Using a NAS as media server that can serve computeres and Apple TV directly

appletv cannot access a NAS directly, it can only connect via an itunes library running on a pc/mac.

seems some of the more expensive NASs let you run a server on the NAS and have an interface into the device (web or client) from your computer. many run Firefly Media server or some other server. a USB connected to a AE or a TimeCapsule is not such a device... Drobo for example is capable of doing this, buffalo, Synology, Qnap, etc.

basically how you can think of it is that the NAS itself is a little computer and runs a version of iTunes. you can configure the iTunes running on the NAS (playlist, sync, sync, stream to applet etc.) from your computer (web or client interface). the appleTV and other computers sees this iTunes as it sees any other iTunes running on any other computer on your network and can do sharing or in the case of appleTV sync or stream from it.

but again not all NASs are capable of this.. some even say iTunes Server but they just mean you can store you iTunes files on it but it's not really capable of running a server.

tmartine wrote:
basically how you can think of it is that the NAS itself is a little computer and runs a version of iTunes. you can configure the iTunes running on the NAS (playlist, sync, sync, stream to applet etc.) from your computer (web or client interface). the appleTV and other computers sees this iTunes as it sees any other iTunes running on any other computer on your network and can do sharing or in the case of appleTV sync or stream from it.

i have yet to see any NAS that is capable of linking an appletv to it. it may indeed act as an itunes server, but none give you the ability to pair an appletv do it, as they don't allow you to enter the 5-digit code to pair it.

He speaks the truth.

don't have any 1st hand knowledge just surmising based on what i've read...

the passcode indeed sounds like it may be a stumbling block for appleTV pairing, but not likely an insurmountable one since one seems to be able to make every other config of the iTunes running on the server.. i just don't know though since like i say, i have no 1st hand knowledge...

The itunes servers on these NAS devices only stream music and not video.

I think the answer is simply that most of these NAS devices with built-in iTunes servers are currently not suitable for use with AppleTV.

If however you have a NAS device which lets you log in remotely and use it's underlying computer functionality, you could potentially install iTunes and run that, use iTunes as an AppleTV capable server, enter the passcode, and leave the NAS 'computer' running to server AppleTv.

AC

Not quite true. Apple TV can access NAS orginated stream if you share library. I have done this with GForce NAS. The problem is somwhere else. Sharing is limited to streaming music only at 128kbs. You can see all music on your NAS. NAS runs DAAP-MT server (linux based music streaming) for this which you likely need to enable manually (GForce NAS has this)

Another nasty limitation is that you cannot share stream movies from NAS.

That is the reason I have just bought Eee Box (PC with Win XP Home) and I hooked up number of USB drives with movies that I stream to Apple TV. This PC is very small and it takes very little power so, it can be placed in some corner (e.g. in kitchen when some appliances make noise anyway or in basement) and run 24x7. It will behave as NAS, but it will provide proper streaming of video (just install iTunes for PC on it). You do not need keyboard, mouse or monitor for this PC. I use Tight VNC to manage it remotely from one of my Mac computers... meaning Tight VNC service is run on Eee Box while Mac has built in VNC viewer that you can invoke from "Go to computer" window using following url:

vnc://ip address_of_eeebox

(BTW Tight VNC does not need viewer on any mmachine as it has built-in web interface for screen management - you just need to use browser on port 5800)

To stream to Apple TV you need to enter those keys that are displayed by Apple TV. You do this via VNC.

I am just using a couple Netgear SC 101 NAS units and have all movies and music on them. I then use a computer running itunes to serve the media to the AppleTV. It is on almost all the time and is only running a lowly Athlon XP 2500 CPU. Actually, it serves two Apple TV's in the house. Other computers (PC anyway) can access the same files and more directly from the NAS units.
I wouldn't necessarily recommend you buy these SC 101 units. I initially had a few disasters with them but have since figured them out and Netgear has updated the software several times. Still, they work for me....poor man's NAS setup I guess. I am sure you could do the same thing with a newer and improved NAS server from another manufacturer.

i'm starting to realize that too...

i'm starting to think that the real answer if someone wants a cheap standalone media server with good performance to serve iTunes and feed appleTV... they need to just get a cheap, old computer that would have gone to the dump otherwise... attach it to the network, strip it down and run iTunes on it and attach a bunch of cheap USB drives to it setting up some back up strategy. just use VNC or remote desktop into it when you want to set up anything so you don't need a monitor or keyboard for it. an old mac mini or net book like Maciej Samsel suggested are likely good candidates because of their small size and cheap price... NASs seem like they just are too limited and for whatever reason don't seem to have the performance for video... at least for this specific purpose...

Actually, the cheap little NAS units I have serve the apple tv with video just fine. Many of them converted from DVD for apple TV with Handbrake.

are you talking directly from NAS to appleTV with no iTunes running on a computer some where? this is what we are talking about here... if so which NAS does that?

Message was edited by: tmartine

tmartine wrote:
are you talking directly from NAS to appleTV with no iTunes running on a computer some where? this is what we are talking about here... if so which NAS does that?

faZZter wrote:
I am just using a couple Netgear SC 101 NAS units and have all movies and music on them. *I then use a computer running itunes to serve the media to the AppleTV*

Winston just pointed out correctly that NO, the NAS units are not connected directly to Apple TV. You have to have a computer with itunes running somewhere on your network and that computer is what is accessing the NAS servers. You then link the apple tv to that itunes library.

tmartine wrote:
i'm starting to think that the real answer if someone wants a cheap standalone media server with good performance to serve iTunes and feed appleTV... they need to just get a cheap, old computer that would have gone to the dump otherwise... attach it to the network, strip it down and run iTunes on it and attach a bunch of cheap USB drives to it setting up some back up strategy.

this is what i do.... although my itunes server box is a mac mini with a 1TB MyBook as the storage.

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