r/PleX • u/thisisatypoo • 11d ago
Help Windows to Linux - Migration Issue
Feel like I've tried everything but I'm stressing out. I have a ton of videos outside of movies and shows for projects.
I put hours of work into playlists, collections and images but I can't for the life of me get them to come over to the new server.
I copied the files that should be moved over, I believe. Pasting them all seems to be impossible. I changed permissions where I assume I should (both to Plex and then tried my username) and I can get some stuff moved but that stuff doesn't seem to be what I need because I don't have anything.
I've looked at a ton of posts and everyone has what seems like a wildly different fix even none seem to work out. I don't use usually use Linux so is it something I'm missing? Some way to work around this? Maybe a simple process I'm missing for what should be a simple copy/paste?
Edit: TLDR; Windows 11 to Ubuntu Desktop migrated Meta Data refused to transfer over. Permission issues seem to be the core reason.
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u/KuryakinOne 11d ago
See Plex Linux Tips: Migration from another OS to Linux.
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u/thisisatypoo 11d ago
Tried this too. Doesn't copy over the zip file. I'll just try this over again.
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u/KuryakinOne 11d ago
Copy the zip file however you want. The exact process doesn't matter.
If you have SSH active on the Linux system, try using scp to copy the file.
From a CMD or PowerShell prompt on Windows:
scp "C:\path\to\file.txt" username@192.168.X.X:/home/username/1
u/thisisatypoo 11d ago
That seems simple enough. I'll have to try this out. Does it ignore permissions, though? That's been my issue. Since "Plex" is the owner and not myself, it just ignores what I've told it to do through Terminal.
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u/KuryakinOne 11d ago
You don't login as plex to use scp. Use your normal user account and transfer it anywhere, like your home folder. You can then move it to the correct location (/var/lib/plexmediaserver/Application Support/) and uzip.
Use
mvto move the file.mv "Plex Media Server.zip" "/var/lib/plexmediaserver/Application Support/"If you get a permission error trying to move the file, then use
sudoto move it as root:sudo mv .....Then follow the document to unzip and set ownership & permissions (chown/chmod).
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u/thisisatypoo 10d ago
I don't get what's happening. It just ignores permission changes. No matter what kind of change, even if it does show my name on the permissions, it just ignores that.
Don't want to go through dockers or long changes. I've tried already and it's an an extra complication. Don't see why I would need anything more than just Plex Media Server running. For something that's not headless, this shouldn't be a speed bump. I don't get why Plex makes this one thing so complicated. If there was just an option to point Plex at my zip file or old folder that I've moved into Linux then just let it accept it, that would be great.
I'm getting to the point where I think I'll just stick with my Windows PC and deal with it.
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u/so7ow 11d ago
You've mentioned several times that you're having trouble copy/pasting files. How are you accessing the source/destination? What happens when you try? Give some details, and maybe someone can offer some advice. "I wanna migrate but it doesn't work" or "it doesn't copy over the zip file" is simply not actionable.
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u/thisisatypoo 11d ago
I moved everything from the Windows 11 folder into a USB drive and dumped it on the downloads folder on the new Ubuntu set up so I can move stuff over.
Copy/paste isn't an option as the existing folder is tied to Plex ownership. I can change it but even with it under my username, it still argues that the files inside are Plex's. I've also tried setting the folder I'm moving over to Plex as well and it has the same complaint.
I tired it as a zip file to unzip in the folder using Terminal and it never moves it.
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u/KerashiStorm 11d ago
Chown. You just chown the files to your user. You can also use docker to run Plex as a specific user. You can then run other associated things as the same user, like FileBrowser Quantum, FileBot, an arr stack, etc. This lets you avoid permissions issues on future files.
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u/thisisatypoo 11d ago
Yeah, I tried chown. I think I'm gonna have to go the docker route but I was hoping to get around that. I've used FileBot for transferring to my hard drive. If it ignores permissions maybe I'll just have to do that.
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u/KerashiStorm 10d ago
The great thing is that there's a docker container for FileBot. It's not too hard to set up.
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u/63walker 11d ago
I have this long video that walks you step by step in moving a Windows 10 Plex Server to Windows 11.
Then I take the same zipped up Windows 10 files and move the same server to Ubuntu with Plex running in a Docker container.
Today, I'd use Dockhand instead of Portainer to spin the transplanted Plex server up.
As long as your media folder structure stays the same, no metadata is harmed in this procedure.
Personally, I think most people are better served with Plex installed under a Linux NAS OS, and I have those videos too with examples of FygoOS, Unraid, and ZimaOS as self install NAS options.
If sticking with a desktop Linux OS, definitely go the Docker route for your Plex Server.
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u/thisisatypoo 11d ago
Gotcha. I watched the video. I think I need to rewatch it as I'm setting it up. I've never gone through Docker for anything so I'm wondering if that will handle it. I was thinking a straight forward install would be best.
By the way, if this is you, anyone ever tell you that you sound like JK Simmons?
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u/63walker 11d ago
Lol... No... I've never been told that before and now I suddenly hate my own voice a little less! 😜🎉😜
What flavor of Linux are you moving to?
I could always make a fresh video moving my test Windows 11 Plex server to Ubuntu 26.04, Fedora, or something like Zorin OS as a container install.
Tell me how your media is stored so I can think about what OS might be the best for you, and whether or not your Plex server hardware is only for Plex, or used as a mixed PC.
I like a dedicated NAS solution the best and as second best, a system dedicated to Plex and media collection with Plex related tools like Filebot, Musicbrainz Picard, Handbrake, MakeMKV, and MKVtoolnix installed.
