Server Version#: 1.32.4.7195
I did my usual Plex Media Server update and did a reboot. When the machine (Ubuntu 20) came back online Plex was asking to set up a new server. I cancelled. I now see that my current server is unavailable, but an old one (PLEX) is available.
I tried moving and renaming a backup of the database file. I tried using the SQLite tool to repair the database file. I’ve claimed and unclaimed the old database. What else can I do?
The database holds all the information about your media.
The ‘Preferences.xml’ is what holds all the server identification information.
Do still have a copy of the original Preferences.xml ? (It resides in the Plex Media Server directory.
Hi Chuck; thanks for this. I just checked the Preferences.xml and it has the server I’m looking for in there as the friendly name.
How do I make that server appear on the server machine again?
This is kinda basic Linux work at the command line.
Think it through –
You want is to COPY the saved Preferences.xml and OVERWRITE the exiting Preferences.xml with Plex STOPPED. After you COPY the file, you want to CHANGE PERMISSION and OWNERSHIP to be correct for Plex.
Make sense??
sudo bash
systemctl stop plexmediaserver
cd "/var/lib/plexmediaserver/Library/Application Support/Plex Media Server"
mv Preferences.xml Preferences.xml-unused
cp /path/to/saved/Preferences.xml .
chown plex:plex Preferences.xml
chmod 644 Preferences.xml
systemctl start plexmediaserver
Now close your browser and open fresh
Open the server locally (IP address) and confirm it responds as the original name
Check all your preferences and library sections.
Fix anything which might have changed since that previous backup copy.
I don’t have a backup of the preferences.xml unfortunately. But the current xml has the server I want to be used. I did check ownership and perms on your suggestion though. No change.
The desired server is in the pinned list in the server machine but unavailable. There’s a blank new default (old maybe) server just called PLEX that is unclaimed with no preferences or libraries set.
I just looked at your account.
dpkg -i filename.deb)If the original SNAP package is still there, we can go grab that data.
Which would you like to attempt ?
Your old server might still be in /var/snap/plexmediaserver/common (from there down).
J-Plex is the preferred server, so however we can get that one working is what I’d like to attempt.
I do see a plex server in /snap/plexmediaserver/common but it’s owned by root. Judging by modified times it seems to be running too?
Not a problem to grab it.
sudo bash
Now, as root
snap list <-- this shows your snaps
snap stop plexmediaserver <--- tell plex to stop
Now, because it’s root (which snaps are), just continue to grab it as a whole block
cd /var/lib/plexmediaserver
mv Library Library-unused
mv /var/snap/plexmediaserver/common/Library .
chown -R plex:plex ./Library
systemctl start plexmediaserver
After you’ve confirmed that is working,
snap remove --purge plexmediaserver
This removes the snap package and avoids further confusion.
Thanks for your help. That did something, hah.
New situation is there are now two PLEX servers. One is unclaimed and the other is unavailable. J-Plex is unavailable. When Plex Media Server opens it’s starting with the new server wizard.
Hold up. I’ll look through the server list at Plex.tv
OK, There is only 1 server at Plex.tv J-Plex and it is current.
Close the browser completely.
Open the browser new
Open an incognito window
Open http://192.168.1.14:32400/web in the incognito window
The server will want you to sign in – do so.
Expect the “got it” page
Ignore anything else you might have pinned, we are here on this instance.
If it wants you to claim it - Do so.
If it wants to setup a new server, humor it.
– Do not create new library sections – Acknowledge what it already has
– Continue forward through the settings. Set/change anything obvious you want.
– Continue forward until FINISH
– Arrive at the dashboard
You should now have J-Plex back, with your library sections as you had them.
Please advise.
Sorry, it took a bit to get the “Got it” page to come back. I went through it and a new server (PLEX) is set up. J-Plex has not changed however.
I did just turn the snap server off and now the new PLEX server is offline.
We can remove the J-Plex instance and rename ‘Plex’ to be J-Plex.
That’s easy enough.
My biggest concern is having maintained your actual server database and libraries.
Did they come through?
EDIT: I saw you write after I did. Something is caching in the browser.
Are you restarting it ? (REQUIRED)
Control + F5 key will force reload it too.
Nope, no libraries in the new PLEX server.
OK… there is definitely something fishy here.
Let’s get to the bottom of this NOW.
sudo bash
systemctl stop plexmediaserver
cd /var/lib/plexmediaserver
mv Library Library-unknown
mv Library-unused Library
systemctl start plexmediaserver
What do you end up with ?
That did it; J-Plex is back. I’m taking that to mean the snap install should go away it will be back to normal?
I’m seeing two servers – both are DPKG based. SNAP is gone.
This is what I expect.
The error here was you installed snap instead of reinstalling DPKG.
We’ve got that sorted now.
If you go to Settings - Authorized Devices - Server (the dropdown)
you will see the two servers (PLEX and J-Plex).
The most recently seen one should be the one you’re running now
Please confirm:
After you do, and if correct, you can REMOVE “PLEX” from your account in that menu.
Done. The second server is removed. Thank you for all your help. I learned a lot here.
I’m glad. That was the point of getting out the 
until we achieved our goal.
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