DroboApps and Firefly iTunes server

After following the instructions on the DroboApps website: (http://www.drobo.com/droboapps), I installed Apache and the DroboApps Admin Utility.

Using the DroboApps Admin Utility, I installed the Firefly application. I then changed the server name and the default password, and I was up and running.  Browsing to the DroboApps share, I dropped my music into the media folder within the Firefly folder.

The only issue was that my iTunes could not see the shared library!  A bit of searching found this Apple support article: http://support.apple.com/kb/TS2972

It seems that my software firewall was not allowing TCP port 3689 and UDP port 5353. Once opened up, iTunes instantly found the shared library.

All my music is currently being moved off my netbook, into the secure and resilient environment of the Drobo.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Introduction to DroboApps

There is a strong community of developers, creating applications for the Drobo devices.  The applications are called DroboApps, and the download files can be found here: http://www.drobo.com/droboapps/

Being new to DroboApps, I went against my technical gut instinct, and read the manual!  There is a very useful document highlighting how to install DroboApps, along with some installation examples: http://support.datarobotics.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/468

Having enable the DroboApps functionality on the appliance, I had a look through to see what I need to download, along with what I wanted to download.

Going through the DroboApps, I downloaded the following:

• DroboApps Admin Utility
• Apache (required for the admin utility)
• Firefly (iTunes library)
• Fuppes (Media server with DLNA support)
• Lighttpd (HTTP server)
• Pure-ftpd (FTP server)

As mentioned previously, the reason Drobo caught my attention previously, was the fact I could have more just two hard drives in an appliance, and that it could be my iTunes library.

DroboApps Admin Utility, Apache and Firefly will be installed soon.  I will document and review the features then.