The Channels DVR server stopped running on Asustor Lockerstor NAS after latest Beta Update. Looks like I need to restore it but I can't get the server to restart. How do I fix this? Thanks ...
Follow-Up: Tried to remove Channels DVR App using App Manager - The Channels DVR Icon went away but got an error saying NAS couldn't remove the App. Tried to Reinstall the App manually using the App Manager - Got an error saying NAS couldn't reinstall Channels DVR.
Is there a way to manually remove and reinstall the Channels DVR Server since the NAS App Manager can't do it? I'd hate to lose two years of the logs, database and images. Help ..
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To help we would need to see the log file:
/usr/local/AppCentral/ChannelsDVR/channels-dvr/data/channels-dvr.log
You probably have to SSH or SFTP and download that file, then you can check the end of it see why the server is not starting up.
First off, thanks for your help trying to get this problem straightened out ...
I used FileZilla to take a look for the log file. Unfortunately the only file left in the /data folder is recorder.idx. All the rest of the files are gone after I tried to uninstall and reinstall the program earlier. By looking at my other NAS which is running fine, I can see all the other folders that should be the /channels-dvr and /data folders. I'm wondering if it would help to clean out the folders and files from the /usr folder so I can retry a fresh install again. I think the database, images, logs, shows, etc. are still "untouched" in Volume1. Do you think that I might be able to do a restore then? Or do you think it's too late and I should start importing the 3000 some movies and shows into the NAS that's running fine? I'm willing to try anything you suggest to avoid that. Thanks again ...
Yes clear out the dir and then try to reinstall and restore from the backup in the Database folder
I didn't have permission to delete the folders and files in /local/AppCentral folder, but I was able to rename them. Then the Channels DVR Server did install and I was able to select the restore option. The circling arrows icon has been running for about 30 minutes so far scanning the database folder. Hopefully at some point I'll be able to select a database file. I'll let you know how that goes ... Thanks again
I found a new problem with the restore process. I can only select the path up to /Database and the program won't let me type anything in the OPEN box. And there's not a way to select the database backup folder from the drop down folder list. You click on the backup folder but nothing happens. The folder name doesn't get transferred to the OPEN box. The circling arrows come from not being able to enter the entire path on the OPEN line. The program hangs up at that point and there isn't any error message telling you that the folder/file can not be found.
I've added a screen shot of the Channels DVR Database Backup page to help explain my previous message. I hope this helps ... Thanks
You don't select the individual backups at this step.
Open the Database directory and the next step will ask you which backup to restore from.
I know, non-intuitive. Been there, done that.
It's asking what directory your backups are in, not which backup to restore.
Even just renaming the [Open] button to [Next] would let you know there's a Next step.
Like, Select the Database folder where your backups are stored and press [Next]
Next
After you restore a backup, let it sit a few minutes as it isn't obvious what it's doing.
Then refresh the web page.
After your dvr directory and sources populate, delete and recreate the guide database.
Doing this to get screen captures and my restore didn't go well, see Panic when restoring
The DVR isn't enabled yet because Channels DVR crashed.
Well, I did that first, but it was running for over a half hour with the circling arrows and nothing was happening. There's 30 folders in the Database folder. Would it help if I eliminated some of the earlier ones?
Look at the DVR logs. Support > Logs
I already tried to find the logs after it crashed and I reinstalled the App. There were none. Take a look at my earlier messages ...
Try this in a web browser http://127.0.0.1:8089/log , replacing 127.0.0.1:8089 with the IP address and port of your DVR server
I'm getting the standard "This site can't be reached" statement.
Will have to see if the devs have any ideas.
If your log file doesn't exists on your NAS, you definitely have a problem with your NAS or the DVR code.
Mine just crashed, but I can view the log.
I probably would have been better off in hind sight if I hadn't tried to uninstall Channels DVR Server and reinstall it. The Movies and TV shows are all backed up, but I hate to lose the database because everything is tied to it like the images and comskip. Have you had any experience with importing? I'm dealing with 15+ TB ...
I've played around with importing since they introduced it and I would rather migrate to another platform, copy the recordings there and restore from backup than try to import everything.
See Channels Support - How do I move Channels DVR Server to a new computer?
I'm trying to decide whether it's worth moving all these files to another Channels DVR server or not. As soon as this server went down I moved all my sources to another NAS and started another Channels DVR server there. I'm thinking it might be easier just to remove Channels and use my Dune HD players to play directly from this NAS instead using the AppleTV boxes through Channels.