Sharing 1 iTunes library on a network

I have recently added a new Airport Extreme (n) to my setup and now have a usb hard drive.
I want to use this drive to host my itunes library and therefore make it always available to the computers in our house.
We have 2 macs (10.4.8) and 1 pc (running xp sp2)
I have managed to transfer the music library from my MacBook to the network drive and can play music ok.
The other computers cannot see the library in itunes.
Can someone please give me some guidence on what to do, I have searched this forum but can't see an answer that t fits ( given my limited abilities)
Thanks in advance.
Cheers
Powerbook G4 15' MacBook (Black) Mac OS X (10.4.8)

Not easy because in order to open just one library file you would have to be running the same version of iTunes on all computers which would be limited to the lowest version supported by your computers (the G3). Try to open a iTunes 10 library with 9.2.1 and it will refuse. This in turn might not support your equipment. Even if you can do this you would have to make sure only one copy of iTunes was running because the library file cannot be opened by multiple copies of iTunes at the same time.

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Sharing iTunes library on a network disk from 2 macs on same network

Hi all,
I'm ready to significantly change my network to incorporate an Airport Extreme, an iMac and a MacMini. I'd like to be able to do the following:
1. Install a network disk of 1Tb (connected with RJ45 as any network disk) to hold an iTunes Library
2. Connect a MacMini to the network, to my home-theatre system and to my flat-panel TV and have iTunes installed on that MacMini. This iTunes would go and get the library from the network disk.
3. Connect an iMac to the network and have iTunes installed on that MacMini. This iTunes would ALSO go and get the SAME library from the network disk.
Would that work?
If yes, would you have any recommendations?
If no, how would you suggest doing that?
Thanks.
Alain.

I pretty much am looking for the same answer. Until we buy an external HD to connect to our airport extreme, I am trying to have the laptop access the iTunes folder on the mac mini. I had no problem choosing the correct folder but then iTunes asked me if it was ok to move & organize the folder. I didn't like the sound of that so I cancelled.

Sharing iTunes library between 2 computers and 2 iPods via network disk?

Hi,
Me and the missus each got a laptop -hers a PC and mine a MacBook.
We both use iTunes and we've both got an iPod.
Recently I bought an Aiport Express and hooked it up with a 1TB WD MyBook -is there any way that we can share our iTunes library via the network disk, so that we can 1. have full read/write access from both laptops and 2. both sync our iPods?
Furthermore, is there a way for iTunes to monitor the music folder, so instead of me dragging music into iTunes (e.g. CD's that were ripped with other software than iTunes) iTunes would just update every once in a while, to check for new mp3's (kinda like Picasa does with pictures)?
More questions most likely will pop up, but this is the most pressing ones.
Thanks in advance
/Jakob F.

*is there a way for iTunes to monitor the music folder, so instead of me dragging music into iTunes*
iTunes doesn't support folder watching, anything you add to a folder on your hard drive has to be manually added to the iTunes Library: Adding Content to iTunes
You could have a look at this Applescript for folder watching on a Mac: Doug's Applescripts - Folder Actions and iTunes or this program for Windows: iTunes Folder Watch for Windows
You'd need to do a deeper bit of research on both as I don't know if either would work from a folder that's effectively not on either computer

Can two computers use same iTunes library on a network drive?

Can two computers use directly (rather than share) the same iTunes library on a network drive?
My media library is on a network drive attached to my Airport Extreme. Right now I share the library with my desktop Mac. I can share fine, but I would like to be able to add, delete, and make other changes in the media library from both computers. The two computers would not be accessing the library at the same time as I am the sole user of both.

I appreciate your input and I think you're right about this being impossible. But just to clarify, you say I can't "have multiple machines accessing the same music files from a shared location." I can have multiple machines accessing the same music files from a shared location--I just can't have them accessing the same music files simultaneously--which may have been what you meant. For my situation, I think it will be less work to just quit iTunes on my server when I want to run it on my client (using Chicken of the VNC). It's not ideal, but it's less time-consuming than periodically syncing three computers.
Again, thanks for the input.

