after using plex for so many years I had no idea you could do this and I've had to start from scratch several times and build all of my metadata back up. due to several issues. This video is super helpful. Thanks Lon!
@mikeh1811
4 жыл бұрын
TIP: As mentioned on the Plex Backups page (if storage space is an issue), it is not necessary to copy the Cache folder for Windows and Linux systems. It can become huge, several GB's.
@KW-vm5fc
4 жыл бұрын
I did follow the steps outlined to backup my Plex. It took surprisingly long so that will be done sparingly. I've had the library build itself from scratch again before on a reinstall so this will save some time the next time I have to reinstall ...thanks.
@Ch3vr0n
4 жыл бұрын
Actually this video is missing some vital details on the "simulated crash". All the first 10 minutes show is that you copied over the metadata folder & registry file to an external drive and back, delete the "old" metadata folder. You say you've "only just reinstalled" PMS but you didn't show that, you also didn't show the "new" PMS metadata folder size! As in you DID NOT open the main GUI showing the default library and that your meta data was not there. Thus we (the viewer) has no way of knowing that you didn't just delete the original metadata folder and copy it. What you should have done is perhaps remove and reinstall plex on video (only takes a moment), launch the GUI so the user could have seen your meta data was NOT there and THEN restore the backup data.
@AprilClayton
3 жыл бұрын
I actually understood how to back up those files. Thanks for making this so easy to follow.
@darthbane01
4 жыл бұрын
Thank you for making this video. It would really suck if I lost the data after all the time I've spent setting up PLEX. Great video and keep up the great work!
@beckyp867
4 жыл бұрын
Love these videos on Plex. Thank you. I have my PMS installed on an Asustor nas.
@alanrosenbach
4 жыл бұрын
There is no way I could have figured this out with the directions given at Plex support. This is so clear. The only thing I found confusing related to restoring on Windows from the backup Plex Media Server folder and from the Registry Key. You pretend you've crashed and burned your computer and then go through the steps of pretending to install from these backups onto a new computer. This new computer already has Plex Media Server installed. I made an assumption that was not apparent for me after watching the video. My guess is that when you installed Plex Media Server before locating and restoring the backups, you exited out of the program immediately and didn't even sign in. I'm sure you're busy but I'd love to know whether or not you signed in before exiting out of the program and moving the backups back into place. Thanks for the very clear tutorial.
@AaronMcFarland
4 жыл бұрын
I will note one thing regarding copying that Plex Data folder a machine, if you have huge library I would very much suggest zipping that folder before copying it. I know my Plex library has more than a million files and copying the many small files takes...hours. Zipping the file you will have one huge file that will be much easier to copy.
@slimdawgwoof
4 жыл бұрын
Lon you are the best.
@LacayoDe
Жыл бұрын
Great video mega useful . Now I keep q backup once a month externally it case it collapses
@QuadroNVS
3 жыл бұрын
THANK YOU! Just upgraded my server from WIndows 7 to WIndows 10.
@Ms.HistoryBuff433
4 жыл бұрын
Lon, Thank you! You saved my work with your most helpful video!
@bploan8464
7 ай бұрын
Amazing video, thank you
@tirthesh12345
3 жыл бұрын
Does the backup of metadata also include 'Collections' and the summary that we add?
@Randii225
3 жыл бұрын
This is not working for me arrrrggg I did every step! My server not connecting! I replaced those two items to my new Mac inside the same locations..
@daveborchard2019
4 жыл бұрын
Manually backing up the database is OK, but when it's a manual operation, it's likely that the database will be rarely backed up, and there will be a lot of data loss when the database backups are infrequent. and you to do a recovery.. A cold database backup is less likely to backed up in a inconsistent state with a cold database backup than a hot database backup. What is the database type (SQL or something else?) that holds the Plex data? Maybe that type of database is not capable of doing a hot database backup. How is the Plex database shut down and started with a command line on Windows and Mac operating systems? The meta data should be backed up at least once a day, maybe more often than that. Manually backing up the database would be too painful to repeat that process very often. The real solution is to automate the backup and periodically test a restore.
@spawnlink
4 жыл бұрын
"They don't offer a 1-click solution" But they should.
@LonSeidman
4 жыл бұрын
Agreed!
@KevTheGalaxybender
4 жыл бұрын
@@LonSeidman They definitely should.
@SkyShazad
3 жыл бұрын
Hay man This video was Awesome Well explained and easy to follow, Stay Awesome and Stay Safe my dude
@Rvs56983
2 жыл бұрын
I have changed the poster art in my playlists and it displays it properly on my PC but when I try to access my playlist on my Firestick it does not show the poster art covers correctly.
@steveb.1361
4 жыл бұрын
Lon, as you probably know you could of simply double-clicked the registry file which would of imported the backed up registry file (Windows platform) saved you starting regedit and then importing. All registry files can be doublled clicked and imported this well.
@just-a-yt-guy
4 жыл бұрын
Presumably you can use the overnight built in Plex database backup function to look after the database backup rather than having to shutdown PMS each time you backup? As long as your backup is done at a similar time of day to the automated DB backup.
