Sorry don't have a lot of time to give you a full how to but I see you have twice the posts that I do so you are no beginner maid
You should really be using Client - Media Server set-up
Set HTPC as the server your office machine as the client (click off the server option on that machine) - both machines shoudl have read:write share permissions.
Just to remind you if you forgot,
- Start with Playing from in the tree set to Main (your local library) on the client
- Add a New Library (name it HTPC or Living room or whatever) and type in the authorization string you can get from the options, if a password is set if memory serves you have to type in the name and password (usually only once unless the network resets). You can also set up to type in a fixed IP address. So in answer to your question you have two options - provided that IP address are assigned and recognized in your router (port 52199 should be free for JRiver to use on your router config, if it doesn't work this might be where you should look)
- The Load this Library
At this point you can tag to your hearts content and do just about everything except change images, move files, import, and rip (down load TeamViewer for remotely doing that].
Recommend that you allow the HTPC to auto laod MC Media server on win start-up and if possible Wake on Lan (WOL).
SYNCING --
In Options from the client PC go =>Media Network=>Client Options and make sure Show Playback zones on the client is checked. Normally, autosync will also be checked.
ok mystery, mystery I can't tell you for sure how often auto_syncing works, I think it varies. If syncing was immediate you would have JRiver solliciting the network constantly, too much load, to many requests. But does this happend every 3 minutes 5 or 10 minutes, couldn't tell you. (@Matt??)
If you are just casualy changing a couple of genres or 3 newly ripped albums from the client, leave it on auto. BUT before you quit the client do a manual sync FILE=>Library=Sync Changes to Server. This will insure your last changes actually got to the server library. If you are listening to music on the client, the last played info, for example, is often missed without a manual sync.
HOWEVER, what I recommend, just my opinion of course, is if you are spending an hour or more or you are doing serious "editing" like renaming an 4 box set opera, TURN THE AUOSYNC OFF in Client options. Why because a sync goes both ways. On numerous occasions, and I can't explain why this happens, the server overwrites some of my changes back to how they were as they are considered more recent.
So do all your major changes; when finished manually sync to the server, and then put the auto sync option back (or not depends on your workflow I guess)
I made a guide on this detailing setting up client/server set-up if you want the link, I'll post it but you probably know it already
Hope this helps and is not too confusing