Multiple computers, one shared library + music

What's the easiest way to keep a library updated and shared between multiple machines on the same network?
All the files are on my server. I need a library on my server (which is always on) so I can stream itunes from there to my airport express.
However, I'd also like to update the library from my desktop, and add new songs and playlists from there.
If I share the same file, it causes syncing issues.
If I copy the desktop library to the server library that's causing problems a) with locking and b) it means everytime iTunes is opened on the server it rebuilds the library files and so takes 10 minutes to start.
Is there a good solution I'm missing?

The only ones I know about are TuneRanger and SuperSync. They both have a trial. I've been thinking about getting TuneRanger.

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Question about upgrading iTunes multiple computers with shared library

Greetings,
I have a question about upgrading to the current version of iTunes.
Currently, my household uses 3 Mac computers (2 Powerbook 17in laptops and a Mack Mini). We are all (currently) on system 10.4.11 (with iTunes 9.2.1). Between the 3 computers we have a shared iTunes music and video library on a networked high capacity hard drive.
We recently purchased an iPad. In order to make it easy for updates and to use media from our iTunes shared library I decided that we should upgrade the systems on our home computers to Snow Leopard. I have ensured that all the computers have at lease 2 Gb of RAM and adequate hard drive space.
The only possible problem I see is that one of the Powerbook laptops uses the old Motorola processor. (This is one of the last Powerbooks to use that processor.) I don’t think this computer can be upgraded to Snow Leopard.
My question is, if I upgrade 2 of the computers (and iTunes in the process), will I still be able to access the shared iTunes library using the older computer with the older system and iTunes? Will the upgrade process change the iTunes library in such a way that the one older computer will no longer be able to properly access that library?
Are there any other problems I might encounter having a mixed system/iTunes environment?
Thank you,
Tim

iantoole wrote:
Just a thought. Should I somehow open iTunes on MBP2 using MBP1's Library file??
both Macs can access the same library file, however, only one at a time !
to do that, you would ideally have the entire iTunes folder (not just the iTunes music folder) on the external. then, on one Mac after the other, launch iTunes while holding the option key, click on +choose library+ when prompted, and select the iTunes folder on the external.
or, you could have two separate libraries and keep those in sync using third party tools such as Syncopation, TuneRanger or SuperSync.
for purchases from the iTunes store, you could set up _*Home Sharing*_ - it can be configured to automatically transfer new purchases to home shared libraries.
Can I create a script to have MBP1 always save the iTunes Library file on the shared hard drive?
no need.
JGG

2 iPhones, 2 different users, multiple computers, ONE itunes library?

I have one big itunes library that stores both my wife's music and my own music and common music.
My wife has her own laptop and her own desktop computer
I have two laptops and one desktop computer
Our itunes library is on my desktop.
Is it possible for her to sync her iphone with her own playlists, music, videos, pictures and for me to have my own separate playlists, music videos and pictures?
If yes, how do I do this because I've searched and read other posts but I am still not clear.
Thanks in advance!
nevian

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1495

ITunes on multiple computers with shared external library?

Hey guys. I thought I might pick everyone's brain here. I just purchased a MacBook Air with just 128GB SSD but that should be fine as far as local storage. I have an iTunes library that is over 350GB and it grows everyday so even the 256GB storage wouldn't have been enough for me. I have multiple computers and also have an iPod, iPad and iPhone. They all sync via my MacBook through an external hard drive right now and this is the only computer I currently sync to.
Since I have a Mac Mini as well as a iMac, I want to see if there is a way that I can wirelessly share the external hard drive with the itunes library in it and all the computers would be hooked up to it going off that one source and itunes library. I buy music from not only itunes so I import music all the time to itunes and also want to make sure that it will update to the computers that are connected to the library automatically as I wouldn't want any inconsistency's when I need to sync one of my devices to one of my computers.
I hope there is a way to do this, and if there is can you please help me out and explain or point me in the right direction at least to where I can find out about this?
It would be much appreciated. Thank you!

iantoole wrote:
Just a thought. Should I somehow open iTunes on MBP2 using MBP1's Library file??
both Macs can access the same library file, however, only one at a time !
to do that, you would ideally have the entire iTunes folder (not just the iTunes music folder) on the external. then, on one Mac after the other, launch iTunes while holding the option key, click on +choose library+ when prompted, and select the iTunes folder on the external.
or, you could have two separate libraries and keep those in sync using third party tools such as Syncopation, TuneRanger or SuperSync.
for purchases from the iTunes store, you could set up _*Home Sharing*_ - it can be configured to automatically transfer new purchases to home shared libraries.
Can I create a script to have MBP1 always save the iTunes Library file on the shared hard drive?
no need.
JGG

Multiple iPods, multiple computers, one account???

