By on September 21st, 2009

Add-In: WhsDbDataDump – 1.0.0 Build 2 BETA

The add-in WhsDbDataDump has been updated to version 1.0.0 Build 2 BETA.

This add-in extracts the actual backed up data out of the Windows Home Server Backup database enabling you to work with broken databases. And this latest version now has the ability of extracting backed up files from a Windows Home Server backup database too.

Changes:

  • Added ntfsdump operating mode. Capable of dumping files directly from backed up volumes. Supports sparse files. No support for compressed files, encrypted files or alternate data streams yet.
  • File filtering option (find/findregex) for ntfsdump.

More details are available from here.

add-ins • Windows Home Server
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By on September 21st, 2009

WHS – The Ideal Solution for Small Businesses

Moira Whidby from the Windows home Server Team chats about why WHS is the ideal solution for small businesses of less than 10 people in this short 3 minute Microsoft Partner video.

News • Windows Home Server
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By on September 18th, 2009

Add-In: WHS Mobile 1.5

WHS Mobile version 1.5 is available for Windows Mobile, the Apple iPhone and the iPod Touch and the best news is that its now available from Apple’s App Store.

“WHS Mobile is the only application of its kind for Windows Home Server. It allows for simple remote management of your Home Server while on the go. You can manage files stored in the shared folders, stream media, manager users, modify ports forwarding to your Home Server via UPnP, start/stop FTP sites with FTP Manager, and remotely access your home computers from a Windows Mobile device. You can even use your Apple iPhone with WHS Mobile. WHS Mobile for iPhone allows direct media transfer to and from your home server. You can search your shares using the Home Server’s Windows Search index for speedy results directly on the iPhone. Stream mp3’s individually or as an album quickly and easily. Remote computer access isn’t currently possible on the Apple iPhone due to the absence of a native Remote Desktop client on the platform. FTP Manager support will be available on the iPhone in the next release of the application. User impersonation allows you to let specific users access shares and features based upon their Windows Home Server account.  WHS Mobile is a powerful and unique add-in for Windows Home Server that expands your access onto your Windows Mobile and Apple iPhone devices.”

WHS Mobile 1.5 Files  WHS Mobile 1.5 Users

The remote access feature is in the process of being redesigned so it is disabled in this release. The Windows Mobile client does not yet work on Smartphone (non-touch screen) models. Documentation is currently in the process of being written. The server and Windows Mobile software to go with the iPhone app can be found below.

iPhone Major Changes:

  • Search feature added
  • Streaming mp3s with a bitrate greater than 320 kb/s will no longer crash the application
  • Added bunch of code to prevent crashes
  • UI face lift
  • Upload images from your camera and photo gallery!
  • Pan and zoom image previews
  • Fixed a lot of random bugs
  • Multiple user compatibility – User impersonation limits and regulates access
  • Is available via the App Store

Here is what has changed for Windows Mobile:

  • Some compatibility issues
  • Changes for usage with 1.5 and multiple logins/users
  • Windows Media Player will launch when streaming WMA.
  • Mp3s can be previewed on Windows Mobile 6.0 and above

More information is available from here, whilst the app is available from the App Store here.

UPDATE: The add-in has been removed for sale until some problems have been sorted out.

add-ins • Windows Home Server
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By on September 18th, 2009

The Home Server Show Podcast #56

home_server_show_small

Episode #56 of The Home Server Show is available with the latest news, the add-in of the week and an interview with Dan Reynolds of KeepVault; the online backup solution for Home Server users.

You can catch it here.

News • Windows Home Server
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By on September 17th, 2009

PHP and MySQL Installer for WHS

Two new add-ins from Nigel “Cougar” Wilks.

The first Add-In is called WHS PHP Installer (Version 1.0) which installs a preconfigured PHP 5.2.6 install for Windows Home Server based systems for easy and convenient installation which also allows customization via the PHP.INI file.

Once installed via the add-ins folder you can access a test page at http://yourservername/test.php to verify the installation was successful and to show the PHPInfo() output.

The second add-in is WHS MySQL Installer which compliments the WHS PHP Installer add-in.

