What is "iTunes Server" in Asus router

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What is "iTunes Server" in Asus router

What is the "iTunes Server" feature in the Asus RT-N66U router? I have this router and thought it would neat to try it out. But then I saw this: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/4913715

So I'm confused about what iTunes Server is if it doesn't do what it sounds like it should do, which is allow streaming an iTunes library to Apple TV and Airport Express without the need for my Mac to be on. Otherwise I can't figure out what the point of this feature is, aside from another vaporous bullet point on the feature set. (USB NAS support that doesn't understand HFS or exFAT is another. grrr)

Posted on Jun 11, 2013 12:42 AM

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mmao

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Dec 15, 2014 6:41 AM in response to iganpo

I know this question is very old, but for sense of closure, here is the result from my research. I'm using the ASUS RT-AC68U which also has the option, and iTunes on Windows.

iTunes Server is more or less a legacy protocol which was used by iTunes 9 and earlier. The iTunes Server option on ASUS routers can stream media only to iTunes 9 or earlier, excluding iTunes 10 or newer, Apple TV or any other iOS or iTunes device. iTunes uses their own sharing protocol on the LAN and through Home Sharing now, so the router option is no longer relevant. Obviously this would require a computer to be constantly on to share.

An option that doesn't require a server to be on is iTunes Match, which make music available anywhere with internet connection. There is no option for movies/TV shows other than iTunes purchases in the cloud.