iTunes Server
Hi all,
I don't know if this has been addressed or not - but is there some kind of standalone iTunes server that can serve video files to AppleTV ??
Ideally, Airport Extreme or TimeCapsule could spool files directly to AppleTV but be managed via iTunes on my Mac. I know that one could just use a shared drive for the iTunes library, but I want to take my iMac out of the loop (except for library management). I have videos on a 1TB firewire drive now and I hate having to mix my video library with my music library. I have thought about setting up a second Mac for this - but that seems like overkill.
Since Apple controls the functionality of Airport Extreme and TimeCapsule, it seems like they would be able to have these products act as iTunes servers, managed by iTunes on a remote mac (which could still have it's own local iTunes library independent of the iTunes server library).
I have looked (a little) at some Linux software that claims to do this - mt-daapd on a Linksys NSLU2 (which I have) - but I'd rather have something Apple approved. Has anyone in this forum done the NSLU2 thing ?? How does it work ??
Phil
I don't know if this has been addressed or not - but is there some kind of standalone iTunes server that can serve video files to AppleTV ??
Ideally, Airport Extreme or TimeCapsule could spool files directly to AppleTV but be managed via iTunes on my Mac. I know that one could just use a shared drive for the iTunes library, but I want to take my iMac out of the loop (except for library management). I have videos on a 1TB firewire drive now and I hate having to mix my video library with my music library. I have thought about setting up a second Mac for this - but that seems like overkill.
Since Apple controls the functionality of Airport Extreme and TimeCapsule, it seems like they would be able to have these products act as iTunes servers, managed by iTunes on a remote mac (which could still have it's own local iTunes library independent of the iTunes server library).
I have looked (a little) at some Linux software that claims to do this - mt-daapd on a Linksys NSLU2 (which I have) - but I'd rather have something Apple approved. Has anyone in this forum done the NSLU2 thing ?? How does it work ??
Phil
Comments
Alternatively, if Apple would enable the USB port on AppleTV to enable 1TB or bigger drives to be added - that would be great. iTunes could manage such a library w/o having to have a copy of movies on my Mac.
Another issue - how do we all back up large libraries ??
Phil
I'm hoping that Apple brings to us the option of centralize storage of iTunes content. I'd rather have the option of storing the content on a central device and just keeping an iTunes DB file with preferences, and ratings, cover art etc on the local computer.
For the time being, I am using the 750GB external HD that had been my back up drive for my iTunes library. This caused me to think about the iTunes server thing...
I have been thinking about buying a refurbished Dell system just to run iTunes. It could be run headless using something like the free version of Logmein to manage/control its functions. I check every once in a while and find refurb Dell systems suitable to run iTunes for under $250. It is then just a matter of adding storage as needed. One potential downside is that the Dell systems may not be particularly quiet.
A used Mac Mini might be a better way to go but it would probably be at least double the cost of a Dell refurb and require that all drives be external.
It is a shame Apple doesn't offer a good solution to this problem. It would seem if they can sell a 1TB Time Capsule for $499 they could offer a 1TB iTunes server device for the same price. Although for back up purposes it would need to have a USB port of an external HD. In any event I doubt they will ever offer such an animal.
-Keith