Do you want to run iTunes on your Windows Home Server? If so, there is an add-in called iHomeServer for iTunes you might want to look at.
Description
iTunes normally runs as a desktop application which requires you to be logged into your desktop at all times in order to play music or video remotely. Many people are now using Home Sharing to share a single iTunes music/video library with other iTunes clients, however, most know the frustration of trying to keep the iTunes always open on your computer.
There’s nothing more annoying than trying to stream music to your iPhone or iPad only to find that iTunes isn’t running, or worse still has crashed, on your computer! What’s the point of having all of your media centralised if you can’t access it?
Enter iHomeServer for iTunes! iHomeServer for iTunes installs an agent on top of a normal iTunes installation and runs iTunes in the background as a service.
iHomeServer now support iTunes 10.5 so new features such as Wifi sync and iCloud purchase synchronisation are also available to your iTunes Media Server!
iHomeServer for iTunes boasts the following features – click on the link for further information:
- Runs iTunes as a background service
- Custom “watch folders” scanned for new/changed media
- Supports iTunes Airplay and Home Sharing
- Supports iTunes Remote App for iOS
- Supports iTunes Wifi Sync
- Supports iTunes iCloud purchase synchronisation
- Background refreshes iTunes media metadata
- Background refreshes iTunes cover art
- Transparently restarts if iTunes crashes
- Dead content detection – automatically cleans the iTunes library if tracks have been removed from your hard disk
- Supports iTunes even when no Sound Card is installed
I assume that this is for WHSv1 only, then?
The website isnt clear, but it says:
Windows Servers (eg Windows Server 2003, 2008)
So I assume its both V1 and WHS 2011.
Works great on WHS 2011. I now run iTunes as a service and sync my devices over Wi-Fi sync from the couch. My full music library is always accessible through library sharing. It would be great with an add-in so iHomeServer could be configured without logging into the server remotely.
This sounds great! How did you install itunes:
1) Did you install it before or after ihomeserver?
2) Did you just download the generic windows version of itunes and install or did you have to modify it?
3) Any other tips/advice on installing it?
Thanks — this is exactly what I have been waiting for before upgrading my machine to WHS 2011
This is what I heard back from iHomeserver:
1. First install iTunes (64-bit is fine) through Remote Desktop as the administrator on the server
2. Then install QuickTime (there’s only 32-bit, and this needs to be installed manually as it doesn’t get installed automatically with iTunes 64-bit) – again use Remote Desktop
3. Configure iTunes so that it is set up the way you want it to be – eg share your media on the network, configure “Home Sharing” and authorise your account. You can also pair iTunes with your iOS devices at this point and enable wifi sync.
4. Once configured, stop iTunes and install/configure iHomeServer – again through Remote Desktop.
5. The configuration process will configure iHomeServer as a Windows server and will allow you to configure media folders on your server as ‘Watch Folders’ – which iHomeServer will monitor and add to iTunes.
6. Then you can log out and iTunes will remain running in the background and will start automatically on reboot.