Best iTunes Server/Storage Solution?

[BG-Mac]

Let me preface this by saying that I am extremely new to this and attempted to do some research including the thread "storage solutions for out of control itunes libraries." There's so much different info it was hard for me to filter through it.

Now that that's out of the way, here is my issue. With the announcement of HD movies for purchase I've decided to start building up an iTunes T.V/Movie collection. I just ordered a new 17" MBP and that will only be able to hold so much media. What are my options for a wireless iTunes server? I'll have 2 Macbooks, 2 iPhones, and eventually an Apple TV or two that I'll want to stream to.

My perfect product would be something with at least 1TB of storage that could be the central hub for my iTunes library and would stream to all of the devices on my network. Does such a product exist? If not what are my other options?

Thanks a lot for any advice you can offer and please excuse my ignorance to the given situation..

 

[BG-Mac]

Anyone?

 

[bohbot16]

You could use a Time Capsule for this. If you want to stream to an AppleTV, you'll need a Mac with iTunes running. iTunes would then need to point to the files on the Time Capsule instead of the hard drive on our laptop.

 

[BG-Mac]

You could use a Time Capsule for this. If you want to stream to an AppleTV, you'll need a Mac with iTunes running. iTunes would then need to point to the files on the Time Capsule instead of the hard drive on our laptop.

So let's say I bought the 1TB Time Capsule. I could just copy my library onto the Time Capsule. Then point iTunes to download everything I buy on the Time Capsule rather than my native hard drive? And this would allow other Macs in my home to access the iTunes media through the Time Capsule? And in order for Apple TV to access the library I'll just need my MBP running? Thanks for the advice..

 

[bohbot16]

So let's say I bought the 1TB Time Capsule. I could just copy my library onto the Time Capsule. Then point iTunes to download everything I buy on the Time Capsule rather than my native hard drive? And this would allow other Macs in my home to access the iTunes media through the Time Capsule? And in order for Apple TV to access the library I'll just need my MBP running? Thanks for the advice..

Yes. If you go into iTunes preferences there is an advanced option to change the location of your iTunes library. You can change is to the Time Capsule there.

 

[Michael CM1]

So let's say I bought the 1TB Time Capsule. I could just copy my library onto the Time Capsule. Then point iTunes to download everything I buy on the Time Capsule rather than my native hard drive? And this would allow other Macs in my home to access the iTunes media through the Time Capsule? And in order for Apple TV to access the library I'll just need my MBP running? Thanks for the advice..

First, I wouldn't waste my money on a Time Capsule. Get the Airport Extreme Base Station at $179 then find an external USB HDD. I think you can get them for $150 (for a Western Digital), maybe even less. To compare, a Time Capsule 1GB is $500.

After that, just copy your entire library over if you wish. I personally use my internal HDD for music and music videos and then move video to the remote hard drives.

One method of re-pointing your library to where your new files are is to delete everything in the library through iTunes (but not the actual files) and then to use Add to Library on the new folder of stuff on your remote hard drive.

 

[bohbot16]

That's pretty much identical to the way I have things set up. It's more cost effective, but not quite as simple.

 

[Michael CM1]

That's pretty much identical to the way I have things set up. It's more cost effective, but not quite as simple.

I haven't used a TC, but I can't imagine it being much simpler than the HDD addition on an AEBS. All you gotta do is tell OS X to automatically connect to the HDD share, which a monkey could do, and then add stuff in iTunes. Plus, I think it's worth the extra work to save that much money. With the new dual-band AEBS, I just wish I had the need for one because 802.11g is soooo sloooowwww.

 

[lhammer610]

Macworld Dec 2008 Network Attached Storage NAS

MacWorld had an article in December 2008 on Network-Attached Storage. They had listed several of which the LaCie Ethernet Disk seems to be a great solution. It has GB ethernet, a USB port, is iTunes compatible, and a built in FTP server. 500GB and 1 TB are available. I am trying to figure out the difference between the LaCie Ethernet Disk mini and the slightly less expensive LaCie Network Space of which a TB is available for $168. If anyone can help me make a choice between those two, I would appreciate it.

http://www.macworld.com/article/136632/2008/11/networkattachedstorage.html

 

[bearcatrp]

Get a dual drive configuration. One for the original, one for backup. I have from here... http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/firewire/1394/USB/EliteAL/ .

