Extremely slow importing and library ...

Hello,

I have my entire iTunes library stored on my Windows Server 2008 x64 Std machine, which is connected to my Windows 7 x64 Ultimate workstation by gigabit Ethernet (using a crossover link). I have very fast transfers in both directions when transferring files (due to the high-performance RAID arrays on both machines, speeds of ~100MByte/s are common).

I run iTunes locally on my Windows 7 machine. I hold down shift (the first time after a re-install of iTunes) when loading iTunes and point it to the mapped SMB share holding the .itl library file and all my music, etc. It loads OK and I can play all my content. However, when I try to add content to the library (by importing a CD or copying MP3/AAC files into the library) or alter meta data (changing album name or adding cover art, for example), everything slows down. It takes (on average) 20 minutes to import a CD (from a virtual drive on my workstation to avoid delays caused by the optical-to-magnetic stage of the import process) and importing files takes what seems like forever to complete.

This issue first appeared with iTunes 8.2 or 8.3 (I can't remember quite which version) and still exists in iTunes 9.0.

I have read online that some people have experienced slowness in SMB transfers in one direction and blamed it on a faulty cable or NIC. I have replaced the cable and swapped the NICs in both machines, but have experienced no performance improvement.

Is there anything I can do to help?

This issue also presented when I was running Windows Vista x64 on my workstation. I am using the 64-bit version of iTunes for Windows.

Many thanks in advance,

Sarah

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