Reinstall of Emby server

[altramarine 21]

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​Hi,

​

​I am planning to reinstall Emby server on a different computer.

​​I am also moving my media to a NAS. Before, I ran Emby server on the same computer where media resided.

​I store Metadata in a separate folder, NOT with media.

Once i restore from backup (using Server backup plugin):

1. will I loose metadata if i cannot maintain the same path to shared media?

2. will i loose watched status for users?

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​Thanks,

​

​

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Edited January 14, 2016 by altramarine

[ebr 16187]

The backup plug-in can restore your watched status' but it doesn't back up metadata.  If you don't store this with your media, it will need to be re-built.

 

We highly recommend storing it with your media.

[altramarine 21]

Just to clarify, even if I make sure all the paths to content AND metadata are exactly the same as before, it still wont work?

Thank you,

​

​

[jds828 24]

I tried moving the metadata from SSD to a larger HDD and it was a mess. I had all the file paths in, Emby was looking in the new location but all the files in Metadata Manager showed as if no metadata was there. In the end I just started from scratch but this time set the metadata location first. It may have worked if I left it longer but after 3 hrs it still wasn't looking good. Clean install took about 2 hrs and my library is fairly big.

[ebr 16187]

It is possible that, if everything were just right, it would transfer but, if you want to make your metadata portable with your media (highly recommended) then the option to do that is to save it with the media.

[jds828 24]

If you save it with media does it use a single folder or use separate files/folders for each video?

[altramarine 21]

​It saves metadata files (backdrop folder, folder.jpg, backdrop.jpg and many others) in side your media folder.

[altramarine 21]

Thanks for clarification. I guess ill try it and rebuild metadata if it doesn't work.

​Unfortunately, most of my media is foregn language, which means I'll have to rebuild metadata manually from scratch:(

I store metadata outside media folders because I don't like the clutter, not because I'd like my media to be portable. Not sure who wants their media portable honestly.

​I wonder how many other people have their metadata stored outside media folders?

This might very well might be my OCD though.

​

Edited January 15, 2016 by altramarine

[ebr 16187]

Thanks for clarification. I guess ill try it and rebuild metadata if it doesn't work.

​Unfortunately, most of my media is foregn language, which means I'll have to rebuild metadata manually from scratch:(

 

All the more reason to store it with the media this next time.

 

 

Not sure who wants their media portable honestly.​

 

Apparently, you do .  By portable, I mean that you can pick it up and move it to another location or another server setup (like you are about to do).

 

One thing to be aware of, checking the box to store with the media now is not going to move all your metadata for you.  It will only save future edits there.

[altramarine 21]

I totally understand your point and will do that going forward, for that I thank you!

 

Hear me out and please do not get offended, I am not arguing. Perhaps I could suggest that in FRs.

In my mind, the optional "metadata outside media folder" feature is reduced in value since it is not in line with the default where metadata is stored inside media folders.

it is not uncommon for hardware or software to fail which renders Emby server environment unstable or unusable. Backup plugin takes care of the in-media metadata scenario perfectly. I automatically assumed the out-media metadata scenario is treated similarly, which is unfortunately not the case.

​Personally, I am not moving emby server content elsewhere because that is what i do for kicks or portability reasons but because my current setup is failing (both hardware and software).

​

​That said, you guys created an amazing project and invest your time voluntarily. If this is the way you consider it to be the right way, i'll adapt, the sky is not falling.

​

​Thank you,

​

[bluemonkey07 590]

Portability also means compatibility with other software, so if you decided to try another media center software such as Plex or kodi they will use the same metadata, saving alot of setup time and downloading/scraping

Also I believe emby server has the option to flag all the metadata files as hidden so you won't even know they're there

Edited January 16, 2016 by Vidman

[jds828 24]

Thanks for the info.

 

I'll leave mine as is... I'm a tad OCD with my media folders. It gets to me if there's the odd srt in there. I have to mux it then delete it

 

And not much point in the hidden option either as I always have that option turned on in Windows

Edited January 16, 2016 by jds828

[Ultroman 87]

I'm dumbfounded as to why it is impossible, to move a folder full of metadata, with an accompanying database, and get it to work, assuming the library is set up exactly the same. I get that it is recommended to recreate the databases, if you have a particularly old database, though. But, in my opinion, metadata does not belong, in the same folder as the video files. The massive explosion of files would make my eyes cry, and my girlfriend mad when she has to take care of deleting all those files as well, when deleting watched episodes. Unless the metadata is automatically cleaned up, when it is stored in the folders, and the media-file is deleted. having hidden files all over the place, that are only deleted when you delete the entire folder, is not a great option either. And if you enable viewing hidden files in order to clean them out, what's the point in them being hidden anyway?

 

Maybe something could be done, to make the separately stored metadata easier to identify and reuse for the server? You're pretty adept at databases. There has to be a way.

[Luke 42083]

The metadata is portable but generally when you move the server, the paths to your media files also change. When the paths to the media files change, so too do their ID's in the database, and therefor the sub-folder underneath the metadata folder.

[ebr 16187]

If you want your installation to be portable, storing the metadata with the media is really the best option.

 

With proper media organization (using separate folders for movies and season folders for TV for example) it doesn't create that much clutter and deleting should take care of itself.