Centralised network storage options

[EHLO]

With more than one computer in the house now I'm looking at the best & cheapest ways to consolidate storage so I'm not constantly copying files from one computer to another, or having to turn one machine on so I can access the files on it.

As such I'm looking at going completely wireless, shifting my modem and wireless AP to a central point in the house along with a network storage device which I would use as primary storage for most files and also as a media server. (I'm also looking for a nice wireless media player for the TV)

I don't want to spend a heap of money so was looking at the Maxtor Shared Storage II device (~AU$350). It has it's own backup software, but I thought I'd just set up some rsync scripts so that each client will update relevant files from the central storage for backup/portability.

Any thoughts on this approach or relevant personal experiences?

[Reality Believer]

I don't have an equipment recommendation, but be sure to look into the fine print regarding how the storage device manages music files. I have heard that there are NAS devices that have built in DRM that actively prevent sharing music file among the computers on the network.

[EHLO]

Thanks for the heads up. I don't think I have any DRM protected stuff but will keep it in mind. I'm currently trying to work out a way to add music files to iTunes on multiple computers. I know it's not entirely kosher but if I buy a CD and want to rip it to my iTunes library then it would be nice if all computers got a copy. Even if there is only one storage location, each instance of iTunes needs to update its library.

And don't even ask about sharing mail boxes across computers/platforms. I'm starting to think I should just get a cheap PC and set up a dedicated Linux server.

[moopet]

Even if there is only one storage location, each instance of iTunes needs to update its library.

There are quite a few NAS solutions that have bonjour support - including a lot of those NAS boxes you can buy on ebay and add your own drives to - so you can just dump mp3s into a particular folder and they'll appear to itunes on any machine in your network as if they were shared in someone else's library. So you can play them but not copy them, which is what you seem to want to do anyway. Making itunes default library location a network share is asking for trouble as itunes basically doesn't seem to do any error handling at all.

[Reality Believer]

Thanks for the heads up. I don't think I have any DRM protected stuff but will keep it in mind. I'm currently trying to work out a way to add music files to iTunes on multiple computers. I know it's not entirely kosher but if I buy a CD and want to rip it to my iTunes library then it would be nice if all computers got a copy. Even if there is only one storage location, each instance of iTunes needs to update its library.

And don't even ask about sharing mail boxes across computers/platforms. I'm starting to think I should just get a cheap PC and set up a dedicated Linux server.
It doesn't matter if your media is protected or not, there are devices that prevent sharing of certain file types. I don't know all the details about it, just know that it is an issue. Here is one article:

http://blog.wired.com/gadgets/2007/12/western-digital.html

[EHLO]

... so you can just dump mp3s into a particular folder and they'll appear to itunes on any machine in your network as if they were shared in someone else's library. So you can play them but not copy them, which is what you seem to want to do anyway...

Not quite. That scenario is fine for the desktop PC which I also use for getting music to the iPod, but I'd like my mac laptop to have a synchronised copy for traveling. As I understand it, just copying files into the iTunes storage folder won't do it, they need to be added to the library. It looks like I should be able to copy the library XML file across platforms, so will have a play with that.

[EHLO]

It doesn't matter if your media is protected or not, there are devices that prevent sharing of certain file types. I don't know all the details about it, just know that it is an issue. Here is one article:

http://blog.wired.com/gadgets/2007/12/western-digital.html

That seems dodgy, but I guess it's not pitched as a shared network storage device.

I've been reading about other NAS solutions but they seem a bit over the top for what I want. It does seem worth getting a device that has a removable drive though.