Think I might know how to do this but wanted to see if anyone else has done this and how you did it.

 

I have a primary unraid media server that is about maxed out. I have plenty of smaller drives, mobo, rackmount 4u case, etc laying around to build another unraid media server.  Soooo...

 

I want to build 2nd server, transfer about 90TB to it in order to free up space on primary.

THEN I want to have the 2nd server feed into my primary plex account.  I'm trying to do this so family that remotes in won't need to do anything and be seamless to them.

 

Thanks in advance

 

 

its better to make a new plex server on the new machine and use a plex claim to have 2 pelx servers.
Content search will still show up but will play from the other server.

 

I have done this a few different ways. Form a new claim ID and new/different plex server to unassigned disk remote access the other machines from a shared folder path (smb/nfs)
and adding another path for that folder to the docker and that folder path within the docker via plex library addition.

The reason i say its better to run a second server is how plex and unraid will handle when one server is offline compared to the other.

otherwise

New server
-new pool disk setup
a share is made and shared either via nfs or samba...
For this example, lets call that path /mnt/user/remoteplexdata

Make sub folders within this folder...
mkdir tv

mkdir movies

mkdir music

mkdir photos

 

 

Old server

-Unassigned disk plugin

*Connect to ne ser either via nfs/samba
you should now have a path on the old server that connect to 
/mnt/user/remoteplexdata

 

with unassigned disk plugin connect to remote share.

so now old server /mnt/remotes/pathname 

is linkesd to new server /mnt/user/remoteplexdata

 

cd into 
ls will show /mnt/remotes/pathname 
movies tv music photo...

^ if you see the folders on the new server Perfect, you are now ready for plex to use those paths...

############
edit plex docker
add a new variable path

container path lets use /remoteserver

map it to /mnt/remotes/pathname 

 

start/apply the docker
now open plex and go to libray and libar point add /remoteserver/movies for movies etc etc....

This accomplishes what you want, but only when both systems are working. a network outage, system reboot, unassigned remote connect can break due to communication issues this way. While this will work it is safe and less disk thrashing on the disk to run a second plex server on the new server... This way when a server issue happens and one of the systems are offline you still have part of your plex media running...

 

Edited January 13, 20251 yr by bmartino1
typo

Thank you.  That is slightly different than what I was thinking but appears to be more reliable setup.

 

Thanks again

bmartino1

Finally working to get this set up. Had some hardware issues to fix first.

I'm going with your first suggestion to put plex docker on each machine. I'm transferring my TV Shows to the new server as we speak.

When that is finished, if I'm reading it correctly from what you stated, I just need to go to my first server and point the tv shows to the 2nd server folder via SMB remote? Or am I simplifying this too much. If you can point me to a step by step or video guide, I'd much appreciate it.

Thank you

6 hours ago, isrdude said:

bmartino1

Finally working to get this set up. Had some hardware issues to fix first.

I'm going with your first suggestion to put plex docker on each machine. I'm transferring my TV Shows to the new server as we speak.

When that is finished, if I'm reading it correctly from what you stated, I just need to go to my first server and point the tv shows to the 2nd server folder via SMB remote? Or am I simplifying this too much. If you can point me to a step by step or video guide, I'd much appreciate it.

Thank you

its better for the data to be local for the server. sure you can use a nfs/smb share of your media. Ill advised...
Meaning the entire movie library is copied onto the new server...

I can refer you to
plex docs... generc setup...

the issue you have is a large data library needs to be duplicated on another machine...

Thanks bmartino1

Oh yes, duplicating to new server is fun!!! NOT. I've run 43+ hours with moving the TV Shows. 88TB to move. Only have 9TB moved so far. I knew that was going to be the long pole in the tent anyway, so not a big deal. Just mounted the two boxes to each other and started machine to machine transfer.

Hi bmartino1

Sorry to bother again. I've transferred all my files/folders to new server. Decided to go with the amplified instructions you outlined to have plex look into both rather than 2 plex docker setups. Ran into issues.

1. set up both servers and have them both mounted to each other

2. set up the docker path, pretty easy, Docker could see where I wanted to go. It found this: /mnt/remotes/TOWER3_Media3/TV SHOWS/...also ensured it was set to read/write slave so far no issues

3. I set up container path under name /TV Shows. I assume path name doesn't change just because host path is /mnt/remotes/......?

4. Now comes the fun....I went into plex and tried to point it to the remote.....nothing...says library empty. I manually tried numerous iterations and would show library empty. I ensured I changed the name of the old TV Shows folder on the old server to avoid conflicts....still.....nothing

First I tried browsing for folder by going to mnt on the right side of the window after hitting browse....that was a blank

Next tried this /Media3/TV Shows by adding manually....nope

Tried this /remotes/Media3/TV Shows....nope

Tried /mnt/remotes/Media3/TV Shows....nope

I'm now at a loss. I know it must be a simple thing but this is throwing me off. Took me 25 days to transfer the files and now I hit this wall.....I ensured the old server could see into the new server by going into MC and pulling up the new server....folder/files there....

