Sharing an iTunes Library over WAN?

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Level 2

175 points

Sharing an iTunes Library over WAN?

Sorry if this question has been asked before but my searching of the forum here has only seemed to turn up questions and anwswers on sharing over a local network. Here is my question.

Is it possible to share an iTunes library over the internet? And if so, how? If it isn't I'd like to know so I can stop trying to track down how to do this.

I have a Titanium G4 at home running iTunes 6.01 using a cable modem and router. The router firewall has been setup with the proper ports for iTunes and FTP (FTP works fine). My work computer is a G5 running iTunes 6.01 connected via a DSL modem/router.

I have no other issues connecting to my home computer from work, but I can't see my shared music at home on my work computer.

Thanks for any info.

G5 1.8, Mac OS X (10.3.9)

Posted on Nov 28, 2005 6:31 AM

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Answer 1

Nick Holmes

Level 7

30,018 points

Nov 29, 2005 10:34 AM in response to Erik Youngren

Sharing only works on a local network.

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Answer 2

The Doctor

Level 4

1,234 points

Nov 29, 2005 12:21 PM in response to Nick Holmes

Shouldn't he be able to share over a VPN? Not that I know anything about VPNs, but it would seem to be the only way, and would meet his particular needs.

Doc

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Answer 3

Erik Youngren Author

Level 2

175 points

Nov 29, 2005 4:28 PM in response to Nick Holmes

Nick, thanks for the reply. I thought that might be the case. Oh well...

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Answer 4

Erik Youngren Author

Level 2

175 points

Nov 30, 2005 6:15 AM in response to The Doctor

I'd be interested in the particulars of how to set that up (sharing over VPN), but unfortunately that would require re-working the LAN in the office. We aren't using VPN so setting one up would be a headache.

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Answer 5

The Doctor

Level 4

1,234 points

Nov 30, 2005 12:34 PM in response to Erik Youngren

I can't help you there. I don't know anything about VPN other than the technology is supposed to give you a secure connection over the internet. I'm just wondering if a VPN would make the two computers think they were on the same LAN.

I would imagine that you'd set up your home computer to serve the VPN, and your work computer to be the VPN client. Maybe someone in the Networking forums can help you out?

Doc

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Answer 6

Erik Youngren Author

Level 2

175 points

Dec 6, 2005 2:57 PM in response to Erik Youngren

For anyone interested, apparently sharing over the internet was a feature that iTunes 4 had, but was removed in later updates. And apparently there are workarounds to enable one to access a shared library over the internet. I have not tested this, but will post my results back later.

http://forums.macrumors.com/archive/index.php/t-148438.html

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Answer 7

Erik Youngren Author

Level 2

175 points

Dec 14, 2005 8:37 AM in response to Erik Youngren

Issue solved. Here is what I did. I setup my Mac at home so I could connect at work. Inside the iTunes library on my work Mac I created an alias to the iTunes Music folder on my home Mac. Since my library at home and work are exactly the same iTunes on my work Mac sees a local library file but is streaming the music over WAN from my Mac at home.

The are some stops and starts as the connection is over WAN, but it's pretty smooth. Do not know what will happen if I need to add or subtract from the library on either Mac.

Just bringing this to the front in case anyone is interested in trying it themselves.

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