How can I share my iTunes library between my Mac & PC (Music on server)

[edesignuk]

I recently moved my iTunes library over to my w2k3 file server, and it works very well. When opening iTunes on the Mac, the "Music" volume located on my server mounts, and everything works perfectly. What I can't figure out I how to make iTunes on my PC use the same library. I have the "iTunes music folder location" set to the location where my music is (M:\jelliott\iTunes\iTunes Music), but I can't find a way to make iTunes use the library files (iTunes Music Library.xml & iTunes Music Library) on the server, this was easy on the Mac by using an alias, but shortcuts on Windows don't work in the same way.

So basically all I want to know is if anyone knows a way to get iTunes for Windows to use the library files located on the server rather than the local ones (My Documents\My Music\iTunes).

Thanks!

 

[redAPPLE]

have you tried mounting the server drives?

let me think: that would be:

1) right click "my computer".

2) click "map network drive".

3) choose a drive letter and type in the foldername.

4) activate "reconnect at logon".

5) click ok.

 

[edesignuk]

Having the drive available isn't an issue, it's gets mapped when logging on via group policy.

I can access the Music easy enough, what I can't seem to figure out how to do is get iTunes (Windows) to use the Library files on the server.

I need iTunes to look to M:\jelliott\iTunes for the library files rather than to My Documents\My Music\iTunes

 

[jimsowden]

If you run iTunes on your server, the music will always be shared to everycomputer on the network, no configuration needed. It doesn't allow you to tranfer music, just play it.

 

[edesignuk]

If you run iTunes on your server, the music will always be shared to everycomputer on the network, no configuration needed. It doesn't allow you to tranfer music, just play it.

Hmmm....that's not what I'm after. I don't want to have to import using the server. As it is on the Mac (where this is working), when I import the tracks get imported direct to the server, and the xml library file on the server gets updated with the changes. I just need to find a way of making the Windows version of iTunes do the same thing. There must be a way!

 

[jeremy.king]

I need iTunes to look to M:\jelliott\iTunes for the library files rather than to My Documents\My Music\iTunes

Have you tried creating a shortcut called iTunes in My Documents\My Music that points at your M: drive?

Just a thought.

 

[nesbitt_a]

I would be very interested in a solution to this too, as I plan to build myself a new server, Windows Server 2003, and will be storing my itunes library on a network share that I would like to access from anywhere.


Cheers, Andrew.

 

[edesignuk]

Have you tried creating a shortcut called iTunes in My Documents\My Music that points at your M: drive?

Just a thought.

Yes I have, buit as I said shortcuts in Wondows don't work like an alias in OS X, they are their own file type (*.lnk) and so if iTunes was to look for the folder iTunes, but you had a shortcut called iTunes instead, it'd see iTunes.lnk, and so wouldn't work

 

[saabmp3]

Unless iTunes lets you move the location of the library file, I don't think there really is a way to do this. Copying it and just have two copies on windows? There really isnt' a linking feature in windows like there is in Unix.

BEN