I am trying to move Channels from my old computer to a DS218+ NAS.
Looking at previous threads, the suggestion was to copy the DVR folder to the NAS - but I seem to have a folder labelled TV which contains all my recorded programmes, and then all the settings are in the channels folder - along with the .exe file , so what do I need to copy? All of the channels folder or only some of the sub-folders? And the TV folder presumably?
1 Like
I recently migrated my Channels DVR installation from a Mac to a DS918+, so I'm somewhat familiar with this. It's actually pretty easy...
- Go to your current Channels DVR admin screen at https://my.channelsdvr.net. Scroll down to DVR Database and create a new backup. (I missed this step, and lost some recent recordings because of it)
- Copy over the Channels DVR folder (You don't care about the exe or settings; Just make sure you get your series folders)
- Install the Channels Synology package on the DS
- Go to the Channels DVR admin screen on your DS at http://[Synology IP]:8089/restore. Once here, you will be asked if you would like to import your settings/database.
- Change your router to forward port 8089 to the DS
- Reboot your DS. This is another step I missed, which caused a bunch of crazy errors.
The directory you need to move is the one that contains TV, Database, Logs, Movies etc inside it
2 Likes
OK, I was close. 
1 Like
Yes I understand, but I have a ChannelsDVR folder in program data which contains the database and then another folder called TV which seems to contain my recorded programmes. Presumably I have to copy both of these? And preserve them as 2 distinct folders? And put them just anywhere on the DS? or do I need to create specific new folders on the DS?
2 Likes
The ChannelsDVR directory does not need to be moved. Only the storage directory which contains TV and Database folders is necessary. The Database folder contains backups which are imported through the restore wizard on the new DVR.
2 Likes
Sorry for hijacking his thread, but wanted to make a comment on my own experience moving my Channels DVR server from one computer to another just yesterday...
When I launched the restore on the new server, and it asked me to choose which backup to restore, it offered a whole bunch of backups that all said they were the same age. This made it impossible for me to figure out which one was the most-recent. I'm guessing this screen is using the OS's timestamp of the backup directories rather than the timestamp that is in the name of the backup directory (the original timestamps were not preserved as a result of the copy). I wound up going into the Database directory and deleting all but the most-recent backup, re-ran the restore, and then I was good-to-go.
Here's an "ls -l" of the Database directory that demonstrates the difference between the OS's timestamp of the directories,vs. the timestamp as part of the directory names...
drwxr-xr-x 2 tom tom 4096 Mar 8 06:58 backup-20190208.224643
drwxr-xr-x 2 tom tom 4096 Mar 8 06:58 backup-20190210.014642
drwxr-xr-x 2 tom tom 4096 Mar 8 06:58 backup-20190211.044641
drwxr-xr-x 2 tom tom 4096 Mar 8 06:58 backup-20190212.074640
drwxr-xr-x 2 tom tom 4096 Mar 8 06:58 backup-20190212.192741
drwxr-xr-x 2 tom tom 4096 Mar 8 06:58 backup-20190213.192740
drwxr-xr-x 2 tom tom 4096 Mar 8 06:58 backup-20190214.192740
drwxr-xr-x 2 tom tom 4096 Mar 8 06:58 backup-20190215.192739
drwxr-xr-x 2 tom tom 4096 Mar 8 06:58 backup-20190216.192738
drwxr-xr-x 2 tom tom 4096 Mar 8 06:58 backup-20190217.192737
drwxr-xr-x 2 tom tom 4096 Mar 8 06:58 backup-20190218.193301
drwxr-xr-x 2 tom tom 4096 Mar 8 06:58 backup-20190219.193317
drwxr-xr-x 2 tom tom 4096 Mar 8 06:58 backup-20190220.193318
drwxr-xr-x 2 tom tom 4096 Mar 8 06:58 backup-20190221.193323
drwxr-xr-x 2 tom tom 4096 Mar 8 06:58 backup-20190222.222733
drwxr-xr-x 2 tom tom 4096 Mar 8 06:58 backup-20190223.222733
drwxr-xr-x 2 tom tom 4096 Mar 8 06:58 backup-20190224.222732
drwxr-xr-x 2 tom tom 4096 Mar 8 06:58 backup-20190226.012732
drwxr-xr-x 2 tom tom 4096 Mar 8 06:58 backup-20190227.012731
