Multiple computers one db?

giddion · 02-10-2009, 09:13 PM

Is anyone using Calibre on a share and accessing the same files with multiple computers?

I tried using the built in webserver and I get the main screen menu of the website with a popup that says:

Code:

Error : error
undefined

In my home I have 5 PC desktops and 2 Macbook Pro laptops. I have the Calibre files and database on my main PC with those folders shared. On my Mac I mounted the SMB shares and attempted to point Calibre at that mount/directory when I do that I get a racetrack IO error.

On my files I have a lot where the meta data needs to be updated and it would just be more comfortable to do it from my laptop. But file space wise I want to keep the files and DB on the big PC.

giddion · 02-10-2009, 10:14 PM

Cleared up the webs erver issue, figured out that a number of the books I had imported with author blank. I set all those to unknown as a quick fix and the web server is working.

shighfield · 02-11-2009, 11:37 AM

I store the calibre database on dropbox. Then no matter what computer I'm on I have access to my full library. I haven't installed the windows version, but on the three mac's in the house it does work.

giddion · 02-11-2009, 10:47 PM

Ok so I've been able to open the database/library from another PC but I still can't open the same db/library from the any of the Macs. I'm guessing there is a DB format difference between the 2 somehow.

I still have a question though, will I have a database corruption issue if I have the web server component running on one pc and I'm editing meta data and removing books from a different one?

kovidgoyal · 02-11-2009, 10:55 PM

I have never tested concurrent access to the calibre db so backup frequently, but in principle it should work fine.

giddion · 02-11-2009, 10:57 PM

Thanks, should I just be backing up the .db file or the whole library?

kovidgoyal · 02-11-2009, 10:58 PM

the whole library

giddion · 02-12-2009, 09:57 PM

after backup I started webserver on computer where db was local, then open Calibre on the other computer and got an error can't open db in use by another process.

kovidgoyal · 02-13-2009, 02:04 AM

Strange I can run two processes on the same db om my computer. What network filesystem are you using to share the db?

giddion · 02-13-2009, 12:58 PM

This is the complete error:

database is locked RemoteTraceback (most recent call last): File "calibre\library\sqlite.pyo", line 80, in run File "calibre\library\sqlite.pyo", line 40, in get OperationalError: database is locked
Detailed traceback:
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "calibre\gui2\tags.pyo", line 44, in recount
File "calibre\gui2\tags.pyo", line 73, in refresh
File "calibre\library\database2.pyo", line 805, in get_categories
File "calibre\library\database2.pyo", line 785, in get
File "calibre\library\sqlite.pyo", line 107, in run
DatabaseException: database is locked
RemoteTraceback (most recent call last):
File "calibre\library\sqlite.pyo", line 80, in run
File "calibre\library\sqlite.pyo", line 40, in get
OperationalError: database is locked

itimpi · 02-13-2009, 01:51 PM

I have seen that error occasionally even with just one copy of Calibre accessing the database. Normally I just click OK and carry on. Whether it is more significant or more frequent with 2 copies of calibre accessing the database I have no idea.

giddion · 02-13-2009, 01:55 PM

In this case if you click ok and try to open, edit, save meta data you still get the error. Only way to clear it was to completely exit Calibre on both systems and restart on one.

I'm going to look at the Calibre2Web script as an alternative I think.

kovidgoyal · 02-13-2009, 01:57 PM

Hmm well not much I can suggest for that. Sorry.

SunethCF · 05-11-2011, 09:39 PM

I am using Calibre on a network share and accessing it using 2 PCs at the same time. Seems to be working fine for me (Didn't test much though).

I can see that Kovid has answered this in 2009.

But has Calibre been improved in this area and more importantly is this advisable?

Thanks,
Suneth

theducks · 05-11-2011, 11:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SunethCF

I am using Calibre on a network share and accessing it using 2 PCs at the same time. Seems to be working fine for me (Didn't test much though).

I can see that Kovid has answered this in 2009.

But has Calibre been improved in this area and more importantly is this advisable?

Thanks,
Suneth

Warning:
1: 1 PC connected at a time. There are no protections against multiple accesses making mush out of your DB or Library.

2: Multiple Operating systems (Win/Linux/MAC) can cause things to go bump in the night

If you just need access to the books, Run the Content server on the PC that MANAGES the books and Metadata and access the books from 1 or more PC's (Same LAN, needs no other configuration) using a standard browser.

02-10-2009, 09:13 PM	#1
giddion Connoisseur Posts: 73 Karma: 186 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: CT, USA Device: samsung i910 now - cybook later	Multiple computers one db? Is anyone using Calibre on a share and accessing the same files with multiple computers? I tried using the built in webserver and I get the main screen menu of the website with a popup that says: Code: Error : error undefined In my home I have 5 PC desktops and 2 Macbook Pro laptops. I have the Calibre files and database on my main PC with those folders shared. On my Mac I mounted the SMB shares and attempted to point Calibre at that mount/directory when I do that I get a racetrack IO error. On my files I have a lot where the meta data needs to be updated and it would just be more comfortable to do it from my laptop. But file space wise I want to keep the files and DB on the big PC. Last edited by giddion; 02-10-2009 at 09:50 PM.

