Episode 98 of "The Home Server Show" podcast gets in depth with all the latest news on Windows Home Server, Vail and Aurora.
John, Jim and Dave are joined by guest Andrew Edney who dissects the recent Aurora announcement and what it means for Windows Home Server users.
You can catch it here.
Video Blog “Linus Tech Tips” have a flurry of videos which they have posted, all on the Asus TS mini Windows Home Server:
ASUS TS Mini Windows Home Server WHS Configuration & Setup Guide Linus Tech Tips
http://www.linustechtips.com/ltt-videos/asus-ts-mini-windows-home-server-whs-configuration-setup-guide-linus-tech-tips
ASUS TS Mini Windows Home Server Home Computer Backup Setup & Configuration Linus Tech Tips
http://www.linustechtips.com/ltt-videos/asus-ts-mini-windows-home-server-home-computer-backup-setup-configuration-linus-tech-tips
ASUS TS Mini Custom Software Applications & Plug Ins for Windows Home Server Linus Tech Tips
http://www.linustechtips.com/ltt-videos/asus-ts-mini-custom-software-applications-plug-ins-for-windows-home-server-linus-tech-tips
ASUS TS Mini Shared Folders Server Storage & Duplication Explanation Linus Tech Tips
http://www.linustechtips.com/ltt-videos/asus-ts-mini-shared-folders-server-storage-duplication-explanation-linus-tech-tips
ASUS TS Mini Windows Home Server WHS Remote Files & Desktop Access Linus Tech Tips
http://www.linustechtips.com/ltt-videos/asus-ts-mini-windows-home-server-whs-remote-files-desktop-access-linus-tech-tips
Following on from episode 5 of the HTPCentric podcast about HTPCs and WHS is the latest 30 minute episode 5 SP1 which continues on the subject by answering listeners email.
You can find it here.
Microsoft’s Official SBS (Small Business Server) Blog have announced a list of partners who are making add-ins for "Aurora".
On the list are Symantec, Level Platforms and Disk Keeper who we are told will be making statements this week around their plans to integrate products with "Aurora".
Although both Level Platforms and Disk Keeper already have add-ins available for the current version of Windows Home Server, it is good to see newcomers Symantec on the list.
Mary-Jo Foley of ZDNet has more details on "Aurora, where she answers questions such as:
These questions and more are answered for you here.
HP have today released a new add-in which will allow the contents of a connected USB drive to be copied or moved directly over to either the MediaSmart Server or HP Data Vault.
Called "Easy USB Transfer" the free add-in is ideal for off loading your photos or video footage from the connected USB device to allow for editing, backup, or to free up the USB drive for the next job.
Simply plug your USB hard drive or flash drive directly into any USB port on the HP MediaSmart Server or the HP Data Vault. Click on the HP MediaSmart Server or HP Data Vault icon on your desktop to open the Web site (User interface), and then click on the Easy USB Transfer icon located at the right.
From the Easy USB Transfer interface, drag a single or multiple folders or files from the USB drive to any folder on the Server, or from Server folder to the USB drive to initiate the Copy. Hold the shift key to Move the file or folder. You can also right click on a file or folder and Cut/Copy, Paste.
Once the transfer is initiated, no connection through your computer is required – you can disconnect or turn off your computer and the transfer will complete without a computer connected.
The HP written and exclusive add-in is available for the HP MediaSmart Server or HP Data Vault running software version 3.0, including the EX490, EX495, X300 and X500 series.
More information including the download link are located on the HP Add Software page as well as from the Add Software page through the WHS Console on the EX49X series and Data Vault products.
HP have updated their "HP MediaSmart Expander for TiVo" add-in from version 1.0.0.35038 to version 4.0.0.36035.
This latest version now allows you to schedule series recordings of your favorite programs and have them automatically copied over to either your MediaSmart Server or Data Vault.
The HP MediaSmart Expander for TiVo" add-in allows you to:
More information inc. requirements and the download are located on the HP Add Software page as well as from the Add Software page through the WHS Console on the EX49X series and Data Vault products.
Microsoft’s Official SBS Blog have announced a new edition of Windows Small Business Server entitled Windows Small Business Server (SBS) Code Name “Aurora”.
Aurora is touted as an easy to use “first server” option for small businesses and will be the company’s first to deliver both traditional and cloud capabilities.
Supporting up to 25 users, and using the Windows Server 2008 R2 codebase, the greatest news about Aurora is that it uses the Windows Home Server Drive Extender technology.
Paul Thurrott’s SuperSite for Windows had this to say about it:
…Aurora is 64-bit only. It provides a simplified version of Windows Server 2008 R2, health status monitoring for the server and connected clients, (Windows Home Server-based) Drive Extender technology for simplified server storage management and, with an optional Premium Add-On, a licensed copy of Windows Server 2008 R2 Standard technologies and SQL Server 2008 R2 Standard Edition for Small Business.
…Aurora works (and looks) just like Windows Home Server "Vail" and is in fact based on the same underlying foundation. So it provides a host of WHS-like functionality around the management tools (which are nearly identical) and various capabilities.
Although Aurora cannot be added to an existing Active Directory (AD) domain, it can be the first server in a new domain and provides a full, native Active Directory infrastructure and even better Aurora, just like Vail, utilizes the add-on platform for extendibility.
It seems Aurora is Vail on steroids for the Small Business community!
If you would like to become a beta tester for Windows Small Business Server Code Name “Aurora”, you can sign up here.
Pictures courtesy of Paul Thurrott’s SuperSite for Windows
Paul Thurrott in his weekly Mailbag post has written the following about the forthcoming Windows 8 release:
…Windows 8 will almost certainly be the first client version of Windows to use the Drive Extender technology that debuted in Windows Home Server. Among other things, Drive Extender allows Windows to divvy up hard drive storage into a single, uninterrupted blob of storage space, removing the need for drive letters. While it’s unlikely that Windows 8 will dispense with drive letters all together, this is clearly the first step in that direction.
If this proves to eventually become true, then this is great news BUT where would this leave Windows Home Server as a stand alone product/appliance?
Calvin Zito, (aka the HPStorageGuy)and his 10 year old son Cameron demonstrate how easy it is to install and setup the HP DataVault in this 8 minute video.
Calvin also explains how the DataVault saved him from a data loss when his Flip video files were deleted, but thanks to his X510 he managed to recover the video folder with all his Flip videos inside.
