ReadyNAS NV, iTunes and Apple TV2

No you can't

Ah; there you go that answers that then :-)

Phil

The only way to stream video to your ATV is to jail break it and install Plex media client, with Plex server on your NAS.

I have the itunes pointed to my library on the NAS NV+ and am able to stream videos to my Apple TV2 but my PC has to be on and itunes loaded.

My real problem is that any time I make the slightest change in itunes, i.e., add a movie to a playlist, the response will take 5 to 10 minutes. Its totally unacceptable to manage itunes this way. Does anyone have the same problem and is there a fix for this problem?

I tried NETGEAR support but they are worthless. Any help would be greatly appreciated .....

You are using the iTunes on your PC as the server, even though you have the iTunes library on your NAS. I'm guessing that what you are trying to do and what I've tried to do is to serve the video files from your NAS so that you can switch your PC off.

To do this you have to use the Firefly iTunes Add-On on your NAS. The Firefly Add-On will serve the iTunes files on your NAS to other devices on your network which are running iTunes. This will allow you to see your iTunes files on your Apple TV - but unfortunately only the mp3 or LossLess files.

I am trying to achieve the same as you and I would suggest the route to take is Plex. Install the Plex media server Add-On on your NAS and use that to distribute your files. If you jail break your ATV you can install the Plex client. Problem sorted.

Personally, I'm waiting for the IOS 5 release and/or the next ATV firmware update etc as the rumours suggest that Apple might introduce an App Store for the ATV. As soon as that happens I'm sure Plex Client for the ATV will be made available.

Keep in touch and let me know how it goes.

Regards

Hmm, I am doing the same here and I am not getting these problems. Whilst it is slower copying a movie into the iTunes Library, due to the network connection to the NAS, everything else works as expected. For example, I just imported 7 HD movies into iTunes (over the net to the NAS) and iTunes completed the operation in less than 5 minutes.

Phil

Hi PBC

Are you still having problems and if so what are they. Perhaps I can offer some assistance.

Personally, I don't copy my files into iTunes, I merely reference then. That way they can stay on your NAS with iTunes running on your mac/PC. You need to uncheck the appropriate box in the iTunes preferences - Advanced Tab. You can then access the files from your ATV but you will need to keep your pc running in addition to your NAS.

Cheers

I am working fine now; all media is held on the NAS and iTunes is running on one of my iMacs. Everything is great. Would be better is we could run iTunes off the NAS but we know that can't be done today.

I was just replying to aguayo regarding his performance question

Phil

Singularity and Phil, what I'm trying to accomplish is to hold all my media files (primarily video/films) on my NAS NV+ (iTunes library) and leave the actual operating files for iTunes on my desktop PC. I can do that now and stream video to my Applet TV2 perfectly. Since I leave my PC on at all times anyway, am not trying to setup a server arrangement.

My problem is that iTunes slows to an absolute crawl when I have the library setup on the NAS. It takes 5 to 10 minutes to startup and even longer whenever I change anything, i.e., add an item to the playlist takes about 8 minutes to complete. I cannot figure out what is causing the problem. I've even reconfigured my NAS as a Raid 0 arrangement thinking the XRaid setup was confusing iTunes but no luck there either. I've also tried to install iTunes on the NAS and that hasn't worked.

I've gone through the Advanced Setup menus looking for an item which may be causing the problem but to no avail. Singularity, you mentioned that yours is running fine. Did you do anything beyond the default settings in your NAS? Which NAS do you have? Are you running on a MAC or PC? If PC, is it Win7 64-bit (mine is)?

This problem is very frustrating to me since I had hoped to setup my complete iTunes library (approx 3 TB) on my NAS but if it won't work with iTunes, its of no use to me. I would rather not use anothe server application since everyone in our house has iPads, ipods, TV2, and iPhones. Jailbreaking is also out of the question since I would rather stay within the restrictions imposed by Apple (app updates become uncomplicated).

Again, any help would be appreciated ......Aguayo

Hi Aguayo

Not sure where the difference is, but my ReadyNAS NV is working fine holding my music and movies in the same way as you are trying. To locate the library on the NAS I simply pointed iTunes to a share I created on the NAS and then moved my media to the NAS by dropping the files onto iTunes. Moving files take a little longer than storing them locally, but not much difference. How did you point iTunes to the NAS ?

Phil