Channels server migration file cleanup question

Channels DVR Server
#1

Tonight I moved my remote install from a Windows server to a Ubuntu server on the same network.

I followed the instructions here: Channels Support - How do I move Channels DVR Server to a new computer?

The directory from the old Windows server I moved over (containing Database, Images, Imports, Logs, Streaming, and TV folders) was called 'ChannelsDVR'.

I ran the Linux install script from the same directory the ChannelsDVR folder was in, and it created a 'channels-dvr' directory for the install. Once I restored from the backup via the webmin screen, it seems like the old 'ChannelsDVR' directory I imported is now the 'production directory' for most of the data...

All paths listed on the webmin screen are the imported directory, and it looks like most files during server use are being updated in that imported directory, BUT there are files in channels-dvr\data that are being updated while using the server.

Is this right, and/or is there a way to consolidate these? Right now it just bothers my OCD, but if I had to move to a new server again in the future, would I move both directories to the new server?

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#2

That's correct. The dirs are different. One is OS-specific and the other is your data

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#3

The install should be on your OS drive, not in the same place. We recommend you install in your /home dir.

#4

I did this because of this line in the Linux install documentation:

My OS drive on this server is small and I only run the OS on it, but that is where my desktop user's home directory is. I have application-specific data on other arrays (Plex, etc.).

ChannelsDVR got it's own 1 TB NVME so that if transcoding thrashes it over time I can clone the drive and swap it out (I record the local news in every timeslot daily so I can watch the most recent airing whenever I get to it). So when I imported from the old server, I put my ChannelsDVR folder there, and also did the install from there as well, like this:

Drive Root/DVR/ChannelsDVR (imported from old server)
Drive Root/DVR/channels-dvr (new directory created on install)

Will that cause any issues?

#5

I used to run mine in the same manner. It won't cause issues. As long as you're aware of any issues this may cause, you're fine. (Although, I hope your drive is formatted as something other than ExFAT or NTFS.)

#6

How small is the OS drive?

The way you have it setup is fine. It doesn't really matter where the install dir is or even what it's called.

One advantage can be if the guide data and active dbs are on OS drive, then the recordings drive is able to sleep while not in active use.

#7

70 GB free on it out of 128. The documentation made it sound like more data was going to live on it than just a compact database.

Not worried about the Channels NVME sleeping though, it has much better read/write endurance and performance numbers, so sounds like it will be fine.

#8

The Ubuntu one is ext4, although I am sure the Windows install that I had running for 2 years or so was on NTFS.

#9

I just tried to move my server from my PC to Mac mini, but I hit an error setting up the storage path. It says that I have no write permissions on dvr directory because the external USB drive that I've been using with Channels is formatted as NTFS which makes it read only on Mac. Is there any solution other than reformatting? Because I don't really have a place to offload the shows to reformat.

#10

You could try googling convert NTFS to exfat with no data loss.

#11

I did search around, but the only solutions I could find were all 3rd party apps--I was looking for something native.

Next question, if I just go buy a new SSD, can I create a link to my old HDD under Local Content in the Settings page to regain access to all my old recordings? I assume a read-only drive will still be accessible on the client?

#12

You can add the read-only drive under Additional Storage (not Local Content)

#14

Do you mean clicking the + button under Storage Paths in the DVR Database section?

And what about my first question, is there any way to write to an NTFS drive in a Mac, without using a 3rd Party app or doing something sketchy?

#15

Yes

Dunno

#16

No, you need additional software to write to NTFS. There's NTFS-3G, which you can build from Homebrew, or there's the commercial driver from Paragon.

#17

That's what I was afraid of. Thanks for the confirmation.

I'm still fairly new to MacOS, and my old drive is pretty long in the tooth, so I think I'll just pick up a new drive instead.

Oh and, thanks, Aman.

#18

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