Multi-computer setup?

[JenniferSoucy]

OK, I have a slightly unusual use case that I'm trying to decide what the best way to set it up is. My setup:

1. "Server" Mac: Runs calibre, has the database and library stored on a local drive and synced with Dropbox. (I've been syncing Calibre with Dropbox for years and not had a problem.) Is a bit out of the way in my house, so I don't want to go to where the computer is to sync my Kobo Libra H2O. I also have this Mac set up with an external IP and a few people who occasionally access the Calibre content / web server, so *ideally* it ought to be running as much as possible for maximum access. Have considered setting up calibre-web on this computer instead. Also have one local user that uses the web server for wirelessly adding books to a Kindle; also have this setup where downloaded books are automatically imported to Calibre as soon as they are added to a folder.

In an absolutely ideal world I'd be able to not make the web server read-only, as I have both Kindle and iPhones accessing it and I don't have ALL of my books in both ePub and AZW3, so being able to hit the "convert this" button is pretty handy. On the other hand if read-only web access is better I can just set this thing to running a pretty massive conversion on everything and call it good.

2. "My" Mac - on my desk, currently best way to add books to my Kobo. Obviously if I run Calibre here I have to turn it off on the "Server" Mac before using it to prevent data corruption.

3. Kobo Libra H2o which I - ideally - want to leave as stock as possible, but would also like to be able to add books to wirelessly. As far as I can tell this is not possible without using KOReader; if anyone knows elsewise I'd love to know that.

So.... all that explained, what is the *best* way of setting up Calibre and on which computer to accomplish all this - autoadding books, externally facing web server, ability to manage books and sync Kobo on separate computer. I suspect there's a better answer than just turning Calibre on and off in each place hen I want to use it, I just don't know what it is.

(While I'm at it, if there's a way to automate Calibre checking all books to see if there's both an ePub and an AZW3, convert as needed, and remove other formats, that would be AMAZING. But I don't know enough scripting to do it.)

[PeterT]

Something I've often wondered about is remote usb. See https://www.macminivault.com/sharing...-a-remote-mac/ for instance.

[JenniferSoucy]

Oh that's a clever idea - I'll have to see if it might work, since I never got Kobo UnCaGeD to work (it hasn't been updated in a while, so I'm wondering if it's still compatible with current firmware). Have to look for a cheaper version, as the only one that has a free version I've found isn't compatible with Catalina, which both Macs are running.

[JenniferSoucy]

One other thing that _doesn't_ work as an option though it's close - sharing the Kobo as an SMB drive does let Calibre on the other computer connect to it as a folder, and see the books on the device, but I can't manage collections nor sync metadata back to Calibre, and the automatic conversion to kepub I've got via plugin doesn't kick in.

[JSWolf]

Drop Dropbox and fast. Syncing with Dopbox will eventually screw up your library. NEVER ever use your Calibre library with Drpbox, Google Drive, Onedrive, or any other cloud storage that syncs. It's the best way to scre up your library.

There is a solution to your problem. Make sure the drive letter of the drive used on the server is not one that's in use on any of your other computers. If you have to, remap the server side drive letter. Then on your other MACs, map that network drive on the other computers to the same drive letter. Only run Calibre on one computer at a time. You can then use Calibre on any of your computers. You just access the networked drive like it was a local drive. But never ever have Calibre running more then once.

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Drop Dropbox and fast. Syncing with Dopbox will eventually screw up your library. NEVER ever use your Calibre library with Drpbox, Google Drive, Onedrive, or any other cloud storage that syncs. It's the best way to scre up your library.

That's not exactly right. You CAN use your Calibre library with Dropbox, if you know what you're doing and are aware of the risks. But yes, definitely not recommended if you're in the habit of letting your Dropbox run and sync automatically in the background. I've never had that habit, because I started to use Dropbox specifically for accessing my library on several devices and was aware of the dangers involved.

Best forget Google Drive and OneDrive, those do mess up your library, no matter how careful you are.