Not sure what I'm missing

Thanks again if you have a suggestion

Edited June 8, 20251 yr by isrdude
clarification

1 hour ago, isrdude said:

Hi bmartino1

Sorry to bother again. I've transferred all my files/folders to new server. Decided to go with the amplified instructions you outlined to have plex look into both rather than 2 plex docker setups. Ran into issues.

1. set up both servers and have them both mounted to each other

2. set up the docker path, pretty easy, Docker could see where I wanted to go. It found this: /mnt/remotes/TOWER3_Media3/TV SHOWS/...also ensured it was set to read/write slave so far no issues

3. I set up container path under name /TV Shows. I assume path name doesn't change just because host path is /mnt/remotes/......?

4. Now comes the fun....I went into plex and tried to point it to the remote.....nothing...says library empty. I manually tried numerous iterations and would show library empty. I ensured I changed the name of the old TV Shows folder on the old server to avoid conflicts....still.....nothing

First I tried browsing for folder by going to mnt on the right side of the window after hitting browse....that was a blank

Next tried this /Media3/TV Shows by adding manually....nope

Tried this /remotes/Media3/TV Shows....nope

Tried /mnt/remotes/Media3/TV Shows....nope

I'm now at a loss. I know it must be a simple thing but this is throwing me off. Took me 25 days to transfer the files and now I hit this wall.....I ensured the old server could see into the new server by going into MC and pulling up the new server....folder/files there....

Not sure what I'm missing

Thanks again if you have a suggestion

a lot here so lets first start with some basics.

Regarding #3 with plex on (as this sounds and seems like the culprit.
I set up container path under name /TV Shows. I assume path name doesn't change just because host path is /mnt/remotes/......?

Console the plex docker and cd into the template path you shared that connect to the /mnt/remotes/TOWER3_Media3/TV SHOWS/

if you don't see TV Shows/Series name/Season 1>media.mp4/mkv/avi etc...

Then you have issues with the remote and volume mounts. and may need to adjust your plex system.

My guess is that somehow the template path mounted something else and tv shows is not in the plex path provided over the share.

#####################

#1 set up both servers and have them both mounted to each other
-Just to claify you have then sharing by ?NFS or by SMB?

set up the docker path, pretty easy, Docker could see where I wanted to go. It found this: /mnt/remotes/TOWER3_Media3/TV SHOWS/...also ensured it was set to read/write slave so far no issues
Regardless if its nfs / samba as long as the remote system and enter the folder, read and write to the folder its fine. its then pathing and network access questions.

#2 setup path
--Not all shares settings are universal and 24/7 Some network based shares have timeouts and will drop the connection when idle. (this could be the case but unlikely)

Advance smb / nfs settings changes would need to be done to prevent this.

#3 plex docker can read write the path sent in via the docker template... confirm you see file and folder within the docker...

#4 Plex Library scan Can only check and run after confirming step/q and a of 3

so it sounds like you have a network share working in some form and fasion.
*we may need to look into advance samba/nfs share setting so that a network conection doesn't close or become idle and disconect (thus no files and fodlers)

We need to make sure the plex docker when in the docker is seeing the folder and files at the remote mount paths...

Please confirm if this is shared via SMB / NFS...
Please confimr in the plex docker, console into it and cd to the template path
?

cd /data
ls

depenign on the plex container path set in the docker template.

OK, I'll try to answer all

I SMB the shares using unassigned devices

Not sure what you are asking me to do here:

Please confimr in the plex docker, console into it and cd to the template path
?

cd /data
ls

I have gone into the shared directory via MC from the old server. I can get into the TV Show folder and the individual shows, season folders, and I can see the individual files

I just may say the heck with it and just go with plex having 2 servers and tell my family to just change sources to get to the TV Show folders

Thanks again

Edited June 8, 20251 yr by isrdude
clarify

You're not going to believe this......I did nothing other than using MC to go in and check I could access.....suddenly, it found "TV Shows" and is adding it! No clue how or why it worked but it is.......for the moment. We'll see if it continues and I can remotely access

Edited June 8, 20251 yr by isrdude
clarification

1 hour ago, isrdude said:

You're not going to believe this......I did nothing other than using MC to go in and check I could access.....suddenly, it found "TV Shows" and is adding it! No clue how or why it worked but it is.......for the moment. We'll see if it continues and I can remotely access

cool. some weird first indexing of a docker bind mount most likely. glad its working again.

Thank you for confirming its samba for the network connections.
SMB.

What I'm refering too is:

confirming your plex container path and mount path for the /mnt/remote

In my case I want to confirm plex docker can see the folder and files.

I'm referring you to enter console fo plex. a terminal windows as if you are on the local machine at a CMD promt for plex:

then cd into the path. in my case this is /data



and make sure the folder and files are there.

then we can look at plex and the library options to sync the content.

I'm around if needed. use the "@" and at me or PM me if needed. I don't always see responses to (Solutions) closed forum threads.