MS Windows Home Server

Add-In: StableBit DrivePool Build 3940

Another 2 updates for StableBit DrivePool have just been released:

First is build 1.0.0.3933:

• [D] Some MDLs don’t have a user buffer associated with them but only contain a system mapped address.
• [D] Fixed timing of file object dereference to accomodate file mappings and paging I/O after the last user mode handle is closed. This affected notepad and other apps that mapped views of files.
• [D] Fixed current file position advance on Direct file I/O read / write.

             [D] = Driver

Next up is build 3940

• Fixed reading NTFS security from folder / files that don’t have appropriate permissions and must use backup semantics to reset permissions.
    
  Some people are experiencing permissions issues accessing folders on the pool. You should try to open folder properties in DrivePool and re-apply the permission settings. You can do this by changing the permissions values to something and then changing them back and hitting OK.

             With this change, DrivePool should take ownership of all the folders / files and rest the permissions to their correct state.

As always more information on StableBit DrivePool can be found here.

Add-In: StableBit DrivePool Build 3874

StableBit DrivePool has been updated to version 1.0.0.3874 with the following changes:

• Correct NTFS permissions on the ServerPoolPart folder and the . (volume root) folder, if they’re broken.
• Server backup disks cannot be part of the pool.
• When moving folders, if a folder cannot be moved because of an access denied error (NTFS permissions don’t allow it), then reset the NTFS permissions instead of aborting.
• When pool was being balanced, tooltip said "Balanced".
• Fixed handle leak for security tokens.
• Added new DrivePool performance features (see new DrivePool Settings dialog for more info):
      * [D] Direct I/O
      * [D] Fast I/O
      * [D] Read striping
      * [D] Fast directory listing (not enabled yet)
      * [D] Fast I/O write
      * Parallel execution limit

More info on StableBit DrivePool can be found here.

Embedded Automation Announce mControl Version 3

Home automation company Embedded Automation have announced version 3 of its mControl software for Windows Home Server users.

With support for both Windows Home Server "Classic" and Windows Home Server 2011 users, this latest release includes the following features and enhancements:

• Support for Embedded Automation’s mBee line of ZigBee® wireless technologies
• mControl Editor – a browser-based configuration and administration interface
• Advanced surveillance with N-up camera display – allowing real-time streaming of standard and hi-definition IP cameras
• Native iPad/iPhone App – free download from the Apple App Store
• Enhanced mobile user interface – optimized for smart phone browsers
• mRemote (with Module Maker) – integrated remote control interface with device editor allows integration of virtually any serial, IP or Infrared (IR) device
• Data Logging infrastructure – captures history of status and events for analysis and when used with Embedded Automation’s mChronicle utility, allows data to be sent to cloud databases for advanced analytics and charting
• Enhanced database allows for device and macro reuse, and nested zones
• New code-based licensing method provides simplified activation
• RESTful API provides a simplified method for building apps around the mControl engine
• Many other core and driver enhancements

More details on mControl v3 can be found here.