@ALBERTODT7
4 жыл бұрын
Loved your vid Lon. However, in my case, for all of this to actually work swapping to a completely different machine using an external hard drive as the media server I had to do an extra step that consisted in changing the location of the libraries on the plex app individually to the new location allocated by windows to the external hard drive on the new machine, otherwise it will show all the movies metadata but the movie itself will be unavailable. It worked for me doing it this way but there may be a better way to do it.
@jann-arnesrensen6606
2 жыл бұрын
Thank you for this video.
@billrichards2016
4 ай бұрын
You showed the Synology screen (which I have) and how it created the Plex folder (which mine did as well). Unlike the Windows and Mac that you explained, I didn’t see; a) which files in the Plex folder I should back up (or should it be all of them?), and b) how to restore them Plex folder,and should it be the entire folder? I do have multiple Plex backups in Hyper backup. My issue is that I went to import itunes playlists but Plex deleted hundreds and left only 81. I used to see the enable iTunes plugin and iTunes XML path but I’m not seeing that in Plex. I know they removed the Plugins from the left navigation pane but say it’s now in Library from the left pane but it’s not showing for me. Should I replace the preferences.xml with an older one I have (or should be on the Plex hyper backup), and/or replace the iTunes xml file I put in my Music folder, overwriting the one I had? I did not turn off Plex in Synology before importing the playlists which may be why hundreds of playlists were lost. I did then turn it off in Synology but after turning back on and trying to import playlists again, it also didn’t work. Should I turn Plex off from my windows taskbar? Does it stay on if I shut Plex off in Synology? Should I remove Plex from starting when I turn in my computer? I don’t have a Plex library based on music from my computer. It’s only on my NAS and iTunes music when us in iTunes, point to the volume1/music folder on my NAS. Sorry for the lengthy comments. I just want to get my playlists back. And by the way, why did Plex blow out hundreds of files when I imported an update of my playlist? I did the “overwrite” and selected my Music folder when importing. That’s what I always have done in the past. Thanks
@crosis001
3 жыл бұрын
I run my plex server on nvidia shield. I have an external hard drive attached that stores Metadata etc. The plex database is being backed up to /storage/emulated/0/plex media server/database backups/. I was wondering if I can point the dB backup path from the nvidia shield to the external drive instead? (this can be done I guess from the scheduled tasks on the server) Thanks in advance for any input.
@remrick13
10 ай бұрын
Does htis method also restore the collections I have made in movies and TV Shows?
@mattmanoo5736
4 жыл бұрын
Thank you thank you thank you! This has helped me BIG time. I love everything you do with plex and synology:-)
@JoeHusosky
4 жыл бұрын
Thank you, this is awesome, and the Synology is so easy to work with. Backing up now.
@LonSeidman
4 жыл бұрын
Glad it was helpful!
@JoeHusosky
4 жыл бұрын
@@LonSeidman It says I do not have permission to copy the files. May need to find a way to copy from with in the DS218
@JoeHusosky
4 жыл бұрын
@scuderiarmani I ended up using the file services in the DS to copy to another area "photos" than did a cut to another drive on the network. I still got the error but choose to "skip all" and when it finished only the folder structure remained on the "photos" folder and all those folders were also on the network drive with the files. I deleted the intermediate folder. I too have a large database (12.8gb). I think for now that will suffice.
@redsanders8754
6 ай бұрын
Love your videos, but copy of path to my server directory folder into the search bar did not find anything. I had to open Windows Explorer and burrow down to where that folder is located. Possibly the problem lies in the fact that my work with my Plex server was interrupted for 3 years due to damage to our home by Hurricane Laura. When I resumed, the computer was damaged, and in the process of getting it started again, apparently I installed PMS again for in the directory path is "Users/redsa/Appdata/Local/Plex". And under that folder is "Plex Media Server" AND "Plex Media Server, old". What concerns me is that the folders in the "Plex Media Server" (which the dates confirm is the current one being used), there is no "metadata" folder! Guess I'll throw this problem out on the Plex forum for advice.
@MRRHODES3RD
4 жыл бұрын
Much appreciated! Really help! 🔥🔥🔥🔥
@jakobsvendsen4981
2 жыл бұрын
Super clear, thanks!
@tubeylouie
2 жыл бұрын
Sounds like the developers have left backup and restore to the average user to figure out. Did I follow this? Not really - Not user friendly and nearly impossible for average user to do. Lost all my metadata and I will recreate it manually.
@kristianacelgenecua4624
3 жыл бұрын
i followed as is but i was only able to recover user accounts and not the entire libraries :/ (Metadata, Progress, Bookmarks... all gone!) i have to ask: 1. Is the Server's Computer name relevant in the restoration process? (i.e.: it has to be the same server name) 2. Is this applicable even with a newer Plex Server instance installed? (i.e.: backup is from version 1.1 while new server has version 1.2)
@cyrilrieux1033
3 жыл бұрын
fantastic video, many thanks !!!
@RaOuL353
2 жыл бұрын
Great!! Thank you
@Gamer_Dad_1985
4 жыл бұрын
Thanks Lon, very Helpful! Can you show the steps for a QNAP NAS?
