How to connect KOBO USB (from laptop) to Calibre Docker on TrueNAS SCALE?

[Phyxius]

Hi all,

I’ve searched through forums, GitHub issues, and Discord, but haven’t found any up-to-date guidance on this topic.

I’m running Calibre in a Docker container on TrueNAS SCALE 25.04.1 (note: TrueNAS SCALE has switched from Kubernetes to Docker Apps). This is the official Calibre Docker, not Calibre-Web.

I access Calibre via the web UI from my laptop, and I would like to connect my KOBO Clara, which is physically plugged into the USB port on my laptop.

My goal is for Calibre to automatically detect the KOBO device (like it would in a local setup), not just transfer files manually.

Since the device is not connected to the TrueNAS server directly, I realize USB passthrough over network might be required.

Questions:
Is it possible to pass through a USB device from a client machine (my laptop) to the Calibre Docker container running on the server?

If yes, what’s the recommended method to achieve this (e.g., USB/IP, VirtualHere, or other)? Any guide or best practices?

If not possible/reliable, what alternative workflows do you recommend for syncing eBooks with a KOBO device in this type of setup?

Thanks in advance for your insights and support!

[PeterT]

You could experiment with a feature added in Calibre 8.x that allows you to use the Connect to Folder option and specify connect as a device.

What you would have to do is with your Kobo attached to your laptop create a Windows share pointing to the Kobo directory. Then on your containerised Calibre access that Windows share as the target in Connect to Folder specifying that calibre should consider this as a Kobo Clara.

I can't guarantee this will work (or even provide steps on how to access a Windows share from the containerised Calibre).

[Phyxius]

Thank you for your reply.

If I were the only one using it, I would be happy to try your suggestion. However, I need something more stable and ready to use out of the box.

I also have Calibre installed on my Windows 11 laptop. Is it possible to connect the Calibre Docker container with my Calibre installation on Windows?
If so, I would I accomplish this?

[Quoth]

Originally Posted by Phyxius

I also have Calibre installed on my Windows 11 laptop. Is it possible to connect the Calibre Docker container with my Calibre installation on Windows?
If so, I would I accomplish this?

You can't sanely use Calibre with anything other than a local drive (which includes locally connected external drives using the native file system of the OS Calibre is on, but not anything networked or MTP etc).

So you need to export from Calibre in the Container and import on the laptop. Doing a copy or one-way sync only reliable if both calibres are stopped and are the same OS and file-system.

[Phyxius]

I was excited to learn that Calibre can run as a Docker container on TrueNAS SCALE. The idea of centralizing my ebook library—making it part of my backup system and easily accessible from all my devices—really appealed to me.

However, based on the feedback here, it seems there’s no easy or stable way to connect e-readers directly to Calibre running in a Docker container. I had hoped to use Calibre’s desktop version and somehow connect it to the Docker instance, letting me keep my library backed up on the server while still managing and syncing books to my e-readers.

How are you all backing up your Calibre libraries automatically? Has anyone found a smooth workflow for managing books across multiple devices while keeping everything safe and centralized?

[ownedbycats]

You can still mirror to a cloud library/NAS. but always run Calibre off local copy.

check out the Content Server.