ITunes library on linux server

I am thinking of building server for home use. I already have a windows desktop acting as a server of sorts. I have combined my wife and my itunes libraries and moved it to that machine. On our laptops I have pressed shift, started itunes and then pointed it to the library on the desktop. While I have been researching this linux server idea, I have read tons of people using firefly to stream itunes to another computer. Can I not just move the library from the windows desktop to the linux server and point the laptops and pc to that folder like I did with the laptops and pc desktop?

Does the audio get buffered from my linux iTunes
library host into iTunes on the Powerbook and then
compressed and streamed to the Airport Express via
AirTunes?
Yes
iFelix

Similar Messages

Use macbook to manage 1 itunes library in a server

Hi all, I'm planning my move to MAC but need the answer to some key questions before.
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.
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?
If this information is somewhere else, please point me out and I'll read it.
THANKS in advance for your input, it is greatly appreciated.

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 !

ITunes media on Linux server via SMB - slow imports, changes and stalls

I have an unRAID server (lime-technology.com) which is a Linux based server. I'm getting terrible performance with iTunes. The music playback is fine. But if I import a song file or change any metadata, it has problems. This isn't new, I've read many, many posts complaining about this and other problems concerning SMB shares and file systems. But I think I may be onto something and would like some advice.
This is what I've found so far. Snow Leopard, OS 10.6.x, has a problem with SMB and/or any file system other than HFS+. HFS+ is the common files system for OS X.
There are hundreds of posts on the web complaining about temporary freezes, slowdowns, sometimes crashes with SMB shares and other file systems. I have yet to see Apple acknowledge that there is a problem, but there are a few suggestions out there that seem to have helped people. I'll be trying out some of these this week and post the results here.
From my own observations, specifically with iTunes, I've noticed some strange behavior. Here's my setup. I have an iMac running 10.6.4 (the latest update), the latest iTunes 10. The iTunes app is located on the local internal HD, I have my iTunes library files and all my media on disk 1 of my unRAID server. I'm hard wired to the server via a gigabit router. I have iTunes set to keep the media organized and copy the media files to the server.
When importing a song file into iTunes, the file initially seems to copy at a good rate, the file appears in it's proper place and you can see the size increasing as it copies. Then it stalls for a while, then the name changes to a long hex number for a few seconds and then reverts back to its' normal state. The process can take 30-40 seconds, even with a small song file. I looked at the console and I got the following error message:
Quote
+11/8/10 12:24:28 AM /Applications/iTunes.app/Contents/MacOS/iTunes[2820] Possible unresolved transaction race -103/(Master Music Library/John Lennon/Rock 'N' Roll,(null))+
The same thing happens when I make a change in the metadata. For example, I added onto the name of an album and for each song it changed I got:
Quote
+11/8/10 12:37:36 AM /Applications/iTunes.app/Contents/MacOS/iTunes[2820] Possible unresolved transaction race -103/(Master Music Library/John Lennon/Signature Box Set 5 - Walls And Bridges,(null))+
This happens for each file imported or changed even within iTunes.
I followed the first path in the error message: /Applications/iTunes.app/Contents/MacOS/iTunes[2820].
In the /Applications/iTunes.app/Contents/MacOS/ folder I find the following files:
iTunes
libgnsdk_musicid.1.7.1.dylib
libgnsdk_sdkmanager.1.7.1.dylib
libgnsdk_submit.1.7.1.dylib
where iTunes is a Unix Executable File.
I did some more research and have found some posts about file systems other than HFS+ having trouble with app packages. I believe that all OS X apps are actually packages, like folders, but appearing as a single file. Other file systems don't seem to know what to do with these. There was some talk of "flattening" these app packages, but I haven't gone forward with that yet because I'm not sure I understand it enough yet.
I've also noticed that in the getinfo box under sharing & permissions I usually get "You can read and write", but with apps I get "You have custom access". This was something i had noticed before and thought it was a problem on the server, but I didn't realize it until now, I'm getting the custom access on every app. So I think that's probably normal.
I'm wondering if I'm having a permissions problem with the iTunes Unix Executable File. Right now the permissions are set as follows:
system: Read & Write
admin: Read & Write
everyone: Read only
Maybe it's trying to write to that file or another one and doesn't have the right permissions since the song file is now on the server and that's causing the stalls? I'm over my head here. Anyone have any ideas?

