Multiple Calibre's accessing single library?

Banjack · 02-01-2014, 02:20 PM

Hello everybody.

Is it possible to have Calibre installed on multiple PC's on a home network and have each one access the same (single) library situated on a NAS (Network Addressed Storage device)?

Thanks

theducks · 02-01-2014, 02:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Banjack

Hello everybody.

Is it possible to have Calibre installed on multiple PC's on a home network and have each one access the same (single) library situated on a NAS (Network Addressed Storage device)?

Thanks

NO. Not safely.
Read the FAQ http://manual.calibre-ebook.com/faq.html#id45

Use the content server for general use, only 1 user updates.
Some folk have run the content-server on some models of NAS

FaceDeer · 02-04-2014, 03:28 PM

Well, it's not "safe", but I imagine you could get away with it in a situation where you knew that only one computer's copy of Calibre was active at any given time. Like for example if the library in question is your personal library, not shared with anyone else in the household, and you'd like to access it sometimes from your laptop and sometimes from your desktop but never from both at the same time. Just make very sure that you don't break that rule. If both copies of Calibre are active at once they could both try updating the library's database simultaneously and badness will ensue.

Adoby · 02-04-2014, 03:45 PM

Calibre is not a multi user program! But yes, it is possible, in a fashion. Just use copies of the library stored on the NAS. So strictly speaking the computers can freely access copies of the same library simultaneously.

There are a lot of sync tools you can use to very quickly update a local copy on a PC from the master library on the NAS. The only limitation with this is that it is becomes difficult to manage updates to the library. Changes may overwrite each other, and corrupt the library, if you sync changes back to the NAS from more than one computer. If you only allow updates from one computer, then it is no problem.

You can automate the sync process by adding some commands to the script that is used to start calibre, or by manually running the sync when needed.

CRussel · 02-07-2014, 01:39 PM

As others have said, it's possible to do some workarounds to make this work, but theducks is absolutely correct - it is not safe. I do it, but I am also the only person here who updates Calibre and I'm VERY careful to close Calibre whenever I am done with it and never just leave it open on a machine when I leave my desk. AND I keep a backup in case I corrupt something. (I use robocopy /MIR /r:2 /w:5 to sync up local and remote folders.)

02-01-2014, 02:20 PM	#1
Banjack Junior Member Posts: 1 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jan 2014 Device: Kindle Fire HD	Multiple Calibre's accessing single library? Hello everybody. Is it possible to have Calibre installed on multiple PC's on a home network and have each one access the same (single) library situated on a NAS (Network Addressed Storage device)? Thanks

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02-04-2014, 03:28 PM	#3
FaceDeer Connoisseur Posts: 89 Karma: 706 Join Date: Nov 2012 Device: Kobo Touch	Well, it's not "safe", but I imagine you could get away with it in a situation where you knew that only one computer's copy of Calibre was active at any given time. Like for example if the library in question is your personal library, not shared with anyone else in the household, and you'd like to access it sometimes from your laptop and sometimes from your desktop but never from both at the same time. Just make very sure that you don't break that rule. If both copies of Calibre are active at once they could both try updating the library's database simultaneously and badness will ensue.

02-04-2014, 03:45 PM	#4
Adoby Handy Elephant Posts: 1,737 Karma: 26785684 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Southern Sweden, far out in the quiet woods Device: Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra	Calibre is not a multi user program! But yes, it is possible, in a fashion. Just use copies of the library stored on the NAS. So strictly speaking the computers can freely access copies of the same library simultaneously. There are a lot of sync tools you can use to very quickly update a local copy on a PC from the master library on the NAS. The only limitation with this is that it is becomes difficult to manage updates to the library. Changes may overwrite each other, and corrupt the library, if you sync changes back to the NAS from more than one computer. If you only allow updates from one computer, then it is no problem. You can automate the sync process by adding some commands to the script that is used to start calibre, or by manually running the sync when needed.

02-07-2014, 01:39 PM	#5
CRussel (he/him/his) Posts: 12,291 Karma: 80074820 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Sunshine Coast, BC Device: Oasis (Gen3),Paperwhite (Gen10), Voyage, Paperwhite(orig), iPad Air M3	As others have said, it's possible to do some workarounds to make this work, but theducks is absolutely correct - it is not safe. I do it, but I am also the only person here who updates Calibre and I'm VERY careful to close Calibre whenever I am done with it and never just leave it open on a machine when I leave my desk. AND I keep a backup in case I corrupt something. (I use robocopy /MIR /r:2 /w:5 to sync up local and remote folders.)

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