Colin Mcnaught

Q: Photos will not open my library file on server

My System Photo Library resides on a Mac Mini server "mini" it's about 48GB. No problem to use "mini" to open the library and use it. I have a MBPro laptop "laptop" which uses "mini" as the main source for many files, e.g. Lightroom raw photos, etc..... I have a new problem that when I start Photos on "laptop" it will not open the Photos library on "mini". I get the message "The library could not be opened. Photos has attempted to repair the library “filename” but is unable to open it.". Previously this was not a problem, I was able to open, import, edit the library file on "mini". No problem seeing the library file through "laptop". No problem opening all other files on "mini" from Laptop (e.g. Quickbooks can open it's main file on "mini". Previously I have had a 'locked' message when (by mistake) I had the library open with Photos running on "mini". As soon as I quit Photos on "mini" Photos on "laptop" would be able to open the library file. Not any more.

Photos on "laptop" will open a local 'test' library with a few photos in it. I have run permissions repair on "mini"

What to do?

Posted on Sep 18, 2015 5:27 AM

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Q: Photos will not open my library file on server

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  • by lescornwell,Helpful

    lescornwell lescornwell Sep 18, 2015 6:35 AM in response to Colin Mcnaught
    Level 3 (502 points)
    Photos for Mac
    Sep 18, 2015 6:35 AM in response to Colin Mcnaught

    How is the "server" connected (must be wired, no network drive, NAS, etc.)?

    How is the "server" formatted (must be MacOS Extended (journaled))?

    Has the "server" been set to "Ignore Ownership"?

     

    Screen Shot 2015-09-18 at 14.34.50.jpg

  • by Colin Mcnaught,

    Colin Mcnaught Colin Mcnaught Sep 18, 2015 5:37 AM in response to lescornwell
    Level 2 (200 points)
    Sep 18, 2015 5:37 AM in response to lescornwell

    Hi, thanks for replying. The server is running the latest OS X Server 4.1.5 on a MacOS Extended journaled SSD. It's ethernet connected to a CradlePoint router.

    However the laptop is (currently) WiFi connected to the CradlePoint router.

  • by lescornwell,Helpful

    lescornwell lescornwell Sep 18, 2015 6:35 AM in response to Colin Mcnaught
    Level 3 (502 points)
    Photos for Mac
    Sep 18, 2015 6:35 AM in response to Colin Mcnaught

    For the Photos Library to function correctly, it should be on an external drive wired to the Mac (besides the other provisions I mentioned above).

  • by Colin Mcnaught,Solvedanswer

    Colin Mcnaught Colin Mcnaught Sep 18, 2015 6:35 AM in response to lescornwell
    Level 2 (200 points)
    Sep 18, 2015 6:35 AM in response to lescornwell

    Thanks again for looking at this. I have done more investigation including trying ethernet vs wifi for the laptop connection, no difference. I've narrowed the problem down to the point where I have a workable solution.

    It turns out that Photos seems to be more restrictive about the 'System Library' versus other libraries. I opened Photos on "mini", created a new test library with one photo, closed Photos. I could then open this library with Photos on "laptop" on the shared volume over the network. I then opened Photos on "mini" and made the new test library the "System Library", closed Photos. Photos could than open the main library on "mini" with no problem (it was no longer the "System Library"). However it could not open the test library ("it was now mini's "System Library"). So I have a workable solution, not to make the main photos library on "mini" the "System Library" for the period it is available for use by other systems on the network. It looks as if the "System Library" for a particular computer is only available to be opened by the computer on a local drive, not via a shared volume. The error message could be a lot better, Apple.

    Can someone tell me what features I lose when not designating the library a "System Library"?

    C

  • by LarryHN,

    LarryHN LarryHN Sep 18, 2015 9:02 AM in response to Colin Mcnaught
    Level 10 (84,617 points)
    Photos for Mac
    Sep 18, 2015 9:02 AM in response to Colin Mcnaught
    Can someone tell me what features I lose when not designating the library a "System Library"?

    Ability to use iCloud Photos Library, access to photos from other software including screensaver, etc - basically all integration features

    Designate a System Photo Library in Photos - Apple Support

     

    and if the Photos library is not on a locally connected system with a wired fast connection like USB, FireWire or Thunderbolt and is not a volume formatted Mac OS extended (journaled) that tis not being uses for a TimeMachine backup you will have continuing problems

     

    Photos is not designed nor intended to be a networked application nor a multiuser program

     

    You either need to change your requirements or use different software - Photos is not the program for what you want

     

    LN

  • by Colin Mcnaught,

    Colin Mcnaught Colin Mcnaught Sep 18, 2015 6:59 PM in response to LarryHN
    Level 2 (200 points)
    Sep 18, 2015 6:59 PM in response to LarryHN

    Hi Larry,

    I guess you didn't read the thread very deeply.

     

    I'm not having continuing problems, I have discovered a limitation and can work with it (Photos System Library must be on local drive)

    I'm not trying to use Photos as a multi-user system, just using the multiple library feature. I don't define a network application one that can access mounted shared volumes shared by OS X Server, many programs do, e.g. iTunes, Quickbooks, Photoshop, Dreamweaver, iPhoto.

    Many photographers have a laptop to travel with and a more powerful desktop computer for image processing. Lightroom has limitations, too, the catalog file must be on the computer running Lightroom.

     

    Photos is designed to work with multiple libraries. I see no reason why a user could not use his desktop/server Photos app with a local photos library and his Laptop Photos app (when not in use by the desktop) with the same library mounted as a shared volume. This would seem like a very reasonable use case. The restriction of not being a photos system library is of no consequence to me as I don't intend to use those features (thanks for the link).

     

    Photos seems to support my requirements just fine, thanks.

    C