I have the same problem with Excel files on an external drive. The drive is attached to my computer which is on a network and another user accesses the external drive. The problem of "custom access" began after our main server went down. I hope someone can come up with a solution so that I can set the permissions. For now the Excel files are all read only.
Linda

2nd home computer can't see itunes library on network server drive

Ripped CD library and streaming Airplay successfully to home system. Moved itunes library to network drive which is a Seagate BackupPlus connected to ASUS ac-68u router with USB 3.0. Have Apple Media server turned on for the asus router. Used iTunes Edit/Preferences/Advanced to change library location, Checked both “keep itunes media folder organized” and “copy music to itunes media folder when adding to library”. Turned on home sharing, used same apple id on both computers. Original computer (Win8.1) I ripped to can see and use the library fine, but the other one (Win 7 hardwired to router) shows only the 4 sample songs. Probably not permissions because I can use Windows Explorer to look at the cd titles in the Music folder. Aloha, Mike

I may have misunderstood, but the iTunes folder will only be there if you have copied it from your old computer to the iPod first. If you no longer have the old computer see Recover your iTunes library from your iPod or iOS device,
tt2

ITunes Library (*.itl) on server hidden

Hi all
I've got a Home Server (Windows 2008 SBS) where i save all my data, like My Documents and so on.
My Folder "Music" is also there.
Now the problem:
On my PC, I see als the files (iTunes Library.itl, iTunes Library Extras.itdb, iTunes Library Genius.itdb), on my server, in the same folder, I see only iTunes Library Extras.itdb and iTunes Library Genius.itdb. The .itl file is not there.
It seems that iTunes hides this file!
I realy don't know what an other reason for that can be. I can reproduce it as much as I want.
I create a new Library on my PC, start iTunes, and in the same Moment on the server it seems the file is deleted or whatever.
Can someone reproduce this problem? How can I fix that. It makes no sense to leave the files on the server if I can't make a backup of them or what else...
Regards
Pling

I think I am having the same problem. Itunse sees the files plays them but I can not see them in the folder on my airport. In fact a window says the folder is empty.
My post
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=2567074

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, ....

How do I get itunes to show me itunes library on the server

Hello --
I rans itunes on a friends windows 7 computer and one of the selections on the left side of the screen was "servers" --- I have the same server on my home
system, but I don''t see that "server" selection --
It there a setting in iTunes properties to show "servers" when itunes starts up?
Thanks

Post in the iTunes forums.

Loging into home server to set location of itunes library

hi,
i have two apples a macbook and a macbook pro (both with os x 10.5) i recently moved my itunes library from my macbook pro to a home server and it will stream from the server to the macbook pro with no problem.
the itunes library on the server is in a directory owned by a user (me) on the server so i have to login as that user to access it. i put it there because i thought it was safer.
now i am trying to set the location of the itunes library on the server for the macbook to use. but i cannot cannot see the user file tree to click on to log in and set the location of the itunes library on the macbook the way that i did when i set the location of the itunes library on the macbook pro.
i can only see the "shared" directory on the server in the file window using the macbook.
when i clicked on the server using the macbook pro file window it displayed the user file system as well as the shared directories. so i just clicked on the user file system it prompted me for login, i did, i set the itunes library to that location and all was well. and itunes works on the macbook pro streaming from the server.
how can display the file system on server in the file window on the macbook to click on and log into and set the location of the itunes library on the macbook the way i did on the macbook pro?
they are both running os x 10.5 the server is debian linux.
please advise.
thank you.
Message was edited by: zander10
Message was edited by: zander10

I don't have advice for you but would love to learn how to do this. I also have two Macs and am in the process of setting up a Debian (or Ubuntu since I'm new at it) home server. I'll be paying attention to this thread.

Housing my iTunes library on my Windows 2008 R2 Server at home...

