I just did a backup of my entire plex media server folder located on local c drive to 2 external hard drives. when I checked properties they all show different sizes. both backups were were created at exact same time. My local is showing it is a whole 0.2gb smaller than the backups which make zero sense as there had been zero changes to server. why is this?
Different sector sizes and/or different file systems.
Your internal hard disk is formatted with the NTFS file system, while your external drive probably uses FAT32 or exFAT.
Do also keep in mind that for a successful backup, your Plex server must not be running, or your backup will contain a damaged main Plex database file.
All drives are formatted to NTSF. Server was running while coping, would this mean if I ever had to backup from scratch off these external hard drive sources the plex media server backup won’t be successful? as you mentioned backup will contain a damaged main Plex database file…
I do backups frequently while running server and never this great of a size discrepancy. The only difference would be minor in the number of files and folder in the contents section of properties. the SIZE and SIZE ON DISK usually stayed the same.
The main database file will be damaged. You’d then have to revert to one of the backup db files.
ok thanks.
