Change Emby library directory to new hard drive

[Moleburt 0]

I just bought a new hard drive because my old one was full, I am now in the process of transferring my libraries to the new hard drive. I was wondering if once everything is transferred if there was a easy way to change the Emby servers media library location, without losing all of the data and having to refresh everything and start over like it's brand new.

 

Thanks,

Nick

[ebr 15435]

This is a great reason to turn on the option to save metadata and images with the media.

 

You will need to re-create the library with the new location and let it rebuild.  If the above option was checked, then this would be a relatively fast and painless operation.

 

Also, I highly recommend you look into the various drive-pooling solutions so that you can expand your system in the future without any of these impacts.

 

Edit: One more thing - you do realize you don't have to move everything over... You can just add the new drive/location to the existing library and start adding new content there...

[Moleburt 0]

I know I could keep them in separate locations and just add the new drive directory, but I'm a little OCD so I like to keep things organized, even if it does cause me more work in the end lol. Thanks for the quick response. I didn't have that option checked unfortunately, so is there anyway to check it now and let it save the metadata before I move it?

[ebr 15435]

You can check the option and then do a full refresh at the library level.  Note, the default when you do this for a library will be to just scan for new stuff so you'll need to use the drop-down to change it to the last option of a full refresh.

 

I again, urge you to look at drive-pooling. Then you can not have to move stuff and keep your OCD in check (as everything will appear to be in one location - nicely organized).

[Moleburt 0]

I’m not sure how to setup a drive pool to be honest, that’s something I have never done.

[PenkethBoy 2066]

Lookup StableBit DrivePool or DriveBender - this assumes you are on Windows

[DRAGUNSLAYER 2]

You can check the option and then do a full refresh at the library level.  Note, the default when you do this for a library will be to just scan for new stuff so you'll need to use the drop-down to change it to the last option of a full refresh.

 

I again, urge you to look at drive-pooling. Then you can not have to move stuff and keep your OCD in check (as everything will appear to be in one location - nicely organized).

So I have that option checked, I am copying the entire library to secondary zpool. I was planning on adding it as a second library and then just deleting the original. How is this going to affect my users? My hope is it will allow for a seamless migration ie. their watched status, playlists ect.If there is something I am missing or a different approach I would appreciate some advice.

[Happy2Play 9140]

So I have that option checked, I am copying the entire library to secondary zpool. I was planning on adding it as a second library and then just deleting the original. How is this going to affect my users? My hope is it will allow for a seamless migration ie. their watched status, playlists ect.If there is something I am missing or a different approach I would appreciate some advice.

 

You shouldn't have any issues doing that as userdata watched status uses providerid not file paths. 

 

Playlists and Collections are not that resilient as the paths in the metadata file will not be updated with the path change.  Refreshing via the Auto boxset plugin will update regular boxsets but custom boxset/collections will need to be manually updated.

Edited October 11, 2018 by Happy2Play

[DRAGUNSLAYER 2]

 

You shouldn't have any issues doing that as userdata watched status uses providerid not file paths. 

 

Playlists and Collections are not that resilient as the paths in the metadata file will not be updated with the path change.  Refreshing via the Auto boxset plugin will update regular boxsets but custom boxset/collections will need to be manually updated.

Thanks. This is a pretty new server with a small amount of users so the playlists and boxsets aren't a huge deal. Just don't want users to be too put out.

[PaperPlayn 6]

On 7/29/2018 at 2:45 PM, ebr said:

You can check the option and then do a full refresh at the library level.  Note, the default when you do this for a library will be to just scan for new stuff so you'll need to use the drop-down to change it to the last option of a full refresh.

I am struggling to follow these instructions.  Maybe Emby has changed in the past few years and this is now N/A, but I think this is what I am trying to do.  (I am migrating from a PC server to a Raspberry Pi and the folder paths to my NAS have to be different now, to accommodate Linux.)  However, I cannot find any option either to save metadata with files, nor to "do a full refresh."  Can someone provide more specific, or more current, directions?  Thanks.

[Luke 38839]

@cayars

[Carlo 4480]

From Web Dashboard click the LIBRARY menu.  Select a library on the right side to open it.

SWITCH IT TO ADVANCED MODE (top right)

Scroll down and you'll see a few option to save the meta-data/graphics with your media.

You will need to do this for each library you have setup.

Let us know if you have any additional questions.