WD MyCloud NAS as iTunes Library Location

First, you don't tell iTunes where a library is located by changing preferences. Preferences only tells iTunes where to store media from that point on. It won't reconnect to old media that way. Your library is also more than just media:

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

iTunes 9 [and later]: Understanding iTunes Media Organization - http://support.apple.com/kb/ht3847

Second, using iTunes with an external drive means the external has to be on and fully mounted and awake before you start iTunes. If it isn't you have to resolve things in one of two ways depending upon what you have on the external drive. If you have just media you can quit iTunes, start the external, then resteart iTunes. If the whole library then resteart iTunes with the option key held down and guide it to the library file on the external.

Third, iTunes and NAS do not play well together. Something about the way NAS serves up the files and acts as a go-between the files and the iTunes application sometimes goes awry and is not easy to fix without rebuilding the library files (losing ratings, playcount, date added). Browse past posts about various issues arising. You're probably safest not splitting media and library files but keeping the whole lot on the external drive.

The last line...

http://wdc.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/2724/~/itunes-server-and-how-it- works-on-a-wd-network-drive

Essentially the MyCloud can act as a server for your files directly to iTunes (you will see a new little icon in your left iTunes panel which leads you to your files).

Again, read the earlier links about what a "library" is. If you want to delve into using the same media on 3 Macs and possibly even sharing the same library you will need to understand how iTunes works. For example, 3 Macs can share a library on an external drive, but not all at the same time (not, I use the terms library very carefully and in particular in the sense that it means a particular library file) because the library file can only be opened by one iTunes at a time. Instead you can have 3 libraries all sharing the same media, but of course if you make a change to one it won't be reflected in the others. The exception is if you rename a track in one it will get its label updated in any other libraries referencing that file.

All I know about NAS is what people report here. Of course this is where they come when they get into trouble so I don't know how many contended users there are, just what the problem spots tend to be. 🙂

I had the exact same problem except with my primary laptop PC. We have the same MyCloud 3TB NAS drive. I have 7 PCs, 2 Mac, and a few DirecTV receivers that have Media Streaming capacities. I can say, with confidence, that I can stream to all the devices at the same time without breaking a sweat (save for the DTV receivers). The drive that we both have has a iTunes server built in. It's in the settings of the MyCloud interface for the drive. Home>settings>media>Make sure that the DLNA Media Server and iTunes server are both on and the databases are scanned and built. I should note that my home network infrastructure is pretty beefy and I only have the Apple products because I work in IT. Also, I wouldn't try to use the cloud capacity outside your home network for streaming. Your iTunes should find the server on the network and you should be in business! Best of luck!

Andyseal, I've got the same situation. I re-lcoated the iTunes library to the WD My cloud. I moved the iTunes library to the my club device. Overtime I both up the Mac iTunes can't find the iTunes library on the My Cloud device. I am now going to move it all back to he external device that was working okay and will resort to using the My Cloud as an archive device rather than just bin it.