 

[Cynicalone]

Well that depends on how much you're willing to spend. Drobo with Drobo Share could act as your iTunes server. But it is a pricey solution.

I use the 2nd Generation Drobo, and make weekly copy's of my Data off of the Drobo to external 1TB drives to store at another location.

 

[NightStorm]

I'm a big fan of the Netgear ReadyNAS NV+; a true NAS solution that is cheaper than the Drobo + DroboShare with 4 1TB drives, as long as you buy the diskless unit and buy the drives seperately..

 

[Rich1963]

I 2nd the drobo recommendation. Easily expandable, non-intrusive, FW800 right into my central iMac, and best of all, great for those of us who decided they don't want to be configuring stuff on the back-end. Best of all, there are really zero configurations, so I don't have to worry about 'other users' in the house accidentally messing something up.

 

[BG-Mac]

Well that depends on how much you're willing to spend. Drobo with Drobo Share could act as your iTunes server. But it is a pricey solution.

I use the 2nd Generation Drobo, and make weekly copy's of my Data off of the Drobo to external 1TB drives to store at another location.

Ok so I'm considering going with the Drobo + Droboshare. Does anyone else have any experience with this setup? And just so I understand correctly Drobo + Droboshare will allow me to wirelessly share my iTunes library, music and video, across all of my home devices (Macbook, MBP, ATVs)? And this is a standalone setup? i.e... I don't need it connected to a computer or any other device? Thanks in advance..

(EDIT) One more noob question.. When I download media in iTunes, I can download it from my MBP directly to the Drobo wirelessly?

 

[lhammer610]

FW800 right into my central iMac.

Unless you are willing to leave that "central iMac" on all the time (which I am not willing to do because of electricity usage), you do not have a server for the other macs. The advantage of the drive that connected to the router through the ethernet is that it is available even if the "central" mac is turned off, at a small fraction of the power usage of leaving a computer on all the time. In the original posting, the person said that they "have 2 Macbooks, 2 iPhones, and eventually an Apple TV or two that I'll want to stream to." I am not certain about the iPones, and the Apple TV, but the MacBooks will be able to access this drive connected via the ethernet to the router without any other computer being left on.

The other advantage is that you are able access that drive via FTP from anywhere that you have an internet connection.

This is an interesting review of Drobo.
http://reviews.cnet.com/external-hard-drives/drobo-droboshare/4505-3190_7-32848916.html

 

[BG-Mac]

Unless you are willing to leave that "central iMac" on all the time (which I am not willing to do because of electricity usage), you do not have a server for the other macs. The advantage of the drive that connected to the router through the ethernet is that it is available even if the "central" mac is turned off, at a small fraction of the power usage of leaving a computer on all the time. In the original posting, the person said that they "have 2 Macbooks, 2 iPhones, and eventually an Apple TV or two that I'll want to stream to." I am not certain about the iPones, and the Apple TV, but the MacBooks will be able to access this drive connected via the ethernet to the router without any other computer being left on.

The other advantage is that you are able access that drive via FTP from anywhere that you have an internet connection.

This is an interesting review of Drobo.
http://reviews.cnet.com/external-hard-drives/drobo-droboshare/4505-3190_7-32848916.html

Good read, thanks. Does anyone know if Drobo + Droboshare will stream to an Apple TV without a computer on?

 

[sarnoff]

At this point in order to stream things to an AppleTV, you must have iTunes open. This means having some computer with iTunes on it running at all times if you want to be able to stream to the AppleTV at all times.

You could tie your AppleTV to the Macbook (Pro) that is around the house the most. Then have that open and reading off of the shared media to stream to iTunes.

The other thing you can do is buy or build (building would be cheaper, but buying would be easier and take less time) a computer with fairly basic components and a lot of diskspace, and have that on all the time. You could build a fairly sturdy computer with a few terabytes of space for around $700. Since you would need to install iTunes, you are stuck installing windows or a hacked version of macintosh. This is the solution I went with - I built a server with 2.25 TB of space for $800 back when 750 GB HDs were $120 - now 1TB HDs are $100 or so.