Calibre Web Automated install on Rpi5

[Runnerbeen]

Hi I have a Raspberry Pi 5 running Bookworm. I've installed Calibre on this and would now like to link my books to Calibre-web.

I've installed Calibre-web in a docker but am not seeing my Calibre books. In the database config screen I don't seem to see my Calibre Library listed so am not sure how I go about linking to it as the folders don't seem to match my Pi folder structure.

The code I have used for the volumes on the compose.yml is as follows:

- /home/user/calibre-web-config:/config
- /home/user/cwa-book-injest/ingest:/cwa-book-ingest
- /home/user/Calibre Library:/library

Does anyone know a way to link the metadat.db file in my existing Calibre library to Calibre-web? Thank you.

[rantanplan]

You should not link your existing database to calibre-web. Both tools think that they access the database exclusively and you don’t want to break your db.

[Runnerbeen]

Originally Posted by rantanplan

You should not link your existing database to calibre-web. Both tools think that they access the database exclusively and you don’t want to break your db.

Thanks, does that mean I'd need to add all the books again to C W?

Thank you

[PeterT]

Originally Posted by Runnerbeen

Thanks, does that mean I'd need to add all the books again to C W?

Thank you

A common approach is to use a tool like FreeFileSync to do a one way mirroring of the data from Calibre to RPI.

Of course you will need to setup file sharing of the required directories from the RPI so that windows can access the storage on the RPI. This could either be via SMB or FTP.

[Runnerbeen]

Originally Posted by PeterT

A common approach is to use a tool like FreeFileSync to do a one way mirroring of the data from Calibre to RPI.

Of course you will need to setup file sharing of the required directories from the RPI so that windows can access the storage on the RPI. This could either be via SMB or FTP.

That's great, thank you!

[Runnerbeen]

Thank you I've set up a mirror of my Calibre library on my Pi. I can't see any of my books in Calibre Web. If I've set up the mirror in my home folder would I need to give permissions to my home folder and all sub folders or can I just give permissions to ~ /calibre-library

Thank you

[cybebob]

I ran into the same thing when I first tried calibre-web in docker on my pi. The trick is you need to map the volume correctly so the container can see your calibre library folder - something like -v /path/to/your/CalibreLibrary:/books in the docker run command. Then in calibre-web's setup screen enter /books as the database location.

that said if youre looking for something simpler, I built a project called Syncloud (github.com/syncloud/platform) that packages calibre-web with one click install for raspberry pi. it handles all the docker/config stuff automatically so you just pick calibre-web from the app store and its ready to go. full disclosure im the developer so im biased but it saved me a ton of headaches with exactly this kind of setup.

either way the key issue is getting that volume mount right so calibre-web can find metadata.db in your library folder