ATV2 and NAS - Help!

Works for me!

I use a similar setup for my (gen 1) Apple TV except I'm using an iMac that is physically connected to a gigabit Ethernet network instead of a laptop (that I assume is connecting wirelessly). I have a Thecus NAS that is also on the wired network and that is where my iTunes library is. I created a persistent NFS share from my NAS to the iMac and moved my iTunes folder to it. (You should be able to do this with AFP or SMB also.) I then used a symbolic link (ln -s in the terminal) to make it so my entire iTunes folder points to the iTunes folder on the NAS. This works fine and I can access the library from multiple computers (only one at a time and the permissions are VERY difficult to manage!), but can be a bit slow at times (especially when downloading from the iTunes store) - even on a gigabit LAN.

As long as iTunes is running on the iMac (and it doesn't go to sleep) then the Apple TV works great. You should be able to get similar results, but I would think it might be better for you to link just the Movies folder instead of the entire iTunes Library. This would let you keep music/apps/etc. on the MacBook, but the movies would only be available when you are connected to your network. Otherwise they would show up in iTunes with the little exclamation point icon on them.

I also use a simple shell script that I can run in Terminal to remove the symbolic link and move a local iTunes folder into place so I can have a local iTunes on the machine if I'm doing a lot of changes. If you wanted to keep your whole library on the NAS but a smaller library on the MacBook that might work for you as well, although it involves keeping multiple copies of an iTunes Library in sync without the Home Sharing option.

Overall you should be able to get this to work. You'll just have to judge if the performance over the network meets your needs.

Best of luck!

i use this setup, I keep my music on my macbook and Movies and TV shows on my QNAP NAS.

The best way seem to be copy the files to the NAS, then in the original Itunes folder create an ALIAS that links to the folder on the NAS, i.e the movies folder on the macbook is an alias called movies that links to the movies folder on the NAS where the files are stored..

I think the people posting on the QNAP forum are confused and think you are trying to stream directly from the nas to the atv without itunes. Your setup should work perfectly- its what I do but with a linux blade server as my NAS running a samba server, which just allows iTunes to see your NAS folders.

I'd put your everything on your NAS, leave a copy of your music on your MBP with your iTunes media folder pointed at it, deselect "copy files to iTunes Media folder when adding to library", then manually add your videos from the NAS to the itunes library (file:add to library).

This way you can have your music with you when you are not at home, and when you have the MBP on at home with iTunes open, the ATV will see it and all your videos and music will work form it.

The only issue I can see is with turning your MBP on and off, it may not connect to your NAS every time perfectly or take a minute or two to mount- the aTV will still load your media but may get an error when trying to play them if the NAS isn't mounted.

Also- anytime you add videos to you NAS, you will have to manually add them to iTunes- which MetaX can do for you after tagging if you use it.

pomme4moi said:

Thanks Keeper. Can you tell me where to find the settings in iTunes such that music would be held within the iTunes library and movies would be held outside the iTunes library (and accessed via links)?

I like your solution. It's interesting that content held outside the iTunes library on the QNAP can be streamed via iTunes on your computer to the ATV2, but that content held within the iTunes library (if the entire library is held on the QNAP) cannot be streamed in the same manner. Oh well, I guess that's the state of technology right now.

Thanks!

Click to expand...

One thing you will want to consider is to make sure you connections all start when you reboot your computer or restart the NAS. I have two systems. One is a Drobo that actually contains my iTunes library which is connected via FW 800. I also have a WD ShareSpace or SpaceShare that was originally used as my iTunes library. Make sure you go into System Preferences, then into System (Accounts), then to Login Items. Click the " + " and add your drive (QNAP) to the start up list so that it makes a connection as soon as your Mac starts. Then iTunes will always know where to look.

Hope this helps.

Just to chime in...

I have had my iTunes and iPhoto library on my ReadyNAS for, at least, two years now. And I have been happy despite the fact that it isn't supported by Apple. Only a few hiccups here and there, but relatively good experience.

I do have my media folder share as a log on item on all of my computers so that it is always available.

I moved my entire iTunes library to the NAS and have everything but Photos stream to my ATV1. Of course, my iMac is on and iTunes started.

Can't really complain and keeps my files more protected than on a single hard drive.

I actually back up my valuable data and store it in my safe deposit box. Continuing to look for a good online solution.