Migrate from Windows to Docker on Linux

[wriggerz]

Hi all,

Hoping for some assistance with migrating my Windows installation to Docker on Linux, with a caveat.

I stupidly attempted to extend my RAID and somehow the controller took that to mean delete the array. I managed to put it back together and get it extended, and I had backed up anything irreplaceable. Most of the files on the array came back when rebuilt, but I did lose a good chunk and haven't had chance to replace them yet.

Now I want to move ABS off Windows and on to Docker on Ubuntu and keep my progress etc. But I also want to keep the list of missing AB's so I know which ones I need to replace, over 900 in total.

Question is, how can I migrate from Windows to Docker\Linux, and keep my progress, and list of missing ABs? Can I use a backup and edit the folder mappings and will that keep the list of missing books?

I've had a look online but can't find any information on migrating from a Windows installation to Docker on Linux. And no, I'm not using Docker on Windows, unfortunately. That would have been nice and easy.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

EDIT: I've got an ABS container running already and I'm ok with how Docker maps the Linux file system. I have a share setup to the location where the AB's are stored, it's just the progress and missing books I need help with migrating.

[Vito0912]

This is not easily doable. As far as I know, you really have only two options:

1. Include the same mapping in your container to mimic the Windows locations.

2. Edit ALL paths in the database. I've written a script to migrate to a new server: https://github.com/vito0912/absToolbox, but it only works if all libraries share a single root directory. (https://github.com/Vito0912/absToolbox/blob/main/tools/migrate_backup_to_new_server.py). Please read carefully

I am not sure about the missing books, but they probably should be displayed as well then

[Vito0912]

I believe the problem is the backslash (\). You need to use a forward slash (/). I wrote it somwehere in the script (and I know I did it wrong in my own example). Could you try it with forward slashes (/)?
If that does not work, you can message me on Discord and send me your DB file. I will then update the paths and try to fix the script.

[wriggerz]

Thanks Vito, I appreciate your help.

I did see that in the script instructions but assumed it was referring to the paths for linux\docker.

I have updated the script and run it again, restored the new backup but having the same issue. The library path still has the old Windows folder in it.

The books and progress have been restored as you can see in the screenshots attached. The file paths are correct. Those with a red exclamation are those that are missing, which is expected.

At this point I haven't updated the Library path to the docker path.

migrate_backup_to_new_server.txt

[wriggerz]

Hey Vito,

Have you got any other ideas where I might be going wrong?

Thanks

[Vito0912]

Hey,

Sorry for the late reply. I'm not sure what could cause this behavior. I see that you save the metadata with the book in the folder. I haven't tried the script with this, though—maybe there is another metadata column that I didn't update.

Could you please explain what the error is exactly?

From what I understand, the issue is that the library folder is incorrect, which results in no new books being added and, on rescan, all books are gone.

To change it manually, you can follow the same process as before, but before uploading it, unpack it and open the .sqlite database file in an SQLite editor (there are some available as web versions).

To view the folders, you can run:

SELECT * FROM libraryFolders

This should display all your paths, which should remain unchanged.

To change them, you can run:

UPDATE libraryFolders SET path='/test' WHERE id = '56798b97-b544-4e85-96e7-27497f519a5c';

Here, path is your desired path, and id is the folder ID you want to change based on the statement above. Then, pack the database, rename it to the audiobookshelf file, and upload it. Hopefully, it will work.

Regarding the images, you could try clearing the cache to fix the issue of missing images.

[wriggerz]

Cheers Vito, ill give that a try and let you kmow how it goes.

The issue is that, after running the script and restoring from the new backup on the docker container version, the book paths are all as they should be, using the new docker paths, but the library still has the old windows path.

The books play, and the progress is kept, but none of the metadata is pulled through. Metadata is stored with the books.

If I change the library path to.the new.docker path, on the next scan all the books are deleted from the database and then they get.picked up again as though scanning a new library. At that point the metadata is pulled through, but the progress is lost.

Thanks for taking the time to reply with so much detail! You are a legend regardless of whether I'm able to get this to work how i want.

And sorry for any extra . Or spelling mistakes, typing fast on my phone....

[wriggerz]

You, sir, are a scholar and a gentleman!!

Took me a while to find some time but managed to take a look at the DB in the backup and after running the queries you suggested I could see that the Library Folder path was indeed set to the old path and updated it to the new desired path.

I've restored the backup, and, as before, progress and missing books have been pulled through, but the covers are all missing. But when I run a scan, the covers are slowly being re-instated and it doesn't see the path as a new library.

Awesome! Thanks so much for persevering with me.