How to integrate a whole-house user setup

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How to integrate a whole-house user setup

Not sure where to post, so starting under iTunes since that program pretty much drives the bus.

Wife has a new iMac. I have a new Retina MB as well as an old G5 desktop. Right now, an extrenal drive is connected to the old G5 - call this the 'Family Media' drive. It has all of the music, movies, whatever. Our AppleTV downstairs is connected to my account and we listen to that batch of music through there. Occasionally, my wife = who also has a separate account - will log in on the AppleTV and listen/watch stuff that has not been loaded onto the external hard drive upstairs-

We need a centralized spot for our stuff.

The external drive is a 500GB and we will be there shortly; and that does not even have our photos or other files on it.

We need a solution that will allow for all media to be stored in one spot which both our machines can connect to and grab a file when needed, listen to a tune or whatever.

Considered a Time Capsule but the Apple Store Dude told me that will not work; said we have to plug into it physically to use the files - WHAT?? - thought that was part of the point. Maybe I am confused lol.

Planning to dump all files into the same external drive this weekend. Just need to know how to connect.

Thanks,

JF

MacBook Pro with Retina display, OS X Mavericks (10.9)

Posted on Mar 25, 2014 12:27 PM

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Answer 1

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Limnos

Level 10

411,157 points

Mar 25, 2014 12:37 PM in response to Jason Fredregill

Maybe the guy meant you have to plug your 500GB into the TC?

This is a big, nebulous question. You can try serving files off a central location and have each iTunes library share them. Of course each computer will have to have its own library and if add a file from one you will have to go to the others and make sure it is added to the library there even if is the same file on the server. Alternatively you can look into Home Sharing.

iTunes: How to share music and video - http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2688 - about Music Sharing and Home Sharing

Home Sharing Support page - http://www.apple.com/support/homesharing/

iTunes: Setting up Home Sharing on your computer - http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4620

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Answer 2

Mar 27, 2014 6:40 AM in response to Limnos

So, really in order to achieve a single location for all to draw from I need to move the files from my wife's iTunes library onto the external drive I am using and point everything there.

Alternatively, both she and I can open Home Sharing on our respective machines and all our devices can then find the a/v files, but we would have to 'log out' and then log back in to each other's account.

Perhaps a second alternative would be to get a Mini, transfer all her files to the external drive and connect it to the Mini, which would be left on 24/7. That is another issue with a MBP; it's not on all the time. And I have been having issues with it staying connected to the internet; my G5 is always connected, never get bumped off the wifi; the MBP bumps off every time you close it.

If none of this makes sense please advise. Otherwise I am going to pick an option and start doing it tomorrow.

Thanks,

jf

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Answer 3

Limnos

Level 10

411,157 points

Mar 27, 2014 7:45 AM in response to Jason Fredregill

To start, I have seen an AppleTV box through the window of an Apple Store, about a year ago. That's about my degree of experience with one. I don't know what it needs in terms of file server support.

You don't need to add another computer in all this. Put the files on some central drive and share media off there using multiple libraries on each computer -- that's pretty much what you are doing now anyway. You might be able to piggy-back your current drive onto a Time Capsule or similar. The main issue will be transferring files to the drive without breaking links in existing libraries. They may be ways to facilitate that so they can be repaired easily. For that matter, as long as the present external drive remains unchanged then iTunes may not even notice it is connected differently and you'e up and running in no time.

You may be able to move your wife's collection to the external by consolidating to the media folder there. If all of her collection is unique you can probably even add it to the same media folder as the main one. If there's overlap in content that may be moderately risky (I personally would try it but would make sure I had a solid backup first).

iTunes 11 for Mac: Change where your iTunes files are stored - http://support.apple.com/kb/PH12165 - more information at: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/5036221?answerId=22026652022#22026652022 - and steps 5-8 in https://discussions.apple.com/thread/5782936?answerId=24491967022#24491967022

iTunes for Mac: Moving your iTunes Media folder - http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1449

Realize that iTunes does not actively scan the media folder for additions. If your wife puts a movie in her library it will add to the media folder but it won't automatically appear on another computer until a person actively goes to the media foler and adds that file to their iTunes library. It's like a public library (except now my library tells me if they have added a book by an author I like so I guess my analogies are starting to fall apart).

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