This document will outline the iTunes service, and how it can be used to stream Music to iTunes on your Mac. We also show how it can be used as the Media library location for iTunes clients on the network.

To enable the iTunes service go to System - Settings - Services.

Click the iTunes button.

A pop up window appears. The following settings can be configured.

Select Enable iTunes Server - to enable the service.

Server Name:   This is how the Server will be presented in iTunes.

Password:         If Password is entered here, it will also need to be entered on the iTunes client, when establishing the connection.

Click Apply to save the settings.

Next, go to the Shares page. Click on the share while will be used to store the music and video files and press Settings:

Go to Network Access, then iTunes and enable iTunes for the share by setting the toggle button to On. Then press Apply.

Now the iTunes service is enabled, we can proceed to configure iTunes on the Mac.

iTunes can be configured in two ways to access the media on the ReadyNAS.

1. ReadyNAS iTunes streaming server

   In this method, iTunes on the Mac is streaming the media from the NAS. However iTunes client** will almost certainly have it's own individual music and video library. Once streaming is configured, iTunes client will access content stored on the NAS, in the folder specified as Directory when configuring the iTunes Service (see above).

   For this example here is a screenshot of the music currently residing in Directory: /data/Music

   

   To begin streaming first Launch iTunes on the Mac:

   Click on Music and in the pop-up window under Shared Libraries select your NAS.

   

    

   If Password has been configured on iTunes service you will need to enter the password at this time

   

    

   Now you will see the content that is stored on the NAS and it can be played through iTunes

   

   Please see this video for quick demonstration on setting this up http://youtu.be/wAti6EMfUVY

    

2. Using the ReadyNAS as the iTunes Library

   In this method the iTunes library is residing on the ReadyNAS. This allows for multiple devices to to all make use of the same library. The ReadyNAS must be connected to the network and powered on, in order for iTunes clients to use it as a location for iTunes library.

   Before we begin please be aware that an iTunes library consists of two components - the iTunes library files and the iTunes library. It is important to distinguish between these two components:

   • The iTunes library files are two system files: iTunes Library.itl and iTunes Library.xml These files hold information about the songs in your library and the playlists you've created. For more information, see http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1660
   • The iTunes library is the music and video files.

    

   NETGEAR recommends that you do not move the iTunes library files from your OS X computer to a ReadyNAS system. You can however move the iTunes library (music and video files) to a ReadyNAS.

   To begin, mount a share to the Folder on the NAS where the iTunes library will reside. To do this:

   Open Finder.

   Click Go.

   Click Connect to Server.

   Enter the protocol, IP address or hostname of the NAS, and path to the folder where the video and music files reside.

   

   It will be useful to make a permanent mapping to this location.

   Open System Preferences - User & Groups. Select your user account and open the Login Items Tab.

   From the Desktop, drag the mount point into Login Items.

   

    

   Launch iTunes application.

   Click iTunes - Preferences.

   

   In the Preferences window, click on Advanced.

   Under iTunes Media Folder Location, click change and browse to the mount point created earlier.

   Click OK.

   

    

   Click Scan for Media.

   

   Now the content stored on the Directory you have chosen, for the iTunes library will appear.

   

    

   * iTunes service, refers to iTunes streaming server on a ReadyNAS system, and is not designed to be a replacement for the iTunes application on an OS X computer. This means the ReadyNAS system cannot be used to synchronize with, or, make backups of an iOS device (iPhone or iPad).

   ** iTunes clients refers to the iTunes application on a Mac.

1. Additional info

2. There was an issue with iTunes video playback on older versions of ReadyNAS OS which has been addressed in ReadyNAS OS version 6.1.7. Please update to the latest version of ReadyNAS OS for the best experience.