Can I use Time Capsule for iTunes Library?

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Level 1

1 points

Can I use Time Capsule for iTunes Library?

I have a Macbook Pro, an Apple TV, 2 iPads, 2 iPhones at home. Just bought 2TB Time Capsule today.

My kids purchased a lot of movies/TV shows from iTunes store, and it is building up lots of space in my MacBook. I also like to rip my CDs into Apple Losses Format to enjoy on my iPhone.

My Macbook is running out of space, I wonder if I can point my iTunes Library (Music, Videos) to Time Capsule. In other words, I hope to have access to my Music library whenever my iPhone is connected to my MacBook, and most importantly, the kids will be able to access their movies/TV shows from Apple TV / iPads.

Could someone please advice how to do that? Thanks!

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.6.3), iPAD

Posted on Oct 27, 2011 11:19 AM

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Answer 1

Oct 27, 2011 11:25 AM in response to waverly

Hi

this can be helpful https://discussions.apple.com/thread/1429284?start=0&tstart=0

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Answer 2

Oct 27, 2011 11:29 AM in response to waverly

My Macbook is running out of space, I wonder if I can point my iTunes Library (Music, Videos) to Time Capsule.

You can move the iTunes Library / Media Folder to the Time Capsule and "point" iTunes to the new location. See attached Apple Support Document below:

http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1449

But, you might want think very carefully about his before you decide. After all, if you move your iTunes libary from the Mac to the Time Capsule.....you have no backup for the iTunes library when...not if...you have an issue with the Time Capsule disk.

You might want to consider moving the iTunes library / Media Folder to an external USB or Firewire drive attached to your Mac. Then Time Machine will backup both the Mac and the external drive to the Time Capsule. A much safer strategy. Make sense?

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Answer 3

waverly Author

Level 1

1 points

Oct 27, 2011 11:47 AM in response to Bob Timmons

Thanks!

Bob, if you don't me asking some details - if I will buy an external harddisk to store my itunes library:

1). Does it mean everytime I open iTunes (or before I connect any device), I have to ensure the external harddisk is connected vis USB?

2). Say I have some 50GB of data on my MacBook. If I modify Preference/iTunes Media Folder Location, will all the data be "moved" to the external USB drive automatically?

3). When we talked about "moving iTunes Media folder", does it include everything (i.e. my iPhone, iPad, backup, apps, etc), or it is just Music/Books/TV Shows/Movies?

Shamefully speaking, I might be a stupid dad - I used iPhotos to import all pictures/videos from Digital Camera, iPhones, iPads for a year, until last night I installed Aperture 3. I selected a folder "Pictures" and clicked Import from iPhoto Library, then I was shocked ....my Macbook HDD space shrinks from 40GB free to 1.29GB and still shrinking....as a result I had to move some of my music, videos to trash (to free up another 20 GB of space). Until Aperture finished importing all photos, I had only 2.5GB free 😕

This morning, the first thing I did is to buy a Time Capsule, and try to free up spaces on my Macbook 🙂

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Answer 4

Oct 27, 2011 12:01 PM in response to waverly

This morning, the first thing I did is to buy a Time Capsule, and try to free up spaces on my Macbook

The Time Capsule was designed for Time Machine backups from your Mac(s). While it can be used to store regular files, it is not a good idea to do this unless you have a way to backup the regular files that you move from a Mac to the Time Capsule.

If you move the library to a new external hard drive, that drive must remain connected to your Mac whenever iTunes is running.

As far as specifics on the iTunes library, you will get a much better and more informed answer if you post in the iTunes support area. Likewise in the iPhoto or Aperture support areas for those applications.

We mainly handle questions on this forum about networking the Time Capsule.....how to get it configured as a wireless router and as a destination drive for Time Machine backups.

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Answer 5

waverly Author

Level 1

1 points

Oct 27, 2011 12:12 PM in response to Bob Timmons

Thanks again Bob. I'll move those questions to the appropriate forums.

3 more questions for now -

1). I have setup Time Capsule now (really amazing in terms of it's wireless coverage - it is better than my Linksys E4200 router), started Time Machine to backup but Time Machine is Backing up 1,242,550 items: 5.41GB of 235.55GB now, don't know how long it may take but I have to take my MacBook out for a meeting in an hour - will it interrupt the backup, or it will automatically resume when I am back.

2). How do I (Should I) put Time Capsule to sleep (or power off)? I've heard that it may run very hot, and if I am not using it during bedtime, should I turn it off?

3). Time Machine/Time Capsule stated that i). backup hourly for the last 24 hours, ii). backup daily for the last week, iii). backup weekly for the last month. Is there anywhere I can change the frequency of backup? Does it matters?

Thanks again!

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Answer 6

Oct 27, 2011 12:32 PM in response to waverly

1. The first backup will take a number of hours. You can close the MacBook and put it to sleep which will disconnect it from the network. Time Machine is designed to pick up where it left off.

2. Just leave Time Capsule running. All you need to be concerned about is that it is in a well ventilated area, with nothing obstructing the air flow.

3. Don't worry about changing the schedule. Time Machine does incremental backups after the first full backup. Each backup lasts a couple of minutes at most.

Have a nice day.

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Answer 7

Oct 27, 2011 1:02 PM in response to waverly

1) You will have to interrupt the backup and it should pick up where you left off. Hopefully, you are using an Ethernet connection for the first backup as it will go 4-5 times faster than wireless. Allow plenty of time for the first backup since everything is being copied over. General rule of thumb is about 30-35 GB per hour, so you are looking at approximately 7-8 hours. Overnight is a very good time to do this.

2) Leave the TC on. The disk will "sleep" when it is not active and start up automatically when backups occur.

3 ) Recommend that you stay with the default settings. If you don't like them after a week or so, post back and we'll provide a link to an application that will allow you backup whenever you like.

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