A Not-So-Smooth Brew: Plex VM Crash
Just like the perfect cup of coffee, my Plex Media Server has always been a source of comfort. However, recently, it decided to give me a bit of a jolt. The Plex VM crashed, which felt like spilling a fresh brew all over the counter. Thankfully, no media was lost. But, just like trying to clean up a coffee spill, restoring the backup didn’t go as planned.
Instead of throwing in the towel, I rolled up my sleeves and rebuilt the VM from scratch. In the end, it was like discovering a new coffee blend – different, but better. I made some significant changes that improved the performance and reliability of the server. Sometimes, the best way to deal with a mess is to embrace the opportunity to improve.
Fresh Beans: Upgrading the Server
In the quest for better performance, I decided it was time for a hardware upgrade. I purchased 8 Xeon Gold 6138 processors, two per node, and got one node up and running for testing. It was like upgrading from instant coffee to a high-end espresso machine. The server feels more powerful and ready to handle anything I throw at it.
However, before I can start moving my VMs, I need to invest in more RAM. For now, the new node is up and running, and I’ve tested moving VMs from Proxmox to XCP-NG. The process was smooth, with no issues – like making a seamless transition from drip coffee to a French press. Everything worked perfectly, setting the stage for future migrations.
Scheduled Downtime: Brewing the Perfect Cup
As any coffee aficionado knows, good things take time. Similarly, my server setup will require some planned downtime in the last week of July into early August. While this might feel like waiting for your morning coffee to brew, I assure you it’s worth it. There will be no loss of data, although services will be temporarily impacted.
This downtime is necessary to ensure everything is running as smoothly as a freshly brewed cup of coffee. Once complete, my homelab will be stronger and more efficient, ready to serve up the tech equivalent of a perfect cup of joe.
Stay tuned for more updates from dustin.coffee. Until then, keep your coffee hot and your servers cool!