None of my iDevices can read my iTunes library after an hour of availibility. When I first start iTunes I can read the library, but after about 30 minutes my iPad's and iPhones can no longer access the library. I see it in the shared list, but no access.

I might as well join in on this discussion, which I 've been monitoring for the past few days. I've had this problem for the past 4 months, right after I replaced my PowerMac G5 (which provided iTunes video stream services throughout my house) with a brand new Intel based MacMini. I thought I was doing something terribly wrong on the setup and configuration of this server until I found this post. I NEVER had this problem when my streaming was provided by the G5 (and this was done routinely for about 7 years)!

Anyway here's my setup:

* MacMini 2.3 GHz Core i5, 2 GB RAM, OS 10.7.4, Wired to Time Capsule Router (TCR)

- this is the iTunes Movie/TV/Music Streaming Server

* Streaming to Apple TV 1080p in Family Room (wired connection to TCR)

* Streaming to Apple TV 720p in Master Bedroom (WiFi connection to TCR)

* Streaming to iPad2 via Home Share (WiFi connection to TCR)

* iTunes Home Share Connection to MacBook Pro (Sometimes WiFi, Sometimes Wired to TCR)

Intermittently, as everyone else has described, connections drop after several minutes or hours of non-use. Some days, I can connect just fine after an idle. Other days, no connections to iTunes media possible, even though all devices described can see the MacMini server via Bonjour/Home Share. Although server/share name is visible, once I actually try to select a media file to play, then the spinning wheels start and eventually connection times out in error. The only way to get iTunes to start streaming properly again is to stop and restart in on the MacMini.

I've tried everything most of the people posting here have tried. My troubleshooting steps included:

* Total erase/rebuild of MacMini

* Upgrade of MacMini to Lion Server 10.7.4

* Downgrade of MacMini from Lion Server to Client

* Switching from Wired to WiFi network connection

* Setting IP address via DHCP then via assigning static IP

* Relocating MacMini from 25 ft Cat-5 Ethernet Cable to a closer proximity to TCR (less than 6 ft)

* Moving streamed content to/from external and internal disk drives on the MacMini

In my situation, the only things I've been able to conclude are:

* Problem could be tied to hardware on the MacMini model I have, since I'm streaming same quantity of media files in the same way I did when they were stored on the G5 (no problems like this for 7 years)

* Accesing iTunes libraries that run overnight from my MacBook laptops are always accessible, even when accessing them form the MacMini are most often not

* Physical Network and Bonjour connections are always accessible to/from the MacMini, regardless of idle time length. I can remote login, see the iTunes Home Share name, stream Photos to ATVs as Screen Savers, Backup data via Time Machine, etc.. No other Network services are disrupted due to idle time waits EXCEPT the iTunes content streaming

So, I am just as stumped about what's causing this and how to get around it as everyone else. I'm just writing in to add a bit more flavor to this discussion, and to communicate another home-environment configuration that might be different than all others posted, but still having the same issue.

Where did this script come from? How can I get a copy and instructions on running it on my MacMini Streaming client machine?

I'll welcome you as well.

On another note I sold my brother my older Apple TV's (2nd Gen). He has the same issue running from his Mac Mini. Seriously, this is quite the mark on Apple's "it just works" reputation.

Hi all, For the past couple months I have been following many threads across the net related to this same issue as it has been driving me absolutely nuts!! To clarify, my particular issue required me to restart iTunes after roughly 2 hours of sitting idle as remote iDevices across the network could see the shared library, but would not load it. My setup is similar to many of the ATV users:

-HTPC running Win7Pro 64 – hosting iTunes library

-U-verse 2wire gateway/router

-A few DLink gigabit switches (entire network is hardwired w/ Cat 5e)

-2 Apple TV 3’s

-2 Airport Express base stations

-MacBook Air

-iPad

-2 iPhones

-A couple other PC’s

After confirming my diagnosis of >100 connections to the HTPC iTunes host, I pulled the Ethernet cables from each of the ATV’s, setup WiFi and haven’t had a problem since. While this is a temporary solution as I prefer to keep everything wired, it has finally enabled my family to enjoy the system to its fullest! Overall I really like Apple products and their seamless integration is second to none. However, I cannot believe this issue has yet to be formally addressed as it is part of ATV’s core functionality. C’mon Apple, pull it together!

Cheers to all on this thread that have assisted in finding this solution!

After Mountain Lion update it seems to work!

3 ATV 3 wired

1 ATV 2 wired

5 ios devices

Portscan = 0 since 17 hours

I have watched batman begins before 14 hours

Game over

Crashed again :(

Its so crappy- over years it worked fine....since atv3 its buggy that i like to throw all things out of the window

Yeah, I'm not suprised. I've been using Lion for weeks and the problem is still present.

To be fair it's not just the ATV3, it's also with the two (my bro bought my old 2's and he has this issue). I'm fairly certain it's the latest version of the IOS firmware (probably the last several). I once thought it was itunes but ipads and other devices sharing don't seem to exhibit the same behaivor. Of course they also aren't setup to have a persistent connection like the ATV so it could just be that and therefore still itunes.

As a dev I've been tempted to try the beta update that is available but I am not sure since it's a bit of a pain.

I can't say it enough but I'm shocked Apple is not responding to this. This is the single worst FAIL I've seen from Apple in the 8 years or so I've bought their stuff exclusively. I'm used to sometimes not having every feature I would want, but to have something so apparently broken is a huge dissapointment.

Yes with ATV3 the "awesome" 1080p playback on ATV2 was launched

It's the ATV OS

Did you guys see this other thread: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3959358?start=15&tstart=0.

They have essentially found the same things we did as well with the connections but they also mentioned that with wired connectiosn you can set the sleep settings to "Never" and it will not cause the issues we have. They also have found the wireless works as we have. So apparently going to sleep over wired is the source of the issue.

Maybe someone already mentioned this solution. This thread is so long and so much has been said I may have missed something 🙂.

I was VERY glad to find this thread.

Of course I thought that having my ATV3 hardwired to my gigabit Ethernet network would give better bandwidth and be less susceptible to interference. Hmph.

What's a little worrying to me is that I can't find the command line netstat utility… and when I run aut0maticdan's script, it's not finding it either!

That's a little weird - everyone else seems to have it, but it's nowhere to be found on my 2008 Mac Pro.