[Cadaver]

I'd like to share an iTunes library with all the machines on my network (all are authorized to play iTMS songs, too). I don't want to simply use iTunes' built-in sharing, since the shared tracks don't show up on the iLife/iWork media browsers. But, I want a single common library on a networked volume for all my machines.

I'm sharing the appropriate volume via the network, but pointing networked machines iTunes library location (via iTunes' library location preference) still doesn't seem to work - the tracks don't show on the networked machines.

What am I doing wrong? Any ideas? Am I being clear enough or do you need more info?

[delete]

This is interesting. I'm about to try the exact same thing. I went throught the iTunes forum at the Apple site and people mentioned a setup of sharing a folder, but I don't recall them sharing the actual library, One thing I gathered (I think) is that the folder may be common, but the libraries would be different. In other words if an addition were made to the folder the individual computers would have to "add" the new tracks to their individual libraries. Does this make sense? I may have this totally wrong!

[Cadaver]

So far, I haven't been able to make it work.

I can share a single iPhoto library with several different machines by networking the volume and pointing each machine's iPhoto preferences to it (though only one machine can access it at any given time, which is fine. Other machines will give a "library locked" message). But I can't seem to find a way to do the same thing with an iTunes library.

[Goldfinger]

Well this could maybe work in theory:

Put your library + library files (the ones found in the Music dir in your home dir, the XMLs) on your server machine.

Now on the "client" machines you delete all the iTunes data you can find. Fire up iTunes and iTunes should recreate those XMLs and the Library folder. Make sure that iTunes points to your local Music directory. Now you go in the terminal and replace the iTunes library and those XML files with sym links pointing to the real iTunes Library folder and the real XMLs on the server machine.

[Goldfinger]

Dp.

EDIT: Search for this subject. Maybe search for "symbolic links". I recall replying to simaler threads before (maybe under my previous name, Powaqqatsi). It could make you wiser.

[Jim Paradise]

Put your iTunes folder in the Shared folder in Users. You or the other users can create aliases in their music folder to that iTunes folder in Shared.

[Jim Paradise]

*Double post*

[Hi I'm Ben]

Yes this is possible. Get a hard drive. Format it in FAT32. Put it in an enclosure (or buy external)
Linksys sells a piece of hardware that will network a harddrive without a computer.

All your computers will be able to access it.

[Cadaver]

Originally Posted by Jim Paradise

Put your iTunes folder in the Shared folder in Users. You or the other users can create aliases in their music folder to that iTunes folder in Shared.

I know this works for multiple users on the same computer, but what about users on different computers?

Originally Posted by Hi I'm Ben

Yes this is possible. Get a hard drive. Format it in FAT32. Put it in an enclosure (or buy external) Linksys sells a piece of hardware that will network a harddrive without a computer.

All your computers will be able to access it.

Why? I've already got the data on a networked volume. Or is iTunes.app actually checking to see if the files reside on an actual Mac or on a non-Mac volume (like an NAS device, etc)?

[Hi I'm Ben]

Originally Posted by Cadaver

I know this works for multiple users on the same computer, but what about users on different computers?


Why? I've already got the data on a networked volume. Or is iTunes.app actually checking to see if the files reside on an actual Mac or on a non-Mac volume (like an NAS device, etc)?

I say Fat32, so PCs and macs can use it. And i like the idea of sharing the drive without a computer because you don't have to depend on a single machine to stay on.

[Cadaver]

Originally Posted by Hi I'm Ben

I say Fat32, so PCs and macs can use it. And i like the idea of sharing the drive without a computer because you don't have to depend on a single machine to stay on.

But that still doesn't answer the main question - if iTunes wont share an actual iTunes library networked off another Mac, why would it over a NAS (network accessible storage; your FAT drive in this case)?

[Nivag]

I've just shared a iTunes Library across the network to two Macs, with 'iTunes Music' folder hosted on a Xserve and alased (if that's a word?) to the local Mac Music folder and local versions of 'iTunes Music' and 'iTunes Music Library.xml'

hope that makes sense?

while this worked and didn't come up with the this file is Locked blah, blah warning that you get if you alas the whole folder, i doubt it'll update across the Macs if you add new music to the the library - i haven't tried this yet as someone wants me to work, tsk.

[Goldfinger]

My advice wasn't good enough ? Anyway, I doubt that aliases will work correctly when adding or deleting music from the library.