Networking for MP3 fun... or Help Me, I'm a Noob.

[blueerica]

I figured this would be a good place to ask, since I tend to get some solid advice around here... solid advice that makes sense to someone that doesn't know all that much about whatever she's asking about.

We just got a second computer. We'll call the older computer Computer A, and the new one will be B. Computers A & B are both running Vista. The mp3 library is on Computer A's hard drive, but I would like to network the computers so that Computer B will have access to the mp3 files as well.

I've looked it up on teh intrawebs, and I can't find anything pertinent to what I'm asking, and I don't think it needs to be as complicated as it needs to be. They're both connected through a router. I'm figuring that I could just take the file protection off of Computer A, and that would work, but before doing that, I just wanted to make sure it's the right thing to do.

I am also considering getting an external drive to put the music on. Is there a way that I can have the two computer share the external drive, or will that not make things any better or easier. Both computers have ample space, so it's not an issue I'm concerned with in terms of getting the music off the drive, though it could be a nice thing if and when we're on the road.

Any ideas on what I could/should do?

Thanks...

[BarTopDancer]

There should be a "home networking wizard" under your network settings. This would enable you to network the computers.

The external drive would be accessed through a network computer as well.

[Ghoulish Delight]

What are you using to access the music? iTunes? Windows Media Player? Something else?

If you're using iTunes, it has a sharing function. From computer A, you just tell it to share the library and you'll be able to access it from an installation of itunes from computer B. More detailed help is readily available via google on that.

If no iTunes, just share the folder with the music in it. It's easiest if you make sure the login info for both computers matches. Then just right click the folder and click "share..."

From there, the best thing to do is to "map a network drive" on computer B:

1) open your start menu on computer B and type "run" in the seach box
2) type \\[computer A's name or ip address]
3) you should see a window with the folder you shared.
4) right click and select "map network drive..."
5) pick a drive letter (doesn't matter which) and make sure "reconnect at logon" is selected.

Voila, now the music folder will be mapped to that drive and you can access it just like a local drive.

[blueerica]

And it's iTunes, I found the sharing function and it works.

I wouldn't mind figuring out another way to do it (since iTunes requires that iTunes be open to share it... at least from what I could tell), so that it could be accessed via iTunes outside of iTunes.

[BarTopDancer]

I keep all my music on an external drive and only use iTunes to manage/add music to my iPod (or play it).

Your thread reminded me to re-set up my home networking. Easy breezy. I don't even map network drives for stuff on my computer. Just moved my folders into the "shared folder" area.

[Pirate Bill]

I've been using the Firefly Media Server (http://www.fireflymediaserver.org/) on my Linux home server for a couple months now. It's also available on Windows here (http://nightlies.fireflymediaserver.org/version.php). I would have posted about it earlier but, since I hadn't used it on Windows yet I wanted to have a chance to test it out first. I just installed it, ran it, and it works great. A very easy install and configuration.

It will do exactly the same thing that iTunes does with the sharing. Only, it runs in the background so you don't have to have iTunes open all the time. You do have to remain logged into Windows though. If you log out it will close the server. That's one advantage to just sharing the music folder and mounting it on other networked computers. As long as the computer is on you can access the shared folder even if no user is logged in.

Of course, if you're not timid and not afraid of Linux and want to go the route I did with a hacked NSLU2 server and external drive then I can offer some tips. ;)

[Ghoulish Delight]

I've been using the Firefly Media Server (http://www.fireflymediaserver.org/) on my Linux home server for a couple months now. It's also available on Windows here (http://nightlies.fireflymediaserver.org/version.php). I would have posted about it earlier but, since I hadn't used it on Windows yet I wanted to have a chance to test it out first. I just installed it, ran it, and it works great. A very easy install and configuration.

Question the first) Does Firefly handle iTunes DRM protected material
Question the second) Does Firefly have an interface that will allow me to play music remotely on via the web interface (i.e., if I hook up a system running Firefly to a stereo, can I then, from a different system, hit play on the stereo-connected system or will it only play on my local system?)
Question the third) Have you compared it to VLC? If so, how does it compare?

[Pirate Bill]

Question the first) Does Firefly handle iTunes DRM protected material
Question the second) Does Firefly have an interface that will allow me to play music remotely on via the web interface (i.e., if I hook up a system running Firefly to a stereo, can I then, from a different system, hit play on the stereo-connected system or will it only play on my local system?)
Question the third) Have you compared it to VLC? If so, how does it compare?

1) I don't know because I don't own any iTunes DRM'ed material. You could try it, it's free.

2) a) You run Firefly on the computer where the music is stored.
b) The web interface is for configuration only.
c) You use iTunes or any daap aware music player (ie Rhythmbox in Linux) to play the music remotely. The Firefly server shows up in iTunes on any computer on the local network. Roku also sells a box that you can hook up to the stereo instead of using a computer. I don't know if it will work with an AppleTV. I haven't researched that.

It's also possible, although I haven't tried it, to connect to the Firefly server from outside the network as well, so you can listen to your music from anywhere in the world. You'd have to configure your router to forward the port. And there's probably another step that I'm forgetting. This will, however, open a major security hole. So I don't recommend it.

3) VLC crashes my Windows computer and my tiny Linux server doesn't have the resources to run it. So, no.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Darn, doesn't sound like it'll work for me.

I'm trying to set up a Linux box as a little media client that I can stick in our entertainment cabinet. I'd like it to be able to play music, online video (possibly Netflix if I can get around the "windows IE only" restriction, perhaps with vmware), etc.) directly on the home entertainment system. Things I can do now, but only by hooking the laptop to the back of the TV which means no use of the laptop. So yeah, basically a Roku-like box with the spare parts I've got lying around.

VLC is getting close to being a workable solution but it's not ideal.

[Pirate Bill]

How about MythTV? The client can run as both a front end and back end or just a front end with another computer serving as the back end.