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Level 1

24 points

Does anyone run their iTunes library from a NAS?

I had my iTunes library initially on my internal iMac HDD, then it grew too big, so went on an external USB disk. Then I though I have a NAS why not have it on there and out of the way as such.

So yesterday I copied over the iTunes folder to my NAS, disconnected external HDD, opened up iTunes and pointed it to my NAS. It seemed to open fine, and everything there seems great.

So few questions for people that run an iTunes library off a NAS.

What is speed like? mine seems ok, but get a few beach balls, any way to speed it up? (I'm on an oldish iMac Alu 2007, 2Ghz Core 2 Duo, 4Gb RAM)

Now my Time Machine wont back up the iTunes folder as its on a NAS, I know to copy the iTunes folder every month onto my other backup external drive, but what is a good option for backup? no way to get TM to?

Is this the best way to run an iTunes library as I'm sure others have even bigger libraries than me, (mine currently 90Gb), or what other solutions?

I also use my Apple TV 1 with iTunes. Wil I see any performance hit over it now being on the NAS? my iMac is wired to the router, to NAS, whereas my Apple TV 1 is wireless N, all my house is wireless N, and thats what I've set my router to Wireless N only.

Any other hints

cheers

iMac, Mac OS X (10.6.7),  iMac 20" 4Gb RAM, Alu 2007 Model

Posted on May 26, 2011 6:44 AM

Best reply

Jolly Giant

Level 7

25,464 points

Posted on May 26, 2011 7:21 AM

What is speed like? mine seems ok, but get a few beach balls, any way to speed it up? (I'm on an oldish iMac Alu 2007, 2Ghz Core 2 Duo, 4Gb RAM)

i recently moved my library to a NAS, used to have it on a directly attached firewire 800 drive. i don't see any difference in speed at all, however, i have all my gear hardwired to my time capsule (i.e. gigabit speed as opposed to wireless, which will give you a max of 300 mbps).

your Mac should be up to the task - i'm using a 2009 Mac Mini base config (2.26 GHz/2 GB) as my media server.

what is a good option for backup? no way to get TM to?

TM won't back up from network drives. you might be able to use ChronoSync but i never tried myself.

my NAS came with excellent backup options built-in so i use a USB drive connected to the NAS's USB port to back up the RAID.

Is this the best way to run an iTunes library as I'm sure others have even bigger libraries than me, (mine currently 90Gb), or what other solutions?

it's as good as any. i would prefer a directly attached drive but i was desperate for space and found the NAS to be a good value for money. my NAS is expandable to 12 TB raw space (~ 9 TB in a RAID 5 configuration). since i'm constantly adding content (especially HD movies and tv shows), i needed a solution that will provide sufficient space for a few years to come.

I also use my Apple TV 1 with iTunes. Wil I see any performance hit over it now being on the NAS? my iMac is wired to the router, to NAS, whereas my Apple TV 1 is wireless N, all my house is wireless N, and thats what I've set my router to Wireless N only.

you will have to try. you can always use powerline adapters to connect the TV to your router if wifi doesn't work for you.

Any other hints

i recommend RAID 5 for the NAS. drives will fail, RAID controllers may fail. back up the RAID or have a good backup scheme for your precious media files in place.

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32 replies

IXLUKCOM

Level 1

0 points

Oct 21, 2013 2:43 PM in response to the loc-man

I have a question regarding NAS devices and ITunes.

Can I just please ask...

Does ITunes have to be running on a PC/MAC to be able to share the library from the NAS to other devices at ALL TIMES? No one seems to be able to confirm this?

I read that you share your library to the NAS folder, but if the MAC or PC is turned off, then the music on the NAS becomes unavailable. So what's the point of the NAS, other than farming off data sizes to a device away from the PC/MAC.

What we or I need is a NAS to that has itunes library support ( which my DNS320 Dlink does ) but it doesnt share the music if any pc/mac is tuned off that has the NAS shared.

I would be so grateful if someone can let me know about this please?

An example of this is here : http://www.synology.com/support/tutorials_show.php?lang=us&q_id=521

Its all very well, showing how to share the library, but as soon as you turn off the PC with Itunes on it with the shared library, your music will dissappear and unavailable to other devices on your netwrok, such as an ipad around the home, that wants to be able to play music from the NAS.

I have a DNS320 which does have itunes support, but really it isnt "serving" at all, its tethering the library really.

/ Help.... 🙂

Oct 22, 2013 5:29 AM in response to IXLUKCOM

Basically, yes! iTunes has to be running as it has to access it's library file in order to point the media player (i.e. Apple TV) to the location of the media file you are trying to access.

I have all my media files on my NAS and everything runs without a hitch.

Hope this helps.

Cheers

Does anyone run their iTunes library from a NAS?