Lightroom synchronized on different Windows XP machines (maybe Mac OS X too)
dandill
Registered Users Posts: 102 Major grins
A cornerstone of how I use computers is to have duplicate, synchronized machines in different locations, as a precaution against problems with one machine through off-site, hot-spare redundancy.
Here are details of how I have been able to incorporate Lightroom in this approach, that is, to have the same Lightroom working environment on different Windows XP machines.
<http://quantum.bu.edu/blog/2007/02/adobe-lightroom-synchronized-on.html>
In this way I am able me to work with files on one machine, synchronize images and Lightroom settings onto a second machine, and then continue working on the second machine where I left off on the first machine.
Perhaps the same approach can be adapted to Mac OS X.
I surely hope this is helpful, and I'd be grateful for any suggestions for improvements or cautions/gotchas.
Here are details of how I have been able to incorporate Lightroom in this approach, that is, to have the same Lightroom working environment on different Windows XP machines.
<http://quantum.bu.edu/blog/2007/02/adobe-lightroom-synchronized-on.html>
In this way I am able me to work with files on one machine, synchronize images and Lightroom settings onto a second machine, and then continue working on the second machine where I left off on the first machine.
Perhaps the same approach can be adapted to Mac OS X.
I surely hope this is helpful, and I'd be grateful for any suggestions for improvements or cautions/gotchas.
Dan Dill
"It is a magical time. I am reluctant to leave. Yet the shooting becomes more difficult, the path back grows black as it is without this last light. I don't do it anymore unless my husband is with me, as I am still afraid of the dark, smile.
This was truly last light, my legs were tired, my husband could no longer read and was anxious to leave, but the magic and I, we lingered........"
Ginger Jones
"It is a magical time. I am reluctant to leave. Yet the shooting becomes more difficult, the path back grows black as it is without this last light. I don't do it anymore unless my husband is with me, as I am still afraid of the dark, smile.
This was truly last light, my legs were tired, my husband could no longer read and was anxious to leave, but the magic and I, we lingered........"
Ginger Jones
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Pleaee let me know if I have misunderstood, or if I can be more specific.
Thanks
Dan
"It is a magical time. I am reluctant to leave. Yet the shooting becomes more difficult, the path back grows black as it is without this last light. I don't do it anymore unless my husband is with me, as I am still afraid of the dark, smile.
This was truly last light, my legs were tired, my husband could no longer read and was anxious to leave, but the magic and I, we lingered........"
Ginger Jones
My first thought is, why not keep your LR library on the external HDD? However, there are a few obvious problems with this approach if you ever plan on having multiple HDDs of images.
How would you handle multiple HDDs with your current setup? Would you have another Desktop shortbut, 'Images2', on each computer?
How are you connecting your ext HDDs? USB2, FW400, FW800? FW800 will give the fastest access to your images. One method I've been tossing around in my head is an NAS solution with a Gigabit Ethernet connection. However, this will also require me to get a new router that supports Gigabit Ethernet and 802.11n. Have you considered this solution?
And, finally I'm wondering what the tech savvy pros use? I've been tempted to pick up Michael Clark's workflow book (PDF) to see his setup. I just don't want to plunk down the money to find out it's not what I'm looking for. Alright, that should keep you busy for a couple minutes.
- Workstation: Images and LR database on an internal drive, Desktop shortcut ->
\Photos\.
- Laptop location 1: Images and LR database on an external drive connected by a USB 2 hub, Desktop shortcut -> Y:\Photos\
- Laptop location 2: Images and LR database on an external drive connected by a USB 2 hub, Desktop shortcut -> Z:\Photos\
The external drives have 16 MB caches and I think this accounts for their good responsiveness.For now, a single 500 GB external disk accomodates my image files with vast room to spare.
I am sure Adobe will update Lightrooms synchronization capabilities soon, well before my own need to multiple drives.
Following Peter Krogh's advice from his The DAM Book, I recommend buying the system you need today, rather than what you think you'll need in future. That way, when you have outgrow things, you can take advanatage of the latest technology at each upgrade.
I hope this is helpful.
"It is a magical time. I am reluctant to leave. Yet the shooting becomes more difficult, the path back grows black as it is without this last light. I don't do it anymore unless my husband is with me, as I am still afraid of the dark, smile.
This was truly last light, my legs were tired, my husband could no longer read and was anxious to leave, but the magic and I, we lingered........"
Ginger Jones
As for the synchronization issue. That applies more to bringing field work home. Say you have a week vacation or assignment and you don't want to lug around a 500GB HDD. You bring you're lighter laptop and a smaller HDD and import the files into Lightroom at the end of each day, making selections and edits as you go. Then you get home and want to import your photos into your main image library. Currently there's no easy way of doing this. That's were I was going with that. Enough people with Adobe's ear have been pushing this issue that I think it'll get solved in fairly short order.
As for your setup, is each HDD a copy of the other? If so, then that's a pretty slick setup. It means an NAS isn't necessary. Do you just sync your HDDs and LR library across your network after edits?
PS - I just ordered two 500GB HDDs w/ 16MB cache, FW800, 7200rpm, earlier this week. I'm eager to put them to use.
That is my reading too.
I maintain identical, synchronized contents on disks in three different physical locations, as backup and precaution against disaster. Two of the locations are synchronized daily, but the third less often (as it is offline and far away from the other two). I use portable disks to do the synchronization, with Second Copy 7 (there are other products that have similar synchronization capabilities). This means the portable disks amount to a fourth backup.
I do think the 16 MB cache makes a difference.
"It is a magical time. I am reluctant to leave. Yet the shooting becomes more difficult, the path back grows black as it is without this last light. I don't do it anymore unless my husband is with me, as I am still afraid of the dark, smile.
This was truly last light, my legs were tired, my husband could no longer read and was anxious to leave, but the magic and I, we lingered........"
Ginger Jones
You know, I really should do this. I have a backup of all my data, but everything is in my house. I think I'm going to start archiving things off and storing them at the neighbors' house or a relative's house.
"It is a magical time. I am reluctant to leave. Yet the shooting becomes more difficult, the path back grows black as it is without this last light. I don't do it anymore unless my husband is with me, as I am still afraid of the dark, smile.
This was truly last light, my legs were tired, my husband could no longer read and was anxious to leave, but the magic and I, we lingered........"
Ginger Jones