iTunes setup on a NAS with multiple windows users?
I am very confused on what is the best way to handle this setup for my friends family. Any help would be appreciated. Sorry in advance as I know this is a long winded post - I have a feeling this will help others faced with the same issues or questions.
CURRENT SETUP
I have three new Windows 7 machines networked (two desktops and one laptop) that have four users on each - as busy family with children who need the computers for homework, projects, games, etc... The goal of this setup is that any user can log onto any computer and have there documents available to them no matter computer was free to use. I set this up using the library function in Windows 7 and seems to work pretty well.
I have put a Buffalo Linkstation NAS on the system as well. This was going to serve two purposes 1) run some backup software to protect the computers and 2) consolidate the iTunes content in one place for all users. There is also an iPad in the home that I should would be better served by accessing the content on the NAS without requiring any of the computers being on. Dave is thinking about getting some other playback devices like Apple TV so thought a NAS would be a good way to go.
CURRENT ITUNES SETUP - I have created a new iTunes library on the NAS by holding the SHIFT button down while starting iTunes and pointed to that folder on a Share on the NAS. There was no music on the system at the time as we are planning to copy this over from an OLD machine that is now not being used. I have also authorized all the computers and turned on the home sharing feature (although I am not sure what good that does).
This “shift” button trick seesm to also point the default directory there without point to it in the advanced setup tab of iTunes.
I then synced one of the iPods with purchased content on it and synced that to the library after asking me to do so before an update. All the content showed up in the library and was playable - awesome.
I then logged into each user on each machine (yikes) and installed iTunes and used the “shift” trick to connect each users iTunes to the database on the NAS. Everything seems to work - but I have not tested it thoroughly.
SUMMARY
QUESTIONS/CONCERNS
Ugh - sorry for the long post and all the questions. I am just trying to find the best way to do this. I wish Apple would put out a best practices document for setups like this. Thanks in advance.
I am very confused on what is the best way to handle this setup for my friends family. Any help would be appreciated. Sorry in advance as I know this is a long winded post - I have a feeling this will help others faced with the same issues or questions.
CURRENT SETUP
I have three new Windows 7 machines networked (two desktops and one laptop) that have four users on each - as busy family with children who need the computers for homework, projects, games, etc... The goal of this setup is that any user can log onto any computer and have there documents available to them no matter computer was free to use. I set this up using the library function in Windows 7 and seems to work pretty well.
I have put a Buffalo Linkstation NAS on the system as well. This was going to serve two purposes 1) run some backup software to protect the computers and 2) consolidate the iTunes content in one place for all users. There is also an iPad in the home that I should would be better served by accessing the content on the NAS without requiring any of the computers being on. Dave is thinking about getting some other playback devices like Apple TV so thought a NAS would be a good way to go.
CURRENT ITUNES SETUP - I have created a new iTunes library on the NAS by holding the SHIFT button down while starting iTunes and pointed to that folder on a Share on the NAS. There was no music on the system at the time as we are planning to copy this over from an OLD machine that is now not being used. I have also authorized all the computers and turned on the home sharing feature (although I am not sure what good that does).
This “shift” button trick seesm to also point the default directory there without point to it in the advanced setup tab of iTunes.
I then synced one of the iPods with purchased content on it and synced that to the library after asking me to do so before an update. All the content showed up in the library and was playable - awesome.
I then logged into each user on each machine (yikes) and installed iTunes and used the “shift” trick to connect each users iTunes to the database on the NAS. Everything seems to work - but I have not tested it thoroughly.
SUMMARY
- 3 new Windwos 7 networked machines
- 4 identical users on each machine
- 1 TB Buffalo linkstation
- iTunes setup with the folder on a SHARE
- all user’s itunes connected to the iTunes folder on the NAS
- all computers authorized with home sharing turned on.
- one iTunes user account signed in on each machine
- multiple iPods and one iPad in the system
QUESTIONS/CONCERNS
- Is there a better way to do this on a NAS?
- Would home sharing be better in some way?
- I understand the NAS should show up under the shared section in iTunes - I assume that would mean that would mean each user has an iTunes library on their documents?
- I have read that there may be corruption issues if users on the different machines try to access iTunes at the same time.
- Will there be any issues syncing that various iPods with?
Ugh - sorry for the long post and all the questions. I am just trying to find the best way to do this. I wish Apple would put out a best practices document for setups like this. Thanks in advance.
