Updated Server and OS, now server unavailable

Plex Media Server Desktops & Laptops
1

Server Version#:1.42.1.10060
Player Version#: ??

Yesterday I added a couple of movies and TV shows. When I tried to play them nothing was working. So I logged into my Server and noticed there was an update available, so I downloaded and installed it. Then I had a partial upgrade for Ubuntu, 24.04.3 LTS. After those were both complete I restarted the computer, when it came back online and I opened Plex. I was required to login in again, and Plex wanted me to create a new server instance. My established Instance says unavailable. My first thought is that I need to reclaim my server, but I am not sure that is the case.

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2

I wrote a reply which assumes you are not using a docker.

You should be able to use a Plex Player client to check your Settings → Authorized Devices. Then in the center of your screen under the title Authorized Devices is a drop down list set to ALL which you can change to Server

There you can see what servers are associated with your account.

If you have only one server listed at the IP address for your PMS linux host, then you can use a web browser and open http://pms_server_ip:32400/identity to check the status. You will see either

claimed="0"
claimed="1"

A “1” means it’s claimed, while a “0” means it’s unclaimed and that you can just (re)claim it.

I’m fairly certain that if it’s claimed and appears in your Authorized Devices but you want to reclaim it, then removing it from your Authorized Devices with the little X button is one method to sign out of it.

Search the support articles for claim to see more details.

3

I see 3 servers, one is old (I had to replace the OS hard-drive) [Ubuntu Server], the one I want back [Moody Plex 2.0], and the one Plex tried creating yesterday [Plex].

It looks like it is claimed.

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It shows the server I want to connect to on my list of servers, the only one that is working is the one created yesterday after I updated the server.

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4

@obiwansean

Looking at your Plex.tv account, I see three servers.

They all have the same LAN IP (192.168.0.13)

Is there any particular IP/name you want to keep
( I am offering to clear the others for you )

I see “U…”, “M…”, and “P…”

If you have 3 at the same IP, I need ask if you deleted Preferences.xml or you found it as zero-length ?

5

I would like to keep the Moody Plex 2.0!

Plex is new as of yesterday after the update, and Ubuntu was from like 8 months ago when you helped me attempt to transfer my information to a new Harddrive/OS.

When I look up the Pereferences.xml, this is what I get.

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6

I’ve removed those servers from your account.

Now for the :crossed_fingers:

  1. Open Incognito mode
  2. Open the server (local http loopback / lan ip)
  3. attempt to claim it.
  4. Let’s see what we get.
    – we can change names as long as you have the Moody DBs
7

I dont understand what you mean in step 2. I opened an incognito window and using the app.plex.tv link it took me to the sign in page. I signed in and it still shows the server is unavailable.

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This is what I get when I try to go to localhost:32400

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8

Please tell me where to stop if I need to:

(Here’s a full sequence recapture all data which is still present on the host)

  1. Stop PMS
  2. As ‘root’ rename 'Preferences.xmltoPreferences.xml-save`
    – We’re going to allocate a new ID for the server you’ve got there (the databases)
  3. Start PMS
  4. Open an incognito window
  5. Open http://192.168.0.13:32400/web (or http://127.0.0.1:32400/web if the server is on the 192.168.0.13 host)
  6. It will start to walk you through setting up a new server (because there is no Preferences.xml file. This is expected.
  7. You can give it a different Friendly Name for now ( “Moody” ?) so we can identify it easily. Don’t worry if you aren’t given that open.
  8. DO NOT create new library sections but DO accept the library sections it already has listed.
  9. Continue through the setup wizard – click what you know you’ll want and finish at the Dashboard

Let me know when you’re up at the dashboard with the new server instance.

10

I am there, the new server is Moody Recover. It had me claim the server and login, then just took me to the dashboard

11

Is all your media there just as it was ?

12

the library folders are there from the Moody Plex 2.0 server, with the yellow triangle.

13

What I see on Plex.tv is you didn’t install the DEB package.
You installed the SNAP package (sandboxed version)

Vendor Ubuntu 
Device snap 
Model x86_64 
Deleted No 
Libraries 0 
Shares 0 (0 pending) 
Presence Yes

Do you have the .DEB file you previously used or would you like a link?

14

I dont think I still have it, if you could send it again.

This is what I used yesterday,

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15

That’s what you want. That’s the native package (not the snap package)
I’ve removed the “Moody Recover” from Plex.tv so you can use the name again.

Let’s remove snap

sudo snap remove --purge plexmediaserver

Now install that 1.42.1.10060

sudo dpkg -i plexmediaserver_1.42.1.10060-4e8b05daf_amd64.deb

You’ll see the normal installer run

You should see the same wizard when you open it

Now you should see your library sections come back in.

Let me know when you’re done. I’ll double check what Plex.tv has

https://downloads.plex.tv/plex-media-server-new/1.42.1.10060-4e8b05daf/debian/plexmediaserver_1.42.1.10060-4e8b05daf_amd64.deb

16

Done.

setup new server, Moody recover, and the libraries were recreated. The Moody Plex 2.0 still says unavailable.

17

I see magic :partying_face:

Screenshot from 2025-09-15 21-14-24
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18

Now we remove Moody 2.0 and rename “Moody Recover” to take its place.

That’s best I can do.

You’ll need to share with family/friends again if you do so.

Settings - (upper corner) Authorized Devices - Server (dropdown) … you can delete the old one

Rename “Moody Recover” in Settings - Server - General - Show Advanced

Don’t forget to go through ALL your settings to put them back to where you had them. This instance has no knowledge of the previous server.. You’re running on defaults at the moment.

19

Ok I will do that. What settings are you referring to? Its been a while so I cant tell you what settings I changed.

I have family basically logging into my account on their devices and then they have to setup the libraries they want.

Is there a better way, they dont want to pay for plex pass…

I am also in the process of replacing the harddrive, external drive connected to NAS. Will that cause problems.

20

If you’re replacing HDDs, Better stop PMS as the NAS holds the media for PMS.

When the HDDs are stable, start PMS again.

Settings are those you set in Plex/web (SERVER settings)

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21

Awesome Thanks!

The HDD attached currently has mostly bad sectors, so got a new one that I am slowly copying data over to.

I know I had one setting in the transcoding, something like ~ to tell it to put transcode data on the RAM instead of the HDD.