05-11-2011, 09:39 PM	#14
SunethCF Junior Member Posts: 1 Karma: 10 Join Date: Dec 2010 Device: none	Is this working now? I am using Calibre on a network share and accessing it using 2 PCs at the same time. Seems to be working fine for me (Didn't test much though). I can see that Kovid has answered this in 2009. But has Calibre been improved in this area and more importantly is this advisable? Thanks, Suneth

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02-10-2009, 10:14 PM	#2
giddion Connoisseur Posts: 73 Karma: 186 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: CT, USA Device: samsung i910 now - cybook later	Cleared up the webs erver issue, figured out that a number of the books I had imported with author blank. I set all those to unknown as a quick fix and the web server is working.

02-11-2009, 11:37 AM	#3
shighfield Groupie!? GROUPIE!?!? Posts: 319 Karma: 649 Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: The Dirty Shwa Device: EBW 1150, Libra Color	I store the calibre database on dropbox. Then no matter what computer I'm on I have access to my full library. I haven't installed the windows version, but on the three mac's in the house it does work.

02-11-2009, 10:47 PM	#4
giddion Connoisseur Posts: 73 Karma: 186 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: CT, USA Device: samsung i910 now - cybook later	Ok so I've been able to open the database/library from another PC but I still can't open the same db/library from the any of the Macs. I'm guessing there is a DB format difference between the 2 somehow. I still have a question though, will I have a database corruption issue if I have the web server component running on one pc and I'm editing meta data and removing books from a different one?

02-11-2009, 10:55 PM	#5
kovidgoyal creator of calibre Posts: 44,553 Karma: 24495948 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	I have never tested concurrent access to the calibre db so backup frequently, but in principle it should work fine.

02-11-2009, 10:57 PM	#6
giddion Connoisseur Posts: 73 Karma: 186 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: CT, USA Device: samsung i910 now - cybook later	Thanks, should I just be backing up the .db file or the whole library?

02-11-2009, 10:58 PM	#7
kovidgoyal creator of calibre Posts: 44,553 Karma: 24495948 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	the whole library

02-12-2009, 09:57 PM	#8
giddion Connoisseur Posts: 73 Karma: 186 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: CT, USA Device: samsung i910 now - cybook later	after backup I started webserver on computer where db was local, then open Calibre on the other computer and got an error can't open db in use by another process.

02-13-2009, 02:04 AM	#9
kovidgoyal creator of calibre Posts: 44,553 Karma: 24495948 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	Strange I can run two processes on the same db om my computer. What network filesystem are you using to share the db?

02-13-2009, 12:58 PM	#10
giddion Connoisseur Posts: 73 Karma: 186 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: CT, USA Device: samsung i910 now - cybook later	This is the complete error: database is locked RemoteTraceback (most recent call last): File "calibre\library\sqlite.pyo", line 80, in run File "calibre\library\sqlite.pyo", line 40, in get OperationalError: database is locked Detailed traceback: Traceback (most recent call last): File "calibre\gui2\tags.pyo", line 44, in recount File "calibre\gui2\tags.pyo", line 73, in refresh File "calibre\library\database2.pyo", line 805, in get_categories File "calibre\library\database2.pyo", line 785, in get File "calibre\library\sqlite.pyo", line 107, in run DatabaseException: database is locked RemoteTraceback (most recent call last): File "calibre\library\sqlite.pyo", line 80, in run File "calibre\library\sqlite.pyo", line 40, in get OperationalError: database is locked

02-13-2009, 01:51 PM	#11
itimpi Wizard Posts: 4,553 Karma: 950151 Join Date: Nov 2008 Device: Sony PRS-950, iphone/ipad (Marvin/iBooks/QuickReader)	I have seen that error occasionally even with just one copy of Calibre accessing the database. Normally I just click OK and carry on. Whether it is more significant or more frequent with 2 copies of calibre accessing the database I have no idea.

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02-13-2009, 01:55 PM	#12
giddion Connoisseur Posts: 73 Karma: 186 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: CT, USA Device: samsung i910 now - cybook later	In this case if you click ok and try to open, edit, save meta data you still get the error. Only way to clear it was to completely exit Calibre on both systems and restart on one. I'm going to look at the Calibre2Web script as an alternative I think.

02-13-2009, 01:57 PM	#13
kovidgoyal creator of calibre Posts: 44,553 Karma: 24495948 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	Hmm well not much I can suggest for that. Sorry.