Dumb question(s):

If you are running an iTunes server on a NAS, how do you access it? Do you need to open iTunes on your client computer and connect to it as a shared library? Or is there a more direct way? How do you add music to it?

It sounds like each NAS is a little different, as the one I got, the AppleTV will not see it as a host, but my iTunes application sees it as a shared library. In iTunes, turn on Home Sharing, And then I believe it shows up in the shared section (at work, and can't verify). As for adding things to the library on the NAS, I put my whole library on the NAS, and set that up as the location iTunes looks for when opening up, and where it rips to when copying/creating files.

As for adding things to the library on the NAS, I put my whole library on the NAS, and set that up as the location iTunes looks for when opening up, and where it rips to when copying/creating files.

This is my setup as well. It can be a little hinky - every now and then iTunes will hiccup and forget about the library on the NAS, create a new one, and I lose all my playlists.

iPhoto over the NAS is *crap*, however. What I've been able to learn from the internet is that the files are just too big to play nicely over wireless.

Yeah, I try to keep everything I can on my network's gigabit wired backbone. I even ran a cable from the basement to the main floor and stuck in another hub.

In iTunes, turn on Home Sharing, And then I believe it shows up in the shared section (at work, and can't verify). As for adding things to the library on the NAS, I put my whole library on the NAS, and set that up as the location iTunes looks for when opening up, and where it rips to when copying/creating files.

Are you saying that the NAS and your client computer both point to the same folder of audio files? How does the NAS update its iTunes xml database files? The client updates its file as you rip. Does the NAS do a periodic scan or something?

Are you saying that the NAS and your client computer both point to the same folder of audio files? How does the NAS update its iTunes xml database files? The client updates its file as you rip. Does the NAS do a periodic scan or something?

Not sure what you are asking. The NAS has my media on it. It shows up in iTunes as a shared library.

But you said you add to it via the client iTunes, yes? So does the media then show up on both the shared library and the client's own library?

ah. I will have to double check that it's not adding it to the laptop. But I'm 98% sure, it only adds the files to the NAS drive.

The mp3 files would be added only to the NAS. My question is about the library xml files. I'm not explaining my question very well, am I?

And I suspect you know more than I do, so that's not helping.

Not sure about the xml file. Where would I look for that?