Best Solution for Streaming/Sharing itunes between two macs

[jdl8422]

I have a Mac Pro which houses my itunes library. I recently purchsed a new plasma home theater, I am looking to buy a Mac Mini for surfing the net and streaming/ sharing my itunes between the two computers. My biggest concern is being able to only update the itunes on the Mac Pro. I dont want to have two identical itunes librarys and if I buy a new CD I have to rip it and put it on both. Im sure its possible to share the itunes library, but im not sure how. Also, is it possible to do an auto update on the mac mini from the mac pro? Thanks, hope its not confusing lol

 

[Alrescha]

built into iTunes

iTunes/Preferences/Sharing/Share My Library and/or Look for Shared Libraries

Unless there is something else you want it to do?

A.

 

[jdl8422]

my main goal is to have two identical libraries but have the mac mini be a read only and have all the updating/modifing done on the Mac Pro. And, if I do update or modify the Mac Pro then the mini will auto update.

 

[prostuff1]

my main goal is to have two identical libraries but have the mac mini be a read only and have all the updating/modifing done on the Mac Pro. And, if I do update or modify the Mac Pro then the mini will auto update.

That takes a little more effort as there are files that each computer keeps track of so that they know what playlist exist and stuff.

You easiest opetion is to just enable sharing on the MacPro and be done with it. Otherwise you are going to have to mess with moving the iTunes folder along with some of the files, then pointing the Mac Mini to that folder and make sure it is read only for the Mini. You will probably have to do something with the redirection of the other files in the iTunes folder also.

 

[jhsfosho]

Prostuff1 has the best solution, especially since you want to have the mini have a read-only library.

 

[soLoredd]

Get the app "Syncopation". It has a 30 day demo. Install it on both Macs and on your Mini sync it to your Pro. This will copy all of your Pro iTunes media to the Mini, but let you keep a library for both. You can sync the other way if you add stuff to the Mini.

That's how I use my setup. MBP has my iTunes library, Mini is setup for iTunes server to AppleTV. On the Mini, every couple days, I tell Syncopation to add all files from MBP. Bam! Everything is available on all units now, as the Mini has it's library shared on my network.

Nevermind: re-read your post and you said you don't want identical libraries. Sounds like you just need to share your Mac Pro library on the network.

 

[jdl8422]

I would have two libraries but my itunes on the Mac Pro is pushing 1TB with DVD rips and music. I cant afford that many hard drives for both lol.