MS Windows Home Server

WS 2012 Essentials Generally Available Today

Microsoft announced the RTM of WS2012 Essentials in October and today on its "STB News Bytes Blog" Microsoft announced the General Availability (GA) of the product:

Windows Server 2012 Essentials Generally Available Today!
Microsoft is pleased to announce that today Windows Server 2012 Essentials for small businesses is generally available for purchase through volume licensing, retail and reseller channels. Microsoft partners can now begin purchasing and implementing Windows Server 2012 Essentials for their small business clients, to help customers grow and simplify their path to the cloud with capabilities such as:

• Built-in disaster recovery. Protection from fire, theft or flood. Even if hardware should fail, Microsoft’s online backup service helps keep data safe and secure in the cloud.
• Consistent productivity. Quickly connect to the computers in the network and access all files and apps from virtually any location. Save time looking for scattered files, with the powerful and centralized data storage and sharing features.
• Flexible cloud solutions. Choose the right solution for your needs, with seamless integration and centralized administration of cloud services, such as Office 365, and on-premises applications.

For more information about the product, please visit the Windows Server 2012 Essentials site. Evaluations are available here.

Alternatives to Windows Home Server

informIT have a list of alternatives to using Windows Home Server.

FreeNAS, Amahi Home Server and TonidoPlug are the three candidates which are taken a look at:

We discussed three different cost-saving alternatives to using Microsoft’s Windows Home Server (WHS):

• FreeNAS provides basic NAS and media streaming functionality, but is best for more technically inclined individuals.
• Amahi Home Server provides even more functionality than WHS, and is designed more for the average user.
• The TonidoPlug costs about the same as the WHS software, but is a computer itself already preinstalled and ready to go.

You can find the article here.

Storage Spaces a great feature when it works

ArsTechnica have a thorough look at Storage Spaces.

The article does not sound hopeful with a title of "Storage Spaces explained: a great feature, when it works", but there is hope in Drive Extender’s latest incarnation.

Whilst trying Storage Spaces out ArsTechnica suggests that it needs more warning signs, and whilst performance may be a drag we must remember that a future update or service pack will hopefully make things a little smoother.

A comprehensive 3 page review which you can find here.

The Purpose of the "Do Not Cover This Hole" on Hard Drives

You have have ever wondered the purpose of the "Do not cover this hole" on hard drives then we have the answer for you.

On many hard drives, there’s a stern text warning to “not cover this hole”, sometimes adding that doing so will void the warranty. But what is its purpose?

The hole allows for equalization of air pressure between the inside and outside of the drive. While it is not a complete pass-through of outside air into the HDD internals, there is a filter inside the hole that allows the air pressure to equalize. If the drive were completely sealed, operating at altitudes significantly different from those the drive was manufactured and sealed at, it would cause problems and increase the likelihood of catastrophic failures. This system works in much the same way as the Eustachian tubes that allow our ears internal pressures to equalize, preventing the explosion of our ear drums.

More explanations are available from the How To Geek.