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MP3 Jukebox Software With Networking?
Milo_Mindbender asks: "I need a jukebox that supports networking with copies of itself on other computers. The main feature I'm looking for is the ability to have different MP3 files on different computers but keep a single master catalog covering all songs on all the jukeboxes you can access. If you request a song that isn't on your machine, the jukebox that has it would stream or copy it to you. I've seen a number of packages but the documentation isn't clear enough to tell if they have this feature and how well it works. The setup of each package is too involved for me to try them all. Any recommendations from people who have actually used this kind of software would be appreciated."
While searching Sourceforge revealed bunches of MP3 jukebox apps, the one I use and find to be very cool is Globecom Jukebox. It also has a Sourceforge page. I think this one can be configured to do just what you're asking, involving transferring files between multiple networked jukeboxes, as well as Icecast streaming to you if you want. I use it on my personal machine a bit, and it makes a great multi-user jukebox in my office where many people queue up songs - it's quite nifty.
There are two ways Mp3s can be streamed from servers. The first is the shoutcast model, where UDP packets are sent to multiple IP addresss at the same time. The second method is to do what MP3.com does and let the client side "stream" the file from the server.
The second method has the advantage that you can push playlists to the client, and allow the client to move through the playlists without having to change anyone else's stream. That is, you basically have N streams running for N users, and each user can navigate their own stream independently.
In the shoutcast model, you have 1 stream for N users, and changing the stream (by controlling it through the jukebox) affects all users.
I personally prefer the Mp3.com model, as it allows more control over the end user, but it's not as scalable as the shoutcast model.
anacron
There are two packages - mymusic is on freshmeat, and mp3 server box - that do something like what you are looking for. If you combine one of them with NFS mounts of the different machines' music directories, I think you'll have something close to what you need.
If that doesn't do the trick, I'm sure that minor tweaking of the code of either project should get you there.
Of course it would be neat-o to have networked jukeboxes, but I don't see what you are trying to accomplish that you can't do with either OpenNap or simple file sharing. Granted, hiding OpenNap into a jukebox would be quite cool. Put a tune on your wish list, and the local napster daemon downloads it for you within the hour. :-)
--Bud