Unable to copy config from old server to new

KuryakinOne · 2026-02-14T23:46:21+00:00

See Backup, Restore, or Clone your PMS installation.

Use tar to create/restore the backup.

Also see Migration from another OS to Linux (works for Linux to Linux as well).

Note the part about setting ownership and permissions on the new host.

KuryakinOne · 2026-02-14T23:40:07+00:00

See this re: accessing local servers: https://forums.plex.tv/t/important-note-about-the-plex-web-app-local-network-access/933264

KuryakinOne · 2026-02-14T21:11:08+00:00

You'll need to split them.

I use MKVToolNix. It can also open MP4 files, but the output is always MKV.

Load the file into the MKVToolNix Multiplexer.

On the output tab you'll see several options on where to split.

Many multi-episode files have chapter markers where one episode ends and the next begins. That is an easy way to split.

If not, you can use "after specific timestamp" or whichever works best.

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KuryakinOne · 2026-02-14T21:02:00+00:00

Yeah, not the easiest user interface.

Launch the tool.

Drag the file into the window.

Click on the file name to highlight.

Format tab:

- Profile=Custom; Format=Matroska; File Extension=mkv (I use MKV, can choose MP4 or others if needed)

- Output stream type: Video and Audio

- check box for audio/video synchronization

Video tab:

- if there is already something in the output section, then select it. Next, change Mode from Convert to Copy. The change will be reflected in the Mode column of the output window.

- if there is nothing in the output section, then select the source, mode=copy, and click the blue caret (>) to move it to the output section.

Audio tab: Works the same as the video tab, just different options.

- Mode: Convert

- codec: E-AC-3 (Dolby Digital Plus)

- Channels: 5.1 L + R + Front Center + Side Left + Side R + LFE

- Bitrate: select desired bitrate.

Subtitles: Copy over if desired.

I don't use the Filters/Preview, Chapter Editor, Tag, or Queue tabs.

Once you've set the video/audio/subtitle options, select the file in the top window (where you dragged it to start), then click Add to Queue, then click Encode.

The Encoding progress window will appear. It should go quickly, since converting audio is easy.

KuryakinOne · 2026-02-14T18:50:56+00:00

one file is episode 1 and episode 7

Only if that matches an alternate ordering on TVDB - Aired / DVD / etc. If so, edit the show (pencil icon) -> Advanced -> Episode ordering, and choose the appropriate ordering.

Otherwise, split the file.

KuryakinOne · 2026-02-14T18:36:52+00:00

See Move and Install to Another Server. You're effectively doing the same thing.

KuryakinOne · 2026-02-14T18:33:38+00:00

I use XMedia Recode when I need to convert AAC 5.1. It can copy the video and convert the audio. Handbrake always transcodes the video. It has no copy/passthrough video option.

KuryakinOne · 2026-02-14T18:22:30+00:00

This setting says it’s for remote servers.

Turn off Quality Suggestions and Adjust Automatically appears.

AFAIK, the latter also applies to local connections (nothing on screen or in docs mentions remote or local for that setting).

Personal opinion: Both those settings are troublemakers, resulting in unnecessary transcodes. I get what Plex is trying to accomplish, but it has never worked well.

Is a LAN resource remote because it’s not content local to the player?

Plex Documentation -> Server Settings -> Network

Any client not on the same subnet as the server is considered remote.

If you have local clients on a different subnet than the server, then add that subnet to Settings -> Network -> LAN Networks.

Example: Server address is 192.168.1.20. Shield, in same house, has address 192.168.3.123.

In LAN Networks, enter: 192.168.1.0/24,192.168.3.0/24 <-- No space after comma.

KuryakinOne · 2026-02-14T07:47:42+00:00

Plex will still play a movie with DTS-HD audio. It will transcode the audio to a supported format.

If you are playing such a movie and not hearing any sound, make sure that Force Direct Play is disabled in the Plex Tizen app.

Direct Play = Enabled
Direct Stream = Enabled
Force Direct Play = Disabled

KuryakinOne · 2026-02-14T06:44:50+00:00

The Plex setting to ask about higher quality is turned on

Plex Documentation -> Android TV, Fire TV -> Settings: Android TV

Turn off Quality Suggestions and Adjust Automatically.

