers running at the same time with only one having remote access, and any changes I make to one server should not affect the other.
How do I achieve that?
By any chance, did you use a copy of the first instances data folder for your second instance?
If so, you also copied the Preferences.xml, which includes the two attributes MachineIdentifier and ProcessedMachineIdentifier. Their values need to be distinct in both PMS installation. Just delete those attributes and their values for the stopped PMS instance, then start it. I am not sure, If you need to claim the “new” server after the cleanup action again.
Hi Kopfpilot,
Yes I used an exact copy of the data folder from Server 1 including the registry file. Just to be clear, I have currently stoped server 2 which is the newly migrated machine, so I should mained the preferences.xml file from that server?
I would change it on Server 2. What matter is that both have distinct values for those attributes!
When you start the server after removing the attributes, they will be generated again and new values will be assigned.
Though, I am not sure if the registry needs some adjustmens as well. What I described would solve the issue on a Linux (or Docker) installation. I would still give it a try 
Great, I’m tyring that now will let you know, but I iwll also look in the registry as well to be ceetain. Thanks for your swift reply.
ok, the registry had the same values as the preferences file, so i remove those as well. Now when the server starts it is looking for server 1 and cannot see server 2 at all. I tried ot find where I could claim a new server but couldnt see it. I also tried removing the old server form the list, close plex and restarted it came bakc with the old server name. Somehow i need ot claim the server and setting on server 2 but not sure how.
Now I cant see any content from Server 2 at all and I cannot see where I can claim the new server.
Just perform a login in the server settings. You just deleted those two attributes, right? The database with the metadata should still be in place.
Hi,
the problem is I cant see server settings at all now. I can see general only. when i now open both the registry and the prefenrces file it has a different machine and processesed machine identifier. however when i open plex it still weanrs ot connect to the existing mahcien on the network and i cant see a way to claim a new machine with the date already on it.
One more thing, I have seen in server two when i go into authorized devices it shows server 1. I am tempted to remove it but worried that it iwll also affect server 1
Please don’t! In the settings, some information are client related (=PlexWeb), some information are account related, and the lower part of the configuration is server related. In the server part you should be able to pick which server you want to configure.
Also please follow the links that Otto send. They cover way more than I remembered was necessary. Seems I missed the AnonymousMachineIdentifier and completly ignored that PlexOnlineToken needs to be removed as well.
That is not a server-related setting.
Look at the left side. It appears under “Account”.
ok checing now, I followed yourl inks and go to see the links form Server 2, however and got the link to claim the server, but when clicked nothing happened.
I can see everything now but cannot claim the server, what am i donig wrong? when i lcick the claim button nothing happens.
Hi OttaKerner,
Thanks a lot for your help, I know have both servers up and running and can connect via the plex icon in the system tray. However, two things I have noticed;
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if I try to connect via plex.tv I get the screenshot attached where I can see both server names but cannot connect to them. Secure connections to both servers are set to Preferred.
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Remote access on Server 1 is dropping out a lot, this server was previously had a rock-solid connection, not so now since I have added the second server.
The biggest pain is now knowing what to do to restore the secure connection via plex.tv.
Any help would be appreciated.
PS. Just realized you cannot attach screenshots here.
Try to claim the server using this little tool instead: Even if it fails, it will show you valuable diagnostic information about why it failed.
Thanks for this, I downloaded the file, installed and used the local ipaddress where server 2 lives 192.168.168.100.I got the following message from the status of the app.
problem: cant claim PMS… job aborted
error was: the remote server returned an error (401) unauthorized. please see https://github.comn/ukdtom/Claimit/wiki/Error-Codes
FATAL Error… job Aborted
Also note, I reinstalled plex on server 1, restarted and can now see server 1 and it has a secured connection. I did the same with server 2 but still cannot connect via the webapp. I can see it only when i put in the local IP address and it still remains unsecure. Question: Can you still claim a server if is has remote access disabled?
Also when i put in the IP address of 127.0.0.1 I get the error saying;
The IP address entered is not in private address space.
