I’m planning to migrate from Windows to Linux in the near future.
I’ve already found a lot of instructions but I’m not sure whether it wouldn’t be better to create and configure everything from scratch, which of course involves more work. I’m wondering whether these instructions will work in the end and whether I’ll have any disadvantages if I copy the folders into the new system. Or maybe there’s a method that’s proven to be the best. I’m also wondering whether I can leave the Windows system running while I set up the new Linux version and then just switch at the end. I’m also wondering whether this won’t cause any problems with the account. Maybe you could give me a few tips
See the Plex Linux Tips: Migration from another OS to Linux. Look over the rest of the document as well. It has some good info on running Plex on Linux.
You can run both servers at the same time. It will not cause account issues. Plex supports having multiple servers claimed by the same account.
Both servers should initially run the same version of Plex Media Server. This will minimize any database changes when copying the files to the Linux system. Once the Linux system is up and running, the servers can run different versions of Plex Media Server.
Give the Linux server a different name than the Windows server.
If you share media with others, you will not have to re-invite them. You will have to share the libraries from the new server with them. They will have to pin the desired libraries to their home page.
See Sync Watch State & Ratings. Enable it on your account. Have anyone you share with enable it on theirs.
I’m thinking of using Ubuntu 24.04.1 LTS. I’ve already looked at a lot of instructions and forums and even went through a Windows to Windows migration, but that was a long time ago and it worked quite well. I actually want to keep the name, but that then prevents simultaneous running.
I think my process will be as follows:
Export from the Windows server and shut down
Install Ubuntu and Plex and set up shares
Import the data and connect media libraries to the network drive
Of course with all the necessary intermediate steps that are in the instructions. I hope I can find a good, up-to-date guide.
Ubuntu 24.04.1, either desktop or server, will be fine. Some of the less popular distributions sometimes have problems with Plex due to the way they’ve been customized.
Plex has no problem with running both servers at the same time (unless you’re re-using hardware or something similar).
Doing so will let you keep using the Windows server until the new server is up and stable and you are comfortable moving over. You can also keep the Windows server as a backup / test server if desired.
Today I set up a server under a different name and included the data from the Windows system. This took some time but was completed without any errors. The new Ubuntu server is currently running and is scanning the adjusted paths from the media libraries, which hasn’t caused any problems so far. History and playback time were transferred without any problems.
My last question is:
Will it be possible to rename the Ubuntu server the same as the old Windows server so that the clients don’t notice the move?
You can make the name changes,
Grant them all the same sharing as you had on Windows,
but most will see that One-Time jump to the new server.
If your friends have the old server libraries Pinned then they will see the change.
Their clients will look for “That library on That server” which doesn’t exist anymore. This is the only hiccup in the switching from Windows → Linux.
It will help them best if they Force-Stop their player apps and open again.
(The player downloads all current server information from plex.tv as it starts)
Unfortunately, it is not usable at the moment because all the power is needed for reading the intro, which seems to take an extremely long time. If I open the port, the libraries on the start page disappear from the Windows server. But that’s not a big deal because I’m doing the intros first anyway.
Everything worked out great and definitely runs better and more stable than Windows. So far there are no errors and everything is running smoothly. Thanks again to everyone!
