Could not start the Content server

[abatie]

osx 14.5, calibre 7.11

My mac wedged and logged me out, then I rebooted because some things were wonky and finally got it working again. had to copy the full text db to free a stuck lock and calibre finally started, but failed to start the content server with "No such file or directory". Unfortunately, it doesn't say *which* file was missing. I downloaded the latest calibre and made sure calibre-server was in the appropriate place, but the error persists. I don't suppose there's a hidden log file somewhere that might say what it's unhappy about?

[kovidgoyal]

yes calibre-server generates hidden log files, unfortunately they are so well hidden you will never be able to find them. On a less sarcastic note, if you want help at a minimum post the full error message you see, and details about exactly what you are running and how.

[abatie]

The error is pretty much what I said, and I posted what I was running, but the exact error when I click Connect/share->Start Content server:

calibre, version 7.11.0
ERROR: Failed to start Content server: Could not start the Content server. Error:

[Errno 2] No such file or directory


Not a terribly helpful error message...

[kovidgoyal]

That would indicate you have a corrupted install. Uninstall and re-install.

[abatie]

That's why I updated calibre to start with, but this time I removed the old one first. When I started it, I got the database corruption/db locked error, so I did the rename/copy back to get the full text db unlocked, and calibre started, but still failed to start the content server. I stopped/restarted calibre and it didn't give me the lock error again, but it still failed to start the content server. I don't know what file it thinks is missing:

<mouse.batie.org> [147] $ pwd
/Applications/calibre.app/Contents/MacOS
<mouse.batie.org> [148] $ lf -l
total 2640
-rwxr-xr-x@ 1 alan admin 135008 May 23 19:04 calibre*
-rwxr-xr-x@ 1 alan admin 135136 May 23 19:02 calibre-complete*
-rwxr-xr-x@ 1 alan admin 135136 May 23 19:02 calibre-customize*
-rwxr-xr-x@ 1 alan admin 135120 May 23 19:02 calibre-debug*
-rwxr-xr-x@ 1 alan admin 135008 May 23 19:02 calibre-parallel*
-rwxr-xr-x@ 1 alan admin 135120 May 23 19:02 calibre-server*
-rwxr-xr-x@ 1 alan admin 135120 May 23 19:02 calibre-smtp*
-rwxr-xr-x@ 1 alan admin 135120 May 23 19:02 calibredb*
-rwxr-xr-x@ 1 alan admin 135120 May 23 19:02 ebook-convert*
-rwxr-xr-x@ 1 alan admin 135120 May 23 19:02 ebook-device*
-rwxr-xr-x@ 1 alan admin 134992 May 23 19:02 ebook-edit*
-rwxr-xr-x@ 1 alan admin 135120 May 23 19:02 ebook-meta*
-rwxr-xr-x@ 1 alan admin 135120 May 23 19:02 ebook-polish*
-rwxr-xr-x@ 1 alan admin 134992 May 23 19:02 ebook-viewer*
-rwxr-xr-x@ 1 alan admin 135136 May 23 19:02 fetch-ebook-metadata*
-rwxr-xr-x@ 1 alan admin 135120 May 23 19:02 lrf2lrs*
-rwxr-xr-x@ 1 alan admin 134992 May 23 19:02 lrfviewer*
-rwxr-xr-x@ 1 alan admin 135120 May 23 19:02 lrs2lrf*
-rwxr-xr-x@ 1 alan admin 135136 May 23 19:02 markdown-calibre*
-rwxr-xr-x@ 1 alan admin 135120 May 23 19:02 web2disk*

[kovidgoyal]

You did a rename/copy of what?

[abatie]

The full text database (full-text-search.db)

[kovidgoyal]

You got a file locked error and copying a file fixed it? That doesnt seem possible. Post the actual error.

[abatie]

I got the error adding some books to the library also, though it eventually worked:

calibre, version 7.11.0
WARNING: Errors while adding: There were problems adding some files, click "Show details" for more information


----------------------------------------------------------------------
Failed to add the file /var/folders/_9/xl3hkrrn571bgtqbcgvjg95m0000gn/C/calibre_7.11.0_tmp_d32lzlb6/g2u722ru_add_books/1/Ames-WLS2-Wolves_Always_Bite.azw3 to the book: Wolves Always Bite (Willow Lake Supernaturals Book 2)
With error:
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "calibre/gui2/add.py", line 492, in add_formats
File "calibre/db/cache.py", line 1985, in add_format
File "calibre/db/tables.py", line 685, in update_fmt
File "calibre/db/backend.py", line 1147, in execute
File "src/cursor.c", line 240, in resetcursor
apsw.BusyError: BusyError: database is locked


----------------------------------------------------------------------
Failed to add the file /var/folders/_9/xl3hkrrn571bgtqbcgvjg95m0000gn/C/calibre_7.11.0_tmp_d32lzlb6/g2u722ru_add_books/2/Ames-WLS1-Hellhounds_Never_Lie.azw3 to the book: Hellhounds Never Lie (Willow Lake Supernaturals Book 1)
With error:
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "calibre/gui2/add.py", line 492, in add_formats
File "calibre/db/cache.py", line 1985, in add_format
File "calibre/db/tables.py", line 685, in update_fmt
File "calibre/db/backend.py", line 1147, in execute
File "src/cursor.c", line 240, in resetcursor
apsw.BusyError: BusyError: database is locked


----------------------------------------------------------------------
Failed to add the file /var/folders/_9/xl3hkrrn571bgtqbcgvjg95m0000gn/C/calibre_7.11.0_tmp_d32lzlb6/g2u722ru_add_books/0/Ames-WLS3-Oracles_Always_Win.azw3 to the book: Oracles Always Win (Willow Lake Supernaturals Book 3)
With error:
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "calibre/gui2/add.py", line 492, in add_formats
File "calibre/db/cache.py", line 1985, in add_format
File "calibre/db/tables.py", line 685, in update_fmt
File "calibre/db/backend.py", line 1147, in execute
File "src/cursor.c", line 240, in resetcursor
apsw.BusyError: BusyError: database is locked

[kovidgoyal]

These are errors from sqlite. Make sure your calibre library is on an actual locally attached disk with a native filesystem that isnt being simultaneously modified by any other software such as dropbox or similar.