ITunes library stored on an external hard drive which is connected to my airport extreme, I wish to share my iTunes library over my network, I can do this with my laptop, but not with my iPad, can anyone tell me if it is possible

I have my iTunes library stored on an external hard drive which is connected to my airport extreme, I wish to share my iTunes library over my network, I can do this with my laptop, but not with my iPad, can anyone tell me if it is possible

You can't connect directly to the external drive, but should be able to use iTunes Home Sharing via the laptop.
http://support.apple.com/kb/PH1453

Iphone and ipod losing sync with shared itunes library - home sharing not working

I hope this can help some people who have had problems with syncing their IOS devices to their shared itunes library.
Having had a lot of trouble with syncing and sharing my itunes libraries from two PC's to an iphone 4 and 4S via "itunes home sharing", I decided to try and find a solution using typical search engine search phrases. I found a number of issues similar to mine that pointed toward local network protocols such as media serving, and the ability or lack of ability to use these protocols by DSL routers.
My solution was simple, change the DSL router. My ISP supplied DSL router was the problem, not being able to identify that the PC's hosting my itunes libraries become media servers when itunes home sharing is switched on. My DSL box is a Tesco Broadband branded/firmware Thomson TG580. As a test I tried out a box from my previous supplier, an O2 branded/firmware Thomson/Technicolor TG582n. Although this wont work with my ISP connection, it will work as a wirless/wired router. As soon as I connected this all together, it worked first time without any hassle. I was mirroring my shared HD videos via the itunes home shared library to my 4S perfectly.
I know this may not help most people, but if you have the chance to test another wireless router, give it a go. Having had a good look, I can't find an Apple compatibility list. Maybe this is something they could do, or maybe someone can point out a site that may have this info?
I am by no means an Apple Fanboy, but I have to say that a lot of the complaints about the home sharing between itunes, ipods, iphones, Apple TV etc. may simply be the router and not itunes or the IOS devices.
My setup is PC's running the latest itunes with Win 7 32 & 64 bit and my IOS devices on 6, I also tested an iphone 4 on IOS 5 that worked perfectly. My 4S is now a perfect HDMI media player/streamer for my itunes music and videos encoded to H.264 using Handbrake.

Assuimg you have the latest ATV firmware, at the bottom of the general settings menu on your apple TV there is an option to reset your apple TV. Try that and then reset it up back on your network.
Before testing ensure the correct time/date/nearest City is setup in the ATV settings and re-enter your apple ID/password and turn on home sharing. You can connect to your network either via wifi or cable and see if it then works.
Resetting the ATV and then checking and re-entering all my settings worked for me.
I guess if not, then the next step is to disable any firewall on your PC and see if that works after the PC is rebooted.
Hope this helps.
Regards... Ken Griffiths

Sharing iTunes library between two Macs on Time Capsule

Hi there
I've just about persuaded my fiancee to get a MacBook, which would give us a mac-only household. If I got a Time Capsule, could we share an iTunes library? We each have an iPod and it would seem like a pain to have to recreate two entire libraries on the Time Capsule, much of which would be the same music.
I'm also assuming we could both use the TC as wireless Time Machine backup for our Macs - is this correct?
Finally, does anyone have a view on the likely range of TC relative to a standard Linksys 802.11g wireless router? The Linksys doesn't quite reach to the other end of my apartment and I'm wondering if the TC is likely to be better.
Very many thanks in advance.

Hello
You will run into pain. I just tried every found solution on Internet. Whatever you will do, it ends up in a hack. Fact is: iTunes administer your library only local. You CAN share your iTunes library on one Mac by menu settings in a network, BUT the Mac sharing its iTunes library MUST run all the time you want to listen to music from shared iTunes library even if the shared library (music files) is on the Time Capsule. It even wont work turn on "Wake up on LAN activity". The shared library will only be available as long as the Mac sharing its iTunes library is up and iTunes opened. That way it makes no big sense to have the music files in library physically on your Time Capsule. Another problem might come up when you stop listening shared iTunes library: As soon as the sharing Mac goes into StandBy mode (time depending) you can't access its library again. Standby must be stopped.
The other "solution" is also to have the whole library on a shared drive (Time Capsule) and to import it on both Macs. You will run quickly into Sync problems, beside its a pain to administer the song library that way: You have to import further songs twice, on both Macs to hear them on every one.
And of course, there are third pary hacks around nobody really wants to use.
After implementing Time Machine into Lepoard Apple wanted to make money out of it and offered Time Capsule mainly for storing data and backups (what both works great, also WLAN works fine).
I hope Apple will find a way in iTunes not to handle the music libraries so restrictive, so it can be accessed f.e. on Time Capsule while the Mac sharing its library must not run all the time.
Hope I could help.
Message was edited by: Tayger

