Episode 77 of the BYOB podcast is available.
And on this weeks episode:
“Intel has a new Sandforce based SSD. Passwords are not security and exploring the vulnerabilities of WiFi Protected Setup.”
You can catch episode 77 here.
If you have an Xbox 360 then you can access your Windows Home Server’s multimedia on it.
Brian Burgess explains how to get this setup using the Video Player and Music Player apps on Microsoft’s games console.
You can find Brian’s post here.
The developer of the add-in Home Server SMART is after SSD owners to help test the upcoming 2012 version of the add-in which helps monitor your hard disks SMART results.
Older beta version of the add-in never reported SMART results for Solid State Disks (SSDs) correctly and you can help even if the SSD isn’t installed in your home server:
If you are running a home server with WHS 2011 (or SBS 2011 Essentials/Storage Server 2008 R2 Essentials) and there’s an SSD in it, you can use the Home Server SMART 2012 beta code that I hope to have available in the next week.
If you don’t have an SSD in your server BUT you’ve got one in a desktop or laptop, I’ve created a Windows Forms-based UI that contains much of the Home Server SMART 2012 code, but can be run in 64-bit editions of Windows Vista and Windows 7. This "WindowSMART" application was built mainly for me to use as a means of testing code on the development PC before pushing it onto my home servers, but anybody can run it.
Ideally, at a bare minimum, I would at least like to ensure I get coverage of the most common/popular consumer class SSDs. Right now, that seems to be OCZ, Intel, Crucial, Patriot Memory, Kingston, Corsair and SanDisk. Sure, the goal is actually to ensure I properly cover the controllers — for instance, I have an OCZ Agility3 and an OCZ Octane — the former uses a SandForce controller; the latter, an Indilinx Everest. That’s all I am able to test and validate, leaving all the other controllers out there untested by me. And that leads to bad software. So if anyone is willing to volunteer to run either the HSS 2012 beta or the WindowSMART test UI, your help will be greatly appreciated–and hopefully should require very, very little of your time. Mostly you would just need to run the tool, take screen caps and email them back to me.
If you are willing to volunteer then you can contact Matt on his website.
AWIECO RemoteLauncher has been updated to version 1.0.1
The free add-in allows you to manage your SBS or WHS remotely, allowing you to have access to predefined System Tools such as Windows Explorer, Internet Explorer the Commandline or Event Viewer directly over the Dashboard.
Version 1.0.1 has the following new features:
More information on AWIECO RemoteLauncher can be found here.
MultiPoint Server 2011 runs Windows Home Server 2011 Add-Ins.
After some testing Andreas M has discovered that his add-in Advanced Admin Console works in Windows Multipoint Server 2011 after he removed the update check from the add-in.
More details are available here.
As well as the Update Rollup 2 (UR2) for WHS 2011, Microsoft have also released UR2 for Small Business Server 2011 Essentials.
The big difference in this release compared to the WHS release is that the Office 365 integration module is now included.
Here’s the details:
Feature that is included in this update
The Office 365 Integration Module is an additional feature that is available for Windows Small Business Server (SBS) 2011 Essentials. This add-in feature simplifies the management of Office 365 by integrating the administration experience into the server Dashboard, which is the command-and-control center for Windows SBS 2011 Essentials.
For more information about Office 365 on your small business network, visit the following Microsoft website:How to use Microsoft Office 365 on your small business network (http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=228598)
For more information about the Office 365 Integration Module, visit the following Microsoft website:
How to install and configure the Office 365 Integration Module (http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=232921)
For more information about Office 365, visit the following Microsoft website:
General information about Office 365 (http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=228598)
Major issues that are resolved by this update
Issue 1
The network monitor service or the health service crashes occasionally. This issue causes the dashboard to crash in the configuration router wizard. Additionally, an event that resembles the following is logged in the Application log:
Log Name: Application
Source: .NET Runtime
Date: datetime
Event ID: 1026
Task Category: None
Level: Error
Keywords: Classic
User: N/A
Computer: computer name
Description:
Application: SharedServiceHost.exe
Framework Version: v4.0.30319
Description: The process was terminated due to an unhandled exception.
