Which PlexData files are absolutely necessary for backup/restore?

Plex Media Server NAS & Devices
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Hello, I am attempting to back up my Plex server for restore on my soon-to-be reinitialized NAS. I am running QuTS hero h5.0.1.2515

My Plex Media Server folder is over 1.2 million files and over 2 TB. It is taking forever to ZIP and copy and I began getting some permission errors.

What I would like to know is what files do I need to preserve my watch history and playlists?

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On a QNAP, especially QuTS (where ZFS is strict about permissions), you’ll have those permissions issues.

There is a relatively painless (much less than normal) way to backup the bare minimums

  1. Create a shared folder, named exactly PlexData, anywhere you want.
    This serves as a placeholder for one entry.

  2. Restart PMS

  3. Now open FileStation → PlexData.

  4. You will see Plex Media Server. You’re looking at package-internal data which QTS/QuTS normally keeps hidden under QPKG directories. :smiling_imp:

  5. Before you stop Plex to make this backup / relocation,
    – Settings - Library - Show Advanced
    – Turn OFF everything (you don’t want automatic anything or the trash to be emptied)
    – When you get to the new system, you don’t want it to delete your metadata before you can update with the new paths to media.

  6. Now, WITH PLEX STOPPED (the link persists), you need
    – Preferences.xml
    – The “Databases” directory and its contents (Plex Media Server/Plug-in Support/Databases)

  7. When on the new system, replace those default files with what you’re bringing

  8. Start PMS (It will assume the identity (Name and shares) of the OLD QNAP – it is using the same DB/Preferences) .. be careful.. Don’t power up the old PMS without creating a new Preferences.xml to give it a new ID.

  9. Now you can start changing the friendly name

  10. One by one (each library section) follow this How-To to update the media locations (if they’re different) so you retain all the existing metadata.

Here’s the How-To to move the media. (whether changing host or moving the media, the procedure is the same)

The important step is Updating the PMS configuration to point to the new media location(s) correctly.

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