Calibre
This guide covers what's specific to connecting Panels to a Calibre instance. For the parts common to every server — where the OPDS option lives, and how to use the server once it's added — see connecting a server.
Connecting to OPDS servers like Calibre is part of Panels Premium.
Setting up Calibre
1. Start the content server
Launch the Calibre desktop app, click Connect/share in the top toolbar, and choose Start Content Server.
Calibre then runs a web server locally, usually at http://127.0.0.1:8080. For devices on the same network, use your machine's local IP instead, for example http://192.168.1.137:8080.
2. Check the OPDS feed
The OPDS feed is enabled automatically whenever the content server is running, at:
http://<your-ip>:8080/opds
For example: http://192.168.1.137:8080/opds
Open that in a browser to confirm it's working — you should see something like this:
3. Set a username and password
Recommended in general, and essential if you ever expose the server beyond your local network.
Go to Preferences → Sharing over the net, check Require username and password, and set your credentials.
Connection details
In Panels, go to Library → Connect Service → OPDS and enter your server details and credentials.
Reaching Calibre from outside your network
To access your Calibre server away from home you'll need to:
- Set up port forwarding on your router (forward port 8080)
- Use dynamic DNS or a static IP
- Make sure authentication is enabled
Be cautious about exposing Calibre directly to the internet. Use strong passwords, and prefer a VPN or a reverse proxy with HTTPS over opening a port.
→ Expose your server (HTTPS with Caddy)
Next steps
Your Calibre server now appears both as a library and as an import service.