LMAZIERE

Q: Iphoto, Synology, NAS

Hi,

 

I have a mac book pro which run out of storage, mainly due to a high volume of the iPhoto Library. I also have a synology NAS.

What are my solutions to move my iPhoto library to the NAS without loosing access from my other devices (i.e. using my iPhone, or iPad which are also linked to the same iPhoto library).

 

In other words, I would like to create my own iCloud, using my NAS.

 

Regards,

MacBook Pro (Retina, 13-inch, Early 2013), OS X El Capitan (10.11.4)

Posted on Apr 22, 2016 4:04 PM

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Q: Iphoto, Synology, NAS

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  • by LMAZIERE,

    LMAZIERE LMAZIERE Apr 22, 2016 4:13 PM in response to LMAZIERE
    Level 1 (4 points)
    iLife
    Apr 22, 2016 4:13 PM in response to LMAZIERE

    I am actually using Photo, if it makes a change!!

  • by Terence Devlin,Apple recommended

    Terence Devlin Terence Devlin Apr 22, 2016 11:00 PM in response to LMAZIERE
    Level 10 (139,557 points)
    iLife
    Apr 22, 2016 11:00 PM in response to LMAZIERE

    Essentially, a NAS is a headless computer running a version of the Linux operating system. You cannot put a complex array of interlinked files of databases, cache, metadata and data files from one OS and expect it to run normally on another. The file system on the NAS makes it an inappropriate location for a complex ecosystem like an iPhoto Library. Reformatting the NAS will turn it into a paperweight. Finally, these libraries are not designed for networked access. There is no way to do what you want.

     

    If space is an issue then you can move the Library to an external disk, formatted Mac OS Extended (Journaled) and directly connected to the Mac via USB, Firewire, Thunderbolt etc.

  • by LMAZIERE,

    LMAZIERE LMAZIERE Apr 22, 2016 11:29 PM in response to Terence Devlin
    Level 1 (4 points)
    iLife
    Apr 22, 2016 11:29 PM in response to Terence Devlin

    It is hard to understand that there no solution, as at the moment we are all using iCloud which actually store all the data somewhere, where you can have access to it through all your apple devices. There is no solution to store those files on a device at home?

     

    Otherwise, can I put my iPhoto library on an external hard drive, and connect that external hard drive to the NAS?

  • by léonie,Apple recommended

    léonie léonie Apr 22, 2016 11:43 PM in response to LMAZIERE
    Level 10 (107,185 points)
    iCloud
    Apr 22, 2016 11:43 PM in response to LMAZIERE

    The iPhoto library is a single user ibrary.  If more than one system is trying to connect at the same time, you will get errors that the library is in use by another user.  And the internal databases of the iPhoto Library are not safe to be used on a network. It are SQLIte databases that are not synchronizing the access as necessary for a network database.

    Apple says in several document, for example: iPhoto: Issues with FAT32-formatted drives - Apple Support

     

    Additionally, storing the iPhoto library on a network rather than locally on your computer can also lead to poor performance or data loss.


    iPhoto libraries should be stored on a locally mounted Mac OS X Extended drive for best performance.

  • by Terence Devlin,Apple recommended

    Terence Devlin Terence Devlin Apr 23, 2016 12:25 AM in response to LMAZIERE
    Level 10 (139,557 points)
    iLife
    Apr 23, 2016 12:25 AM in response to LMAZIERE
    as at the moment we are all using iCloud which actually store all the data somewhere, where you can have access to it through all your apple devices.

     

     

    Remember how that actually works. The image is on your Hard Drive. You process it, edit it, add metadata to the file on your hard drive. This is then synced to the Cloud and available to other devices. You're not actually editing anything in the Cloud. That would be too slow and too unreliable. So, your data is on your HD, that's where it's stored. Delete it from the HD and it will be deleted from the Cloud.

     

    So, if you want to mimic that in your home it would save no disk space. The library would still be on your HD and synced to the NAS. But that's not what you want to do, is it? You want to edit the Library on the NAS from the Mac. So, you want to put a complex file ecosystem created on a Mac, built on the Mac disk format and move it to another computer with a different OS and a different disk structure and then edit it from the Mac over a network? See how that's not the same thing but also significantly more complex even than iCloud?

     

     

    There is no solution to store those files on a device at home

     

     

    That's exactly what a HD is, but again, that's not what you actually want to do, is it?

     

    Putting the Library on a Drive connected to the NAS means you solve the disk format issue, but not the network one. Further, if it's a wireless network you're dealing with something even more unreliable.

  • by LMAZIERE,

    LMAZIERE LMAZIERE Apr 23, 2016 6:11 PM in response to Terence Devlin
    Level 1 (4 points)
    iLife
    Apr 23, 2016 6:11 PM in response to Terence Devlin

    Thanks all for your replies.

    So basically I cannot do what I wanted if I understand properly.

     

    you said in a previous post, that a NAS was running through Linux, right? If it is the case does iPhoto exist for Linux, where I could download it and install it on the NAS?

  • by LarryHN,

    LarryHN LarryHN Apr 23, 2016 6:30 PM in response to LMAZIERE
    Level 10 (84,752 points)
    Photos for Mac
    Apr 23, 2016 6:30 PM in response to LMAZIERE

    Yes - that is exactly what is being said - you can not do what you want using photos or iPhoto

     

    and not there are no versions or either that run on any thing other than a Mac OS on a Mac

     

    There are other programs that a web search will find and there is a Digital Asset Management (DAM) forum when you can discuss them

     

    LN

  • by LMAZIERE,

    LMAZIERE LMAZIERE Apr 23, 2016 11:05 PM in response to LarryHN
    Level 1 (4 points)
    iLife
    Apr 23, 2016 11:05 PM in response to LarryHN

    Thanks for your replies, I will still look around if any solutions to my problem arise in the future!! Hopefully soon!!! That's ashamed to have a big storage and not being able to use it!

     

    Regards,