By Philip Churchill on March 07th, 2008
Medion Hold Off Until Data Corruption Flaw is Fixed
UK magazine site Personal Computer World are reporting that the Medion will be held off until Microsoft can fix data corruption flaw.
Medion’s Home Server was on display at Cebit in Germany where UK product manager Rick Munday said it would not sell the device until Microsoft fixed the data corruption flaw that can in rare circumstances scramble files.
Share this WHS Article with Others:
This isn’t suprising at all, and I wouldn’t be suprised if other OEM’s followed suit. I don’t know if the bug could be classified ‘rare circumstances’ as I can make it happen quite regularly, I’ve just adjusted what I use WHS for to avoid these issues. (I can corrupt streaming audio files if I copy data to the server at the same time)
If MS doesn’t get this issue resolved soon they are going to do damage that may be difficult to recover from for such a new product.
It is too bad too, because this is a great idea and opportunity for a market area.
Medion’s Home Server shouldn’t use WHS. This is proof as to why using closed source proprietary software from Microsoft makes everyone wait and depend on them to fix, repair, patch and the like…
On the other hand, anyone using open source code gets to build upon, improve and best of all, get help NOT from one location that’s hell bent upon dependency, royalties and leasing a license (so like renting) their solutions.
Do you want to catch your own fish, or have someone toss you a bone?
Start supporting open source, let everyone build upon and share the benefits.
Only Microsoft’s WHS Drive Extender has the data corruption design flaw!
These below Linux solutions actually provide more features and higher quality than WHS crippleware.
Qnap TS-209 Pro
Synology DS-207+
Excito Bubba Miniserver
ClarkConnect Server and Gateway
Ubuntu Server Edition 7.10
FreeNAS
etc…
WHS Security Vulnerability!!!
Locking your Firewire-equipped Windows PC while you pop out for lunch won’t keep it secure, thanks to a new hack developed by a New Zealand-based (Immunity Inc.) security consultant Adam Boileau. The attack, which unlocks Windows XP, Vista and WHS basically bypasses windows authentication via 1394 Firewire by manipulating Firewire ports.
It works by attaching a Linux-based computer running Mr Boileau’s software (storm.net.nz/projects/16) to a locked Windows PC, the target machine is tricked into allowing the attacking system to have read and write access to its memory. After 20 seconds or so, the software fiddles with Windows’ password protection code in the memory of the target machine, rendering it useless.
What’s interesting is the fact, Microsoft was told about this some two years ago, way back in 2006. However, Microsoft still hasn’t provided any resolution what’s so ever since and even now this March 10 of 2008! So Mr Boileau’s software code “winlockpwn” has been publicly released now. How can Microsoft say, improved security when they knew there was NO security and did nothing about it for years?
Unlike WHS, which holds all your PC backup files, Ubuntu or FreeNAS can make use of more reliable technologies which you didn’t include with the above Qnap TS-209 Pro or
Synology DS-207+ Linux solutions.
But, that doesn’t even matter, as anyone can simple use a third party solution such as Acronis True Image Echo Workstation that allows LAN networking and external storage such as CD/DVD/BD, eSATA, USB and 1394 – HDD methods to be used without even needing the OS to be installed or booted unlike WHS.
The advantage is lower cost due to less complexity, more security unlike WHS which can corrupt all your PC backup files at once, and is way simpler for beginners to use, as the application boots from a CD without the need of even having an OS installed or booted.
Meaning, it’s without the hassles of having to always balance your drives like in WHS all the time, which prevent you from actually using the WHS product for sharing and streaming files when backing up, unless you don’t mind choppy video, and super slow file transfers.
WHS sells the ideal of a PC backup $$$ solution, which is embedded into the OS, so should the WHS product fail, so does all your PC back files, unlike an independent backup solution that doesn’t require it to be installed in the HDD.
WHS just wants to dictate how every file must be stored in it’s NTFS proprietary, while limiting everyone using it to very specific conditions (Windows XP and Vista) that depend upon zero WHS errors, bugs and accidents which isn’t the case at all. SEE KB 946676 which states WHS “Drive Extender” causes data corruption!
It’s also much faster than WHS to restore and backup your OS too! There are many other solutions here as well, many of them for FREE, being open source code.
Oh Aaron,
What possible solution cannot complete with WHS, except only for data corruption or WHS’s dumb down management console requiring third party solutions?
FreeNAS is a free NAS (Network-Attached Storage) server, supporting: CIFS (samba), FTP, NFS, AFP, RSYNC, iSCSI protocols, S.M.A.R.T., local user authentication, Software RAID (0,1,5) with a Full WEB configuration interface.
It speaks for itself.
Ubuntu is also free, so I guess you got something against it, being FREE? Ubuntu supports quick failure recovery: If a client system fails, simply swap in a new one and continue working. No configuration is required, and all of the user’s data and settings are intact.
Try doing that with WHS!
Synology makes data backup so complete and automatic that backup can be done without your attention. From Secure Network Backup, Local Backup, to PC Backup (Synology Data Replicator II), you can always find the backup alternatives that fit your needs.
http://www.synology.com/enu/products/features/index.php
Qnap TS-409 Pro supports multiple file sharing protocols for users to share files across Linux, Unix, Mac, and Windows platforms. Qnap server functions including File Server, FTP Server, Printer Server, Windows ADS (Active Directory Service), MySQL and SQLite, SMB & SOHO, FTP server with SSL/TLS, SSH login, Online RAID Level Migration and encrypted remote replication and backup to external devices are supported to enhance data protection. http://www.qnap.com
And you think WHS has more to offer?
What $M fanboys can demonstrate WHS to be a disaster-proof NAS for Business?