OS X accessing iTunes Library inside Parallels-Windows

Question

Hello,
over the last year I have built up quite a big iTunes library with content from the iTunes store (950GB, + approx. 25GB each month).
(Its a family library, no addicts at work here )
Now I need a way to securely store my files, since they have outgrown my iMac's HDD.
I want full redundancy (all data must exist on at least two drives) and adequate speed (should allow FullHD streaming over Gigabit Ethernet) at the lowest cost possible.
However, I dont need off-site redundancy. If my house burns down, I dont care about my movies.
Since I am not aware of a software solution for MacOS X, I had one crazy idea.
Use the oldest Intel Mac Pro, run an iTunes Server in Windows Home Server in Parallels and: Voila.
My reasoning here is this:
The old Intel Mac Pro's are available fairly cheap.
They have plenty of SATA-connectors (I want at least 3TB, not possible in Mac Mini or iMac).
They deliver great streaming performance.
Windows Home Server stores each file on two different physical drives.
However, they are all combined to one big logical drive and all the "cloning" happens in the background.
Almost like RAID 5, just at file-level and not KB-level.
Exclusions and rules can be specified, too. Its just what I need.
I could not find another solution that promised the same bang for the buck.
OS X does not support software RAID 5.
When hardware RAID 5 controller-card fails all data goes out the window, unless a compatible card is installed... Thats a No-Go.
The reason for a Mac OS host system would be to allow for remote access via the internet (screen sharing).
Also, WHS could just run in the background inside Parallels and the Mac OS could be used as an AppleTV replacement.
(Nice AppleTV GUI's for Frontrow are available)
Does this sound like it would work?
Are there any solutions that are more straightforward and dont require Windows?
The only thing that worries me is this:
WHS stores everything on NTFS partitions.
If I want to add data (say, a movie) to the central library, how could I get it into Windows without using USB-drives or other crazy solutions?
And also: Would Mac OS be able to acces the library directly, or would it have to go through the network (two network cards would be no problem).
Thanks for any comments.
Message was edited by: Jokener

Answer 1

I ran into an issue with the "Choose Library" step.
When I went into the folders to find the iTunes Library file, it wasn't there. So, re-started in Mac just to make sure I hadn't messed with that file location. Sure enough, the file was actually there, but the filename extension is different in Windows 7 and Mac - I think that's why it's not visible for me to select. I think the Mac is *.itdb, and the file type that it was looking for in Windows was *.itl
I was unable to get Windows to search for another file type.
So, then I tried to create a new library, but that didn't work because there was no music in the new location, and I couldn't save a new library into that folder.
I'm going to go play with it now to see if I can just copy the actual music files into the default location in Windows and create a new library.
Your post was really helpful, and it got me started!
Thanks!
Message was edited by: TheBeBlend