Greetings everyone!
I am a complete iOS junkie; needless to say I own multiple devices. And, over time my iTunes library has grown to over 50GB in size. Keeping this in mind, with how often I also change out computers, I decided to host my entire iTunes library on my server. The reason being mainly that the server is on RAID and backs everything up every single night, so if anything were to corrupt I could easily restore.
Now, I have iTunes 10.5 running on a new Core i7 notebook, which is permanently docked on the media shelf - and it's ONLY function is to run iTunes, auto-download all new purchases and updates, and to enable wireless sync to all of my devices in the house. I have a permanently mapped drive going to the server location where the iTunes library is stored...
Well, everything runs fine, however I am a bit surprised that with a very hefty 1GB Cisco network, that when iTunes gets to the sections "determining apps to sync" and then "determining tracks to sync", that these parts of syncing are incredibly slow.... but they do finish correctly.
Are there any thoughts out there on possible speeding up this process, besides having iTunes copy the whole library locally? I suppose if I needed to, I could have the library kept locally, and then a local backup job send a backup to the server nightly - but it was easier this way..... Any thoughts on this are appreciated
Thanks much!

I have CHANGED MY TUNE (LOL) - iTunes is not a happy camper when the installed default iTunes media location is always on mapped server drive. I have simply changed the following:
I allowed iTunes to make local copies of everything to the host machine (locally) and I have changed the default location of iTunes Media to the local drive. No more going over the network.....
I have set an automated backup in Windows every night to run at 1AM which will push it's backup set to the server... this way the library is always backed up. This has cut down by 800% the amount of time that syncing was taking...
OH WELL guys - I suppose I just typed my question too quickly without thinking it through. Thanks - have a great rest-of-the-weekend,
Mike

I want to use my iTunes library with multiple Windows computers

I want to put my entire iTunes library on a server and then allow any of the 4 - windows laptops, 1 - windows desktop, various iPods, an iPad 1, and a Samsung Tablet to gain access to use it. 3 of the laptops are Windows 8, the desktop and one laptop is Windows 7. I don't mind having multiple iTunes accounts set up. I just want to make sure that when a song is purchased or uploaded from a CD or whatever that it all goes into this central location so that everyone has access to it. How do I make that happen?

1. Yes you can do that.
2. But you shouldn't.
3. There's no need to anyway.
This thread
https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3062728?tstart=0
Will tell you more on how, and why not, and why what you want to do is making more for for exactly zero extra capability.
Or, put another way, maybe iPhoto is not the app for you.

Share a large iTunes library with multiple computers

I have a very big itunes library that I share with several computers at my home from a mac mini and lion server. This solution works well in that all my home computers can access the itunes library on the server and play music through the "Shared" feature. The downside of this solution is that if I (or my wife, or my daughter, or my son) want to put some music on our iphones, we have to sync the iphone with the mac mini so that the itunes library is local.
I would like to figure out a way, where all of our music would be availble on all of our macbooks so we could create our own playlists, and sync our iphones.
I have considered iCloud, but I'm not sure how well (or how expensive) it might be to share 250 GB of music on iCloud. Does anyone have suggestions?
Thanks in advance.

I'm sort of in the same boat. We've got an iMac with separate User Accounts set up and are currently sharing the same iTunes and iPhoto libraries along with streaming them to our Apple TV.
Right now I'm the only one with an iPod, however she'll be getting one in a couple of weeks.
We also just picked up a MacBook yesterday and I'd like to be able to sync certain libraries like iTunes and iPhoto so that no content gets duplicated on either the iMac or MacBook and so that we both have access to the current libraries for each program on our iPods and AppleTV.
I have an external hard drive that I back up the iMac on and I assume I could manually keep things current with that but there's got to be an easier way...that's why these are Macs right?
Bill

Using a central itunes library

I operate a Macpro with the itunes library resident on its local harddrive.
I also use an apple tv and a airport connection to a stereo.
I use a timecapsule wireless router with a WD network drive hanging off the time capsule.
Is there a way to have the itunes library resident on the network drive so that it is available to all my devices if the macpro is turned off or if I am using windows on that machine at the time through bootcamp?
Any assistance or guidance would be appreciated.