Shared iTunes library gets "sticky"

Hello,
I'm currently running iTunes on my MacBook Pro & PC computer (running Windows 7 Release Candidate 2). The libraries of both machines are shared over the network & can be played from the other machine just fine. I've just noticed a few weeks ago that sometimes, the library from the PC computer still shows up in iTunes on the MacBook Pro, even when the PC computer is turned off. I didn't connect to the PC library so when shutting down the PC computer, I don't get a message saying that users are still connected to the library & asking for confirmation of quitting iTunes.
Furthermore, when the PC computer is powered on again & iTunes is launched, a second library with the same name now shows up on iTunes on the MacBook Pro.
I've recently upgraded to Snow Leopard (10.6) but I had noticed the problem already before that. It might have even started with the previous version of iTunes (both machines are running the latest version of iTunes right now). I can quit & relaunch iTunes on the Mac & it disappears, but it's a bit of a chore.
How could I go about fixing that problem for good ?

margemynx wrote:
We have this great shared ITunes library at work. I'd love to grab some songs from people's lists but I'm hitting a wall and Itunes won't let me do it. Is there anything I can do to get around this (short of asking people to burn them for me, which I really don't want to do)?
Sorry, that would be piracy. You do not own those tracks and your co worker does not have the rights to distribute them to you either.

Could not connect to " home shared iTunes library name "

I'm having an issue with iTunes/ Apple TV. Actually it has been ongoing. I have a particular iTunes library shared on a private subnet (together with the Apple TVs) from a Mac Mini. I can connect and play content any time with iTunes on another computer 100% reliably. But around 60% of the time when I try to connect to it from any of my four Apple TV (2's) an error comes up saying "Could not connect to "<home shared iTunes library name>" ", "Make sure the computer is on the same network as your Apple TV. the iTunes version is up to date and iTunes is running". The answer to those questions (as always with such messages is obviously 'yes':
Yes of course we are on the same network. If I wasn't, the library wouldn't have even shown up in the first place before selecting it
Yes iTunes as always is the latest version thanks to Mac Software Update
Again 'dah'. See response #1
If I restart the offending iTunes library the error is resolved (although sometimes it does require reboot of the Apple TV) but could reappear as early as within the next 24 hours. This issue has been occuring for a very long time however appears to be increasing in frequency. It occured as well on the Apple TV (v1).
Anyone with clues on what's going on here?
Thanks
Greg

I agree that the first debug point should be the network. Though like Greg, I use a Mac Mini to serve up movies to a couple of Apple TVs. From the 'problem' Apple TV, I could see other iTunes movie libraries on other Mac(s), and those would work/play fine. It's only when I try to connect to the iTunes Library of the Mac Mini that I have this issue. It's almost like it's asleep, and doesn't respond. Though I can mount the library folder, and play movies from other Macs w/o a problem while the Apple TV still has the problem.
As Greg mentions, closing and re-opening iTunes on the Mini solves the issue (though only temporarily).
The only difference that I have (non-consistency) is that my Mac Mini is an older model, and cannot be upgraded to run Lion (10.7.x) like my other Macs. The Mini is running 10.6.8, and iTunes 10.6.1 (32-bit). My Macs are running 10.7.3 and the 64-bit version of iTunes 10.6.1.
Is it possible it could be a 10.6 vs. a 10.7 issue? Greg, which version of OS X are your Macs running?

4 people in our family have an iphones or ipod on the same apple id ..so that we can all share the itunes library. however this means that we all get each others imessages. is there a way of sharing itunes library with 4 separate ids?

4 of us in the family with iphonesor ipods share the same apple id so that we can share the itunes library . However , this means we all receive each others imessages, unless we disable imessaging. Is there a way of sharing itunes library (ie.g with 4 separate ids) that avoids the sharing of imessages? .

