How to move iPhoto library to NAS

Well, after a lot of trial and error, I seem to have iPhoto 11 working with my Synology NAS (DS411j)!

I tried everything with iPhoto 9 but the thumbnails weren't working. So I purchased iPhoto 11 on the app store and installed it. It spent the whole night converting the library and this morning is seems to be working. I can see all the thumbnails, slideshows work and i can open the images. Going to continue the testing but it seems positive.

Hi Elbows,

Looks like you did exactely what I want to do and as it seems to work I'd be very interested if you could let us know how you did it in details ? (I just got a DS211J)

Thanks in advance,

Cheers,

Jean

Hi Jean,

Not sure there is much more I can add unfortunately.

I was having trouble using iPhoto 09 with the NAS, the thumbnails weren't appearing. I had transferred the library to the NAS (just copied it into the Photos folder) and then option clicked on iPhoto (as described in a previou post). Then selected the new library on the NAS.

So I downloaded and installed iPhoto 11. As soon as I opened it, it started converting my library (I had backed it up). It took a long time but once it was finished everything was working. I have now had it running for a few months. There are about 9,000 photos on there.

Evereything seems to work well, I can add photos from my Canon 60D, add faces, upload to Facebook etc, with no problems. Sometimes it is a little slow but I think that might be my Mac as it's always been that way. I have a few issues with iPhoto hiding all the images etc. in it's own special file structure but that is another story.

I hope that is of some help?

Hi Elbows,

Very helpfull indeed. Can you also confirm the process you used to migrate your library ?

Did you create a disk Image and copied it on your NAS or did it work straight away ?

You mention above you did copy the library into the photo folder, is it a photo folder you created on your DS411J ?

Sorry to be pain

Thanks a lot !!

I literally copied the iPhoto library to the Photo directory (on the NAS) that is created when you swtich on media sharing. I didn't create a disc image or anything. Really simple.

Now with iPhoto11 the iPhoto package (that you option click on to see package contents) is on the NAS. Not sure if that is the same as the application iteself. Havent' checked and not at my machine at the moment.

As long as you back stuff up first then just try trial and error, that's what I did.

No probs 🙂 Good luck!

Hi Elbows,

I just wanted to let you know that I managed to make it work also... finally.... I firstly divided my library into smaller ones with IphotoLibrary Manager (that I recommend) and then copied them on the NAS. Works fine now, only bloddy faces slowing everything down. All my libraries are now shared accross my network !

Cheers!

Hi there Elbows and Jeannot65,

Is still everything fine with your respective iPhoto Libraries? I've read mixed reports from people stating different things and your case interests me since you have successfully migrated yours.

http://www.maclife.com/article/howtos/how_share_your_iphoto_library_networked_st orage

Thanks

Hi Marc,

Following Elbows good advices, I managed to make it work as previousely advised. I have now 6 different librairies stored on my NAS and shared between 2 Mac (1 Imac and 1 MacBook). It has been working well for over 6 month now and I have no problem whatsoever to report.

Hope this helps,

Cheers !

Hi Marc,

No I haven't had any problems at all. In fact my iMac died (don't get me started!) and so I am now on a MacMini. Having my iPhoto and iTunes on my NAS saved the day as I was able to simply boot the new Mac and point it at the libraries, all worked no problem. Meanwhile the iMac is totally dead.

My only slight issue is the speed. Can be a little slow compared to an internal library but I find it useable.

Glad to hear people are having success.

Hi there Elbows, thanks for that.

May I ask how you connect your NAS and the Mac Mini? I take it we are talking of a wired network, right? Could you list your networking devices?

Thanks

Hi again Elbows,

As far as I know, Synology NAS devices run linux Ext4 Filesystems. I would appreciate it if you could briefly describe the migration process (if you still remember how you performed it).

It scares me to end up with a corrupted iPhoto Library (I could get killed by my WAF!).

I need this information because I do not own a Synology NAS but a QNAP TS-239 Pro.

Thanks in advance,

Hi Marc,

Sorry for the delay!

Yes i have a wired network (couple of cheap Gigabit hubs) with an airport extreme base station for wireless clients. NAS and MacMini plug into hub/switch.

To be honest I don't remember exactly what I did. Whatever you do, just back up your iPhoto Library first if you are really nervous, I backup my NAS to an external drive anyway. Always BACKUP 🙂

I think it was as simple as copying the iPhoto Library over to the NAS in the Photos share and then Alt or Option clicking iPhoto so you can choose your library, before selecting the library on the NAS. Have you got time machine so you can go back if it all goes wrong?

Let me know if you get stuck and I will try and help.

Sorry that isnt much help, good luck!