Exception Info: System.InvalidOperationException
Stack:
at System.Xml.Serialization.XmlSerializer.Deserialize(System.Xml.XmlReader, System.String, System.Xml.Serialization.XmlDeserializationEvents)
at Microsoft.WindowsServerSolutions.TaskManagement.Data.EngineStateFile.Load(System.String)
at Microsoft.WindowsServerSolutions.TaskManagement.TaskScheduler.ReadRestartState()
at Microsoft.WindowsServerSolutions.TaskManagement.TaskScheduler.RunTasks(System.String, System.String)
at Microsoft.WindowsServerSolutions.Networking.NetworkingMonitor.RepairRouter()
at System.Threading.ExecutionContext.runTryCode(System.Object)
at System.Runtime.CompilerServices.RuntimeHelpers.ExecuteCodeWithGuaranteedCleanup(TryCode, CleanupCode, System.Object)
at System.Threading.ExecutionContext.Run(System.Threading.ExecutionContext, System.Threading.ContextCallback, System.Object, Boolean)
at System.Threading.ExecutionContext.Run(System.Threading.ExecutionContext, System.Threading.ContextCallback, System.Object)
at System.Threading.ThreadHelper.ThreadStart()This issue occurs because the operating system uses the same state file for different task lists that are running in parallel.
Issue 2
When a web browser control add-in is installed, and you try to close the Dashboard, an empty confirmation dialog box appears. This issue occurs if Internet Explorer 9 is installed.
Issue 3
The Remote Web Access (RWA) website does not work correctly when you log on from a tablet device. For example, you cannot download files from the RWA website to a Google Android-based device, and you cannot upload files from an Apple IOS-based device to the RWA website.
Issue 4
The software name of the embedded Launchpad is the same for Mac Lion as it is for Windows. Therefore, the operating system assumes that the embedded Launchpad for Mac Lion is already installed. Because of this issue, you cannot install the connector on a Mac Lion-based client computer.
Issue 5
When you install a third-party application that uses the same altitude value as the Backupreader.sys, and then you try to restore the client backup, the restore process fails.
Issue 6
Assume that you try to perform a client backup. In this situation, the backup operation fails. Additionally, you receive the following error message:
Insufficient storage available for backup
This issue occurs because a hidden "Drivers for Full System Restore" folder is created on all the volumes that are included in the backup. If the client computer is running Windows 7, there is a hidden System Reserved partition that is only 100 megabytes (MB). However, the "Drivers for Full System Restore" folder is larger than 100 MB. Therefore, this issue occurs. After you apply this update, the "Drivers for Full System Restore" folder is not created on volumes that are smaller than one gigabyte (GB) or on volumes that do not have a driver letter.
Issue 7
The default input language for the Spanish version of Windows SBS 2011 Essentials is English. After you install this update, an alert is displayed that states that the default input language is changed to either English or Traditional Spanish.
Issue 8
If a certificate that has a blank common name (CN) is created in certain situations, the identity management service cannot be run.
Issue 9
When Update Rollup 1 for Windows SBS 2011 Essentials is installed on the server that is running a localized version of Windows SBS 2011 Essentials, two sets of shortcuts for Launchpad and Dashboard are created. In this situation, the names of the shortcuts are displayed in English in one of the set and in the local language in the other set.
Issue 10
This update fixes and updates links to documents that provide guidance for discovering and deploying add-ins and additional applications.
Issue 11
Sharedservicehost.exe throws exception errors when the health monitoring service and the client backup service are running. This issue also occurs when Launchpad or Dashboard is disconnected from the Internet. This behavior causes some services, such as the health monitoring service, the backup service, or the identity management service, to crash.
Issue 12
The Office 365 integration module fails when you use a new Office 365 organization ID.
Issue 13
The UI of the client connector is incompatible with the new version of Windows client.
Issue 14
Client computers disappear from the Dashboard if request IDs for certificates are not returned in a numeric sequence. This issue may also cause the server to disappear from the Dashboard.
Known issues
Issue 1
Assume that you install the Launchpad on a client computer before this update is applied on the server. In this situation, the connector on the client computer updates automatically. This behavior causes the notification tray to crash on some localized versions of Windows SBS 2011 Essentials, such as the Italian and Portuguese Brazilian versions. This issue occurs only after this update is applied.
