Moving ITunes to a NAS

Tomorrow I am getting a Synology 213j 2 bay NAS, that comes with their version 5.0 DSM software. I will have 2 x @TB drives installed.
My intention is to replace all of the functionality of my Mac Mini Mavericks server. This server was set up as my primary DNS zone, I have a domain name and I was using it (as a hobby) to do Profile Management for our Macbook, IPads and IPhones. Upgrading from ML to Mavericks screwed up my Open Directory setup somehow, and I can no longer add in Local Network users, so my dream of logging in anywhere and having access to a roaming profile has been dashed. I throw in the towel on being a Mac Network Administrator and I am giving most of my server jobs to the NAS.
Hopefully I can get some tips from the community on how to successfully set up media storage on the new toy, video, photos and music. I know it can be a DNS server, so I should be able to point my domain name at it and get access to my system via the internet still. I have SSL certificates now for the Mini, and I may as well use them for this system.
I am hoping to avoid any mistakes in setup, I don't want to have lots of duplicated work. Perhaps you can tell me how you laid out your file system so that My Macbook and Imac, and the new downgraded Mini can all access the same files without stepping on each others' toes.

I know almost nothing about fancy network protocols. I do know what I have read here about NAS issues and general library sharing.
First, NAS add a level of complexity iTunes does not seem to be able to handle. I don't know what is tested when iTunes is developed but browse the forum here and you will see quite a number of posts where people have NAS and misbehaving iTunes. Of course given the nature of the forum there aren't many posts saying, "NAS and iTunes work great, no problems!"
In some cases people put just media on the NAS and keep the library files on their computer. This seems to be the cause of most problems because iTunes somehow loses the location link to the files over all the network protocol. Not all the time, just from what I have seen from posts here. A month or so ago there was a spate of NAS posts where this happened and for some reason iTunes wasn't able to automatically rebuild the links after finding just one track which meant the people had to rebuild their libraries.
You may also end up not being able to have it all. If you want each computer to be able to share a library you can do so by having each one point to the library file on the NAS, but remember only one open copy of iTunes can use that file at any one time. The alternative is to have a library for each computer. This is where is starts getting complicated and I am going to get tired of typing any moment now. You could keep the library files on the computer and store media-only on the NAS,at peril mentioned earlier. Or you could try keeping each computer's library on the NAS with multiple library files sharing the same media collection. I have no experience with that but it may help the split library risk by at least making sure they are on the same drive.
However, remember, iTunes does not "inventory" the media folder. If you add a new track in one library it will not update in the others unless you manually add it. However, there may be things you can do with Home Sharing and then again depending upon whether or not you are using iTunes Store or are getting your media elsewhere.
Oh, no sleep, no power saving. That for sure is a problem with iTunes and external drives.
What are the iTunes library files? - http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1660
More on iTunes library files and what they do - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ITunes#Media_management
What are all those iTunes files? - http://www.macworld.com/article/139974/2009/04/itunes_files.html
Where are my iTunes files located? - http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1391

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Moving iTunes to NAS or Drobo

I'm considering moving iTunes to my Drobo and would like to know if anyone has done this by moving whole contents of iTunes folder and then replacing the contents on the Mac with Aliases to all files and folders in new location?
Aliases or Symbolic Links?

i know apple has a help disk on your system disk that carries all personal data over from old system to newly installed systems, like playlists, email setting, bookmarks, etc. but i don't know how it would work with non apple environments. ask your apple dealer. yeah so what's the alternative. thinking outside 'the box', is there any standalone digital player stereo system available now that does not require computer hookup, that does not need stupid operating systems, that does not need software updates, that does not try to sell you something each step of the way, that can record, play, download, music cds, vinyl, aac and mp3, organize my library, 50,000-100,000 songs and just let me listen to my amazing music? i am tired of pulling five tons of software around just to hear songs. ipod it too small and the earplugs kill your eardrums. i remember hi-fidelity stereo on a vinyl sound surround system. now that was phaaaaat! mac osx is too slow. aren't nas and drobo still computer software? they actually look like external drives for computer. i looked them up but very little that makes sense to me out there. i'm talking about a standard music player with a built in 1 terabyte, oh ****, make it 10 terabyte storage system.

