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Hey everyone,

Long time lurker (without an account) but first time posting. I’ve got a question about migrating a Linux VM to a physical device. I know there are similar topics but none had the info I was looking for, so I wanted to ask…

I currently have a Proxmox server running a Plex VM (Debian 12). I just purchased a used Dell Optiplex 3090 micro so that can use the Intel Quick Sync for streaming outside my network. The VM isn’t that large and it only holds Plex files (and other needed packages for connecting to a NAS, etc).

Rather than migrate the entire VM to the device, I was thinking of installing Debian 12 from scratch, then migrating the system files over to avoid any driver issues. I would also avoid having to install Plex again and set everything up from scratch and have it go thru the entire library to load all the metadata. If this would be the best plan, which system folders should I migrate? I assume

/etc
/var
/usr (I have some custom scripts in /usr/local/bin)

Any insight would be great to avoid as little issues as possible. TIA :grin: :folded_hands: :call_me_hand:

2 Spice ups
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Welcome long time lurker :slight_smile:

Honestly I would not do that, you are asking for problems. For starters the drivers loaded for a VM will be different than the drivers loaded for a physical machine. Even copying /etc/fstab might break things if the mounts are different.

Reinstall the OS, reinstall plex and move the data over

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I agree, take this chance to re-install cleanly and move your configs, however, the new PC may also reindex and catalog quicker too, so would it matter if you run them alongside each other until the new one is up and configured, then just switch your NAT rule if you’re using one.

You don’t need to stop your existing one until you are ready, so run them alongside each other until you are happy it’s functioning how you want.

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Use time shift to an external device to save changes to the VM. Install Linux fresh on the hardware and then use time shift to restore it to the way you need it to be

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Thanks for the replies everyone!

I’ll go ahead and move just the plex data as suggested. Hopefully I can remember all the other packages I have installed on my current VM. Don’t think it’s too much, just need to go thru everything.

Much appreciated for the quick responses. Looking forward to posting on here more :grin:

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Why don’t you make a note first?

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Or you as timeshift as I stated above? I have done this a bunch of times. As long as the base OS that you reinstall is the same as the one that time shift was taking images of you can just lay down the base and then restore it all and you don’t have to worry about what packages you missed

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You would use rsync to copy the files, then boot off a linux live distribution on the physical machine
Recreate the partitions, install grub and copy over the data

I feel like it is an important thing to be able to do as a linux user

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I actually already got everything worked out using @PatrickFarrell’s method.

Stopped Plex service on the VM and TAR’d the /var/lib/plexmediaserver folder.
Installed Ubuntu on the physical device, then installed Plex.
Stopped Plex service, renamed /var/lib/plexmediaserver folder, then UNTAR’d to same location.
Started Plex service and made some quick changes, all is working :grin:

Much quicker than anticipated. Thanks for the info tho, will keep that in mind for anything else that comes up.

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Awesome, glad it’s working.