I have four computers and will soon have four iPods (one model #M946OLL, three new Nanos) My main computer has iTunes loaded with all our downloaded and purchased music. Please advise as to how I set up the three new Nanos, each with their own computer, but sharing all the music. Note, all music will be purchased with the same account. Thank you!

Start with these links:
Natalie Beresford: Multiple iPods/iTunes Installations
How to use multiple iPods with one computer
How to share music between different accounts on a single computer
Using iPod with Multiple Computers
Then post back with your desired 'end-state' vision of how all four PCs will work with all four iPods. It may or may not be possible (or even easy, if possible).

Multiple computers, one ipod?

New ipod, probably old problem, appreciate help. Using ipod with two computers, each set to manual organization of music in itunes. Wish to get both computers on "same page" and then auto-sync b/c it is apparently a large annoyance to manual sync. Cannot manage to import (tried using flash drive) library from one computer to other one (so that I can then reverse the process and have two computers with same library).
Dell (notebook and desktop) Windows XP

Have a look at this article in the Apple Knowledge Base for some ideas on how to transfer songs from one computer to another. Let us know if it brings you any combination of joy and/or satisfaction.

Multiple Computers, one main backup drive?

Can multiple computers backup to one main backup drive?
I have a G5 desktop with a 250-GB drive (Mac OS X) and a 750-GB drive (which used to contain iTunes until I moved it to a new iMac).
So I was planning on using the G5 as the drive for Time Machine to back up to. I have my iMac, and two MacBooks using it.
Is this going to be problematical? Such as when more than one machine attempts to make a backup?

Time Machine can back up multiple computers to the same hard drive.
There are two options... one you can physically move the backup hard-drive around among the computers.
The second option is that you can backup over the network as long as all computers involved are running Leopard. To do this connect the backup drive to your G5. Turn on file sharing on the G5 for that drive. On the other computers connect to the shared drive from the Finder sidebar. The run System Preferences and in the Time Machine Preference pane select "Change Disk" and choose the network backup drive as the destination.

HT2688 How can I "click and drag" songs from one shared library to another?

I have home sharing activated on my mom's computer and mine and before the newest version of itunes, we were able to click and drag songs from one users' library into the other. We are not able to do that now and I wanted to know if there was a way to do this in the newest version of itunes.

I am using a Windows computer first off, not sure if that makes a difference, When you say "click import" where is import. I can not find anything that says "import" to click.

Multiple Computers, One Library

I have gone down this road, did my research, and here is where I am at:
1. Desktop was the one that had the files on it. I went ahead and put all files on an NAS and also srore my library files on the NAS. Bottom line, nothing on local client except iTunes software. This works fine, see no issues.
2. Laptop: I know it has to have a locally stored library file as each client has their own in my understanding. I pointed iTunes to the folder that I set up in step 1. It saw the files and created a library from it, etc. All worked fine except I did not find a lot of artwork, it did not seem to get those files, what gives?
3. On laptop, I went ahead and plugged in my sons iPod, it pulled off purchases he made and added them to the music folder that was set up in #1, however, when I start iTunes on desktop, it did not show them in my library. I even did a file>now I forgot what the command was, I am not on a PC with iTues at the moment. Anyway, the only way to see them was to use the add files function from the desktop. Now, I have them. So, what did I do wrong and is there a better way?
Did I do this right? My bottom line is the NAS has all the music and art files on it as well as my master library file. Local clients (laptop for instance) has their local library files, however all the art and music is on the NAS so I can keep that organized. What am I doing wrong or right? I appreciate the help. IOs there a function to keep this all organized?