Moving itunes from NAS to computer

Dear Reader,
Some months ago i transfered my ITunes to my NAS Drive on the LAN. as I needed much more space that I had on my computer. I was a long painful move, but i got ti to work i the end
Kmow I find I cannot sysnchronise with my iphone and outlook because the NAS seems to be too slow,so a syschronishation takes 12-14 minutes instreat of 2-3.I when iI use the iPhone and Outlook for work.
I would like to use Home Sharning but once putting my itunes on my desk top I seemed to lost almost everything alhough most of my deskop music is present and all of my applications have disappeared.
I have not deleted any of the files on my NAS drive. I have two other compiuters I would like to share itunes with.
I would appreciate any help I could get.
Youyrs faithfulluy,
Russell
Sydney

I am a fitness instructor with the same problem! HELP US PLEASE!

How i connect iBooks with itunes on my nas?

How i connect iBooks with itunes on my nas?

I have been suckered by this problem too. I had all my e-books, mostly PDFs, saved on my NAS and available in iTunes. I wanted to access them from my old iMac with OS X 10.6.8 and my new iMac with OS X 10.9. But when the files were moved to iBooks, they disappeared from the NAS and now I'm in a mess. Thanks, Apple :-(

I moved itunes file to external hard drive and want to move the file on my pc to recycle bin. When I move i get an error message that it cannot delete ituneshelper.dll access is denied. Can I move that file to the recycle bin?

I am trying to free up space on my pc and moving itunes files to external hard drive. I have followed instructions and believe I have file copied to new drive, but I am having trouble moving file to recycle bin as the instructions say. I am getting the following error message: cannot delete ituneshelper.dll:access denied, make sure disk is not full or write protected and file not in use. I know the file is not in use when trying to move. Any help would be most appreciated. I am on Windows XP.

Yes. And you should not have moved that folder. Put it back. To move your iTunes library move the folder from User's Music.
tt2

Moving iTunes from PC to Mac - problem...

When moving my iTunes folder from PC to Mac (via hard drive), the following error message appears: The operation can’t be completed because you don’t have permission to access some of the items". Anyone come across this before?

My feeling is there isn't much you can do about it since standard things such as changing file permissions won't work if you can't write to the drive. You could try formatting the drive to FAT so both the PC and Mac can use it (as long as you don't have any huge files). Alternatively, if you have a smaller flash drive formatted FAT you can move the library in groups of folders as long as you make sure it all goes back together properly again.
Here's my standard post on moving libraries:
If you use iTunes' default preferences settings: Copy the entire iTunes folder (and in doing so all its subfolders and files) intact to the other drive. Open iTunes and immediately hold down the option (alt) key (shift on Windows) so you get a prompt to select a library, then guide it to the 'iTunes Library.itl' file in the moved iTunes folder.
If you put the copied iTunes folder in the default location of Macintosh HD > Users > *User Name* > Music then you don't even need to start with the option key held down, iTunes will automatically look for it there. (Make sure there isn't anything already in the iTunes folder there that you want to keep since you will be replacing it with the one you are moving.)
Longer answers if for any reason you do not think all library files are inside your iTunes folder (changed preferences settings at some point):
iTunes: How to move [or copy] your music [library] to a new computer [or another drive] - http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4527 - a somewhat bewildering and not always easily understandable set of options.
For the record there's this reference for iTunes 11 but it really doesn't strike me as having the specifics you need. iTunes 11 for Mac: Move your library to another computer - http://support.apple.com/kb/PH12168
2011 ilounge article: Transferring your iTunes library - http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/articles/comments/moving-your-itunes-library-to -a-new-hard-drive/ - An article with good background information (similar to the links above), particularly if you are not sure your media files are all grouped for quick answer above. Unfortunately under the single term "transferring library" it describes two very different moves; relocating just your media (not really transferring your library and not recommended unless you really need this configuration), and relocating media+database (really your whole "library"). Make sure you understand the difference before electing to move only media.
Windows users see tip at: https://discussions.apple.com/message/18879381

Moved iTunes library to an ext hard drive to make space on my int drive... Followed steps from apple. Now I cannot access my music... It says: "File could not be used because the original file cannot be found. Would you like to locate it?"