At version 0.0.5 Beta this database add-in also includes includes the popular interface PHPMyAdmin, a utility for MySQL.

NOTE: WHS PHP Installer is just over 9MB in size whilst WHS MySQL Installer is 119MB.

add-ins • Windows Home Server
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By on September 17th, 2009

HP EX490/EX495 MediaSmart Server Support Ready

You may not have one yet, but the support site for the new HP EX490/EX495 MediaSmart Server’s is up with how to use guides, details on how to solve problems, product information as well as a list of FAQs.

EX495 Support Area at HP

The support area for the EX490 is here, whilst the EX495 support area is here.

News • Windows Home Server
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By on September 16th, 2009

HP EX490/EX495 MediaSmart Server Data Sheet

hp_mss_ex490_4950001

Want to know more about the specifications of the EX490/EX495 HP MediaSmart Server, then HP has the Data sheet available with all the info.

Available in PDF format from here.

News • Windows Home Server
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By on September 15th, 2009

The HP EX49x – The Reviews Reviewed

With the announcement of the new HP EX49x range of MediaSmart Server’s, we thought we would browse the web and bring you the best of the reviews that are currently available.

*MSWHS.com. We off course have our own comprehensive look at the EX495 MediaSmart Server right here, as well as an overview in our earlier announcement.

*We Got Served has the following series of articles

*MediaSmartHome has a comprehensive 5 page hands on review which starts from the packaging and takes a look at the hardware, the Home Console UI and the better Mac OS X compatibility and integration as well as overall server performance.

Web Based Comman Home Page

The web-based common homepage is also taken a look at, as well as the HP Media Collector and Video Converter.

*MediaSmartHome‘s second review is one for Mac users and features:

  • Remote Desktop: Access the WHS Console Directly from OS X
  • Full Restoration From Time Machine
  • Mac Integration with Media Collector
  • Enhanced Web Based Client

*MediaSmartServer has a huge comprehensive review which amongst other things looks at Easter Eggs, power consumption plus ordering and availability details.  Also available is a review which takes a closer look at the hardware which powers the new EX49x range.

*Notebooks.com has a video of Glenn Roberts from HP showing off the new HP EX495 MediaSmart Server.

NoteBooksCom

In this short 4 minute video, Glenn goes through the hardware differences between the 2 models and tells us about the software improvements HP have provided.

*Paul Thurrott’s SuperSite for Windows has a review of the new EX49x MediaSmart Server from HP which takes a look at the hardware and software improvements in HPs third generation of Home Server.

News • Windows Home Server
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By on September 15th, 2009

EX49x User Guide and Setup Poster Available

The User Guide and Setup Poster for the new EX490 and EX495 MediaSmart Server’s is now available.

EX49x Setup Poster

The 331 page user guide is available in PDF format and takes you through the setup and installation of the MediaSmart EX49x as well as it’s included software:

  • HP Media Collector
  • HP Video Converter
  • Media Streaming – TwonkyMedia for Media Streaming, Server for iTunes, Web/iPhone Streaming, Streaming Media to a device
  • HP Photo Publisher and HP Photo Viewer

Backup, restore, recovery and server storage are dealt with as well as network and firewall issues alongside errors and light codes, which you can get here.

Also available is the EX49x PDF Setup Poster as supplied in the box, which is available here.

News • Windows Home Server
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By on September 15th, 2009

HP MediaSmart Server EX495 Review

HP Mediasmart EX495 side view

HP is set to replace their current MediaSmart EX485 and EX487 servers with the addition of two new models, the EX490 and EX495. So what can we expect from these two servers?

What’s new

HP MediaSmart EX range has always stood apart from the Windows Home Server crowd because of the extra software that is included with the server. This time around, HP have enhanced automatic video conversion to ensure that your streamed video files are readable over the internet, the admin console has received a make over with an enhanced status display, server setup and configuration checks. The Mac hasn’t been forgotten about either with the additional capabilities for hard disk recovery, media collection and server administration. This comes as an addition to the existing MediaSmart extras already included in the earlier servers.

Hardware wise, the new servers retain the same compact sized case and 2GB RAM capacity of their predecessors, but have taken upgrades in the processor and hard disk configurations.

Windows Home Server
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