Backup not backing up all expected data

[markand 11]

I have been running my Emby Server on a QNAP NAS for a number of years. Though I have the Backup and Restore plugin configured with all options checked and to keep 10 copies, I just noticed that what is being backed up has changed. And it seems like it changed a while ago.

In my backup folder, I have 2 sets of folders.

• The first is 10 folders titled "Emby Backup -" with dates from 2024-01-19 to 2024-02-07. Each of these has a number of sub folders and some other files. See  attached screenshot.
• The second is 11 folders titled "Emby Server Databases" with dates from 2026-06-21 to 2026-07-01. These only contain .db files and a backup info.json file. 

Why can I not access my playlists or other data that used to be backed up? 

Server Version

4.9.5.0

Backup Plug-in Version

1.8.3.0

 

Edited 1 hour ago by markand
typo on folder name

[Lessaj 521]

You should have a "embyserver-backup-full" folder along with newly dated folders you mentioned "Emby Server Databases - YYYY-MM-DD HH.MM.s" The 2024 folder you see is the older style of backup. Do you see the embyserver-backup-full folder? It may have an old time stamp on it but if you look inside backupinfo.json should have the latest date on it.

[GrimReaper 5033]

9 minutes ago, markand said:

The second is 11 folders titled "Emby Server Databases" with dates from 2026-06-21 to 2026-07-01. These only contain .db files and a backup info.json file

You should also have "embyserver-backup-full" folder, the initial one - the others are incremental db updates. 

9 minutes ago, markand said:

Why can I not access my playlists or other data that used to be backed up? 

Backup & Restore plugin undervent significant overhaul for server version 4.8+, making previous backups incompatible. 

https://emby.media/support/articles/Backup-Using-Plugin.html

 

Edited 1 hour ago by GrimReaper
Cross-posted

[markand 11]

Thank you. I actually DO have the embyserver-backup-full folder. I had neglected to mention it because I was confused as to where that came from, figuring I had done it somehow. It's date is is 2024-02-27, though if I change into it, it seems like items in subfolders have been updated including this year.

One thing that is confusing is in my Playlists, I have a playlist.xml file that does not seem to be updated - most are showing a date of 2023, while the .m3u file seems to be updated. Is this as expected?

Finally, so it seems like things like playlists do not have multiple versions stored. Previously, every backup had a set of the playlists and so I would have 10 or so versions and if I needed to restore, I would have options. It seems now it only has the most recent copy. Is that correct? If so, it's a little disappointing.

Thank you @Lessajand @GrimReaper for the fast responses!

[GrimReaper 5033]

1 minute ago, markand said:

One thing that is confusing is in my Playlists, I have a playlist.xml file that does not seem to be updated - most are showing a date of 2023, while the .m3u file seems to be updated. Is this as expected?

Playlists are db-only now.

[markand 11]

So are all of those playlist folders obsolete?

[GrimReaper 5033]

5 minutes ago, markand said:

So are all of those playlist folders obsolete?

Yes. 

[markand 11]

Thank you! That explains some things I was seeing.