Moved iTunes library to an ext hard drive to make space on my int drive... Followed steps from apple. Now I cannot access my music... It says: "File could not be used because the original file cannot be found. Would you like to locate it?"
I moved my iTunes library to my external hard drive some time ago and I followed the directions listed here on the apple support page. It did copy my library and now is on my hard drive... I can open iTunes and use it to sync all of my devices but I would like to play my music... I can see all of my music files but can not play them if I click on an album or song it says the following: "(file name) could not be used because the original file cannot be found. Would you like to locate it?" I click locate but do not know where to go from there? I need a way to access all files and not to hunt down one at a time on my hard drive... I am pretty sure I deleted the original library to make space on my internal drive which was the reason for moving it. I have tried and tried to fix it and do not have a lot of time to do so with a one and two year old at my house who do not like it whenI sit down at my computer. What to do??? Any help is much appreciated!!!

See Make a split library portable. Move all of the bits of the library together in the the correct shape and it should work. Or undo exactly what you did and then start over.
If you're a former Windows user don't try merging two folders together that have the same name by dropping one into the same folders as the other, as that goes badly on a Mac.
tt2

I have followed Apple support Article HT4527 for moving itunes but have insufficient space on my new PC for the complete library of. How can I leave music on the external HDD but associate the content on my external HDD with my pc itunes when it is open?

I have followed the Apple Support Section Article HT 4527 and have moved itunes media onto an external Hard Drive. The complete file is 103GB in size.
I have downloaded the latest itunes onto my new PC.
When I follow the article and try moving the itunes file onto the new PC, I am informed that there is insufficient space on my new PC.
In any case, like my old system, I want to leave my music on the external HDD and just have the music library displayed in itunes when I click on the "Music" folder.
How can I get itunes on the new computer to interogate my external HDD to just list the library and leave the music on the external HDD?

you can do this by keeping the external hard drive connected and doing the following
-hold shift key down on computer while opening iTunes and a prompt will appear to choose a library
-select choose library, iTunes should bring up your explorer windows where you can search for the external HD
-after you find the external HD find the iTunes folder you just copied to it
-after opening the iTunes folder look for the file that says iTunes library.itl or if you can't see that extenstion just look for a document looking thing in the iTunes folder that shows up as a database file
-double click the database file and boom iTunes should load your library without having to copy it to the computer
PS: do make sure that if you are going to do it this way, make sure that the external HD is connected at all times, because if you don't then you will get exclamation marks next to your iTunes songs
double PS: if you are unsure how to find out if the iTunes library file is a database file just right click it and choose properties and under the type it should say database file
hope this helps:)

I moved iTunes folder location, now all my personal song ratings and playlists are gone. How can I get them back? All the iTunes files are intact, just in a new location. Running iTunes 11.1.5.5

I moved iTunes folder location, now all my personal song ratings and playlists are gone. How can I get them back? All the iTunes files are intact, just in a new location. Running iTunes 11.1.5.5 on Windows 7

Put everything back the way it was.
Them move the folder correctly.
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1364

HT203167 Moved iTunes library from one computer to another using external hard drive. Cannot play many files. Says they are missing but locates them in an archive file but still won't play them. Are the files themselves part of the .itl files?

Moved iTunes library from old computer (PC Windows 7) to new (PC Window 8) using external hard drive. Library listing shows all music but can only play a fraction of it. On the ones it cannot play it asks to locate, then refers to an archived version (an .itl file), and still cannot play them. Do I just need to copy the archived .itl over, or is that not where the actual media are (do the actual media files even exist on the new computer?)? Any advice or information on this would be helpful.

*Also...is there any way I can filter out all the tracks with the ! so I can delete the unplaying copies as they're taking up room in my iTunes? I know how to find duplicates, but then I have to go and delete each one individually...*
*Thank you!*

Moving Itunes library to an external drive...how to?

I'd like to make room on my hard drive -- it's only 15GB. My Itunes and iphoto take up about 5gb by themselves. I'd like to move them to an external drive. I ain't the smartest cookie....is this easy to do?....moving the libraries that is?

