NAS and iTunes

[watsonjm]

Very new to NAS drives so looking for some help/advice

I want to get a NAS drive set up that i can load iTunes onto so i can access movies/tv from multiple devices (iMac, Apple TV (2nd gen) and iPhones) at anytime without having to have my iMac on (where iTunes library is currently stored)

So i guess the first question is, is this set up possible?

If so how hard would be to set up and can anyone recommend a NAS device to go with. I've been looking at Synology DS218 but this looks quite complicated to set up.

 

[satcomer]

Look at this video to see how he did it:

 

[fluamsler]

I haven't tried it out but you should be able to create a new shared iTunes library on Synology and create smart playlists on your server. There is a iTunes Server app available on the Synology app store for free. After this your clients can connect to the shared library and access the playlists.

Edit: too slow tipping.

 

[iGobbleoff]

I have a Mac mini with the iTunes library on a Drobo. Its just like any other drive setup where the library is on an external drive, you just point the iTunes library to a different path.

 

[techwarrior]

Short answer, not possible.

Long answer, you can put your media files on a central storage like a NAS, but it still relies on a mac or PC running iTunes that has access to the library on the central storage to play it on ATV. Home Sharing is how Apple Devices are able to play content from shared locations, but ATV will only find mac or PC running iTunes in order to play content.

INHO, this is a gap in Apple's home strategy. Logically, Time Capsule or AirPort Extreme with storage attached would have been a great place to run iTunes for Home Sharing, but alas, they have stopped selling AirPort products. Next best solution might be to team up to offer a package to run on the Synology Routers and NAS as well as maybe some other home server type functions for Apple Devices...

But, Apple seems to be drifting away from owned content, so likelihood is pretty low.

 

[HDFan]

I want to get a NAS drive set up that i can load iTunes onto so i can access movies/tv from multiple devices (iMac, Apple TV (2nd gen) and iPhones) at anytime without having to have my iMac on (where iTunes library is currently stored)

Have you considered setting up a Media Server, such as Plex or Infuse? Much easier to use, supports more formats, runs on more devices. You'll need a an Apple TV that supports running the apps. I stream 4K UHD videos from my QNAP TS-453bt3. iTunes purchased content is a problem.

QNAP does have a iTunes server, but as techwarrior mentions using it on other devices and for different media types is challenging. For example for music you have to run QMusic.

 

[Howard2k]

I have a Mac mini with the iTunes library on a Drobo. Its just like any other drive setup where the library is on an external drive, you just point the iTunes library to a different path.

This is what I do (on Synology).

IIRC to smooth the process I mapped a drive to the NAS, built a new library on the NAS, then edited my CSV library index to replace the old path with the new path and copied my files over.

Works great.

I’m in a single user environment though. Just one MacBook accessing my music. If I had multiple devices accessing the same iTunes library I might look for a server side option.

 

[iGobbleoff]

This is what I do (on Synology).

IIRC to smooth the process I mapped a drive to the NAS, built a new library on the NAS, then edited my CSV library index to replace the old path with the new path and copied my files over.

Works great.

I’m in a single user environment though. Just one MacBook accessing my music. If I had multiple devices accessing the same iTunes library I might look for a server side option.

If it’s any consolation I have two apple Tv’s and a couple of Mac’s that access the library all the time. No issues at all