Apple TV and NAS

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Level 2

170 points

Apple TV and NAS

Hi. I want to buy a QNAP TS-419p+ network attached storage device, and then move my iTunes library from the internal hard drive on my MacBook Pro onto the QNAP device. My iTunes library contains music and movies. I want to be able to play the movies thru my Apple TV.

I posted a question on the QNAP forum, asking if the QNAP device is compatible with Apple TV. Here is the response, but I am not sure I understand it: "QNAP Turbo NAS does support the audio streaming based on iTunes Service, but doesn't support video streaming nor the DRM. Turbo NAS doesn't support the Apple TV, as the extra iTunes login authorization mechanism needed by Apple TV. In addition, the Apple TV doesn't support SAMBA service."

Does anyone use QNAP to hold their iTunes library? If you start up iTunes on your computer, can you stream movies to your Apple TV, even though the iTunes library is located on the QNAP NAS?

Thank you

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.6.2)

Posted on Dec 4, 2010 2:00 AM

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Answer 1

Alley_Cat

Level 7

20,560 points

Dec 4, 2010 2:15 AM in response to pomme4moi

The short answer is no, it won't work.

Many NAS device run an 'iTunes Server' of osrts which used to be ok for simple sharing in iTunes itself.

However neither AppleTV 1 or 2 are supported by these servers as they are not proper iTunes applications and cannot provide the necessary communication either to register an ATV1 with iTunes to sync/stream, or to enable Home Sharing which is the system used by AppleTV 2 to see stuff from an iTunes library.

While you could potentially use a NAS to actually store the file you want to stream, the NAS itself cannot server the media- iTunes must perform this task, though whether the iTunes media is on a NAS somewhere, an external drive or internal driev is irrelevant so long as iTunes can access it to forward the datastream to AppleTV.

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Answer 2

pomme4moi Author

Level 2

170 points

Dec 4, 2010 2:32 AM in response to Alley_Cat

Thanks Alley_Cat. I understand that I cannot use the QNAP software on the QNAP NAS to stream a movie thru ATV2 to my TV. I'm probably not asking my question very well, so let me try again:

In my current configuration with my iTunes library on my Mac Book Pro, I do the following to play a movie:
1. I open the iTunes software on my MacBook Pro
2. I walk over to the TV, pick up the Apple Remote and display a list of my movies on the TV
3. I select a movie and it plays, pulling the actual movie content from my iTunes library on my MacBook Pro

So if I simply move my content to the QNAP NAS (or any NAS), I am not sure I understand why the same process above would not work. I'd just be using the NAS as a data repository, like any "dumb" external hard drive. I'd still be using the iTunes software on the MacBook Pro and the Apple Remote to control the selection and streaming of the movie. Does this make sense? Would this work?

Thanks again

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Answer 3

Alley_Cat

Level 7

20,560 points

Dec 4, 2010 4:02 AM in response to pomme4moi

pomme4moi wrote:
Thanks Alley_Cat. I understand that I cannot use the QNAP software on the QNAP NAS to stream a movie thru ATV2 to my TV. I'm probably not asking my question very well, so let me try again:

In my current configuration with my iTunes library on my Mac Book Pro, I do the following to play a movie:
1. I open the iTunes software on my MacBook Pro
2. I walk over to the TV, pick up the Apple Remote and display a list of my movies on the TV

on an AppleTV 2 yes?

3. I select a movie and it plays, pulling the actual movie content from my iTunes library on my MacBook Pro

Yes, BUT iTunes must be running.

So if I simply move my content to the QNAP NAS (or any NAS), I am not sure I understand why the same process above would not work. I'd just be using the NAS as a data repository, like any "dumb" external hard drive. I'd still be using the iTunes software on the MacBook Pro and the Apple Remote to control the selection and streaming of the movie. Does this make sense? Would this work?

Yes. That would potentially work. See my last paragraph in previous post.

Many people have their media stored on a NAS - so long as iTunes can access it it can stream it to the AppleTV.

The only possible downside is the longer data path as iTunes (at least used to) fetch the data and then forward it, so 2 network transfers with a NAS not one.

Thanks again

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Answer 4

Dec 5, 2010 9:44 AM in response to pomme4moi

There is an article on the Apple Support Website under iTunes that gives detailed instructions on how to put your itunes library on a peripheral drive and designate iTunes to use the one on the peripheral drive, your network drive included (you can have multiple itunes libraries). Seach setting up a new iTunes library there.This will work, but will have a slightly longer path...... doubt if you'll notice.

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Answer 5

pomme4moi Author

Level 2

170 points

Dec 5, 2010 12:39 PM in response to TheOneAndOnly BiGMaC

Thank you all!

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