'Custom data directory' on network location not supported under Ubuntu

jean.seurin
I can't find any information about it on the forum or GFoogle, and I can't get this to work on a newly installed Ubuntu machine.

All the machine we use (Windows, OS X) can access or Zotero database through a network location but I can't find a way to enable it on Ubuntu.

Is it a known problem on Linux distrib or is it specific to Ubuntu?
  • adamsmith
    I can't speak to the linux issue - if you provide more specific error messages/problems we can probably say more - but running a Zotero database on a network folder is a recipe for disaster. Best case you'll lose data, because it's not getting saved properly, worst case you'll irretrievably damager your database. We really can't warn strongly enough against doing this.
  • jean.seurin
    edited October 8, 2013
    We've been using the database on a network share for years, without problem, mostly with Windows clients.

    I don't see why Zotero should lose data, as long as it's a proper location and the client treat it as a path, saving occur in a normal way.
    Besides this is still the only way to go, that I know of, if you have multiple computers on the same subnet needing to access the Zotero db.

    The problem with Ubuntu (latest with latest Zotero plugin on Firefox or Standalone version) is simply that you cannot select a network shar when you open preference to specify a "Custom data directory", it won't let you do it.
  • aurimas
    Besides this is still the only way to go, that I know of, if you have multiple computers on the same subnet needing to access the Zotero db.
    You're not trying to access the same database at the same time from differnt computers, are you?
    The problem with Ubuntu (latest with latest Zotero plugin on Firefox or Standalone version) is simply that you cannot select a network shar when you open preference to specify a "Custom data directory", it won't let you do it
    Why don't you just mount the network share on some local path?
  • jean.seurin
    Zotero won't let you opn a dabase that is already open. So safe on this side.

    The shares are obvioulsy mounted on some local path.
    On ubuntu, as uch as i understand, you can access it on /run/usr/<user>/gvfs.

    But when you go into it from "Custom data directory"it'll never be able to list the remote directories.
  • aurimas
    edited October 9, 2013
    The Windows/Samba share only gets mounted at /run/user/some_user/gvfs/... when you navigate to it in Nautilus. My comment above was a suggestion to mount the remote share on boot and have it always be available.

    In either case (mounted via nautilus or permanent mount), this seems to be working ok on my end. Can you verify via Nautilus or terminal that you can see whatever directory you're looking for there?
  • dstillman
    I don't see why Zotero should lose data, as long as it's a proper location and the client treat it as a path, saving occur in a normal way.
    It's not just a "path". Network shares have to mimic the behaviors of local drives — e.g., file opening and locking behaviors — and they don't always do so reliably. So while using a network share may work, there's no guarantee, and we can't help you if you run into trouble.
    Zotero won't let you opn a dabase that is already open. So safe on this side.
    This, for example, is not always guaranteed on network shares. You really don't want to be using a network share to allow multiple people to access the same Zotero database.
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