Vestan Pance
Level 2 (220 points)

Q: Can multiple users share Aperture Library over network

I'm considering moving over to Aperture because iPhoto is starting to show the strain under the number of RAW pictures I'm uploading. My current iPhoto library is stored on my NAS and is shared between my RMBP and MacMini. If I make the transition over to Aperture will I be able to have the same set-up?

 

Thanks

VP

MacBook Pro with Retina display, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.2)

Posted on Dec 2, 2012 5:05 AM

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Vestan Pance

Q: Can multiple users share Aperture Library over network

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  • by Terence Devlin,

    Terence Devlin Terence Devlin Dec 2, 2012 5:35 AM in response to Vestan Pance
    Level 10 (139,597 points)
    iLife
    Dec 2, 2012 5:35 AM in response to Vestan Pance

    Well this will account for the strain:

     

    My current iPhoto library is stored on my NAS

     

    Aperture and iPhoto both need to have the Library sitting on disk formatted Mac OS Extended (Journaled). Users with the Library sitting on disks otherwise formatted regularly report issues including, but not limited to, importing, saving edits and sharing the photos, performance issues, and general instability.

  • by léonie,Helpful

    léonie léonie Dec 2, 2012 5:48 AM in response to Vestan Pance
    Level 10 (108,884 points)
    iCloud
    Dec 2, 2012 5:48 AM in response to Vestan Pance
    iPhoto is starting to show the strain under the number of RAW pictures I'm uploading.

     

    What do you consider to be a "strain"?

    Poor response time? I suspect, that will be more due to the network access on a NAS than to the library size.

     

    You might try to put your Aperture 3 library on a NAS, but it is not recommended by Apple, see:

    Use locally mounted Mac OS X Extended volumes for your Aperture library

     

    You will have to ensure,

    • that you do not open the Library from both your Macs at the same time,
    • and you will have to ensure, that the library is only on a disk formatted "Mac OS X Extended". SInce your NAS has a different formatting, put the Aperture library onto a disk image on the NAS. You will have to mount this disk image, before you access the library, like recommended here for iPhoto, see: iPhoto: Sharing libraries among multiple users  http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1198

     

    But as I said, if poor performance should be your main reason for switching from iPhoto to Aperture, you will not gain much, if you keep the library on a network attached volume, unless you have a very fast network connection.

    The best performance you get in Aperture with the library on the fasted drive you have. I keep my Aperture library on the internal SSD and the original master image files (the bulk of the data) on a second internal drive.

     

    Regards

    Léonie

  • by William Lloyd,Helpful

    William Lloyd William Lloyd Dec 2, 2012 7:12 AM in response to Vestan Pance
    Level 7 (21,183 points)
    Dec 2, 2012 7:12 AM in response to Vestan Pance

    Aperture will be no faster in this regard.  The NAS will negatively impact performance HUGELY.

  • by Vestan Pance,

    Vestan Pance Vestan Pance Dec 2, 2012 9:55 AM in response to Terence Devlin
    Level 2 (220 points)
    Dec 2, 2012 9:55 AM in response to Terence Devlin

    @Terence Devlin

     

    My NAS is a Drobo, and the file system is Mac OSX Extended (Journald).

  • by Vestan Pance,

    Vestan Pance Vestan Pance Dec 2, 2012 10:02 AM in response to léonie
    Level 2 (220 points)
    Dec 2, 2012 10:02 AM in response to léonie

    @ leonieDF

     

    To be precise, the library resides on a Drobo, and the Drobo is directly attached by FireWire to the MacMini. I remotely control iPhoto on the mini via screenshare on my RMBP or I open the library directly through iPhoto by sharing the Drobo over the network on my RMBP.

     

    I never open the library at the same time on both Macs.

     

    iPhoto has been running real slow on both machines but today I corrected the permissions and it works perfectly on the MacMini although I haven't tried opening it via my RMBP.

     

    I think it isn't best to keep switching between both matchines and I should stick to accessing it through the MacMini only.

     

    Thanks

    VP

  • by Vestan Pance,

    Vestan Pance Vestan Pance Dec 2, 2012 10:04 AM in response to William Lloyd
    Level 2 (220 points)
    Dec 2, 2012 10:04 AM in response to William Lloyd

    Thanks @Willian and the rest of you guys. Looks like iPhoto is ok for now so long as restrict access through my MacMini, so no need to look to upgrade to Aperture just yet.

  • by léonie,

    léonie léonie Dec 2, 2012 10:22 AM in response to Vestan Pance
    Level 10 (108,884 points)
    iCloud
    Dec 2, 2012 10:22 AM in response to Vestan Pance

    iPhoto has been running real slow on both machines but today I corrected the permissions and it works perfectly on the MacMini although I haven't tried opening it via my RMBP.

    How did you repair permissions? If your iPhoto library is slow on a directly connected fire wire drive, repairing the library with the built in first aid tools might help: launch iPhoto with the key combination ⌥⌘ firmly held down and try to repair the database and repair the permissions from the panel that opens.

  • by Vestan Pance,

    Vestan Pance Vestan Pance Dec 2, 2012 10:24 AM in response to léonie
    Level 2 (220 points)
    Dec 2, 2012 10:24 AM in response to léonie

    Yep, that's the way I did it - held down alt and cmd while starting up iPhoto (on my MacMini) and then selecting option 1. Seems to be a lot more response now.