[johnoz123]

What about doing a Oneway sync from your (2. "My" Mac - on my desk) to your Server. You can then go to DropBox or not. Your "My" Mac is used exclusively to add and change.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Sirtel

That's not exactly right. You CAN use your Calibre library with Dropbox, if you know what you're doing and are aware of the risks. But yes, definitely not recommended if you're in the habit of letting your Dropbox run and sync automatically in the background. I've never had that habit, because I started to use Dropbox specifically for accessing my library on several devices and was aware of the dangers involved.

Best forget Google Drive and OneDrive, those do mess up your library, no matter how careful you are.

Thing is, if something happens to your library on Dropbox and it syncs the changes back, your library can be damaged. if you really want to use Dropbox, the solution is to do a one-way sync to the local Dropbox directory and then let the sync happen from there. That way, the Dropbox software will NEVER touch the working library. On Windows, I highly recommend FreeFileSync to do the local syncing.

[stumped]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Thing is, if something happens to your library on Dropbox and it syncs the changes back, your library can be damaged. if you really want to use Dropbox, the solution is to do a one-way sync to the local Dropbox directory and then let the sync happen from there. That way, the Dropbox software will NEVER touch the working library. On Windows, I highly recommend FreeFileSync to do the local syncing.

exactly what I do.
FFS in that same run also one way syncs to a separate local drive backup, and to any other cloud options that I am testing with calibre & apps
[ e.g. tried free pcloud, dropped that, now on free 10gb tier of box but may drop that also - the android app is very basic.]

The other thing that any prospective cloud user shoudl be aware of is security [ lack of ] . granting any device app access to your dropbox actually grants the complete permissions to rummage through all folders, take copies, change data.... its not restricted to only the calibre library folder as dropbox can't do per folder access controls. One exception ( untested) the Kobo forma+ dropbox setup may limit access to a Ratuken folder, but apps like moon reader can read and write to all dropbox folders
'
so if you put your books into dropbox, for access via apps, don't also put any sensitive data into the same dropbox

[JSWolf]

Does anyone know how to do a one-way sync to Dropbox?

[johnoz123]

I don't think there is a oneway sync to DropBox. That said, in this case if you update the server and the server syncs with DropBox then the route is oneway. So unless you change stuff in DropBox directly, then the Calibre library integrity should be sweet. Or am I missing something?

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Thing is, if something happens to your library on Dropbox and it syncs the changes back, your library can be damaged. if you really want to use Dropbox, the solution is to do a one-way sync to the local Dropbox directory and then let the sync happen from there. That way, the Dropbox software will NEVER touch the working library. On Windows, I highly recommend FreeFileSync to do the local syncing.

But that defeats the purpose of using the library on several devices. I don't mean only for accessing books, but also editing the files and metadata. The server is not sufficient, no plugins and no editor. So I still have to keep my active library in Dropbox, because there is no other solution for what I want to do.

[theducks]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Thing is, if something happens to your library on Dropbox and it syncs the changes back, your library can be damaged. if you really want to use Dropbox, the solution is to do a one-way sync to the local Dropbox directory and then let the sync happen from there. That way, the Dropbox software will NEVER touch the working library. On Windows, I highly recommend FreeFileSync to do the local syncing.

I do similar using Free File Sync (one way) to an older PC that has a Sync to my NAS. Takes about a minute of Calibre down time (shut Calibre down when syncing) to do that sync. The NAS part is slower, but Calibre is back up while that happens.

[stumped]

Originally Posted by johnoz123

I don't think there is a oneway sync to DropBox.

of course there is.
assume for simplicity that my local dropbox is C:\dropbox and my calibre is in C:\Library.
i set up Free file sync ( or a ultility of choice) to mirror library into dropbox on my C drive, e.g. i say
source is C:\library, target is C:\dropbox\library.
mirror source to target.

then dropbox.exe background syncs that local dropbox folder to cloud. Been doing it for years, no problems., others here do the same.

purists will suggest pause, unpause calibre, dropbox... at various points, I never bother. I am the only user so I know when calibre is idle. I know to let dropbox icon show fully synced before I try accessing the cloud copy.

[Sirtel]

Mirroring only helps if you work with your library on a single device only (I mean work with the files and metadata, not read). There is still no solution for working with your library on multiple computers and tablets. Other than Dropbox, which has its risks. Personally I'm willing to risk it. Others might not be.