using shared network drive on 2 computers

elricks · 04-07-2011, 07:24 AM

Aim - manage library on main PC; read books using Calibre reader on a laptop.

Environment - PC runs XP PRO, laptop runs Vista. Calibre installed on both. I have shared the directory that holds the library on the main PC as Y: My install on the laptop is stock standard.

Note::: I have the networked library on an external HDD, so I can move this from room to room, but I prefer not to if at all possible.

I have tried using the calibre-portable.bat, but I don't understand enough about batch files to understand the instructions. I can edit batch files OK, I just get lost with the mappings

Request - Could some kind person write me a batch file using my parameters OR if there is a better way, please lead me in the right direction.

Many thanks

SHIRLEY

jbcohen · 04-07-2011, 07:56 AM

What you will need to do is to install the OS as a peer-to-peer network, if memory serves me properly this is done by a Networking Operating System (NOS) and XP and XP Pro are not NOSs, they are what is referred to as a Client OS, so you will need to go buy a NOS first.

Manichean · 04-07-2011, 08:11 AM

You can do what you want to do with the normal Calibre install. The only prerequisite is that you can access the library folder from both devices, if you've set it up as a shared folder on your network, that should be fine. Point both Calibre installations to the network folder as their library folders. You said you've already set up your main computer like this, you'll need to point the laptop at the shared folder, then, and tell it that there's already a library present in that folder.
There's a big caveat attached to this method: You'll need to make absolutely sure that both Calibre installations aren't running at the same time. If you try to access the library with one computer while the other is already running Calibre, you'll be in a world of hurt.

Another solution would be to use the content server and EPUBReader (a Firefox plugin) or similar.

elricks · 04-08-2011, 02:51 AM

Thank you - I now have the 'server' operational. There is always something new to learn!! I have had a PC since late 1980s, and never thought that his was possible.

My next thing will be to run as a service, but I will leave that for later.

Thanks again - SHIRLEY

Manichean · 04-08-2011, 03:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elricks

Thank you - I now have the 'server' operational. There is always something new to learn!! I have had a PC since late 1980s, and never thought that his was possible.

My next thing will be to run as a service, but I will leave that for later.

If you're talking about the content server, there should be several solutions for doing that in the forum, mostly by starting it via task scheduler. Try searching for "calibre-server" or "calibre-server task scheduler", that ought to turn up something.

rbid · 11-11-2011, 06:22 AM

Nice.
Is it possible to do modifications on the library from the two (or more) PCs, taking into account that only one calibre applications is open at a time?

That is, modifythe library from one PC, close Calibre... go to another PC, open and get the changes?

itimpi · 11-11-2011, 11:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rbid

Nice.
Is it possible to do modifications on the library from the two (or more) PCs, taking into account that only one calibre applications is open at a time?

That is, modifythe library from one PC, close Calibre... go to another PC, open and get the changes?

Yes - that works fine as long as you do not forget to close Calibre before switching to the other PC.

Glennth · 12-10-2011, 09:10 PM

Hi All,

Do we have any timeline for the multiple user editable database?

I have set up the library on my home windows server. I have shared the location for multiple machines to access as my wife and myself both wish to add and edit the database as well as have the content server available at all times. Currently I have to stop the content server for either of us to be able to do anything.

theducks · 12-10-2011, 10:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Glennth

Hi All,

Do we have any timeline for the multiple user editable database?

I have set up the library on my home windows server. I have shared the location for multiple machines to access as my wife and myself both wish to add and edit the database as well as have the content server available at all times. Currently I have to stop the content server for either of us to be able to do anything.

AFAIK the content server can run. It is read only.
It is the Calibre.exe and the command-line tools that can have only one instance running.

HarryT · 12-11-2011, 03:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jbcohen

What you will need to do is to install the OS as a peer-to-peer network, if memory serves me properly this is done by a Networking Operating System (NOS) and XP and XP Pro are not NOSs, they are what is referred to as a Client OS, so you will need to go buy a NOS first.

This is abject nonsense; all versions of Windows support peer-to-peer networking just fine.

theducks · 12-11-2011, 09:35 AM

To expand on HarryT
Workgroups started with Win 3 by upgrading to Win3.11 (WFWG)

Win 3.11 even had a driver called Windows for Workgroups For DOS
that allowed a DOS 6 PC to connect (use files and Printers) to a Windows 3.11 host
HP Home limits the 'uses' to 3
XP Pro allows 10
I believe this carries onward

Go Pro

Glennth · 12-19-2011, 05:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theducks

AFAIK the content server can run. It is read only.
It is the Calibre.exe and the command-line tools that can have only one instance running.

I have found how to run the content server seperatly under linux, but not windows. If you know how, it would be appreciated.

DoctorOhh · 12-19-2011, 06:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Glennth

I have found how to run the content server seperatly under linux, but not windows. If you know how, it would be appreciated.