Issue 2
You do not receive an alert that states that automatic software updates for Mac Lion are disabled.
Issue 3
You do not receive an alert that states that software updates for Mac Lion are available.
Issue 4
There are no time-outs when you try to update the health status after the network connection is disconnected in Mac Lion.
Update Rollup for Small Business Server 2011 Essentials is available via Windows Update.
Update Rollup 2 (UR2) for Windows Home Server 2011 has just been released.
This second update for Windows Home Server 2011 users addresses the WHS community top feedback including:
Most importantly for Mac users the Mac client launch pad had a conflicting name with the launch pad from Apple this has now been changed so that users will no longer be blocked from joining the client. Also Mac Lion has been confirmed in having no compatibility issues with Windows Home Server 2011 after applying UR2.
Here is the list of all 15 issues which have been fixed in UR2:
Issue 1
The network monitor service or the health service crashes occasionally. This issue causes the dashboard to also crash in the configuration router wizard. Additionally, an event that resembles the following is logged in the Application log:
Log Name: Application
Source: .NET Runtime
Date: datetime
Event ID: 1026
Task Category: None
Level: Error
Keywords: Classic
User: N/A
Computer: computer name
Description:
Application: SharedServiceHost.exe
Framework Version: v4.0.30319
Description: The process was terminated due to an unhandled exception.
Exception Info: System.InvalidOperationException
Stack:
at System.Xml.Serialization.XmlSerializer.Deserialize(System.Xml.XmlReader, System.String, System.Xml.Serialization.XmlDeserializationEvents)
at Microsoft.WindowsServerSolutions.TaskManagement.Data.EngineStateFile.Load(System.String)
at Microsoft.WindowsServerSolutions.TaskManagement.TaskScheduler.ReadRestartState()
at Microsoft.WindowsServerSolutions.TaskManagement.TaskScheduler.RunTasks(System.String, System.String)
at Microsoft.WindowsServerSolutions.Networking.NetworkingMonitor.RepairRouter()
at System.Threading.ExecutionContext.runTryCode(System.Object)
at System.Runtime.CompilerServices.RuntimeHelpers.ExecuteCodeWithGuaranteedCleanup(TryCode, CleanupCode, System.Object)
at System.Threading.ExecutionContext.Run(System.Threading.ExecutionContext, System.Threading.ContextCallback, System.Object, Boolean)
at System.Threading.ExecutionContext.Run(System.Threading.ExecutionContext, System.Threading.ContextCallback, System.Object)
at System.Threading.ThreadHelper.ThreadStart()This issue occurs because the operating system uses the same state file for different task lists that are running in parallel.
Issue 2
Music file tags are overwritten in a default share (\\server\music) that has remote access enabled. Additionally, the album art file is replaced by using a low-resolution hidden system file.
Issue 3
When a web browser control add-in is installed, and you try to close the Dashboard, an empty confirmation dialog box appears. This issue occurs if Internet Explorer 9 is installed.
Issue 4
Remote access permission restrictions do not apply to the Media Library. For example, when you grant a new user account permission to access the Music folder only, the new user can access the Picture and Video folders in Media Library by using a remote desktop session.
Issue 5
The Remote Web Access website (RWA) does not work correctly when you log on from a tablet device. For example, you cannot download files from the RWA website to a Google Android-based device, and you cannot upload files from an Apple IOS-based device to the RWA website.
Issue 6
The software name of the embedded Launchpad is the same for Mac Lion as it is for Windows. Therefore, the operating system assumes that the embedded Launchpad for Mac Lion is already installed. Because of this issue, you cannot install the connector on a Mac Lion-based client computer.
Issue 7
When you install a third-party application that uses the same altitude value as the Backupreader.sys, and then you try to restore the client backup, the restore process fails.
Issue 8
Assume that you try to perform a client backup. In this situation, the backup operation fails. Additionally, you receive the following error message:
Insufficient storage available for backup
This issue occurs because a hidden "Drivers for Full System Restore" folder is created on all the volumes that are included in the backup. If the client computer is running Windows 7, there is a hidden System Reserved partition that is only 100 megabytes (MB). However, the "Drivers for Full System Restore" folder is larger than 100 MB. Therefore, this issue occurs. After you apply this update, the "Drivers for Full System Restore" folder is not created on volumes that are smaller than one gigabyte (GB) or on volumes that do not have a driver letter.
