Best Family Sharing - Calibre Server (self hosted) or Cloud Based?

[varaonaid]

Hello,

I'm trying to figure out how best to setup my ebooks to share with my family. I want to be able to access then online via any of our computers or reading devices. I currently use Calibre for all my ebook organizing but haven't yet taken it further. We basically only use Windows and Android devices at this point.

My understanding is that the two basic ways of accomplishing this is either to use Calibre to run a server from a local computer (self hosted) or to use something like Box.com (which I have a 50gb free account with). I already have a computer that stays on all the time as a local server at home for things like printing. So, this wouldn't be a change in use for me. I suppose I could somehow use my synced Box.com folder to hold all my ebooks in my Calibre Library so in effect I'd be using Box to also self hold my own server.

What I'd like to know is which one you think has the most advantages or disafvantages and why. If I'm going to set this up, I want to choose the right way the first time. I know I may need some third party apps, which is fine. But if there are advantages to my simply running a local server, I'd really love to hear it. Not having used either one, I just don't know the benefits and drawbacks of each method.

If there is another way I should be considering, please let me know that as well. Thanks so much!! I'm looking forward to learning from you knowledge and experiences.

[cybebob]

since you already have an always-on home server the self hosted route is the easy win, no monthly fee and the library stays yours. the calibre content server works but its pretty bare, most people now run calibre-web instead, it points at your existing calibre library folder and gives a clean web page where each family member logs in, browses, reads in the browser or downloads and sends to their kindle. works fine across windows and android since its just a browser.

cloud (box and the like) mainly makes sense if you dont want to keep a machine on, which isnt your case. the one thing to sort for self hosting is reaching it from outside the house safely, so https and a login rather than exposing it raw.

thats the bit that usually trips people up, so full disclosure i help build an open source project called syncloud that installs calibre-web in one click with the https and per-user logins already handled, running right on that home server you already have. its the low effort way to get the family sharing going without piecing the auth and certs together yourself.

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by cybebob

since you already have an always-on home server the self hosted route is the easy win, no monthly fee and the library stays yours. the calibre content server works but its pretty bare, most people now run calibre-web instead, it points at your existing calibre library folder and gives a clean web page where each family member logs in, browses, reads in the browser or downloads and sends to their kindle. works fine across windows and android since its just a browser.

cloud (box and the like) mainly makes sense if you dont want to keep a machine on, which isnt your case. the one thing to sort for self hosting is reaching it from outside the house safely, so https and a login rather than exposing it raw.

thats the bit that usually trips people up, so full disclosure i help build an open source project called syncloud that installs calibre-web in one click with the https and per-user logins already handled, running right on that home server you already have. its the low effort way to get the family sharing going without piecing the auth and certs together yourself.

You're replying to a post made more than a decade ago.