Hosting server from a Raspberry Pi

mdclanahan · 03-05-2020, 10:42 AM

I perform library maintenance (~5000 books so far) in Calibre on a Mac Mini. The library is stored on an external hard drive. I want to use the Calibre Content Server to browse my library and download books on my iOS devices, but I don’t keep the Mac Mini on all the time.

I’m thinking about getting a Raspberry Pi 4 and using it as my always-on content server.

Is there any way I can continue using the Mac Mini to add books and do library maintenance while using the Pi to host the content server for the same library?

Thanks,
mdclanahan

ilovejedd · 03-05-2020, 12:03 PM

It's very much possible.

If you use calibre-server though, I don't know if it needs to be shut down before you can copy the updated library from Mac Mini to RPi.

With something like COPS on the RPi, you don't even have to restart the server to push changes. I believe that one just opens and closes the database file (metadata.db) every time you load a page.

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=170903

mdclanahan · 03-05-2020, 12:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ilovejedd

It's very much possible.

If you use calibre-server though, I don't know if it needs to be shut down before you can copy the updated library from Mac Mini to RPi.

Thanks! What’s the best way to copy the library/keep the library in sync between the two computers? I feel like doing that manually each time I update the library would be a real headache.

I have seven libraries (physical, not virtual libraries) I switch between frequently, and I’d like all of them to be available on the server.

Also, do I need to be concerned about file name case sensitivity differences between macOS and Linux?

ilovejedd · 03-05-2020, 12:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mdclanahan

Thanks! What’s the best way to copy the library/keep the library in sync between the two computers? I feel like doing that manually each time I update the library would be a real headache.

I have seven libraries (physical, not virtual libraries) I switch between frequently, and I’d like all of them to be available on the server.

Also, do I need to be concerned about file name case sensitivity differences between macOS and Linux?

Aren't both OSes case sensitive?

I'm sure there are plenty of things you can use for syncing. rsync perhaps?

I'm a Windows user and I tend to use FreeFileSync to do a one-way/mirror push to the network drive (SMB share). I believe FFS is multi-platform so perhaps you can try if that works.

BetterRed · 03-05-2020, 04:58 PM

IIRC file name case sensitivity on MacOS is settable - and a less certain memory cell is telling me the default is case insensitive but that could be wrong. But it won't matter, providing you don't change names on the RPi and you do one-way mirroring (rather than syncing) of the library on the Mac to the RPi - you'd be mad if you didn't

BR

03-05-2020, 10:42 AM	#1
mdclanahan Connoisseur Posts: 79 Karma: 10 Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: Missouri, USA Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPhone 11 Pro Max, iPad 6th Gen	Hosting server from a Raspberry Pi I perform library maintenance (~5000 books so far) in Calibre on a Mac Mini. The library is stored on an external hard drive. I want to use the Calibre Content Server to browse my library and download books on my iOS devices, but I don’t keep the Mac Mini on all the time. I’m thinking about getting a Raspberry Pi 4 and using it as my always-on content server. Is there any way I can continue using the Mac Mini to add books and do library maintenance while using the Pi to host the content server for the same library? Thanks, mdclanahan

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03-05-2020, 12:03 PM	#2
ilovejedd hopeless n00b Posts: 5,110 Karma: 19597086 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: in the middle of nowhere Device: PW4, PW3, Libra H2O, iPad 10.5, iPad 11, iPad 12.9	It's very much possible. If you use calibre-server though, I don't know if it needs to be shut down before you can copy the updated library from Mac Mini to RPi. With something like COPS on the RPi, you don't even have to restart the server to push changes. I believe that one just opens and closes the database file (metadata.db) every time you load a page. https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=170903

03-05-2020, 04:58 PM	#5
BetterRed null operator (he/him) Posts: 21,730 Karma: 29711016 Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Sydney Australia Device: none	IIRC file name case sensitivity on MacOS is settable - and a less certain memory cell is telling me the default is case insensitive but that could be wrong. But it won't matter, providing you don't change names on the RPi and you do one-way mirroring (rather than syncing) of the library on the Mac to the RPi - you'd be mad if you didn't BR

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