Check out the Command Line Interface section of the manual. Post 7 in this thread has some examples.

g8dhe · 12-21-2011, 07:07 AM

If you want to run the Calibre-server as a genuine service under Windows then download a copy of ServiceEx and then you can run as many copies as you have libraries as well if you need to, we have three here, one for each of us and a separate ScFi one, these are then available over the web when we are away from home as well.

04-07-2011, 07:24 AM	#1
elricks Long in the tooth junior Posts: 13 Karma: 10 Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: melbourne, australia Device: none	using shared network drive on 2 computers Aim - manage library on main PC; read books using Calibre reader on a laptop. Environment - PC runs XP PRO, laptop runs Vista. Calibre installed on both. I have shared the directory that holds the library on the main PC as Y: My install on the laptop is stock standard. Note::: I have the networked library on an external HDD, so I can move this from room to room, but I prefer not to if at all possible. I have tried using the calibre-portable.bat, but I don't understand enough about batch files to understand the instructions. I can edit batch files OK, I just get lost with the mappings Request - Could some kind person write me a batch file using my parameters OR if there is a better way, please lead me in the right direction. Many thanks SHIRLEY

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Mulitple Computers, single shared folder	CRussel	Library Management	10	11-11-2011 07:34 AM
Handle Network Drive as Kindle	kranu	Devices	3	03-08-2011 03:22 AM
Shared World. Creative Commons.	jaxx6166	Writers' Corner	98	03-08-2010 08:38 AM
Epub and Shared Annotation	paulckennedy	ePub	0	01-24-2010 06:03 PM
Easy hard drive data archiving with a USB hard drive adapter	Bob Russell	Lounge	24	02-20-2007 04:15 PM

04-07-2011, 07:56 AM	#2
jbcohen Wizard Posts: 3,025 Karma: 11196738 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Piper College Device: Samsung A21	What you will need to do is to install the OS as a peer-to-peer network, if memory serves me properly this is done by a Networking Operating System (NOS) and XP and XP Pro are not NOSs, they are what is referred to as a Client OS, so you will need to go buy a NOS first.

04-07-2011, 08:11 AM	#3
Manichean Wizard Posts: 3,130 Karma: 91256 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Germany Device: Cybook Gen3	You can do what you want to do with the normal Calibre install. The only prerequisite is that you can access the library folder from both devices, if you've set it up as a shared folder on your network, that should be fine. Point both Calibre installations to the network folder as their library folders. You said you've already set up your main computer like this, you'll need to point the laptop at the shared folder, then, and tell it that there's already a library present in that folder. There's a big caveat attached to this method: You'll need to make absolutely sure that both Calibre installations aren't running at the same time. If you try to access the library with one computer while the other is already running Calibre, you'll be in a world of hurt. Another solution would be to use the content server and EPUBReader (a Firefox plugin) or similar.

04-08-2011, 02:51 AM	#4
elricks Long in the tooth junior Posts: 13 Karma: 10 Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: melbourne, australia Device: none	Thank you - I now have the 'server' operational. There is always something new to learn!! I have had a PC since late 1980s, and never thought that his was possible. My next thing will be to run as a service, but I will leave that for later. Thanks again - SHIRLEY

11-11-2011, 06:22 AM	#6
rbid Junior Member Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2011 Device: none	Nice. Is it possible to do modifications on the library from the two (or more) PCs, taking into account that only one calibre applications is open at a time? That is, modifythe library from one PC, close Calibre... go to another PC, open and get the changes?

12-10-2011, 09:10 PM	#8
Glennth Junior Member Posts: 2 Karma: 10 Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Melbourne, Australia Device: Aldiko on Android	Hi All, Do we have any timeline for the multiple user editable database? I have set up the library on my home windows server. I have shared the location for multiple machines to access as my wife and myself both wish to add and edit the database as well as have the content server available at all times. Currently I have to stop the content server for either of us to be able to do anything.

12-11-2011, 09:35 AM	#11
theducks Well trained by Cats Posts: 29,768 Karma: 54401244 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The Central Coast of California Device: Kobo Libra2,Kobo Aura2v1, K4NT(Fixed: New Bat.), Galaxy Tab A	To expand on HarryT Workgroups started with Win 3 by upgrading to Win3.11 (WFWG) Win 3.11 even had a driver called Windows for Workgroups For DOS that allowed a DOS 6 PC to connect (use files and Printers) to a Windows 3.11 host HP Home limits the 'uses' to 3 XP Pro allows 10 I believe this carries onward Go Pro

12-21-2011, 07:07 AM	#14
g8dhe Member Posts: 11 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Worthing, West Sussex, UK Device: Kindle + Nexus 7	If you want to run the Calibre-server as a genuine service under Windows then download a copy of ServiceEx and then you can run as many copies as you have libraries as well if you need to, we have three here, one for each of us and a separate ScFi one, these are then available over the web when we are away from home as well.

Advert

Advert