Best location for iTunes media?

[sampdoria]

I currently have my iTunes media stored in my Time Capsule which is working as a NAS. Looking in the future to relocate my iTunes media to an external drive, just because I'd feel more comfortable having it external vs the internal hd of the Time Capsule. Seems like I have 3 options for where to connect the external drive:

1. Time Capsule's USB port.
2. Time Capsule's LAN port.
3. USB (or FW) port of an iTunes Server by way of a nettop (e.g. Mac Mini) which would be connected to the Time Capsue's LAN port.

I'm attracted by Option 3 to get an "always on" iTunes Server out of it (why Apple hasn't provided an iTunes server yet is mystifying). But would consider keeping it as I have it now or the other two options if they will deliver faster WiFi streaming speeds to ATV2. Your thoughts and suggestions on these options. What are some good alternates to a Mac Mini for just running as an iTunes server? Thanks in advance!

 

[craigsharp]

Realistically you can use any inexpensive PC to do the trick... as long as the specs are enough to run iTunes as all the video processing is done at the ATV2... I personally have my iTunes Library on a 1TB FreeNAS Server that I used my wife's OLD dell Dimension 520C(?) to build and my Main PC to leave iTunes on all the time... I can stream my videos wired to my ATV2 or my macbook... no complaints thus far...

 

[sampdoria]

Realistically you can use any inexpensive PC to do the trick... as long as the specs are enough to run iTunes as all the video processing is done at the ATV2

Ok, I wasn't sure which was doing the video/audio processing when streaming to ATV2- iTunes or ATV2. So a Mac Mini to just run iTunes is a bit overkill then. Will any iTunes server wake from sleep when ATV2 looks for it? What about when streaming audio to speakers on Airport Express (via AirPlay), which does the processing iTunes or AirPort Express?

Anyone have thoughts on Options 1 and 2?

 

[GoTerps]

Itunes Externally...

I have a fairly large library (170GB) and am looking for the best option as well. I bought a NAS device (Dlink - DNS 321) awhile ago and it doesn't like to play with MAC's well.

I have not yet found a good solution to house my iTunes library externally.

This is troubling in the fact that I have my library on multiple computers taking up space and none of them appear to synched. Some will/won't play certain songs because they were downloaded with either my or my wife's apple id and authorization has become an issue...good god apple we are all in the same house, sharing computers. Some of us have more than 5 computers...

What are the best options to house iTunes externally to be accessed by multiple machines and by TV for streaming?

Sometimes even MAC's can be frustrating!
thanks

 

[sampdoria]

I have a fairly large library (170GB) and am looking for the best option as well. I bought a NAS device (Dlink - DNS 321) awhile ago and it doesn't like to play with MAC's well.

I have not yet found a good solution to house my iTunes library externally.

This is troubling in the fact that I have my library on multiple computers taking up space and none of them appear to synched. Some will/won't play certain songs because they were downloaded with either my or my wife's apple id and authorization has become an issue...good god apple we are all in the same house, sharing computers. Some of us have more than 5 computers...

What are the best options to house iTunes externally to be accessed by multiple machines and by TV for streaming?

Sometimes even MAC's can be frustrating!
thanks

See my response in this other thread. Hope this helps:

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1289434/

 

[Sirolway]

There's the Apple way & then there's the hard way ...

Apple don't make a NAS & don't sell any NAS in their stores - avoid NAS with Mac! (Sure that will get a few responses).

Your best bet is a hard disk in a Mac / PC, or an external disk pref via Firewire 800

 

[marzer]

avoid NAS with Mac! (Sure that will get a few responses).

Sure it's going to get a few responses, it totaly baseless. 1) Apple DOES make a NAS, it's called Time Capsule. 2) There's plenty of people successfully using NAS devices with Mac, including myself.

 

[craigsharp]

FreeNAS worked great up until they Apple decided to beef up security for AFP... Just a simple workaround and all is well with the world now...