avast! WHS Edition Antivirus Updated to Beta 2

The windows Home Server edition of avast! Antivirus has been updated to beta 2  (WHS: 4.7.18, Home/Pro: 4.7.1066).

Beta 2 has:

  • Resolved the problem with inaccessible WHS shares
  • Improved code for setting Windows firewall exceptions
  • Minor GUI changes/improvements

Scheduled to be released in the first half of November 2007, you have only a couple of weeks left to beta test

Installation instructions and downloads available from Avast.
Help to provide feedback in the WHS section of the Avast forums or by email to whsbeta@avast.com.

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Copy Data to your Home Server the Correct Way

When copying data to your Home Server always use \\<server name>\<share name> rather than D:\shares\<share name>. Files copied to the shares via \\<server name>\<share name> are managed through Drive Extender but if you copy files directly they may not be put in the correct location (particularly if you have more than one drive in your WHS) and this can cause problems since you run the risk that you may create real files in the shares, rather than tombstones. If you do, then Drive Extender won’t be able to move those files off of the primary data partition.

Ken Warren MVP on the WHS Forums added:

“There’s a file system filter driver that deals with the initial writing of the files, the creation of tombstones, and the redirection to the actual file location. That should operate against D:\Shares\etc. just as it operates against \\Server\etc. But (as you can see above) some users have found that when they copied files directly to the D:\ partition, they locked up the space those files were occupying permanently. Then they had to jump through hoops to get everything back in sync. So you should only operate against the shares; that’s why there’s a shortcut to \\Server on the Administrator desktop. You don’t need to map a drive to a share, BTW; you should be able to use the UNC path for everything.”

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Bits and Bobs

 

Home Server Linux Style

Now that Windows Home server is available to buy, two Linux projects have come to my attention that ain to have a piece of the pie. The Linux Home Server HOWTO by Miles Brennan explores the concepts and configurations for establishing a fully functional Internet connected network environment for your home or small office. The setup uses a dedicated Linux server as the gateway device to provide all of the network connections, Web / Email / FTP servers, packet filtering firewall, and most of the other services required to configure and secure a complete small scale network.

Although the documentation is developed specifically for the Fedora Core versions of Linux, the configurations can still be suited to most Linux distributions that use the same applications and configuration settings.

The other project is the Ubuntu Home Server Edition Project (UHS), which will be an edition of the Ubuntu operating system which allows users to administer their home network. Ubuntu Home Server will be able to store all your music, songs and pictures in one central location with the ability to access your files over the Internet and backup all the computers in your house.

Features are to include:
-File/Data Server: Storage for (document, photo, music, & video files)
-Backup
-Printer Server
-Remote Access from Internet
-Parental Control
-Streaming services
-TV Server
-Groupware Server
-Data to Go

The project was recently launched and specifications are under heavy development and work on several components has begun. A working release will be available very soon.

Free online language courses 2

Back in our Bits and Bobs of October 6th we mentioned Mango Beta, where language learning courses are free to learn online. Ideal when trying to work out what was said in the videos we link too, that are available in French or German only. Well since then Livemocha have been in touch, similar to Mango and also in beta, the site allows you to learn languages and practice with native speakers. Apart from French and German, Dutch and 23 other languages are available to learn free online.

Mark Minasi Technical Forum Meeting

The third annual Mark Minasi Technical Forum Meeting will be meeting in beautiful Virginia Beach, VA, USA to learn new technologies including Windows Home Server and to share ideas. Taking place from Sunday, April 20th 2008 through Wednesday, April 23rd 2008 the registration fee is $450.

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Come and Blog with us – Apply Within

HandsTyping

If you are a geek and obsessed with Home Server then we would like you to join our blogging team. We are looking for motivated people to join mswhs.com, writing skills are not essential BUT enthusiasm is.

You would be writing reviews, how-to’s or just about anything, as long as the focus is on Windows Home Server. If this is something you would be interested in please email your contact information and 2 samples, and be sure to show us your personality and creativity.

Send your application to PhilipChurchill at mswhs dot com.

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