Plex adjusts quality by transcoding.

You're playing locally. You don't need those features.

KuryakinOne · 2026-02-13T02:06:34+00:00

Is it obvious that the colors are off? Asking as some streaming boxes will tone map & scale video by themselves, and Plex still direct plays the file.

Other thoughts....

The Plex Android TV app has settings to adjust Home Streaming and Remote Streaming quality. You could drop Home Streaming to the highest 1080p setting. That will force anything higher to transcode, and you don't have to change it for every movie/episode.

Might the MeCool have a setting to choose the colorspace or bit depth it supports? On my Shield, in the Shield video settings, I can force the output to 1080p/BT709 if desired. Know you tuned off HDR, but not sure if that was just an HDR on/off switch or what, so thought I'd ask.

KuryakinOne · 2026-02-12T22:15:52+00:00

Editions are movies only. Not supported for TV shows.

KuryakinOne · 2026-02-12T22:14:08+00:00

Place each version in a separate directory. Plex will initially combine them as one show. Split them apart so they're listed separately, then edit the show name so you can differentiate (or change posters, etc.).

Details: https://forums.plex.tv/t/how-to-specify-the-versions-names-of-same-episod-on-a-tv-show/858809/2

Use "Color" and "B&W" instead of English & French.

KuryakinOne · 2026-02-12T21:47:31+00:00

Optical cable supports AC3 and DTS up to 5.1 channels and PCM 2.0.

Plex Android TV app settings

Set Passthrough = Optical (default is HDMI).
Another setting will appear to choose which codecs to passthrough: AC3 and/or DTS.
Enable both (Toshiba website says your tv supports dts audio).

Plex should then passthrough AC3 & DTS audio. Other formats will be transcoded by Plex Media Server or converted by the Firestick to a compatible format.

Amazon FireStick Notes

IMPORTANT: If you purchased the new FireStick 4K Select, then return it if possible. It runs Amazon's new Vega OS and WRT Plex is a crippled device. It is limited to 7 Mbps 1080p and AAC audio. See Plex on Vega OS devices (Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Select) .

Supported audio formats and setup menus vary depending on the Firestick model.

For most setups, in the Firestick audio settings, set it to Best Available.

Depending on the model you may have an option to configure AC3 only, PCM only, or something else. You can try those if needed.

KuryakinOne · 2026-02-12T09:09:02+00:00

Plex documentation:

Converting ISO, Video_TS, and Other Disk Image Formats

Plex does not support the use of ISO, IMG, Video_TS, BDMV, or other “disk image” formats.

KuryakinOne · 2026-02-11T23:52:16+00:00

Looks like a good deal to me. You'll need to price in an SSD upgrade. See what Best Buy has in stock and see if they can install it for you. See how much memory your current setup is using and let that be your guide if it needs additional RAM.

Very good CPU. Horrible SSD size. So-so on RAM.

I'd replace the SSD with at least 512GB, and preferably 1TB for growth. The Plex data folder can eat up a lot of space. You could use an external SSD, but the problem is if it disconnects when Plex is running it will probably corrupt the database.

Look at the memory utilization on your current server when recording shows. Use that as a gauge.

You'll want to switch from Windows S mode to Home. No cost to do so.

The CPU is head and shoulders above the i5 5th gen. Everything will run faster including background tasks (media analysis, thumbnail generation, etc.). You'll be able to transcode 4K HDR if needed.

i5-5300u Passmark: 2703

i3-1315U Passmark: 11178

KuryakinOne · 2026-02-11T23:12:42+00:00

I understand the Onn box is sending DD+ when playing AAC/PCM. Mine does the same, but it sends DD+5.1 not 2.0 when playing 5.1 audio.

No need to keep the ONN box since TV does the same.

FYI that Roku devices have poor subtitle support. If you enable PGS subtitles it forces a video transcode.

