Content server ignoring CALIBRE_OVERRIDE_DATABASE_PATH

crash369 · 10-06-2025, 12:08 PM

Before I post this as a bug, I wanted to check here to make sure it wasn't an error on my part.

My books are stored on a network share. I am using the Calibre GUI on my desktop without issue by saving the database on the desktop machine and setting the env var "CALIBRE_OVERRIDE_DATABASE_PATH" pointing to the local database file.

I am attempting to do a similar thing with the content server. However, calibre-server is completely ignoring that environment variable.

Below are my attempts to make this work. Let me know if I am doing something wrong, or if it's a bug.

Code:

root@calibre:~# calibre-server --version
calibre-server (calibre 8.5)
root@calibre:~# calibredb add christmascarol.mobi --with-library /tmp/books
Added book ids: 1
root@calibre:~# calibre-server /tmp/books

works, as expected... but...

Code:

root@calibre:~# mv /tmp/books/metadata.db /tmp/
root@calibre:~# CALIBRE_OVERRIDE_DATABASE_PATH="/tmp/metadata.db" calibre-server /tmp/books
There is no calibre library at: /tmp/books
root@calibre:~# export CALIBRE_OVERRIDE_DATABASE_PATH="/tmp/metadata.db"
root@calibre:~# calibre-server /tmp/books
There is no calibre library at: /tmp/books

I also tried it with systemd, and it still didn't work.

Code:

[Unit]
Description=CalibreContentServer

[Service]
Type=simple
Environment="CALIBRE_OVERRIDE_DATABASE_PATH=/tmp/metadata.db"
ExecStart=/usr/bin/calibre-server /tmp/books

[Install]
WantedBy=multi-user.target

Is there something I am missing?

kovidgoyal · 10-06-2025, 01:14 PM

Do a touch /tmp/books/metadata.db and you will be fine.

10-06-2025, 12:08 PM	#1
crash369 Junior Member Posts: 4 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2020 Device: none	Content server ignoring CALIBRE_OVERRIDE_DATABASE_PATH Before I post this as a bug, I wanted to check here to make sure it wasn't an error on my part. My books are stored on a network share. I am using the Calibre GUI on my desktop without issue by saving the database on the desktop machine and setting the env var "CALIBRE_OVERRIDE_DATABASE_PATH" pointing to the local database file. I am attempting to do a similar thing with the content server. However, calibre-server is completely ignoring that environment variable. Below are my attempts to make this work. Let me know if I am doing something wrong, or if it's a bug. Code: root@calibre:~# calibre-server --version calibre-server (calibre 8.5) root@calibre:~# calibredb add christmascarol.mobi --with-library /tmp/books Added book ids: 1 root@calibre:~# calibre-server /tmp/books works, as expected... but... Code: root@calibre:~# mv /tmp/books/metadata.db /tmp/ root@calibre:~# CALIBRE_OVERRIDE_DATABASE_PATH="/tmp/metadata.db" calibre-server /tmp/books There is no calibre library at: /tmp/books root@calibre:~# export CALIBRE_OVERRIDE_DATABASE_PATH="/tmp/metadata.db" root@calibre:~# calibre-server /tmp/books There is no calibre library at: /tmp/books I also tried it with systemd, and it still didn't work. Code: [Unit] Description=CalibreContentServer [Service] Type=simple Environment="CALIBRE_OVERRIDE_DATABASE_PATH=/tmp/metadata.db" ExecStart=/usr/bin/calibre-server /tmp/books [Install] WantedBy=multi-user.target Is there something I am missing?

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10-06-2025, 01:14 PM	#2
kovidgoyal creator of calibre Posts: 45,609 Karma: 28549044 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	Do a touch /tmp/books/metadata.db and you will be fine.

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