Mint -> WIndows

[johnsonb 12]

Hello. I have Emby nicely running under Mint. How can I try out the Windows version using the setup I have now?

thanks

[Carlo 4561]

Hello,

This knowledge base article shows how to backup/restore using the Backup plugin as well as how do copy core parts of Emby from one system to another.

https://support.emby.media/support/solutions/articles/44001159936-backup

So what you could do is a preliminary Emby install on Windows to see where it installs and what paths it used.  You can then shut down Emby on the Mint computer, copy over everything as shown in the article, then restart Emby on Mint.

You could then do another install right on top of what you copied over on Windows.  That is normally all you'll need to do to copy over all you core information.  You library paths will probably need to be adjusted depending on where that data is located as well.

Make sure the user running Emby on windows has proper access to your library media.

Let us know if you hit any problems,

Carlo

 

Edited August 10, 2020 by cayars

[Gilgamesh_48 1240]

If I were to want to do something like that I would first install the Trakt plugin and use it to save the watched states of my shows. Then I wouldinstall the Windows version and point it at the same libraries or at least the ones I want to duplicate. Then, after the new install does the best it could I would install the Trakt plugin on the new install and use it to import the watched status of my shows.

This would be even easier if you have installed the old app so that it stored nfos, bif files and artwork alongside the media files. With that setup I can do a "new" install for a pretty large library quite fast and there is no mucking with the database itself and little chance of doing something that really screws up everything.

Admittedly if everything goes perfectly then the method @cayars suggested is faster but it is also fraught with danger of things going horribly wrong. If things do go wrong the either you restart from scratch or you spend a goodly amount of time fixing things.

I try to do everything related to my Emby installs by adhering to the KISS principal and I believe that my method is much simpler than @cayars' and therefore less prone to errors creeping in.

I depend on Emby to fill a large part of my day and I do not want to break something and lose access.

[Carlo 4561]

Not sure what is fraught with danger as it's a SECOND system and none of the original data is touched so nothing can be lost on the original system.  My way does not require editing the database or anything.

It is basically a copy of the existing system copied to the new server and used so all user data including watched status already exists.

The only thing that normally needs review is the libraries themselves, transcoding setup if using GPU is that is likely different box to box and of course any custom paths you used.

If using Live TV you setup is copied as well but might need changes if using PCI adapters but with IPTV or network adapters normally just works.

I'm not a fan of using Trakt for this type of thing as first it requires EVERY user to be setup and synced which isn't always possible as users won't want to give you their username/password which is needed for setup on the server.

 

 

[Gilgamesh_48 1240]

2 hours ago, cayars said:

Not sure what is fraught with danger as it's a SECOND system and none of the original data is touched so nothing can be lost on the original system.  My way does not require editing the database or anything.

It is basically a copy of the existing system copied to the new server and used so all user data including watched status already exists.

The only thing that normally needs review is the libraries themselves, transcoding setup if using GPU is that is likely different box to box and of course any custom paths you used.

If using Live TV you setup is copied as well but might need changes if using PCI adapters but with IPTV or network adapters normally just works.

I'm not a fan of using Trakt for this type of thing as first it requires EVERY user to be setup and synced which isn't always possible as users won't want to give you their username/password which is needed for setup on the server.

To me anytime you manipulate the database, even slightly, you are in danger of things going horribly wrong. However your point about Trakt's limitation is well taken. I forget that many people have more than one or two users on their systems as I only have me and sometimes my granddaughters.

I do have to say that a user using my system that hesitates at all to share their username and password would find their use of my server to be suddenly and violently terminated.

Rereading that I see that you might have meant their Trakt username and password and that would be more forgivable but I still think it would be a small price to pay to access MY media.

[Carlo 4561]

The only thing I do with the databases is copy the DB files just like the config files from one system over to the other.  No reason a "new" install can't use the config and database from the old system assuming they run the same Emby Server version.

Not sure why you'd want a users info for another system.  I'd not ask for this and don't allow users on my system to use Trakt because of this. If/when Emby allows the user to set this up themselves then it's a different story, but I never want to be in possession of another person's password because for all I know they use the same password everywhere and when their bank account or some other online service is hacked I don't want to be thought of as someone who knows their password...  But I'm getting away from the topic.

By copying over and using the Library and User DBs you bring over the accounts and all their watched status with you, even if the libraries have to be completely rebuilt.

[johnsonb 12]

Thanks, everyone for their assistance. I have to unexpectedly go out of town for some family stuff. I'll get back to this in a week or so.

Thanks again, I appreciate your time.

 

 

[Luke 42093]

Great, thanks !