I moved iTunes to an external hard drive a while ago. The move (using the above links) worked fine but the need to ensure the external drive was available whenever iTunes was launched was a major nuisance. I ended up keeping iTunes on the main hard drive and moving less critical stuff to the external drive. The same goes for iPhoto.
BTW, I recently upgraded my internal hard drive from 80Gb to 120Gb. Apple's Migration Assistant was brillant for doing this. I temporarily put the old hard disk in my external drive case and Tiger found the system and migrated apps and data with very few problems. I would recommend looking at this option for coping with ever-increasing iTunes storage demands rather than going to an external hard drive.

Since I moved ITunes media folder to an external bkp unit upload of my home shared videos on Apple TV is very slow. Is there anything I can do?

Since I moved ITunes media folder to an external bkp unit, Apple Tv uploads my shared videos very slowly. Is there anything I can do?

USB 3 should be more than enough for what you want.
I don't know anything about Pinnacle but iMovie (assuming you are going default) does produce movies with a datarate of around 10 Mbps, which is quite high in comparison to iTunes movies from the iTunes Store. I don't know if you might want to try custom exports.
Although saying that I have plenty of movies at around 10 Mbps on my eSATA external which doesn't have any problems.

HT1364 If I already moved Itunes media folder to external drive and now music is not matching up in iTunes?

Dear Itunes Community~
This is my first time using glad you are here, but all the passwords!!
Question/Quandry:
If I already moved Itunes media folder to my external drive and now my music is not matching up in iTunes, what should I do? I have tried my solution !?, and now I have 17,000 songs, instead of 9,000!
Should I just uninstall Itunes, and then reinstall Itunes, and let it do it's thing, and then figure out how to move to the external hard drive later?
Help, I screwed it up all on my own!
Any/all help and Itunes educated suggestions appreciated!
Thank you very much,
Doris =:o
PS ~~ Is there anyway to easily delete duplicates?? Seems not?

I have a very similar problem. Hope I don't confuse people trying to help us since the solutions may be different.
I had my iTunes path directed to a 2nd internal hard drive. Everything was working fine - except I found that purchased Apps were still being downloaded to the Mobile Applications folder on my main hard drive instead of the 2nd internal drive. I decided to retry directing the iTunes path to my 2nd internal drive, hoping that might get iTunes to save my Apps there. Big Mistake. Suddenly, there were no Apps showing in my iTunes Library Apps window at all. I verified the downloaded apps are still in my main hard drive's Mobile Applications folder, but I cannot get iTunes to display them in my Apps Library window anymore.
I decided to try downloading a new app and, sure enough, iTunes once again downloaded it into the very same Mobile Applications folder on my main hard drive, where all my (now orphaned) original apps are, but the only one iTunes will only display in my Apps window is the new one. I read you can redownload purchased apps, but my apps are not missing. iTunes just won't display them in the Apps window anymore.

Moved itunes to external hard drive - Keep getting ipod recovery/ restore

I moved itunes to an external hard drive and have had problems ever since. My itunes application seems to be fine but it keeps telling me that I cannot use itunes until I restore the ipod. I've followed the instructions to both restore AND change drive but nothing is working. Any suggestions anyone? Thx!

Thanks so much for taking the time to help me. I followed the instructions in the post, and was able to recover a substantial part of my library in iTunes. But now I'm worried that when I synch my iPod to iTunes, it will reduce the content on the iPod to match iTunes. I searched more in the discussions, and see that I might be able to use 3rd party software to copy from iPod to iTunes. any advice if I go that route? Thanks again!

Moved Itunes to external hard drive & now Ipod not showing up in itunes?

I recently installed an external hard drive and moved Itunes and all my music to it. Now when I plug in my Ipod, Itunes doesn't recognize it. And it doesn't show up in my computer, but the pod says its "connected". It does show up in the USB devices and so does the hard drive, but they are listed seperately. But both devices are plugged into the same USB spliter.
what is happening?
help!!!

Hi, BreezerSB2.
It sounds like you may not have followed the instructions described in this article in the Apple Knowledge Base.
If that's not possible - or you don't want to do so - and the music files are in fact on your external drive, you can add them to your iTunes Library by referring to this article 's Add to Library section.

Moving ITunes to a NAS

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