Q: 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.

You can probably get a list of IPs and counts with something like this under the OSX terminal:

netstat -n | grep 3689 | awk '{ print $4 }' | sort | uniq -c

You'd have to know the ip address of each device, but that's not too hard to figure out.

Its looking good for me, crusing at 0 connections, which makes me suspicious.  I'll let you know what I find when I get home later.

That terminal command just gives me the IP of the server computer.

Gosh I wish I knew a lot more about UNIX and OSX

My bad, I extracted the wrong field.  I also noticed that it includes the source port, so you won't get unique host counts.  I modified to address both of these things:

netstat -n | grep 3689 | awk '{ print $5 }' | awk -F'.' '{ print $1"."$2"."$3"."$4 }' | sort | uniq -c

Loading home sharing is hanging.  I knew it was too good to be true.

It doesn't look like the new appletv or itunes resolved this issue fully.  Unfortunetly that probably means a fix is pretty far out. 

I'm back to running the script with port checking and CLOSE_WAIT connection checking.  This will work really well in my scenario, but its not for everyone and doesn't offer a solution at all to windows users.

I don't know if this is relevant. In another thread (I'm too lazy to look it up) somebody thought the problem might be related to wired connections. I wondered if there was merit in this, as I'm guessing most people aren't having this issue, or there would be much more activity on the forums. I figured most people connect via WiFi, As it is more convienient.  Anyway, I disconnected my living room AppleTV from the Ethernet and set up WiFi instead (in my bedroom I am already using WiFi). So far I seem to be able to connect, with just a brief delay while the HDD wakes up.  This may just be coincidence but I thought it was worth offering and asking what the others here are using to connect their AppleTV?

My ATVs are a mix - 1 wireless and 2 wired.

Computers are 2 wired and one wireless.

Not sure what happened but I have had not problems for 3 days now!  (Fingers crossed) 

Ugh like an idiot I installed the new itunes (and restarted my working instance). Of course with my luck it was a fluke. Everything was going great. How can one itunes instance work great but not another?

So far since I've started contributing to this discussion I've had two times where I've seemingly been lucky with everything working perfect until I've restarted.

The curious thing about this last time was I quit itunes and restarted both Apple tv (for the new update) before I reopened itunes. It's a total shot in the dark but I think I'll try it tomorrow and see if I have any luck replicating the desired behaivor.

Davids8477. Never restart. NEVER.

Still going... but my netstat -n | grep -c 3689 is 84 - awfully near the 100 kiss of death!

Well last night my number was 8.  I wathced a movie with no problems.

I did my usual morning test today - just connecting to the shared library from my laptop - nothing, nada ziltch - no connection.

Checked the number - it was 135!.

Had to restart Home Sharing to connect - now number is 0.

Go figure!!!!

Thanks SilverSevens.

Just an update.

With NO activity today the number has gone form 0 to 168!!!!

Needless to say no connection unless I restart Home Shareing.

Infruriating

81

No restarts since pulling the cable - just coincidence?

I think its entirely possible that going wifi on one side or the other would resolve the issue.  Its something that crossed my mind, but I am unwilling to do it, as my Mac Mini is used for important stuff in addition to videos and music.

I've left mine running all week and through the weekend.  I just pulled up the log to see it is about to initiate a restart for the 35th time!

Mon Jun 18 18:12:40 -0400 2012 :: Number of HS connections: 99 (CLOSE_WAIT: 0)

restarts: 34 :: last restart: Mon Jun 18 12:56:07 -0400 2012

and as I was opening this up and typing:

Mon Jun 18 18:13:41 -0400 2012 :: Number of HS connections: 105 (CLOSE_WAIT: 2)

restarts: 34 :: last restart: Mon Jun 18 12:56:07 -0400 2012

Home sharing is broken.  I am going to restart iTunes.

iTunes restarted

sheesh.  I've used the appletv nightly and its been working really well, thanks to the script.

EDIT:  I'd estimate it actually restarted for the 18th time since each one triggers 2 restarts.