MS Windows Home Server

Alexandra Kent the creator of the add-in Vista Caller-ID has another add-in up his sleeves.

Since a UPS is basically not really supported on Windows Home Server Alex is creating “GridJunction” a battery backup/UPS management add-in that integrates into the WHS console and issues power alerts and can safely shut-down the Home Server if desired when the battery level hits a preset threshold.

The add-in will monitor the state of any UPS connected via either USB (on say the HP MediaSmart) or even any Serial port for homebuild WHS and or legacy UPS’s. If the WHS switches to battery power (i.e. lead unplugged, no power etc) it will use the WHS Notification system to broadcast a network wide message something like “Attention your Home Server is running on Battery Power. Time Remaining 34 minutes” – in say YELLOW, then if a certain threshold has been reached for instance 30% battery remaining; another system wide message but in RED will be broadcast saying “Your Home Server battery is low and is safely shutting down” etc.

“GridJunction” will be available at a future date, so if you have any opinions, comments or ideas on this add-in please leave a comment to this post.

easyRadius is an add-in that allows you to simply manage and install a Radius server, an additional layer of protection for your Windows Home Server.

Features:

• Install (or uninstall) Internet Authentication Services
• Configure IAS for Radius use (on install)
• Create the Radius User Group
• Manage Radius Users
• Add/Remove Radius Users
• Change Radius User passwords

Known Issues:

1. May not configure properly if you’ve previously configured IAS without deleting the IAS entrees and user group
2. Usernames can’t have spaces or symbols. (NT issue)

We Got Served has also published the following tip which helped me out, and hopefully you too:

“To add a WHS user to the user group, just add the user putting in a fake password. If the user name already exists, it won’t create the account but it will add the user to the radius user group.”

More info.