drwxr-xr-x 2 tom tom 4096 Mar 8 06:58 backup-20190228.012730
drwxr-xr-x 2 tom tom 4096 Mar 8 06:58 backup-20190301.012730
drwxr-xr-x 2 tom tom 4096 Mar 8 06:58 backup-20190302.012729
drwxr-xr-x 2 tom tom 4096 Mar 8 06:58 backup-20190303.042729
drwxr-xr-x 2 tom tom 4096 Mar 8 06:58 backup-20190304.072728
drwxr-xr-x 2 tom tom 4096 Mar 8 06:58 backup-20190305.072728
drwxr-xr-x 2 tom tom 4096 Mar 8 06:58 backup-20190306.072727
drwxr-xr-x 2 tom tom 4096 Mar 8 06:58 backup-20190307.072727My Channels DVR is on a NVIDIA Shield. I bought a Synology 218+ and started the process of moving it. The first thing was to copy the DVR folder over. The trouble is the transfer rate to the Synology is so slow, maybe 10MB/s. I have a TB of data on the NVIDIA. I don't think everyone is waiting 4-5 days for the copy to finish and I know more of you have moved much larger folders before. Any advice? (I know this is not a Channels App question, but it is a migration question). Thanks in advance.
As an added bit of information, I copied the DVR folder from the NVIDIA to my Proavio Raid storage on the home network in about 4 hours. It transferred at an average of 50 MB/s. The home network is a wired ethernet Cat5E cabled environment. All devices are hard wired. I believe this is a Synology issue probably in a setting, but what? Where?
Sounds like your Synology negotiated 100Mbs speed?
Are the Synology and Shield connected to the same 1Gbs switch?
Can you tell from the Synology (Control Panel->Network->Network Interface) and the Gb switch (LED color usually) what speed the Synology negotiated (100Mbs or 1Gbs)?
I get 90+ MBs transferring from/to my Synology using SMB file sharing service.
You should be able to use SMB, NFS or FTP if setup on your Synology and the Shield supports it.
2 Likes
chDVRuser thank you. I mapped the Synology as a network drive and didn't go through the web interface. When I did that it shot up to 60MB/s and moved 1TB in just under 5 hours. I think it was the web interface.
2 Likes
Also, the Synology says on network interface "1000mbps full duplex MTU 1500"
Can you translate that for me please?
1 Like
You're running Gigabit (1000Mbps) Ethernet in full-duplex mode with a default MTU of 1500.
For more info on what all that means you have to do some reading. Following are suggestions.
Synology-How can I troubleshoot a low data transfer rate
Synology-What can I do when the file transfer via Windows (SMB/CIFS) is slow
Lifewire-What Is Gigabit Ethernet
1 Like
So i have move this directory and I can see the recordings. I have new records that show in that folder but the recordings from the previous dvr will not show in the channels app. How do i get the dvr to look at this folder and pull in the moved recordings.
I do not have it memorized but you have to do a RESTORE after you move the directory to the new server. Did you do that?
2 Likes
On the new system you have to open http://x.x.x.x:8089/restore and pick the latest backup after you move the files over.
If you already made new recordings in a separate database, then there is currently no way to combine them together.
1 Like
No. I didn't know to do that until later. Now I think if I try that I will lose all the new recordings the dvr has captured. Plus for some reason all of my backups appeared to be dated for 2018. I think I my be suck, Unless there is a way to force the dvr to look at folder and pull in what's there.
1 Like
Is there a documented procedure for moving channels DVR server from one pc to another?
3 Likes
Apparently the developer did finally respond to the question in this post;
I would really appreciate a step by step from @tmm1on exactly how to move my ChannelsDVR data from one drive to another on the same computer, my iMac. I'm not a coder or an expert in this stuff so a clear authoritative guide on how to do this would be very appreciated.
1 Like
Drag and drop all the folders to the new drive
Uncheck the dvr checkbox, click "..." underneath and select the new drive. Then check the checkbox again.
1 Like