@Kwarkiemodo
3 жыл бұрын
Thnx for this video. Very helpful. My question would be, can I use my backup across all platforms? I now run a Windows Plex server and I want to go in the future to Qnas or Truenas. Hopefully I can copy and past this otherwise it will be a nightmare for a couple of hours....
@kadecryar8799
4 жыл бұрын
Thank you very much for the help. Is it possible to have PMS run directly from an external hard drive?
@jagardina
4 жыл бұрын
I don't organize anything really. I just add content. Mostly from my wife scheduling OTA content. But it would be good to back up the scheduling and viewing history. And I want to move the Plex server from a dedicated system to my proxmox server so I can do snapshots and such.
@scottbronder
4 жыл бұрын
I about fell off the couch when I saw some classic Marty Friedman. You got some Jason or Cacaphony to go with that? 💯
@steelman5862
4 жыл бұрын
Hi Lon! Excellent recommendation to back up all that metadata. I have my Plex Media Server folder/files as described on my Synology DS918+ NAS. There isn't any issue finding the folders/files but unlike how this video shows them being copied from a Windows 10 computer via File Explorer to your external hard drive it doesn't seem to be possible to copy the folders/files from the NAS to an external hard drive (or even the local Windows drive). Have you found any issues copying from your Synology (File Station) to your external drive or Windows drive? And, I guess, the follow up would be how to get the backed up folders/files loaded back onto the NAS.
@techtonicsystems
Жыл бұрын
Great video Lon. Something odd though on my Ubuntu server. Can’t copy Preferences.xml as owner = plex and only owner has read write permissions. Have you come across this?
@pennakira
4 жыл бұрын
Thank you for the video. What is the best wireless Hdmi transmitter? thank you
@oabdulsslam
4 жыл бұрын
Thanks , very helpful!
@alanrosenbach
3 жыл бұрын
Deleting Plex Media Server folder can't be done this way in Windows. Access is denied.
@kaskenova
4 жыл бұрын
Any idea how to do this when running it on a raspberry pi...
@Boxanet0
4 жыл бұрын
Great video. Will Apple time machine backup the required files by default?
@keningilbert
4 жыл бұрын
Will just backing up the registry get ALLthe settings? I ask because all my data is scraped via Ember Media Manager and stored local. Both Plex and Kodi share it, therefore no metadata data is downloaded manually in Plex. So if my Plex server crashes all I care about is not having to set everything up again. I don't care that I would need to wait for the entire library to update.
@ejnichols05
3 жыл бұрын
Does doing these steps backup your entire video library?
@PeterABryan
3 жыл бұрын
So...do I back up the Plex Media Server files on the NAS or on my laptop?
@megatech1966
Жыл бұрын
NAS
@keithrobinson6201
2 жыл бұрын
Thanks!
@LonSeidman
2 жыл бұрын
Thank you again! :)
@gartennelke
4 жыл бұрын
Probably only apply to about 1% of your audience but I run my Plex in a docker container so perhaps clone the docker container onto a back up drive, a thought? I shall investigate! Edit: The metadata (& content for that matter) sits outside the container so no difference really to the backup strategy for Linux :(
@KOTProduction
4 жыл бұрын
Nice video :) Is there any possibility to acces to this Plex file via OpenMediaVault?
@ejnichols05
3 жыл бұрын
I have a question. When you say 'data', are you referring to the media content as well or just the settings? My Plex Media Server keeps stopping on my Synology NAS server and I'm scared to do anything to it bc I'm afraid of loosing all my movies. When doing the steps you suggest, would this bring all my movies back too?
@Ibis2693
3 жыл бұрын
Do you have the video on how to migrate from one platform to another? I have just set up a Windows server after moving away from one on my Synology. I would love to be able to transfer all my watched status and playlists from one to the other.
@LonSeidman
3 жыл бұрын
This should help! kzitem.info/news/bejne/yJ2w0naMgqmqd6A -- I am moving TO NAS here but the process should be the same in reverse.
@Ibis2693
3 жыл бұрын
@@LonSeidman Thanks ill check it out
@RejectedManiac
4 жыл бұрын
Did you ever do the video moving from Windows to Ubuntu? I'm currently in this situation and I'm stuck.
@jjones2582
4 жыл бұрын
A unified backup system has been a feature request for years. It would be nice if your next interview with Plex would ask them what goes into the decisions to ignore some of the popular feature requests for years. Like: - unified library backup and restore - special features on TV series (3 years) - multiple cuts of movies (8 years) - a watch list - wake Windows for recordings (like WMC did) - favoriting TV channels - multiple EPG sources for multiple tuners - in the EPG not showing identical recording symbol on shows not actually recording because a rerun or whatever - guest-star search of TV metadata - etc..
@gabrielvillarroel6547
11 ай бұрын
Hi Lon! Thank you for share! I want to ask you what happens with the location of the disc with the movies. For example: if I originally had my library on drive C and then I move to another computer and copy the movies to a larger drive on drive F, how do I not rename the metadata again?
@LonSeidman
11 ай бұрын
As long as the library is maintained I think you just need to repoint the file directory to the new location that should preserve the meta data.
Пікірлер: 71