Calibre Library on NAS Revisited - Is it even worth it?

SpiritualMadMan · 04-04-2025, 07:12 AM

Just Upgraded to 8.2.1 Here's what I want to do.

I want to put the Library and meta DB on my NAS (Linux Mint using Samba)

At this time I am a Windows 10 house, *BUT* I am transitioning to Linux Mint.

I want to be able to use any of several computers to access the one Data Base for reading.

As you designed Calibre as a single seat database, I suspect you do not have adequate Locks built-in for multiple users, I think you are using SQLite, and I haven't gotten very far with that, yet.

On an earlier post you mentioned that you had to copy the metadbfile down to the local drive. Which brings back the keeping things sync'd issue again.

Right now I end up copying the whole Library folder from machine to machine when I make a change. Hard for a 70+ oldster to keep up with at times.

I'd still keep a local copy of the folder as a back up.

Just want your thoughts on the subject.

BTW I am heartened by your use of Python & PySide6? with tables and SQLite? as that is where I am headed in my fledgling transition from C# to Python.

Thanks for taking the time to read this lengthy post.

theducks · 04-04-2025, 07:37 AM

Calibre uses SQLlite as its DBM. That is not multi-user
Calibre also is a Hybrid of SQL and the file system. That is part of the issue. Keeping those in lock step on a network.

Why not designate 1 system as Master (the library is Local) and Put a copy on the NAS and run the content server there to allow reading (only because this is only a copy).

Quoth · 04-04-2025, 08:04 AM

I use rsync (actually grsync) to update a copy (one way) on my Mint Server when Calibre is not running from my main workstation (running Mint + Mate). I then rsync that (one way) to the two laptops which I pretend are read only.

zje · 04-04-2025, 11:58 PM

I have a read/write copy on a Windows 10 laptop with the Cygwin UNIX emulation layer. When I'm done for the evening I use Cygwin to rsync my laptop to the home file server and to rsync a copy of the Calibre library folder to a separate location of the file server. I then log into Calibre-web and reconnect to the Calibre database. I find Calibre-web to be a nicer UI than the content server.

The nice thing about using the emulation layer is that I could write the backup script once and then it just works and I don't have to remember any steps. If you are moving to Linux Mint you won't need Cygwin. Samba should be ok if you only use one computer to update the library. If you want multiple readers it is better to have a separate copy for the readers that you update when ready from the write-able copy. You should be able to write a shell script that shuts down the content server, updates the read-only copy, and then restarts the content server.

04-04-2025, 07:12 AM	#1
SpiritualMadMan Member Posts: 13 Karma: 480354 Join Date: Jul 2008 Device: Dell Axim	Calibre Library on NAS Revisited - Is it even worth it? Just Upgraded to 8.2.1 Here's what I want to do. I want to put the Library and meta DB on my NAS (Linux Mint using Samba) At this time I am a Windows 10 house, BUT I am transitioning to Linux Mint. I want to be able to use any of several computers to access the one Data Base for reading. As you designed Calibre as a single seat database, I suspect you do not have adequate Locks built-in for multiple users, I think you are using SQLite, and I haven't gotten very far with that, yet. On an earlier post you mentioned that you had to copy the metadbfile down to the local drive. Which brings back the keeping things sync'd issue again. Right now I end up copying the whole Library folder from machine to machine when I make a change. Hard for a 70+ oldster to keep up with at times. I'd still keep a local copy of the folder as a back up. Just want your thoughts on the subject. BTW I am heartened by your use of Python & PySide6? with tables and SQLite? as that is where I am headed in my fledgling transition from C# to Python. Thanks for taking the time to read this lengthy post.

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04-04-2025, 07:37 AM	#2
theducks Well trained by Cats Posts: 31,047 Karma: 60358908 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The Central Coast of California Device: Kobo Libra2,Kobo Aura2v1, K4NT(Fixed: New Bat.), Galaxy Tab A	Calibre uses SQLlite as its DBM. That is not multi-user Calibre also is a Hybrid of SQL and the file system. That is part of the issue. Keeping those in lock step on a network. Why not designate 1 system as Master (the library is Local) and Put a copy on the NAS and run the content server there to allow reading (only because this is only a copy).

04-04-2025, 08:04 AM	#3
Quoth Still reading Posts: 14,010 Karma: 105092227 Join Date: Jun 2017 Location: Ireland Device: All 4 Kinds: epub eink, Kindle, android eink, NxtPaper	I use rsync (actually grsync) to update a copy (one way) on my Mint Server when Calibre is not running from my main workstation (running Mint + Mate). I then rsync that (one way) to the two laptops which I pretend are read only.

04-04-2025, 11:58 PM	#4
zje Member Posts: 11 Karma: 12990 Join Date: Jun 2019 Location: My own private reality Device: Nook Classic, Kindle Fire 7, Kindle Gen 7 Paper White, Fire 8 HD	I have a read/write copy on a Windows 10 laptop with the Cygwin UNIX emulation layer. When I'm done for the evening I use Cygwin to rsync my laptop to the home file server and to rsync a copy of the Calibre library folder to a separate location of the file server. I then log into Calibre-web and reconnect to the Calibre database. I find Calibre-web to be a nicer UI than the content server. The nice thing about using the emulation layer is that I could write the backup script once and then it just works and I don't have to remember any steps. If you are moving to Linux Mint you won't need Cygwin. Samba should be ok if you only use one computer to update the library. If you want multiple readers it is better to have a separate copy for the readers that you update when ready from the write-able copy. You should be able to write a shell script that shuts down the content server, updates the read-only copy, and then restarts the content server.

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