Bridge 2024. Mac Home-based network for file sharing with Bridge.

[KirkLC]

Setting up a home network for file and media sharing using a 2014 MacMini as the 'server' with 500GB NVMe, 1TB SATA storage, and various external storage drives.

Connected computers will be a 2019 iMac27, another 2014 MacMini and a late 2014 MacBook Pro. Everything will be running the latest version of Ventura, except the MBPro that can't natively go beyond BigSur.

Will Bridge function as a shared application, and are there any things I need to be aware of, please? I've noted the comments elsewhere about enabling the Files and Folders and the Full Disk Access settings under Privacy and Security.

Currently having no problems using Bridge 2024 connected to my iMac for my DAM (nearly all photography), and I use non-Adobe applications for my processing (e.g. Affinity, DxO and Topaz).

[gary_sc]

Very simple answer: No. 

Bridge was designed from the very beginning to be an internal hard drive or plug-in hard drive application. Do to what you want would require a whole new rewrite of the application and not only would it no longer be free, it would be very expensive. 

If you want a server-based application like bridge, you'll have to pay for one. I'm sorry, but I've never worked at a place that had one so I cannot recommend something I've never had contact or experience with.

Let me add that these things are not easy, ergo which is why they are expensive and difficult to manage. Adobe did have something like this  many years ago but gave up on it. (Sorry, the name is not at my fingertips now.)

[KirkLC]

Ok - all noted with appreciation, Gary

[gary_sc]

let me add that there is ONE way to make this work, but it's a bit of a PITA and easy to make things worse. You could have a single "server" that people can connect to. Think of DropBox. However, to make this work, each user has to place the file on the "server" onto their computer. From there they can do anything they want/need with the file and upload that back to the "server. In other words, as long as all work is done ON THE "SERVER," this will work fine.

Where it fails (big time) is when they forget to replace the file on the "server" and everyone else is working with the old version. OR, #2: you pull a file out start working on it while someone else pulls the same file out. Both of you replace the file and some auto-correction of the file's name occures, but others do not both trying to figure out why there is "my file.jp," "my file-2.jpg," and "my file-3.jpg."

You see the problems and issues. These all can be settled by a very organized and diciplined group. Remember, all it takes is one person to make everyone else's life miserable. And, if you have one person with a beef with the company…

[KirkLC]

Thanks again, all understood - this is a home network, rather than a company and I would be the primary user.

I'll be starting from scratch so there's scope to do some sandboxing before committing to anything or disrupting the existing arrangement.

The intended outome, which is ancilliary to being able to run media around the property, is to allow me to sort and get away from my editing workstation to review the digital versions of images from my previous photographic careers that I am converting now that I free from the need to earn an income.

Thanks again.

[gary_sc]

Ha! As I was reading your last statement, I thought "Hmm, this guy just retired!"

I retired nine years ago and at this moment I'm in Glasgow, my normal roof is in Southern California. Welcome to every night is Friday night and every day is Saturday. 

As far as your system goes, with one person, what I wrote "might" work well. What I STRONGLY suggest is that you set it up in a limited fashion and test each part of that system with a few duplicate files (saving the originals to make sure they are not lost). If one test fails, that only means that that one test failed. If that test is not critical to your needs, move on. If it's a critical step/process, do you really need it, and are there other ways to get the job done.

The big thing is to be methodical. 

When traveling, like I am now, I take photos all day. At night I transfer them to my wife's laptop and start to process them in LRC. When my brain is sufficiently fried, I quit LRC, backing up the catalog each night. I then copy all new data and files to an external drive. (I use Mac's Chronosync for this). Once this is complete, I then can erase the camera card, but not until I have two copies of the images and the catalog. 

Once home, I open the catalog on the external drive. The images cannot be found of course since the catalog thinks they are on the laptop. I point the catalog to where the images are (right next to the catalog) and all is well. Then, from my master catalog on my desktop Mac, I injest the new trip catalog into my main catalog and I'm done. 

Hope this gives you room for thought.

[KirkLC]

Thanks and enjoy your vacation in Scotland!