NAS shared iTunes library and multiple computer help

[xfiring]

I have my iTunes library stored on a NAS, UNRAID, and I currently do not have my files copied into the iTunes library. They reside on the UNRAID in a movies and movies folder, so the iTunes library itself is fairly small.

However, this is what I would like to do. Since I have several AppleTV and several other Macs running. I'd like to keep one Mac on 24/7 and have iTunes open all the time pointed to my NAS iTunes.

I would like to then be able to open iTunes on all my other MACs, even read only is fine, but iTunes won't open because it is saying it is locked by the computer running itunes 24/7. I understand database and locks, etc, just wondering what the best way around this is?

Basically I don't want my wife to have to figure out to go downstairs to quit iTunes and then open it up at another computer.
Thanks

 

[porschetoyz]

Bump, I would be interested also in the answer to this question.
Thanks to all in advance.

 

[paduck]

Bump, I would be interested also in the answer to this question.
Thanks to all in advance.

It's only been hanging out there for a day...

I would look into using iTunes Home Sharing and have any iTunes file that is loaded onto one of your other Macs automatically copied over to the computer that is supporting the NAS. Using iTunes Home Sharing should allow others to use the content on the Mac that is on all the time and connected to the NAS.

Of course, if you are going to have a Mac on 24/7, why not have the drive directly connected to it instead of running across your network as a NAS? The reason for that is simplicity and the fact that data will have to run across your network from the NAS to the 24/7 Mac and then served back out to the Mac or AppleTV that wants the data. Just hook those hard drives up to the Mac. You can share the drives as well if you are using them for data or Time Machine. There are plenty of products with Firewire or USB external HD connections. If you want RAID for redundancy (it isn't a backup), plenty of devices will give you that capability.

 

[rpz620]

iTunes on NAS - Accessing from Windows & OS X - "Updating iTunes Library" issues

I have a similar situation - iTunes Library on NAS Server with mirrored RAID - worked flawlessly with two Windows 7 pc's. Fast forward to my wife's birthday - she "NEEDS" an Airbook and I got her one. The setup above still works, however, when I open the library on the NAS from the Mac it immediately goes to "Updating iTunes Library." Then if I close and open again on Mac, no problem.

If I then open library from Windows 7 machine, it goes to "Updating iTunes Library" for about 25 mins again and then all is fine. If I close and re-open from another Windows machine, it works fine...as soon as I switch back to the Mac, it updates the iTunes library again.

Library is on a Fat32 NAS auto-mounted via SMB.

Is there an issue or hopefully a trick I can use to avoid this 20 minute "Updating iTunes Library" every time I open an iTunes library from a different OS?

 

[peppiatt]

I too have the same setup and experience the same "Updating iTunes library" which makes life a bit of a pain in the but when all you want to do is load some tunes on your iPhone... any answers?

I have a similar situation - iTunes Library on NAS Server with mirrored RAID - worked flawlessly with two Windows 7 pc's. Fast forward to my wife's birthday - she "NEEDS" an Airbook and I got her one. The setup above still works, however, when I open the library on the NAS from the Mac it immediately goes to "Updating iTunes Library." Then if I close and open again on Mac, no problem.

If I then open library from Windows 7 machine, it goes to "Updating iTunes Library" for about 25 mins again and then all is fine. If I close and re-open from another Windows machine, it works fine...as soon as I switch back to the Mac, it updates the iTunes library again.

Library is on a Fat32 NAS auto-mounted via SMB.

Is there an issue or hopefully a trick I can use to avoid this 20 minute "Updating iTunes Library" every time I open an iTunes library from a different OS?

 

[rhett7660]

I have my iTunes library stored on a NAS, UNRAID, and I currently do not have my files copied into the iTunes library. They reside on the UNRAID in a movies and movies folder, so the iTunes library itself is fairly small.

However, this is what I would like to do. Since I have several AppleTV and several other Macs running. I'd like to keep one Mac on 24/7 and have iTunes open all the time pointed to my NAS iTunes.

I would like to then be able to open iTunes on all my other MACs, even read only is fine, but iTunes won't open because it is saying it is locked by the computer running itunes 24/7. I understand database and locks, etc, just wondering what the best way around this is?

Basically I don't want my wife to have to figure out to go downstairs to quit iTunes and then open it up at another computer.
Thanks

Unfortunately there is really no easy solution for this that I have found.

I have all my files residing on a box of hard drives that is on 24/7. The box is connected to a Windows XP box that is on 24/7 also. The windows xp box is running my "Main_iTunes" which serves up a mac mini, mac pro and an apple tv. I have all the iTunes library shared on each computer.

I was using the "Automatically add to iTunes" folder via short cuts on the desk tops of the mac so if someone updated the iTunes library it would feed the update to all of the machines. IT works about 50% of the time. I have tried several things to make this easier but to no avail.

I still have all the files on my box of hard drives so they are backed up and protected against a hard drive crash but I wish I could figure out a way to do the following:

Add the files to the main iTunes library.... then setup a script that would sniff the folder and look for changes. If it finds any changes it would update the shared library's on the network so I wouldn't have to do it manually. Would make life so much easier.

Also, what are the permissions on the iTunes library on your Mac and on your NAS box? I had it setup before "sharing" was introduced just like you have it. All of my computers were pointed to the Main iTunes library and the files were served up over the network.

 

[jstjck]

I've been searching endlessly to try to sort this out for myself too without success...

My iTunes library is ~3TB is size so it sits on a NAS with RAID, currently connected to my AEBS. I generally run this library 24x7 on my iMac so that my ATV can access the TV / Movies at any time.

I have a MBP and soon to be MBA that I would like to be able to access this main library. I don't need write access, but I don't like "Home Sharing" because you don't get cover art or good sorting functionality (last time I checked anyway).

I used to access the library over the share but got so overwhelmed with the amount of beach ball delays that I gave up. Even with the setup as it is now, it takes forever to add a new CD to the library.

Is there an easier way or have I pretty much tried them all already??

TIA

 

[Middling]

Depending on what you're using for your NAS you could try running something like Firefly Media Server on it. FreeNAS (the current stable version, not 8.0 beta) supports DAAP out of the box.

When run it will appear in iTunes as just another computer running iTunes with sharing enabled so you'll be able to stream to all your computers (and i think AppleTV too). I believe album art works with iTunes sharing but i've never really used it, so don't know.

 

[jstjck]

Depending on what you're using for your NAS you could try running something like Firefly Media Server on it. FreeNAS (the current stable version, not 8.0 beta) supports DAAP out of the box.

When run it will appear in iTunes as just another computer running iTunes with sharing enabled so you'll be able to stream to all your computers (and i think AppleTV too). I believe album art works with iTunes sharing but i've never really used it, so don't know.

Cheers for this. I am using a WD ShareSpace which has an iTunes "server" functionality but I don't think it works exactly as I'm wanting it to. I feel pretty stupid right now if it does and all this time I've had what I wanted under my nose!!

*Edit - no it doesn't as it only supports audio files (mp3, wav & aac) and not video. So will check out FMS & FN