Apple TV as a NAS

[dbloomfield]

Hi

If I buy an Apple TV, install ATVFlash, connect USB ext hard drive to it, then connect it to my LAN would I be able to access it like a NAS drive on my network?

I want to be able to drag and drop files from my macbook/PC to it.

Sorry if this has been asked before but I couldnt find an answer.

Also, if I buy a 40gig ATV from ebay is it the same hardware as the new ones from apple only with a smaller hard drive?

Thanks for any help.

 

[FamiliaPhoto]

If I buy an Apple TV, install ATVFlash, connect USB ext hard drive to it, then connect it to my LAN would I be able to access it like a NAS drive on my network?

You can FTP to it, but if you want to drag the files over to watch movies and such I think that is a no go. You need iTunes to sync the files for you. Perhaps someone can confirm.

Also, if I buy a 40gig ATV from ebay is it the same hardware as the new ones from apple only with a smaller hard drive?

Same hardware. In fact if you plan on using an external HD which is what I did I see no need to spend more for the 160 gig ATV.

 

[JKColo22]

You CAN use your NAS to store your files and access them from the ATV.
You will just use ATV flash-go to media option on your ATV and point to your NAS, everything you have there will be accessible.

However, you will need to run itunes to free up HD space on the ATV if you purchase items directly on it.

*Edit* I misunderstood your answer. I'll try it for you tonight, the AppleTV does show up as a share in the finder, though so it *might* work. Don't really understand why you wouldn't just use iTunes though if your computer is on anyway?

 

[dbloomfield]

Thanks for you help guys

*Edit* I misunderstood your answer. I'll try it for you tonight, the AppleTV does show up as a share in the finder, though so it *might* work. Don't really understand why you wouldn't just use iTunes though if your computer is on anyway?

My computer might not necessarily be on. I have three computers which I'd like to share files between.

I was hoping that as well as using the ext hard drive for storing media I could use it to store work files on it as well.

 

[ascender]

I was wondering about this as well. I'm currently using a Drobo connected to an iMac to share a library. But I'd like to eliminate the need to have the iMac on all the time so was thinking of hacking the ATV or buying a NAS which has an iTunes server built-into it (Drobo app can't stream video apparently).

 

[FamiliaPhoto]

I was wondering about this as well. I'm currently using a Drobo connected to an iMac to share a library. But I'd like to eliminate the need to have the iMac on all the time so was thinking of hacking the ATV or buying a NAS which has an iTunes server built-into it (Drobo app can't stream video apparently).

You can have multiple computers connected to a shared iTunes library and it works fine. You just need the library stored on an external NAS drive all computers can access. I do this and it works great. No complaints.

As for the ATV, I have chosen to sync all the content to it. I did this by hacking the ATV to allow for an external USB HD. Works very well. Reason I did this was so I don't need any computers on to see the library. This encourages my family to use it as they don't like any perceived hassle.

 

[phillipjfry]

So you are all saying it's not possible to have the AppleTV with external USB hard drive attached, run a NAS service?

I really dont want to go out and buy a NAS server, but I would like to find a way to use the AppleTV and serve the external hard drive as a NAS to a PS3

Any ideas on the matter?