dancarmack
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Q: Moving ITunes to a NAS

Tomorrow I am getting a Synology 213j 2 bay NAS, that comes with their version 5.0 DSM software.  I will have 2 x @TB drives installed.

 

My intention is to replace all of the functionality of my Mac Mini Mavericks server.  This server was set up as my primary DNS zone, I have a domain name and I was using it (as a hobby) to do Profile Management for our Macbook, IPads and IPhones.  Upgrading from ML to Mavericks screwed up my Open Directory setup somehow, and I can no longer add in Local Network users, so my dream of logging in anywhere and having access to a roaming profile has been dashed.  I throw in the towel on being a Mac Network Administrator and I am giving most of my server jobs to the NAS.

 

Hopefully I can get some tips from the community on how to successfully set up media storage on the new toy, video, photos and music.  I know it can be a DNS server, so I should be able to point my domain name at it and get access to my system via the internet still.  I have SSL certificates now for the Mini, and I may as well use them for this system.

 

I am hoping to avoid any mistakes in setup, I don't want to have lots of duplicated work.  Perhaps you can tell me how you laid out your file system so that My Macbook and Imac, and the new downgraded Mini can all access the same files without stepping on each others' toes.

MacBook Air (13-inch Mid 2012), OS X Mavericks (10.9.2)

Posted on Apr 24, 2014 7:06 AM

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dancarmack

Q: Moving ITunes to a NAS

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  • by Limnos,

    Limnos Limnos Apr 24, 2014 8:00 AM in response to dancarmack
    Level 9 (54,353 points)
    Mac OS X
    Apr 24, 2014 8:00 AM in response to dancarmack

    I know almost nothing about fancy network protocols.  I do know what I have read here about NAS issues and general library sharing.

     

    First, NAS add a level of complexity iTunes does not seem to be able to handle.  I don't know what is tested when iTunes is developed but browse the forum here and you will see quite a number of posts where people have NAS and misbehaving iTunes.  Of course given the nature of the forum there aren't many posts saying, "NAS and iTunes work great, no problems!"

     

    In some cases people put just media on the NAS and keep the library files on their computer.  This seems to be the cause of most problems because iTunes somehow loses the location link to the files over all the network protocol.  Not all the time, just from what I have seen from posts here.  A month or so ago there was a spate of NAS posts where this happened and for some reason iTunes wasn't able to automatically rebuild the links after finding just one track which meant the people had to rebuild their libraries.

     

    You may also end up not being able to have it all.  If you want each computer to be able to share a library you can do so by having each one point to the library file on the NAS, but remember only one open copy of iTunes can use that file at any one time. The alternative is to have a library for each computer.  This is where is starts getting complicated and I am going to get tired of typing any moment now.  You could keep the library files on the computer and store media-only on the NAS,at peril mentioned earlier.  Or you could try keeping each computer's library on the NAS with multiple library files sharing the same media collection.  I have no experience with that but it may help the split library risk by at least making sure they are on the same drive.

    However, remember, iTunes does not "inventory" the media folder.  If you add a new track in one library it will not update in the others unless you manually add it.  However, there may be things you can do with Home Sharing and then again depending upon whether or not you are using iTunes Store or are getting your media elsewhere.

     

    Oh, no sleep, no power saving.  That for sure is a problem with iTunes and external drives.

     

    What are the iTunes library files? - http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1660

     

    More on iTunes library files and what they do - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ITunes#Media_management

     

    What are all those iTunes files? - http://www.macworld.com/article/139974/2009/04/itunes_files.html

     

    Where are my iTunes files located? - http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1391