Hi Tim,
I had this set up before. My iTunes library resided on a SERVER. On my local machine, I made sure that what usually is the iTunes map, instead was a link to the iTunes library on the server.
This does not work very good though. A couple of problems:
1) Two computers can't access the same library at the same time
2) If two users start to change thing in the same library, even though not at the same time, access rights may become "corrupt", i e one file owned by one user and another by another user. This can be solved, but will occur from time to time and be a pain when it happens.
3) If the computer is disconnected from the network, you will not have any music available.
Today I use Home Sharing. Works almost all the way. The server machine is configured to always import all new things on all "clients". In this way I aim to make the server a kind of Master copy. (it has the iTunes library on a external RAID disc!) Then I copy what I daily use to my machine. The same goes for my Wife. In this way we can share all things in the iTunes library.
I have a couple of issues, one just posted here:
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=2423104
Another issue is that Home Sharing is (as far as I know) based on that you from one coputer can IMPORT files from another computer. But I haven't managed to PUT things from my computer onto the server. Thus, since I have a server without screen and it's placed in my basement, I need to run Remote Desktop. Works and I'm lucky to use the program when running my company. Otherwise that's something you need to have.
Also, the server runs Mac OS X Leopard Server! Not the regular client software.
Hope it helps!
Edit: spelling

ITunes and HP MediaSmart server

Hi,
Rob the Elder has indicated that his HP MSS automatically aggregated his iTunes library. My server has been up for about 24hrs and that hasn't happened yet. I set the server to check every 5 min. and set my test machine (via the Control Center) to check every five min. with no success. Any ideas?
Thanks, Mark

The only version I found witch is working fine is iTunes 10.0.1

ITunes library location resetting itself

I have moved my iTunes Library to a server drive so that it can be backed up, but iTunes keeps resetting it to my local hard drive. I had first moved the library several weeks ago, and then accidentally discovered it had changed back to my local hard drive all by itself at some point. I had moved it prior to the recent 6.0 and 6.0.1 releases (currently running 6.0.1), so I thought maybe the upgrade from 5 had reset it. A couple of nights ago, I got it all cleaned up and recombined back on the server drive. I had downloaded the 2 new free downloads this week, and then had numerous podcast updates during the day. That night, I found that again the location of my library has changed back to my local hard drive, and those downloads I had just done had went there. Again, I changed the library location through Preferences (with the "Keep iTunes Music folder oganized" and "Copy files to iTunes Music folder" options checked), and then "Consolidated" the library. Today, at around 4:00 this afternoon, it again switched back to the default C: drive location, when no one was even home. What's up with this? iTunes is supposed to allow changing of the library location, and I have followed the proper procedures, but it will not stay!
Help!

Speculation about future iTunes releases, features, or bug fixes is not allowed to be discussed here, but I can safely say that iTunes 7 won't be out for a long time. We went from 4.9 to 6 in six weeks recently. Highly unusual, and I don't expect that to be repeated anytime soon. However, that doesn't mean version 6 won't be updated.
What's important to remember is that your setup isn't the majority of iTunes' target market. That translates into your feature request or bug fix requirement probably being lower on the ladder of priority.
What would be useful to the iTunes community here is someone to volunteer to do some extensive testing and report the results.
- try multiple network/mount methods
- quit/launch iTunes quickly and see if there's any correlation with the speed of disk access
- make a note of any other processes that may have locked the network volume for a brief period, causing iTunes not to have access

My itunes library was on my PC. About two years ago I switched it to my Seagate server/hardrive. (itunes-preferences-advanced-change library). Last summer (2012) I bought a macbook, which seems to access the seagate server hard drive fine for word docs,

My itunes library was on my PC. About two years ago I switched it to my Seagate server/hardrive. (itunes-preferences-advanced-change library). Last summer (2012) I bought a macbook, which seems to access the seagate server hard drive fine for word docs, excel spreadsheets,etc. It also seems to have started its own library which is not complete. My PC died this summer (I still have it though).
Now when syncing any of the multiple devices (ipods,ipads, iphones) that we have with my mac book, itunes states that "an error occurred" or the "app cannot be found". Itunes wants me to erase the device and sync with my macbook. The message "The iPhone “Renee’s iPhone” is synced with another iTunes library on “Renee PC”. Do you want to erase this iPhone and sync with this iTunes library? An iPhone can be synced with only one iTunes library at a time. Erasing and syncing replaces the contents of this iPhone with the contents of this iTunes library."appears.
Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.
Renee

u can give try to using external enclosre and backup ur files. I hope u will get files back. or using external enclosre with ur hdd boot into Linux and try to mount ur harddisk.
there are multiple no of tutorial to mount apple partion in Linux.

ITunes library on linux server

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