By on March 14th, 2012

Add-In: Snoop-de-dupe v1.75

The add-in Snoop-de-dupe has been updated to version 1.75.

Snoop-du-dupe WHS 2011 Main Screen

Snoop-de-dupe will automatically scan your server storage in real-time and display duplicate files allowing you to either delete, ignore/keep , or replace the duplicate files with a hard-link (available in WHS/SBS 2011 only). 

Change log for version 1.75:

New Features:

  • Updated the Batch Resolve dialog to allow batch processing of simultaneous "Set As Original" operations (e.g. You can now select multiple duplicate files(by holding down the shift or control key and then select "Set As Original" to reset any number of duplicate files as the original duplicate file)
  • Updated layout for German localization

Enhancements :

  • Improved load-time within the WHS Dashboard/Console
  • Fixed compatibility issues with WHS systems with older versions of the Microsoft C Run Time Library
  • Minor bug and usability issues

This latest release is free for existing users, who can download directly from the snoop-de-dupe add-in (select More Settings | Check for Software Updates).

For new users a 15 day free trial is available after which the add-in will cost you $14.99

More information on Snoop-de-dupe can be found here.

add-ins • Windows Home Server
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By on March 14th, 2012

Give your WHS Data a 2nd Level of Protection

A back to basics post from last year on how to backup your Windows Home Server folders to an external hard drive.

BYTE Add External Hard Drive

The tutorial by Brian Burgess at BYTE takes us through the necessary steps to giving our data a second level of protection.

You can find Brian’s tutorial here.

Tutorial • Windows Home Server
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By on March 14th, 2012

Windows Server "8" Beta Test Labs

As Server 8 will be the backbone behind the next version of WHS 2011 and SBS 2011 Essentials, we thought you may want to learn a bit about this next great Server operating system and its features.

Windows Server 8 Beta Test Lab Guides

Our friend Tom Ziegmann has posted a list of Test Lab Guides for Windows Server “8″ Beta which you can find here.

Tutorial • Windows Home Server
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By on March 13th, 2012

Paul Thurrott Talks Storage Spaces

Paul Thurrott in his Windows 8 Feature Focus series talks Storage Spaces.

Paul gives us his Storage Spaces 101 and shows us how it really works by taking us through its setup and configuration as well as comparing its features to Drive Extender from version 1 of Windows Home Server.

Paul Thurrott Managing Storage Spaces

You can read Windows 8 Feature Focus: Storage Spaces here.

Tutorial • Windows Home Server
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By on March 13th, 2012

Video: Storage Spaces in Server 8 – Still Not the Way To Go

After telling us about Storage Spaces in the Consumer Preview of Windows 8, Mike Faucher (aka PCDoc) is back this time demonstrating Storage Spaces in Server 8 for us which also includes the option of enabling the ReFS file system. Mike states:

“I am still not convinced that Storage Spaces is the way to go, but I am convinced that it is better in Server 8 than Windows 8.”

Creating a Parity Volume in Server 8
News • Windows Home Server
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By on March 12th, 2012

Add-In: StableBit Scanner for WHS 2011 v2.0.0.1282 BETA

StableBit Scanner for WHS 2011 has had an update.

StableBit Scanner Icon

Version 2.0.0.1282 BETA of the advanced hard disk surface scanner and monitor includes the following changes:

  • Do not show / scan Covecube virtual disks.
  • Do not show / scan VHD virtual disks.
  • Updated to licensing 2.0.
  • Enabled SAT for non-USB drives.
  • Added Background I/O option to scan settings.

StableBit Scanner is available as a one month trial after which it will cost you $24.95.

More information on StableBit Scanner can be found here.

add-ins • Windows Home Server
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By on March 12th, 2012

The BYOB Podcast Episode 80

BYOB Logo

Episode 80 of the BYOB podcast is up:

…we talk to John Wills (aka jmwills from the forums) about his setup, networking overseas, and of course Windows 8.  We are joined by John Zajdler for the second half of the show to discuss Storage Spaces and other topics.

You can catch episode 80 here.

News • Windows Home Server
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By on March 12th, 2012

Windows 8 Storage Spaces – Not Worth Using for Anything Serious

PCDoc Storage Pool Testing

PCDoc from the BYOB podcast has come to the conclusion that Windows 8 Storage Spaces feature is not up to par:

…the performance of the Storage Spaces is pretty bad in comparison to a hardware solution…it is simply not worth using for anything serious.

Although we must remember that Storage Spaces and Windows 8 is still in beta, it is good to know that we also have third party solutions in the form of StableBit DrivePool and Drive Bender.

You can read PCDoc’s full testing details here.

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By on March 11th, 2012

WHS 2011 Answer File Tool v0.1 Beta

Back in January of this year MVP Robert Pearman released the SBS 2011 Essentials Answer File Tool, and after a few suggestions Robert decided to release a version for WHS 2011 users too.

The tool allows you to create and edit installation Answer Files for Windows Home Server 2011, allowing you to easily create files for a custom installation, easily bypassing system requirement checks and allowing you to configure customized disk partition schemes.

WHS 2011 Answer File Tool 0.1 Beta

A lovely tool to have in your WHS 2011 collection.

You can download the Windows Home Server 2011 Answer File Tool from the TechNet Gallery.

Other Software • Windows Home Server
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By on March 10th, 2012

ViridianPC New Site Design and Competition

UK based ViridianPC have a new site design and are offering 1 pair of tickets to the Gadget Show Live taking place at the NEC Birmingham in April this year.

ViridianPC Home Page

For a chance to win head on over to the new ViridianPC home page.

News • Windows Home Server
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