MS Windows Home Server

By Philip Churchill on July 12th, 2010

Drive Balancer for Adding Hard Drives

The Drive Balancer app is designed to balance data distribution to all disks in the pool in Windows Home Server, ideal for when you add a new hard drive to your Home Server and it doesn’t necessarily start getting used for a while.

While Microsoft has made changes to the usage of the Landing Zone (as in it doesn’t exist anymore), some people’s systems might still be in a non "evened out" state and wish to correct this.

The latest version of this app (1.05) can be downloaded from here, but make sure you thoroughly read the readme and usage notes before using.

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By Philip Churchill on July 11th, 2010

Add-In: P80 2.6.9.1

Version 2.6.9.1 of the add-in P80 is now available for beta testing.

The add-in P-80 (aka project 80, aka port 80) is a website which allows you to get Home Server information, such as server health, services and share and user information on any computer any where.

Version 2.6.9.1 (8th July 2010), includes the following changes:

Run Scripts on WHS from P80
Cloudberry Backup is no longer supported in P80
Performance Counters (CPU Usage, Memory Usage and Network Usage). Displayed in P80 and in the browsers title bar.
Check for new version and show link to download new version of p80
External USB HDs and Backup HDs have a new color (Blue). Now they only change color to red when the capacity is 10 percent or less.
Time to backup is now fixed.
If the session state expires then the user is kicked out of P80. Default time is 20 minutes. This can be changed in the web.config file.
WHS Console – P80 settings tab now translated
Shutdown now added to AutoExit capabilities. Force Shutdown was the only option before for shutdown methods.

This latest version can be directly downloaded from here – (ZIP file)

Any questions or feedback on this version should be sent sent to P80Support@gmail.com

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By Philip Churchill on July 09th, 2010

Help Test HomeServerSync

Today the HomeServerSync Offsite backup add In from Tranquil PC goes to final beta.

Tranquil are pleased to confirm that the HomeServerSync Suite of products is now almost out of beta.
The VPN / Sync modules are still in beta, and are working well – with just a few issues being resolved.

We have had approx 26.5TB transferred through the VPN tunnels, with over 1800 PCs connected.

VPN Beta users have enjoyed unlimited fast remote access to the WHS console / WHS RDC / WHS Shares / WHS backups etc along with RDC / folder access to all PCs on their private VPNs – many want it forever, and are relying on the VPN for daily use !

The Sync tool is very flexible is use, and although designed for PC <> WHS synchronisation has been used for WHS <> WHS synchronisation too (ie mirroring WHS data folders) – not officially supported, but possible.

The add-in provides off site backup for your Windows Home Server and the central management console for VPNs and PC / WHS Syncs. The beta (not including the VPN / Sync components) is available now for BETA testing.

So if you are interested in testing, email hssbeta5@homeserversync.co.uk who will provide you with the download link and simple instructions plus you will be entitled to a discount once the final product is released later this month.

Normally the suite (VPN/SYNC/Offsite back of 100GB) would be £118.30 per year, pre-orders get this discounted down to £79 (all + VAT). Plus Order any SQA-5H unit before the end of July 2010, and receive a FREE 12 month subscription to HomeServerSync which will be delivered to you once it is launched. The subscription will start from the day you install the application.

More information on HomeServerSync is also available from here.

add-ins • News • Windows Home Server

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By Philip Churchill on July 09th, 2010

Vail Remote Web Access Integration

Microsoft’s Windows Home Server Blog has a Vail engineering post about the extensibility of Remote Web Access.

The post looks at the new Remote Web Access site (RWA site) in Vail and how OEM and ISV partners/developers can integrate their own products/features into the Remote Web Access portal.

Interested parties can read about it here.

News • Windows Home Server

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By Philip Churchill on July 08th, 2010

New Vail Beta Next Week?

Keeping close tabs on Microsoft, ZDNet’s Mary-Jo Foley tells us that a new beta of Vail will be available next week.