Similar situation. I have a G5 running Itunes 6.03 and I use it with an M9245LL iPod and works great. For Christmas I have been given a new 60 Gb video iPod, Model No MA147LL; I set it up (also iTunes 6.01.3) on the Gateway 770 GR and it just work great. I have, over a series of months, loaded my entire CD collection, which is roughly 1500 CDs, into Itunes on the G5. That was a LOT of time and work. Now, I say to myself: "Self, wouldn't it be nice if you could get all this music from your G5 to your Windows computer so you can listen to it on your new ipod?"
There seems no clear path to accomplish this other than loading the discs into the Windows PC as well.:-( The Mac and the Gateway are perfectly networked. What are the possibilties of referencing the Mac iTunes folder from the Gateway? (best of all worlds but so far appears un-doable) Suggestions anybody?
Mac G5 Dual Proc 2.0 / Gateway 770 GR Mac OS X (10.4.3) Gateway is XP pro SP2
Mac G5 Dual Proc 2.0 / Gateway 770 GR Mac OS X (10.4.3) Gateway is XP pro SP2
Mac G5 Dual Proc 2.0 / Gateway 770 GR Mac OS X (10.4.3) Gateway is XP pro SP2

ITunes library - two (or more) computers, one external library

Hi, apologies if I've posted in the wrong place. I hope someone will be able to point me in the right direction with this.
Basically, I have two computers, iMac and Powerbook, and want to create a big iTunes library on an external hard drive that I can access on both computers. Home sharing is out, given that they are on different networks.
I've worked out how to do this, but any ratings etc. that I do on one computer aren't recognised on the other.
I am going to keep one copy of the library etc files on my iMac so that iTunes will continue to function without asking me to choose a library every time. But is there any way of keeping a copy of this file on the hard drive too, that will update automatically when any changes have been made to ratings etc?
I know I could just copy it across and overwrite it every time I change anything, but is there any way of doing this more easily?
Many thanks

Normally, I would have said this couldn't be done. But I recently started using a product that might just be able to do it.
The product is Dropbox (http://www.getdropbox.com). Dropbox defines a folder on your hard drive as a syncing item. Anything in that folder will be automatically copied up to Dropbox's servers and then downloaded to every computer registered to the same Dropbox account. Dropbox uses one specific folder to do this, but you can use Symbolic Links to files outside of your Dropbox folder to make those files sync. Dropbox is free up to 2GB.
Theoretically, this should work: load Dropbox on each computer. On your main computer create a symbolic links that point to your iTunes database and preference files. Drop the symbolic links in the Dropbox folder. Go to the other computer and replace the iTunes database and preference files with symbolic links that point to the cooresponding files in your Dropbox. That's it.
As long as only one copy of iTunes is open at any time, this ought to work. I wouldn't try to sync your actual music files through Dropbox, as those will fill up your free space fast. But you said the actual library was going on an external drive that was net accessible from both boxes.
Doc

Problem with automatic downloads on multiple computers with shared storage

I have a main Windows computer I use to rip my CD's, download Digital Copies from DVD's, buy iTunes movies, and sync my iPhone/iPad. My iTunes library points to a shared location on a MediaSmart Windows Home Server as "\\mediasmart\itunes\music". I have turned on automatic downloads on this computer so it downloads music/apps/books if I buy something on one of my other devices.
I also have iTunes installed on the above mentioned MediaSmart Windows Home Server to serve content to my Apple TV's throughout the house and I point the iTunes library to the same location as the above Windows computer - which is local to the MediaSmart server - as "d:\itunes\music". I do this because the main Windows computer is also used as the main system for the house - quicken, AnyDVD, etc. and I don't want to impact performance on that computer if I decide to watch a movie on one of my Apple TV's. Anyway, to avoid having to manually copy music and books to the MediaSmart server, I enabled Automatic Downloads. In short, it works as advertised. Now, if I buy a song on the main Windows computer it gets automatically downloaded to the MediaSmart server and added to the iTunes library in the Purchased playlist - which is exactly where I want it to go. However, I just noticed last night that I now have multiple copies of those songs that are "Automatically Downloaded".
As an example, on the main Windows Computer I recently bought the song Gasoline. It was placed in a folder named "\\mediasmart\itunes\music\kicking harold" and the song was named "01 gasoline.mp4". Then....within a few minutes the MediaSmart iTunes automatically downloaded the song Gasoline and placed it in "d:\itunes\music" BUT named the song "01 gasoline 1.mp4". I figured iTunes would be smart enough to actually check for the physical song before re-downloading it and creating another copy of it.
Is there anyway to fix this or some setting I am missing? I hope the above makes sense.
Thanks for any assistance.