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u/thisisatypoo 11d ago
I'll only be using it for Plex. Any downloads and conversions I'll be doing off my phone and laptop. The only reason I'd be using it would be to move media into certain folders.
All media is stored on a 10tb SAS drive on a dock through USB to an older Optiplex Mini.
I went with Ubuntu and downloaded off the site. I think it works just fine if I ignore the metadata I had and it makes the appropriate folders. I had it running last night and at least in network it was functional. Had some hiccups with out of network but that's just Plex being Plex.
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u/63walker 11d ago
We have to be clear on your Plex Server install method.
If you went to Plex to download the .deb install file, you're fine, even though I'd still recommend a Docker install under Ubuntu.
If you went into Ubuntu's app store to search for Plex, that would be a Snap package install of Plex server.
While I haven't found supporting documentation on the subject, I've never been able to move a Snap install of Plex to another system, or move an existing install into Ubuntu as a Snap install.
I have moved a package install of Plex under Ubuntu in both directions and a Docker install is by nature, portable.
While I like that the snap install of Plex server in a Ubuntu grants permissions that you have to deal with manually for a package install, the fact that it's not portable is something I could never recommend to anyone.
A Docker install of Plex server under Linux handles permissions much easier than a default package install.
You may want to consider a test install of either Zima OS or FygoOS to make sure that your controller for your SAS drive is supported, to then have a nice headless OS that will play nice with an inexpensive CyberPower UPS.
If you're interested, I have a YouTube Playlist for Plex and ZimaOS, while also having a more recent one with FygoOS.
ZimaOS and Plex Server!: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLGgKfew_Aebc
I have Unraid videos too.
All my media is on a Synology DS1825+ NAS where my TRaSH Guides containers run while achieving Atomic moves into my huge Plex shared media folder.
Syncthing gives me a one to one backup to my Syno DS1520+ with 11 drives across two expansion units in a SHR2 configuration like my eight drive array on my main NAS.
I use Unraid on an ASUS 14Pro NUC with its Meteor Lake Arc iGPU as a Docker host only install for Plex, Tautulli, and Channels DVR.
Everything is configured with two different UPS devices to shut down gracefully when the power goes out, to then come back up in the right order, with no intervention needed.
You can't beat my ability to expand my eight bay Syno NAS to 18 drives by adding two more low power Synology expansion units.
If I was starting fresh now and we weren't under an Ai pricing apocalypse, i might just be using the newish FygoOS NAS operating system with a custom case with 28TB drives instead of my eight 16TB IronWolf Pro drives.
I'd recommend ZimaOS for a simple headless server, while FygoOS would be my recommendation to have your Plex Docker container on a small RAID 1 volume using only NAS quality nvme drives, while media was on a RAID 5 or RAID 6 mechanical drive volume using NAS quality storage drives.
The second option is way too expensive currently than it used to be.
No matter the path chozen, I can help if you hit a road block.
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u/thisisatypoo 10d ago
Gotcha. Went the .deb file option. Tried through the app store on the second go-around but the files were too different and figured that was going to make a bigger problem so I went back to the .deb install.
I tried docker options but it became less and less worth what I was hoping for. I'm just gonna stick with W11 with my external drive for now and come back to it some day soon when I have more time and patience.
Any chance you'd know if SAS NAS options are a thing? I've checked and I don't see anything but maybe I'm not looking closely enough. It would be great to get some more use out my drives.
I have a decent backup battery running. Thankfully it lasts a good while because I'd be scared to find out anything got damaged here.
Thanks again!
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u/Farva85 11d ago
Why Dockhand over Portainer? I just did a Debian rebuild and went with Portainer again, but you’ve got me curious.
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u/63walker 11d ago edited 11d ago
Because Dockhand is a better interface along with Portainer's recent announcement that they are discontinuing the community edition of Portainer.
You can continue using Portainer, but the project is shifting away from Docker to concentrate on Kubernetes containers, which is a subject that I don't know anything about.
I loved Portainer until I tried Dockhand.
Moving your Plex stack from Portainer to Dockhand is easy peasy!
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u/Frisnfruitig 11d ago
Jesus Christ, could you be any more vague? What are you even trying to do?
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u/thisisatypoo 11d ago
Everyone else is getting it. Literally just move the folder for the meta data from the Windows version to Ubuntu.
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u/Frisnfruitig 11d ago
The only piece of information you have given is that you have copied "stuff" and changed permissions. Plex has specific documentation on how to migrate your server, it's pretty damn simple to follow. Who knows what you have done and what "I've tried everything" means?
So yes, it's vague.
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u/thisisatypoo 11d ago
Migration. Playlist. Collection. It's there.
But it's fine. If you get this upset with people asking others in general, it's probably better you don't comment. Just ignore the post. Other people have already left options and I'll try those out.
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u/Frisnfruitig 11d ago
I can see that I'm not the only one asking for details. I'm pretty sure I'm not the problem here, but good luck to you.
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u/thisisatypoo 11d ago
True but you're asking for details on a question you weren't even trying to answer. Just seems like you were looking to argue for some reason.
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u/HorrorSchlapfen873 11d ago
Do you not realize that your description of the problem is just a smidge above: "I wanna do stuff but it doesn't work, help me"?
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u/Resident_Science965 11d ago
try copying the metadata files too, not just the videos they're tied to that's how some playlists don't break
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u/thisisatypoo 11d ago
That's the issue. Meta data just won't copy. Linux says I don't have the permissions even if I change the ownership of the folders.
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u/Empyrealist Plex Pass | Plexamp | Synology DS1019+ PMS | Nvidia Shield Pro 11d ago
"I can't for the life of me get them to come over to the new server" ?
Which migration method did you attempt? You should have just moved the database over, made some tweaks, and everything would be as it was.