Writing in here "All About Microsoft" column Mary Jo explains that Microsoft should be releasing new beta builds of both Vail and Aurora (a small business server based largely on the same code base as Vail) next week timed with the Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference.

Mary-Jo also tells us the difference between Vail and Aurora in her article, which can be found here.

News • Windows Home Server

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By Philip Churchill on July 06th, 2010

Add-In: HomeServerSync – The Latest

Tranquil PC has released updated information on their HomeServerSync add-in which will be made available later this month.

We hope this Add In will truly ‘release’ WHS from the confines of the ‘home’ or ‘small office’ – creating your own ‘Personal Cloud Storage Server’

In essence the VPN component (part of the 2 way Sync we have created) delivers a unique service that has to be seen to be believed – having all WHS services available whether you are locally connected, or at the other side of the planet.

· Full access to the WHS console (incl opening PC backups) etc

· Full access to shared folders (ie your Media player will still see / stream the media files)

· Full access to the WHS desktop (RDC) should that ever be needed

· Full access to WHS network connected drives

The 2 way Sync component is just that, it sits on the WHS and the client desktop, and whether you are locally or remotely connected your files are safely stored.

· Client to Server updates

· Server to Client updates

· Updates in both directions

· Versioning control

· File deletion control

Offsite backup is again, just as it should be. Change a file on a selected WHS folder, either directly or via the client desktop sync application and that file is encrypted / compressed and then saved to the offsite backup data centre (in Manchester).
The optional bulk upload function is now being completed, and when ready will provide a unique solution to ‘upload’ the initial ‘bulk’ data to the Data Centre via an encrypted physical HDD. Getting your files back can be achieved via the WHS Add In, via a web browser or by requesting a bulk download (reverse of bulk upload).

· Real time or scheduled ‘offsite backup’ to a UK data centre (off shore FTP servers can be selected for OEM partners)

· Back up in real time or every hour or at specific times

· Bulk upload option

· Bulk download option

· Files fully encrypted and compressed prior to transfer

All in all this is WHS unlimited

The latest news on the HomeServerSync add-in can be found here.

add-ins • Windows Home Server

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By Philip Churchill on July 06th, 2010

DVBlink TVSource 3.1

Version 3.1 of DVBLogic’s DVBlink TVSource is available.

As an ideal software application for having tuner cards in Windows Home Server. here is what is new and fixed in version 3.1:

Substantial speed-up of channel changes for systems with satellite tuners and diseqc
Substantial speed-up of channel scan
Fixed compatibility with AnySee tuners and their softcam when using it with multicas providers
New software registration mechanism: full overview of registration status of all installed DVBLink products in a single place
New software purchasing mechanism. Now you can start purchase page directly from DVBLink Server configuration application. Next to the improved user experience new purchasing mechanism allows us to work more efficiently with our partners. More announcements on this subject are due very soon!
Fixed "This program has stopped responding…" error in DVBLink addin
Fixed issue with disappearing EPG data when using xmltv

The download link and information on upgrading is available from here.

Other Software • Windows Home Server

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By Philip Churchill on July 05th, 2010

HTPCs and WHS – The Podcast

HTPCentric Logo

HTPCentric is a podcast dedicated to HTPC software, hardware, storage and customization. And episode 05 is all about HTPCs and Windows Home Server.

Want to back up the PCs in your home without thinking about it? Need something to server media to several HTPCs spread through your house? Windows Home Server may be just what you’re looking for.

This month, Jere and I speak with Vince Anido and Alton Marschall, both Windows Home Server users. Vince is a SageTV user who runs his WHS as a way to maintain backups. Alton is a Media Center user who recently shut down his WHS and he goes into the reasons why during the show. Both guys have a ton of experience working in the environment and they share the good and the bad.

No matter what HTPC software you use, backups are important and WHS does a lot more than that. Have a listen and enjoy!

You can find it here.

News • Windows Home Server

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By Philip Churchill on July 05th, 2010