Apr 26, '07 07:30:00AM • Contributed by: Crazor
My file server (running Gentoo Linux) runs Samba for Windows sharing and netatalk for AFP. On each computer, I mount my Linux home directory. In it is a folder named iTunes, with the usual library structure. Now the steps to follow for achieving my setup: On your network share, create a folder called iTunes. To begin moving your library, make sure you have mounted your share on your Mac. Then follow these steps:
- Open iTunes' preferences
- Choose Advanced
- Choose the new location for iTunes Music to be on your share, inside the iTunes folder.
- Make sure iTunes is allowed to manage your music folder, and to copy newly-added files there (the two checkboxes under the folder chooser).
- Click OK.
- In the Advanced menu, select Consolidate Library. iTunes will now copy your music to the network share.
Next, still on your Mac, option-click iTunes. It will ask you which library to use. Choose iTunes » iTunes Library.itl on your network share. iTunes then rebuilds the iTunes Library.itl.xml file, and finally starts as normal. To check that it opens the music from your share, get info on a song, and make sure that the location is correct. Now quit iTunes.
On your other Macs, mount the share, option-click iTunes, and choose the correct library.
On your Windows machines, mount the share and shift-click iTunes to get to the library chooser. Then simply choose the library on your share. iTunes will then re-create iTunes Library.xml. It is a bit weird to find an iTunes Library.itl.xml and an iTunes Library.xml on your share, but everything works fine. When you change something on one of your Windows machines, your Mac's iTunes will update the iTunes Library.itl.xml file, and vice versa.
Note: This hint is not for multiple users. While modifying your library, make sure that only one instance of iTunes is running, otherwise changes will be lost if one of the other instances is quit after yours. Probably you can write protect the library on your server for other users to prevent them damaging your library, but I have not tested this.