Issue 9
The default input language for the Spanish version of Windows Home Server 2011 is English. After you install this update, an alert is displayed that states that the default input language is changed to either English or Traditional Spanish.
Issue 10
If a certificate that has a blank common name (CN) is created in certain situations, the identity management service cannot be run.
Issue 11
When Update Rollup 1 for Windows Home Server 2011 is installed on the server that is running a localized version of Windows Home Server 2011, two sets of shortcuts for Launchpad and Dashboard are created. In this situation, the names of the shortcuts are displayed in English in one of the sets and in the local language in the other set.
Issue 12
This update fixes and updates links to documents that provide guidance for discovering and deploying add-ins and additional applications.
Issue 13
Sharedservicehost.exe throws exception errors when the health monitoring service and the client backup service are running. This issue occurs when Launchpad or Dashboard is disconnected from the Internet. This behavior causes some services, such as the health monitoring service, the backup service, or the identity management service, to crash.
Issue 14
The UI of the client connector is incompatible with the new version of Windows client.
Issue 15
Client computers disappear from the Dashboard if request IDs for certificates are not returned in a numeric sequence. This issue may also cause the server to disappear from the Dashboard.
Known issues
Issue 1
Assume that you install the Launchpad on a client computer before this update is applied on the server. In this situation, the connector on the client computer updates automatically. This behavior causes the notification tray to crash on some localized versions of Windows Home Server 2011, such as the Italian and Portuguese Brazilian versions. This issue occurs only after this update is applied.
Issue 2
You do not receive an alert that states that automatic software updates for Mac Lion are disabled.
Issue 3
You do not receive an alert that states that software updates for Mac Lion are available.
Issue 4
There are no time-outs when you try to update the health status after the network connection is disconnected in Mac Lion.
Note that after installing UR2 that the Media Streaming Metadata Synchronizer scheduled task is disabled. The Internet does not synchronize the album tags of the media files on the server share automatically. You can enable the scheduled task by using a new UI in Server Settings in the Dashboard.
Update Rollup 2 is available from Windows Update and will be automatically downloaded to WHS 2011, that’s as long as you have automatic updates turned on!
When you recognise the need for a home server, you have two main options; buy an OEM server from a major manufacturer or build one yourself.
OEM servers are still a bit thin on the ground, and not everybody is confident building their own server; selecting, integrating and assembling the components can be a bit daunting to those who are not familiar with PC hardware.
Enter Humu Humu, a UK based company specialising in Windows Home Server 2011 servers, who have done the hard work for you and built a server ready to go as soon as you get it home. They offer a single server, in a variety of different colours, with some optional configurations available at the time of purchase.
The Humu Humu server is based on a stylish Mini-ITX case measuring 193 W x 209 H x 291 D which can be order in Red, Silver, Black and Blue. Finished in brushed aluminium, the case has a strong and good quality feel.
Along with the server, you also find a network cable, manuals and the recovery media In the box.
The server has no optical drives, so along with the DVD recovery media, Humu Humu have thoughtfully provided a USB flash drive containing the recovery software.
Humu Humu branded manuals are a nice touch, and representative of the thought and attention to detail that have gone into the whole package.
Internally the server is based around an Intel Atom D525 1.80GHz processor on a Mini-ITX motherboard, with 4GB of DDR3 memory and a single 2TB hard drive.
When ordering, the Humu Humu website gives the option of having the server shipped disk-less, with a single 2TB drive or an additional 2TB drive. With the additional drive option, the 2nd disk is mounted in the CD/DVD drive bay as this is the only space in the case to house it.
The hard disk(s) are bolted inside the server case and do not use caddies. This isn’t a problem if your storage needs are reasonably static, but it does mean that future capacity upgrades will need to be accomplished using external USB drives.
It is worth noting that in its single disk configuration, the review server had an eSATA socket available on the PCI slot bracket, which gets removed if purchased with two internal hard disks.