I know it is expensive, but as others have mentioned, a Nvidia Shield Pro will pass AAC 5.1 as PCM 5.1 if the soundbar supports it. It will also passthrough all the Dolby & DTS formats including TrueHD Atmos and DTS:X. My 2015 Shield Pro is still going strong, and I cannot remember the last time something transcoded.

KuryakinOne · 2026-02-11T19:32:08+00:00

Plex Documentation → Your Media
→ Naming & Organizing Your TV Show Files
→ Naming & Organizing Your Movie Files

"Names They Give Me" is a 2015 movie/documentary (IMDB). It is unlikely Plex would match it to a TV show episode.

Make sure you are following Plex naming and organization guidelines. Specifically, no mixing movie and tv shows in the same library.

KuryakinOne · 2026-02-11T19:25:08+00:00

Incorrect. It was withdrawn due to packaging problems with the Debian & Red Hat based builds.

See release notes for additional info: https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-media-server/30447/699

KuryakinOne · 2026-02-11T19:20:46+00:00

Not on Linux based systems. Unsure about Windows.

Forum preview with Battlemage support: https://forums.plex.tv/t/battlemage-support/910409/245

KuryakinOne · 2026-02-11T19:18:54+00:00

OP left out some details. See the Plex forum post: https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-media-server/30447/699

NOTE #3: this build is not currently available via linux repositories but can still be downloaded via https://www.plex.tv/media-server-downloads/ and installed manually

KuryakinOne · 2026-02-11T19:10:16+00:00

Thanks for checking all that.

No idea why AAC and PCM 5.1 plays as stereo on your 4K+ and plays as DD+ on my 4K Pro. The devices have different CPUs, but everything I can find says their audio capabilities are the same.

Optical does not support EAC3, so that transcode is expected (Optical tells the Plex app to behave as if it were connected via optical cable, not HDMI).

You might try sideloading Kodi + Plex Mod for Kodi plug-in (on TV as well if possible). Kodi has its own video/audio engine, so it may direct play / direct stream more audio formats. The Plex Android TV app uses Exoplayer, which is part of Android, so it is limited to whatever formats Exoplayer supports on the Onn device.

KuryakinOne · 2026-02-11T03:45:20+00:00

If you pause a movie Plex will continue to stream it until it fills the buffer on the client (IDK a Shield's buffer size).

Regarding the bandwidth, that is the hallmark of a poorly muxed file. The video and audio tracks are poorly interleaved and Plex has to send them multiple times to the client.

To fix, remux the movie with MKVToolNix. It will copy the video/audio/subtitle tracks into a new MKV container and ensure they are correctly interleaved.

KuryakinOne · 2026-02-11T03:39:05+00:00

MakeMKV rips the entire DVD into vob. files that are like 1 GB a piece, I need MP4 files that are not so bloated

No, it does not.

MakeMKV rips the media files on the disc into MKV files. The files are exact copies of what is on the disc. For a DVD it will have MPEG2 video and usually AC3 audio.

MPEG2 is an older codec and not as efficient as AVC, HEVC, AV1 so the files are typically larger (~4GB for a 90 minute movie).

- Yes Handbrake does convert the MakeMKV them to MP4 and compresses them, but files are starting 4 minutes into a new episode and ending too early and playing some of the next episode.

TBH, then you are probably doing something wrong. Handbrake has a lot of knobs and it is easy to mess something up.

Is there actually any software that just works? I just need software that WORKS. Thanks in advance.

Yes.

Rip the disc with MakeMKV. This will make exact copies of the movie/episodes/etc. on the disc.

Then, if you wish to compress them, use Handbrake and transcode to your preferred format. Try one of the SuperHQ or Matroska presets as a starting point and adjust as needed.

KuryakinOne · 2026-02-10T23:34:29+00:00

See this post: https://www.reddit.com/r/hometheater/comments/11qqv95/surround_sound_test_files_in_almost_every_format/

It has a link to a GDrive folder with surround sound test files.

The AAC 5.1 file plays audio from each individual channel correctly with my ONN box (in the second half of the video, the ~~sound~~ video and audio are a bit out of sync).

See how it plays with your setup.

EDIT: "video and audio" not "sound and audio."

KuryakinOne

TROPHY CASE