Q: Calibre on a mapped drive?

phossler · 01-13-2020, 09:57 AM

Win10, 64 bit

Right now I have my library, etc. on my local C:

I also have a networked PC with a drive on it mapped on my local PC as

M: = \\pc2\C:\

Since it's not a NAS, so can I safely move my library to "M" so long as there's no other user accessing it?

Not sure I want to do that, but I'd like to know just in case

theducks · 01-13-2020, 10:19 AM

NO!
Only HARD CONNECTED DRIVES (internal or external), IDE, (e)SATA, USB , firewire...

read the FAQ (again?)
Shares (aka Mapped drives) are right there with NAS with issues.

kovidgoyal · 01-13-2020, 10:40 AM

networked filesystems are flaky, if you value your data dont put it on one. Instead put it on a local drive and mirror it to the network drive.

phossler · 01-13-2020, 01:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theducks

NO!
Only HARD CONNECTED DRIVES (internal or external), IDE, (e)SATA, USB , firewire...

read the FAQ (again?)
Shares (aka Mapped drives) are right there with NAS with issues.

Point taken and noted

https://manual.calibre-ebook.com/faq...rked-drive-nas

Quote:

Do not put your calibre library on a networked drive.

A filesystem is a complex beast. Most network filesystems lack various filesystem features that calibre uses. Some don’t support file locking, some don’t support hardlinking, some are just flaky. Additionally, calibre is a single user application, if you accidentally run two copies of calibre on the same networked library, bad things will happen. Finally, different OSes impose different limitations on filesystems, so if you share your networked drive across OSes, once again, bad things will happen.

I have read the FAQs (again)

I thought that since Win10 was the OS on both (and I didn't consider it a network system [possibly wrongly]) the PC2 attached drive mapped to PC1 wouldn't be an issue. Since I only use Calibre from PC1 and no one uses it on PC2, I thought it might be OK.

Since I use Robocopy to make a backup from PC1 C: to external HDs, it's not going to be a problem not doing what I thought I might not want to not do

As an aside, "mapped" is not in the FAQ

phossler · 01-13-2020, 01:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kovidgoyal

networked filesystems are flaky, if you value your data dont put it on one. Instead put it on a local drive and mirror it to the network drive.

Using Robocopy already to keep a b/u on the currently mapped drive, as well as several other locations in fact

theducks · 01-13-2020, 01:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phossler

Point taken and noted

Since I use Robocopy to make a backup from PC1 C: to external HDs, it's not going to be a problem not doing what I thought I might not want to not do

As an aside, "mapped" is not in the FAQ

True. But Mapped is most commonly used with a Networked drive. (And I have been using them for so long that I just associate the name with Networked drive. In DOS it was NET USE

Does Robocopy fail if Calibre is running?
I know Synctoy (what I run frequently) has problems with metadata.db if it is running.

JSWolf · 01-13-2020, 01:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phossler

Win10, 64 bit

Right now I have my library, etc. on my local C:

I also have a networked PC with a drive on it mapped on my local PC as

M: = \\pc2\C:\

Since it's not a NAS, so can I safely move my library to "M" so long as there's no other user accessing it?

Not sure I want to do that, but I'd like to know just in case

I do it all the time with a networked drive. I've been doing it for years and it works perfectly. The only things you have to watch out for is not to try to use the same library from multiple machines and if it's a laptop, close Calibre before you put the laptop to sleep or if it's set to sleep.

ilovejedd · 01-13-2020, 04:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theducks

Does Robocopy fail if Calibre is running?
I know Synctoy (what I run frequently) has problems with metadata.db if it is running.

Robocopy doesn't require exclusive access as far as I know so reckon it's fine.

I just use the following for mirroring Calibre library folders and it has no problem copying metadata.db even when Calibre's running and has the library open.

Code:

robocopy source target /mir /fft /dst /r:0 /w:0

theducks · 01-13-2020, 06:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ilovejedd

Robocopy doesn't require exclusive access as far as I know so reckon it's fine.

I just use the following for mirroring Calibre library folders and it has no problem copying metadata.db even when Calibre's running and has the library open.

Code:

robocopy source target /mir /fft /dst /r:0 /w:0

I might change...later

JSWolf · 01-13-2020, 06:27 PM

To backup my Calibre library, I use FreeFileSync. Works very well. Plus, I only have to copy new or changed files.

01-13-2020, 09:57 AM	#1
phossler Wizard Posts: 1,087 Karma: 447222 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Valley Forge, PA, USA Device: Kindle Paperwhite	Q: Calibre on a mapped drive? Win10, 64 bit Right now I have my library, etc. on my local C: I also have a networked PC with a drive on it mapped on my local PC as M: = \\pc2\C:\ Since it's not a NAS, so can I safely move my library to "M" so long as there's no other user accessing it? Not sure I want to do that, but I'd like to know just in case

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01-13-2020, 10:19 AM	#2
theducks Well trained by Cats Posts: 31,048 Karma: 60358908 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The Central Coast of California Device: Kobo Libra2,Kobo Aura2v1, K4NT(Fixed: New Bat.), Galaxy Tab A	NO! Only HARD CONNECTED DRIVES (internal or external), IDE, (e)SATA, USB , firewire... read the FAQ (again?) Shares (aka Mapped drives) are right there with NAS with issues.

01-13-2020, 10:40 AM	#3
kovidgoyal creator of calibre Posts: 45,345 Karma: 27182818 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	networked filesystems are flaky, if you value your data dont put it on one. Instead put it on a local drive and mirror it to the network drive.

01-13-2020, 06:27 PM	#10
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 79,745 Karma: 145864619 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	To backup my Calibre library, I use FreeFileSync. Works very well. Plus, I only have to copy new or changed files.