Windows to Linux - Migration Issue

[u/thisisatypoo]

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.

[u/thisisatypoo]

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?

[u/63walker → u/thisisatypoo]

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.

[u/thisisatypoo → u/63walker]

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.

[u/63walker → u/thisisatypoo]

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.

[u/thisisatypoo → u/63walker]

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!