Thanks, Terence, but if she was inclined to upload things, I wouldn't need access!
Here is an example: we go on vacation, she takes 250 photos, edits twenty of the best shots, and uploads three to facebook. I want to make an album including some of the edited shots and some of the less perfect but still fun shots - so I need all 250 photos - uploading that many photos to a photosharing site takes forever even if she did it - but she won't. I used to just hijack her computer for a day, but I'd like to be able to hijack her iphoto library without stealing her computer...if possible!
Thanks for any help you can offer!
- A

Backing up a shared itunes library

Hi, I want to back up my shared itunes library and most importantly my purchased music onto an external hard drive. When I use backup it can't find the purchased music in the shared file (I have two users on one mac sharing the itunes library). What is the best way of getting around this. I have noted the help pages on support but they are mainly for burning to a CD/DVD and don't discuss the issue of sharing!
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No-one responded!

How do I view a movie I rented and downloaded to my computer on my apple TV. The ATV is not seeing the rented movie in my shared itunes library? I can't seem to transfer the rental to the ATV from the computer!

How do I view a movie I rented and downloaded to my computer on my apple TV. The ATV is not seeing the rented movie in my shared itunes library? I can't seem to transfer the rental to the ATV from the computer!

Dear friends,
Thank you for responding to my problem so promptly. Frankly, I did not expect to hear from people so soon! The fact is that as soon as I posted the question, I was shown a number of similar queries and managed to find the answer. I have to say it's not intuitive! I have an apple TV original version. Apparently I had the ATV on streaming and not syncing. Streaming does not allow you to stream a rental from your computer whereas you can sync and transfer the rental from the computer!
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My shared iTunes library shows up fine on my Apple TV, but when I try to access the same library on my iPad to view the shared TV Shows everything jumbled and all over the place. There does not seem to be any order and many shows are missing.

When trying to access the shared iTunes library of my Macbook Pro on my iPad(iOS 5.1) the TV Shows are all mixed up. Some shows are not even displayed. The same library display normally via my Apple TV. It appears that iPad using iOS 5 has lost the ability to recoginize that TV Shows have a main show title followed by a number of episodes eg., 'Top Gear', Season 17, Episode 1 to 6, and 'Modern Marvels', Vol lll, Episodes 1 to 16. This has to be a glitch with iOS 5 as it was working fine in previous OS versions.
Does anyone know if Apple is aware of this anomally or is there a work-around? Thanks

Perhaps you should ask over in the iPad community, you may get better answers there.
It's actually my fault that psoon ended up here ... s/he intially posted over at Home Sharing, and I tried a relocate request to Apple TV rather than iPad.
psoon, here's a link to the iPad community:
Using iPad

I use windows 7. Can I move my itunes library to a network hard drive? If so, how do I do this?

I use windows 7. Can I move my entire itunes library off my computer to my network hard drive?
if so, how do I do this?
Thanks

Hello dreid20,
Indeed, you can move your iTunes Library to a network volume. The only stipulation to keep in mind is that you'll need to be connected to this volume before launching iTunes for it to function properly.
iTunes for Windows: Moving your iTunes Media folder
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1364
Cheers,
Allen

How to split one shared iTunes library associated with two iTunes accounts?

My boyfriend and I share one computer and have one shared iTunes library on that computer. We both maintain our own separate iTunes accounts. We have very different tastes in music, literature, film, etc. the library has become quite large and my boyfriend is frustrated by the complexity of synching his devices to just his selections and would like to separate our purchases into two separate libraries based on our iTunes account purchases. What is the easiest way to split into two different libraries?

To my knowledge, there's no quick way.

IPad mini video app stops responding when playing videos from shared iTunes library

So when I watch a shared video using the Ios 6 built in Video app, the app stops responding to touch.
Details:
iPad mini running IOS 6 built in video app.
OS X 10.7.5 sharing iTunes library using home sharing
ITunes version 11.0.1
I have seen the same stay problem through upgrades of ios and iTunes when watching from iPad mini. Weird thing is doesn't happen on ipad3, ipad2, or iPhone 4.
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Thanks.

Known issue for quite a bit.
No fix.
Report it here:
http://www.apple.com/feedback/ipad.html

Sharing 1 iTunes library on a network

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