GoHerdIBG wrote:
As an example, on the main Windows Computer I recently bought the song Gasoline. It was placed in a folder named "\\mediasmart\itunes\music\kicking harold" and the song was named "01 gasoline.mp4". Then....within a few minutes the MediaSmart iTunes automatically downloaded the song Gasoline and placed it in "d:\itunes\music" BUT named the song "01 gasoline 1.mp4". I figured iTunes would be smart enough to actually check for the physical song before re-downloading it and creating another copy of it.
Is there anyway to fix this or some setting I am missing? I hope the above makes sense.
Yes it makes sense, and no I don't think you're missing some obvious setting. I think iTunes needs to gain some optimisation in this area. For instance if I make a purchase on my iPad I see iTunes downloading an independent copy instead of letting the download complete on the iPad and then copying it over to the PC via Wi-Fi. Hopefully these issues will get tidied up as iTunes in the Cloud meets the real world, though it probably wouldn't hurt to add your feedback.
tt2

One computer, two different ipods, one shared library?

Is there a way to setup two different ipods on one computer. I currently have my ipod library setup on an external drive. I setup a separate user profile for my husband. I pointed the library to my external drive, but no music files show up on his account. I also tried setting up home sharing....don't see library files under home sharing.....help please!

*How to use multiple iPods with one computer*
The Apple support document How to use multiple iPods with one computer suggests a number of ways. I use method two (Sync with selected playlists) with a slight twist. Rather than regular playlists I set the grouping field to indicate which users should receive which tracks and create smart playlists based on the content of this field.
e.g.
"Alice's Tracks" is "Grouping contains Alice" + "Kind contains audio"
"Bob's Videos" is "Grouping contains Bob" + "Kind does not contain audio"
Tracks that both Alice & Bob want on their iPods have the grouping set to "Alice/Bob"
etc.
I currently manage our family's five iPods using this system, each getting a different selection to suit their tastes and the capacity of their iPod. An advantage of using the grouping field is that it is stored in file tags (for non-wav audio files anyway) so that it is relatively easy to recreate the playlists should the iTunes library get trashed. Also useful if you move files about manually as playlist membership is preserved when you delete & re-import the tracks.
tt2

Multiple Users, one computer, share music?

Hello! We have several users on one computer, and 1 external hard drive connected. The internal drive isn't very big, the computer is pretty old. There are a lot of audio files on the external that all the users would like to have in their respective iTunes library (and on their iPods). Can this be done? and how? Is this even a Home Sharing problem? If not, I'm sorry.
Thank you!
Joanna

On a Mac, you should be able to stream music from one user account to another via Home Sharing. (That way, you can just maintain one set of content files in one user account on the Mac.)
Try Chris's instructions from the following post:
iTunes Home Sharing now works between users on same computer

2 Computers - One iTunes Library - is this possible?

I have an iMac and a MacBook. Both have iTunes. Most of my music is on the iMac, but I occasionally purchase music on the MacBook. Both computers are usually used at home but in different locations and many times for different purposes. However, I do want to listen to music on both.
With the new Airport Extreme 802.11n will it be possible to consolidate my music on an AirDisk (hard drive attached to the base station) and share the exact same library between 2 computers?
Right now I can of course share libraries between the 2 computers but the libraries are completely separate. I'd like to consolidate to one.
Thanks for any information you have.

Curly Girl
This is definitely possible.
I have moved my library to my external hard drive following this procedure
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=301748
Then I just changed the location of the library on the second computer and compacted.
At the moment i have mixed p.c. / Mac network - second mac gets back from the doctors tomorrow and i will experiment more.
The thing I can't do is have the p.c. update when i change the library via the mac and visa-versa , still working on that one
I think it would be easy to create a script/auto to sync the two library file on each mac, hopefully someone else here with greater knowledge can help
Good luck
MacBook (Black) Mac OS X (10.4.8)

Can see but not connect to one shared library

On my list of shared libraries on my network in iTunes I can see all of the ones that are capable of sharing. However with one of them when I select it, it loads for a few seconds but then goes straight back to the main library with no error message. All of the other libraries work fine.
Please help.

I'm having this exact same problem. Can initially see a shared playlist/library, and it will even initiate playing, but a few seconds later the connection disappears. I've turned off my firewall and opened up TCP/UDP ports, but still have this problem.
I'm running iTunes 7.1.1.5 and Windows XP SP2.

Multiple computers, one shared library + music

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