Up front things are nice and simple, with two USB 2.0 sockets along with power and reset button, and because this case has no caddies, the front is clean and uncluttered.
The rear takes a bit of a departure to regular OEM designed servers as a full range of regular PC connections are available. These include a parallel and serial port, PS2 mouse and keyboard, VGA, sound input/output alongside the more familiar server ports of four USB 2.0, Ethernet and eSATA.
A full height PCIe slot is available on the motherboard (filled by the eSATA bracket on the review model) should you wish to extend the capabilities of your server in that direction.
Having all these connections on the rear is no bad thing. The parallel port could be used to serve a printer; the serial port to interface to anything from home automation controllers to UPS devices. And clearly having VGA, keyboard and mouse ports available greatly simplifies reinstalling the operating system should that ever be necessary.
The review server came with the optional 2TB Western Digital Elements external USB hard disk.
The intention is to use this disk as a server backup against the loss of any of the internal disks. More thoughtful attention to detail is found with the inclusion of four metallic stickers marked as USB Backup Disk 1 through 4 to help you keep track of your backup disks (should you use more than one).
As this server is able to accommodate a keyboard and monitor, it seemed sensible to connect them up. Upon power on, we are presented by a Humu Humu branded boot screen followed by the familiar WHS 2011 commissioning process. When complete, the server presents itself to the network and we are ready to roll.
In addition to regular WHS 2011, Humu Humu helpfully include a number of extra tools to manage the server over and above the ones supplied by Microsoft.
Launch the Dashboard and you will see a couple of extra Add-ins AWIECO DriveInfo and AWIECO RemoteLauncher.
AWIECO DriveInfo adds a new tab into the familiar Server Folders and Hard Drives section of the dashboard, which will display detailed information for each hard disks along with their partitions and share usage totals. I liked this add-in so much, I added it to my own server.
Another useful AWIECO add-in is RemoteLauncher, which gives the ability to run tools and applications that wouldn’t normally be available on the Dashboard. Humu Humu have installed a couple of other tools which this add-in makes available.
WD Lifeguard lets you see details about Western Digital drives attached to the server, allowing access to the SMART information in case of problems with a drive.
CPUz is also available from this screen, providing more hardware details.
Finally HWMonitor gives even more information than anybody could possibly need about the internal working of the server, including processor core temperatures and motherboard voltages.
Just for interest, here are the Windows 7 benchmarks to illustrate the relative capabilities of the servers components. As is normal for this test, the overall score is let down by the graphics ability, which is perfectly fine for a server. If you ever want to use this hardware as a desktop PC, then you should add a graphics card.
In operation, the server is almost completely silent, helped by doing away with any separate case fans and cleverly using the power supply fan to move the air around. Couple this with the passively cooled Atom D525 processor, some very tidy internal cabling and you get a server that is very quiet indeed.
Power consumption in this single disk configuration server is a respectable 35 watts, which will raise a little if you opt for the extra internal disk.
Performance wise, the Humu Humu managed very nicely as a Windows Home Server. The Intel Atom D525 is perfectly capable of delivering files and media to the clients, with things greatly helped by having plenty of memory available. The dashboard was quick to respond, backups were swift and reliable, with file serving fast and without undue delay.
This spec of server isn’t ever going to completely happy doing a massive amount of HD conversions or anything that is very computationally intensive, but I don’t believe that this is the target user for this server anyway.
There is a lot to like about this server, the fit and finish of the case is great, and so is the range of colours. With WHS hardware still pretty hard to come by from major PC manufacturers, it is welcome to see an independent supplier willing to offer an alternative product to home consumers.
The Intel Atom delivers solid performance, and there is some great attention to detail in the package as a whole. If you are not confident building your own PC hardware, and are looking for a fuss-free and stylish server to protect your precious data, then you should have a look at the Humu Humu server.
Andreas Miceli has been in touch to remind us that the introductory price for Advanced Admin Console 2011 is only valid until February 16th.
To purchase download the trial version and purchase from within the add-in.
More information on Advanced Admin Console is available from here.
Drive Bender have released beta 3 of the "Tomcat" release.
Here’s the release notes for v1.2.4.5 beta:
Download the Windows version
Download the WHS version
Download the client version
Important notes regarding this beta:
