andyseal

Q: WD MyCloud NAS as iTunes Library Location

I bought a WD 3TB MyCloud NAS and transferred my iTunes Library to it. 

I changed the iTunes library location in all 3 Macs to the WD MyCloud and it works fine, but next time I launch iTunes it forgets the library location and starts downloading any available podcasts to the local drive.

Worse, when I enter preferences to change the library again to the NAS drive, iTunes is unusable while it first finds the tracks on the NAS drive and then organizes them. Thus I can't even play music for ten minutes.

Once done, everything, including video, loads fine. Any ideas?

All machines are running Mavericks.

OS X Mavericks (10.9.3)

Posted on Jun 4, 2014 9:39 AM

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Q: WD MyCloud NAS as iTunes Library Location

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  • by Limnos,Helpful

    Limnos Limnos Jun 4, 2014 9:49 AM in response to andyseal
    Level 9 (53,936 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jun 4, 2014 9:49 AM in response to andyseal

    First, you don't tell iTunes where a library is located by changing preferences.  Preferences only tells iTunes where to store media from that point on.  It won't reconnect to old media that way.  Your library is also more than just media:

     

    What are the iTunes library files? - http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1660

     

    More on iTunes library files and what they do - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ITunes#Media_management

     

    What are all those iTunes files? - http://www.macworld.com/article/139974/2009/04/itunes_files.html

     

    Where are my iTunes files located? - http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1391

     

    iTunes 9 [and later]: Understanding iTunes Media Organization - http://support.apple.com/kb/ht3847

     

    Second, using iTunes with an external drive means the external has to be on and fully mounted and awake before you start iTunes.  If it isn't you have to resolve things in one of two ways depending upon what you have on the external drive.  If you have just media you can quit iTunes, start the external, then resteart iTunes.  If the whole library then resteart iTunes with the option key held down and guide it to the library file on the external.

     

    Third, iTunes and NAS do not play well together.  Something about the way NAS serves up the files and acts as a go-between the files and the iTunes application sometimes goes awry and is not easy to fix without rebuilding the library files (losing ratings, playcount, date added).  Browse past posts about various issues arising.  You're probably safest not splitting media and library files but keeping the whole lot on the external drive.

  • by andyseal,

    andyseal andyseal Jun 4, 2014 10:01 AM in response to Limnos
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 4, 2014 10:01 AM in response to Limnos

    Limnos, thanks for that thorough response.

     

    1. Prior to this I had the Library on an external drive; that soution is fine for one Mac at a time. My aim is to have the same library as the default for all 3 macs.

    2. Here's the description on Amazon if the WD MyCloud NAS

    • Gigabit Ethernet
    • USB 3.0 expansion port
    • DLNA 1.5 and UPnP certified
    • Free desktop and mobile apps
    • ITunes support

    What does that last line mean?

    3. Does this mean no NAS solution will work? Even more expensive Synology devices ( they seem well reviewed )

     

    I appreciate your thoughts.

  • by Limnos,

    Limnos Limnos Jun 4, 2014 2:45 PM in response to andyseal
    Level 9 (53,936 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jun 4, 2014 2:45 PM in response to andyseal

    The last line...

     

    http://wdc.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/2724/~/itunes-server-and-how-it- works-on-a-wd-network-drive

     

    Essentially the MyCloud can act as a server for your files directly to iTunes (you will see a new little icon in your left iTunes panel which leads you to your files).

     

    Again, read the earlier links about what a "library" is.  If you want to delve into using the same media on 3 Macs and possibly even sharing the same library you will need to understand how iTunes works.  For example, 3 Macs can share a library on an external drive, but not all at the same time (not, I use the terms library very carefully and in particular in the sense that it means a particular library file) because the library file can only be opened by one iTunes at a time.  Instead you can have 3 libraries all sharing the same media, but of course if you make a change to one it won't be reflected in the others.  The exception is if you rename a track in one it will get its label updated in any other libraries referencing that file.

     

    All I know about NAS is what people report here.  Of course this is where they come when they get into trouble so I don't know how many contended users there are, just what the problem spots tend to be.

  • by al_pal_jones,

    al_pal_jones al_pal_jones Mar 28, 2015 7:48 PM in response to andyseal
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 28, 2015 7:48 PM in response to andyseal

    I had the exact same problem except with my primary laptop PC. We have the same MyCloud 3TB NAS drive. I have 7 PCs, 2 Mac, and a few DirecTV receivers that have Media Streaming capacities. I can say, with confidence, that I can stream to all the devices at the same time without breaking a sweat (save for the DTV receivers). The drive that we both have has a iTunes server built in. It's in the settings of the MyCloud interface for the drive. Home>settings>media>Make sure that the DLNA Media Server and iTunes server are both on and the databases are scanned and built. I should note that my home network infrastructure is pretty beefy and I only have the Apple products because I work in IT. Also, I wouldn't try to use the cloud capacity outside your home network for streaming. Your iTunes should find the server on the network and you should be in business! Best of luck!

  • by GongMac,

    GongMac GongMac Jun 12, 2015 4:22 PM in response to andyseal
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 12, 2015 4:22 PM in response to andyseal

    Andyseal, I've got the same situation.  I re-lcoated the iTunes library to the WD My cloud.  I moved the iTunes library to the my club device.  Overtime I both up the Mac iTunes can't find the iTunes library on the My Cloud device.  I am now going to move it all back to he external device that was working okay and will resort to using the My Cloud as an archive device rather than just bin it.