Share iTunes Library from Windows 2003 Server

[crc-ict]

Hi Guys,

 

I'm wondering if anyone here can come up with a solution to this problem.

 

I recently grabbed an HP Proliant ML110 for just over 100 notes from eBuyer and have got it running at home with a 500Gb HD as a storage server under Windows Server 2003 Standard.

 

The idea came to me the other day that it would be cool to set this up as an iTunes library server. Now, I've hit a big snag as iTunes won't work under Server 2003 because QuickTime doesn't install properly.

 

So, does anyone know how to get iTunes running under 2k3, or know of anything that can do iTunes sharing that's free and works on 2k3.

 

Cheers!

Chris.

[Michael]

Interesting idea! In theory you shouldn't have to install iTunes on your server at all, just store the actual music and video files within a server share.

 

Then on your workstation, install iTunes as normal and point it to the share where your music and video files are installed.

[EduTech]

Hi,

 

I dont think you actually need quick time for itunes, is there anyway you can just get the itunes installation instead...

 

I like the idea though rather smart might be trying it if it works then i can nick my NM itunes music haha!

 

James.

 

Edit: I did read somewhere that people have succeeded installing itunes but on windows server 2003 < NOT SP1> was along time ago.. not that would help you ofcourse.

 

But yh i like the theory behind the matter just pointing the itunes on client to the library file on the server

Edited August 13, 2008 by Edu-Tech

[crc-ict]

Thanks for the ideas so far...

 

@Michael: I actually want to use the built-in sharing support in iTunes rather than hosting the library on the shared drive so I can safely access from several machines concurrently

 

@Edu-Tech: Unfortunately, iTunes really seems adamant that it wants QuickTime - the error I get when it craps out says it's because QuickTime isn't properly installed.

 

Cheers though!

[EduTech]

What if you install Quick time seperate and then install itunes afterwards...

 

In the itunes installation you can say no to installing Quicktime i belive..

 

Maybe that would help...

 

Just try and find a version of quicktime that is compatible with server 2k3

 

just another thought

 

James.

[FN-GM]

Is this for home or school? The itunes config files live in my documents, in the preferences i am sure there is a way to change the path of them. If you have the path pointing to the same place on each machine in theory it should work.

 

Z

[EduTech]

Is this for home or school? The itunes config files live in my documents, in the preferences i am sure there is a way to change the path of them. If you have the path pointing to the same place on each machine in theory it should work.

 

Z

 

Yh the idea he has will work... thats not the issue,

 

The problem is the fact he cant install itunes on server 2003 as it requires Quicktime but quicktime dont install on Server 2k3

 

James.

[FN-GM]

why on the server can you not just put it on the clients?

[EduTech]

I presume its so he can share a library over the network to all the clients, and the best way of doing that would be to ditch it on a server

 

James.

[FN-GM]

There is no need. You can share Word files for example but you don't have Microsoft office installed on your server.

[GrumbleDook]

To use iTunes as a music server (store the files in one location and use them on other clients) you need to install and leave iTunes running on the server.

 

Client machines (eg your laptop, your Apple TV, etc) will also run a version of iTunes and then connect to the shared library on the server ... a form of streaming you can call it. You cannot update the local iTunes library nad have it affect the network one.

 

This was part of an agreement with various music companies to stop purchased music being streamed and subsequently burnt onto CDs on other machines.

 

There have been some interesting workarounds ... but they usually break each time there is a major iTunes or Quicktime update.

 

I have had Quicktime and iTunes working fine on Server 2003 and 2000 Server. After installing the OS got the the Apple Quicktime website and make sure the quicktime plug-in is installed for IE. Then download Quicktime + iTunes (combined installer) and run it.

 

Make sure you do this as the machine administrator.

[alan-d]

Probably typing before brain engages here but is it possible to run a virtual ubuntu server or PC on the 2003 server and run it from that?

[mac_shinobi]

this

 

WALDOLand Blog: QuickTime & Windows Server 2003 - The Secret

 

Apple - Support - Discussions - Need Help for Itunes and quicktime ...

 

one of those ( am guessing the first one )

[crc-ict]

Cheers for the help guys.

 

GrumbleDook and Edu-Tech hit the nail on the head - the idea was actually to have the library in iTunes on the server and use the sharing facility of iTunes to 'stream' to other clients. I know I could store the library on the server and point clients to it, but I want the capability of more than one machine accessing concurrently in safety.

 

It seems a security update has broken QuickTime in Server 2003, but Apple don't support 2k3 as a platform for QuickTime/iTunes so it's a case of waiting for new version and hoping that that solves the issue.

 

Just thinking now about running a VM on the server with iTunes on XP or 2000.

[alan-d]

I think XP will only let you have 10 connections.

[mac_shinobi]

Interesting idea! In theory you shouldn't have to install iTunes on your server at all, just store the actual music and video files within a server share.

 

Then on your workstation, install iTunes as normal and point it to the share where your music and video files are installed.

 

Don't see why you wouldn't be able to do that and just make it think that the music etc in that share is its own library even though its on a share over a network - if it has issues with the share then just make the share have an assigned drive letter and then point it to that instead.

[ninja-lewis]

Have a look at Firefly. HP use this in their MediaSmart Windows Home Server products to support iTunes libraries. They also have their own proprietary software that aggregates itunes libraries on client machines.

 

WHS is built on Server 2003 so it should work fine on 2003 too.