Best Practices - Backup/Metadata

[KatchiMunki 0]

Running Version 4.9.1.90 

Looking for some advice on what's best for backups and metadata storage. Is it better to have the metadata stored in the media folder as .nfo along with the artwork or keep it in the emby library as default? I currently manually back up my media to an external hdd using hyper backup incase anything goes wrong, would the backup plugin for emby do the same or does that backup not contain the actual files and just how the library/database is setup?   @sa2000

[sa2000 674]

On 12/12/2025 at 09:15, KatchiMunki said:

backup plugin for emby do the same or does that backup not contain the actual files and just how the library/database is setup?

The Backup and Restore plugin does not backup the folders for the media and you would need to have separate backup process for that.

When saving nfo's - these are always stored with the media files

The default metadata subfolders that get backed up covers genres, collections, tags, studios. 

Other metadata sub-folders can be optionally added to the backup 

 

Edited December 15, 2025 by sa2000

[KatchiMunki 0]

On 15/12/2025 at 10:09, sa2000 said:

The Backup and Restore plugin does not backup the folders for the media and you would need to have separate backup process for that.

Good to know thanks, i'll keep with my current setup!

 

On 15/12/2025 at 10:09, sa2000 said:

The default metadata subfolders that get backed up covers genres, collections, tags, studios. 

Other metadata sub-folders can be optionally added to the backup 

 

It was mainly the collections and tags so that's perfect. What info does the 'metadata/library' option save? 

[sa2000 674]

15 minutes ago, KatchiMunki said:

What info does the 'metadata/library' option save? 

This could be a few gigabytes for potentially thousands of files and folders. This folder holds all the posters and images and automatic collage posters