A Howto: Running Calibre Content server on Windows Startup

[Rouge One]

Originally Posted by sherman

Hi folks, I thought I'd share with you my method of running the standalone calibre content server at windows startup.

This particular method works for Windows Vista/7, and probably XP as well. It may not be the only way to accomplish this task either.

The Steps

Open the Task Scheduler (Start orb > type "task" in the search > select "Task Scheduler" from list)

Choose "Create Task" from the menu at right.

Give the task a meaningful name and description.

Select the "Run whether user is logged in or not" radio button.

On the "Triggers" tab, create a new trigger. From the dropdown list at the top select "Startup", and click "Ok".

On the "Actions" tab, create a new Action. You want to "Start a program". In the "Program/Script" box, insert the location of the calibre-server program. This can usually be found in the following places:
32-bit Windows: C:\Program Files\Calibre2\calibre-server.exe
64-bit Windows: C:\Program Files (x86)\Calibre2\calibre-server.exe
If you want to pass additional options to calibre-server (eg: username/password), put these in the "Add arguments (optional)" box. Refer to the calibre-server help for information on these options. Click "Ok"

If your PC is going to be on for several days at a time, select the "Settings" tab. Uncheck the checkbox that says "Stop the task if it runs longer than:".

Click "Ok" to create the new task. You will be asked for your Windows User password - put this in to complete creating the task.

Now, either right-click the task and choose "Run" or reboot the PC to run the task.

Finally, to ensure the content server can be accessed over the network, we need to add calibre-server to the list of exceptions in the Windows Firewall. Somewhere within the Vista/7 control panel or security center there is an option to "Allow a program through Windows Firewall". Click the "Add another program", browse to the location of calibre-server.exe and add it.


So why would I want to do this?

Running the Standalone content server is useful if you don't want to have the main calibre program running constantly. Running calibre-server by double clicking it however means that you have a constand command window taking up space. You also have to remember to run it whenever you log in.
Calling it from a batch file placed in the startup folder also works, but again, you still have a command window floating around. Also both methods require you to login to your system.
Using the task scheduler method brings the content server up at Windows startup, without requireing the user to be logged in, and doesn't display a command window.

Of course, if Kovid were to implement running the content server as a windows service....

How do I add this through Windows Firewall on Windows 10 because it gives me this message under Allow apps to communicate through Windows Firewall:
'Standalone Calibre content server ' is already in the list of exceptions.

[daveman]

I would like to see this as an option in the Calibre settings. Any chance a future update can incorporate a "start content server on Windows Startup" option?

[kovidgoyal]

Simply add calibre to your startup programs in windows and In Preferences->Sharing under the net tell calibre to run the server on startup.

[daveman]

kovidgoyal - Thanks but I want to just run the content server in the background without running the full calibre. That is how my media servers run...

Dave

[kovidgoyal]

Why does running the full calibre bother you in some way? It does not use any more resources than running just the calibre-server executable.

[daveman]

Hi kovidgoyal.

I was just updating some settings and see that you are from Mumbai. I am heading to India with my family and will be there at the end of the month as I am touring India. Anyways, just wanted to let you know that Calibre is an amazing pgm.

One issue that I have is how can we access the library if our Public IP address changes? Any plans to create a system that can deal with changing IP addresses?

[PeterT]

Just use a dynamic DNS client on your PC. This will allow you to register a DNS name for your device and update the associated IP address if it changes. For instance see http://www.dnsomatic.com/

[BetterRed]

@daveman - you have asked what is essentially the same question... here and here.

Posting Guideline # 3 Duplication, states :

Do not post the same discussion in more than one forum. Try to pick the most relevant forum for your post.

If it's been a few days since the last comment in your thread and you haven't received a suitable answer to your question, you may bump your thread by commenting in it. You must not ask the same question in a new thread in the same forum.

If you receive no replies, and you think you may have chosen the wrong forum, report your post and ask the moderators to move it to the right forum.

There's link to MobilRead's Guidelines at the bottom of this and most other pages.

BR

[sherman]

Whoa, I started this thread over seven years ago! How time flies!

To be honest, I should probably modify the OP to state that the information is woefully out of date, and basically no longer applicable. Also, I believe (please correct me if I'm wrong) that as of Calibre 3, running the content server and GUI side-by-side is no longer supported.

[BetterRed]

Originally Posted by sherman

To be honest, I should probably modify the OP to state that the information is woefully out of date, and basically no longer applicable.

Good idea - just add a prominent note in first post to say "This doesn't apply to version 3". But it's still useful if someone wants to stick with version 2.

BR

[MizSuz]

Well, I put calibre.exe from the Programs(x86)/Calibre2 folder in my startup folder but it doesn't start when windows starts. It's odd, because the two other things I put in there do start when windows starts.

I'm not sure why calibre isn't getting with the program on this.

I'm on a Win7 machine.

UPDATE: Doing my Windows updates seemed to fix this.

[Skumar]

ok thanks