ITunes Library on Home Server

I'd like to manage and maintain a single iTunes library on my home server and provide access to iTunes operating in two PCs and a Mac. The music files themselves (~13,000) are stored on the server; there is no music on the computers. The iTunes library files (.itl and/or .xml -- I'm not sure which file does what) on each of the computers know where the music is stored on the server. Each of the computer's iTunes streams music from the server independently of the other computers. Virtually all of my music has been ripped from CDs. I've only bought and downloaded a dozen tunes or so, and those are authorized on all three computers.
As it is, I have virtually identical copies of the iTunes library files on each computer. I frequently update the information in the library files (new playlists, ratings, artwork, composer data, etc.) on one PC, and it's a pain to update the other two sets of library files to match. I'm happy for the library information (playlists, ratings, etc.) to be the same on all three computers. I.e., I have no need or desire for different playlists, ratings, etc. on each computer.
So, I'd like to store the .itl and .xml music library files on the server too.
My question is: How does one get iTunes to use .itl and .xml music library files stored in some location other than the iTunes default storage location for its library files, e.g., c:/Users/<user>/My Music/iTunes? How do I get the iTunes on the PCs and on the Mac to look somewhere else [on the server] for its music library files?
I believe that the Edit/Preferences/Advanced "media folder location" option is just that -- the location of the media files themselves, not the location of the library files.
Thanks for any help you can provide.
-- Bill

Nevermind.
I figured out how to get iTunes to use a library on the server rather than the one on the local computer, but it turns out that the iTunes on different computers cannot simultaneously use a single library. Any one of them can, but the others are locked out so long as the first iTunes is running. I suppose this is because iTunes is constantly updating the library with play counts, etc. I wondered how that would work, and now I know -- it won't.
So, in my situation I'm resigned to having to "copy" the two library files to the other two computers from time to time. Oh well, ....

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See iTunes 9- Understanding Home Sharing and iTunes- Troubleshooting Home Sharing. Also, open iTunes, select iTunes Help from the Help menu and search for "home shar."

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Hi all, I'm planning my move to MAC but need the answer to some key questions before.
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Jorge83 wrote:
Hi all, I'm planning my move to MAC but need the answer to some key questions before.
a wise choice, Jorge83 ! welcome to Apple discussions and the bright side of computing.
I'm planning on having a itunes installed on a mac mini (server) connected to an external USB hard-drive holding all my music. I don't want to use this server itself (via mouse, keyboard, screen), I want to use it exclusively via my macbook/wifi (which will hold no music itself).
Is this possible? to have only one itunes library in the server and fully use and manage it via the macbook. Also I would need to move files and run programs on the server via macbook.
yes. you may need to have mouse, keyboard and monitor connected to the mini for the initial setup. but once that is done, you can access/control the mini vis +screen sharing+ from your MacBook.
To throw in another variable... what if instead of a mac mini server, it was a regular PC with windows XP? would all this be possible too?
it would not be a simple as with the mini (there's no screen sharing possible between Mac and PC AFAIK) but it should be an option, yes. i can't provide any steps for that scenario but perhaps another user can.
good luck and happy holidays !

Is there any way to hide certain artists/albums in my iTunes library from Home Sharing?

Is there any way I can hide some of my music from other people, like my sister, while they are accessing my iTunes library with Home Sharing?
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It's not an ideal solution ... but have you considered creating a second library (called, say, "Private Library") containing just the personal recordings?
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... and click OK.
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Message was edited by: postrooms

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http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1589
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