By on August 07th, 2012

Install Windows Server 2012 Essentials on the HP MediaSmart Server

If you have a HP MediaSmart Server would you like to install Windows Server 2012 Essentials onto it?

MediaSmart Server

If so then VieuxJules a user on the MediaSmartServer.net forums has already done so and tells us his experience of doing so in a 5 step process.

First impressions: most notable benefit is Spaces (kind of an evolved Drive Extender with different implementation choices). Also the server can be backed up (like in WHS2011). The computers are backed up in a similar way as to WHS2011. Oh, and it works on the MSS.
But there are some showstoppers: supports only Win 7, Win 8, and Mac OS.X 10.5 to 10.7…

You can read VieuxJules guide here.

Tutorial • Windows Home Server
Full Story
By on August 07th, 2012

Growing Beyond 25 Users with WS2012e

The Windows Server Essentials and Small Business Server Blog has an article on Growing Beyond 25 Users with Windows Server 2012 Essentials.

As you are probably now aware the new WS2012e allows up to 25 users instead of Home Server’s 10, but what do you do if you have more than 25 users? You transition to Windows Server 2012 Standard then the Windows Server 2012 Essentials features can support up to 75 user accounts and 75 devices

“Windows Server 2012 Essentials enables customers to grow beyond 25 users by doing an in-place license transition to Windows Server 2012 Standard. After making this transition, you will be able to continue using Essentials features with the exception of media features. Essentials features are supported for up to 75 users and 75 devices. If you grow beyond 75 or want to change the configuration of the server, we recommend that you turn off Essentials features.”

You can read the full article here.

News • Windows Home Server
Full Story
By on August 07th, 2012

Mac Mountain Lion Compatibility With WHS 2011

Microsoft have but up a Wiki article on Mac Mountain Lion Compatibility With Windows Home Server 2011, Small Business Server 2011 Essentials and Windows Storage Server 2008 R2 Essentials.

Mac Mountain Lion Compatibility With WHS 2011 Wiki

The article highlights the following 2 issues:

  1. An error message pops up when deploying connector: “’Connector for Mac’ can’t be opened because it is from an unidentified developer.”
  2. Dashboard cannot login after correct credential is entered

Workarounds are included for these 2 issues as well as additional notes, which you can find here.

Tutorial • Windows Home Server
Full Story
By on August 06th, 2012

The BYOB Podcast Episode 94

BYOB Logo

This weeks episode of the BYOB podcast is up.

And in this weeks episode for the build your own box enthusiasts:

“This weeks BYOB Podcast is joined this week by John Wills and John Zadjler. We’ll discuss the Corsair 550D Case, Silex USB over IP, ASRock Z77 and Ivy Bridge 3570K, an Onkyo Receiver. John Wills new project and more Windows 8.”

You can listen to episode 94 here.

News • Windows Home Server
Full Story
By on August 05th, 2012

Running a WS2012 Essentials VPN without Port 1723

Website Title (Required) have a post about running a Windows Server 2012 Essentials VPN without port 1723.

Set up Anywhere Access in WS2012e

Its completed via through the Anywhere Access wizard by clicking on Virtual private network (VPN):

“Just put a tick in that box, and that is literally all you need to do. You don’t need to open any additional ports on your firewall, Port 80 and Port 443 should already be open for the RWA but for the VPN you don’t need port 1723.”

All the details can be found in this tutorial which can be found here.

Tutorial • Windows Home Server
Full Story
By on August 04th, 2012

Add-In: Drive Bender for WHS 2011 v1.3.5.0

Drive Bender Logo

Drive Bender for WHS 2011 has had an update.

Version 1.3.5.0 contains some updates and fixes from the v2 development branch.

Here’s the full change log:

  • Bug fix: User security can have issues with some extended characters.
  • Bug fix: Removing a user from the user security list could fail.
  • Bug fix: The "file in use" detection could fail in some circumstances (resulting in a number of internal file conflict issues).
  • Update: Health monitor scanning time has been improved.
  • Update: Better handling of files moving between duplicated and non-duplicated folders.
  • Bug fix: Under some conditions, creating a folder can fail.
  • Bug fix: Fixed a number of reparse point issues.
  • Added: Added additional reparse support. This is disabled by default, for more information, see http://support.drivebender.com/entries/21522563-folder-link-support.
  • Update: Performance improvement when reading / writing large numbers of small files.
  • Bug fix: The client duplication window can crash on occasions.
  • Update: Much improved duplication feedback and the addition of duplication tools to improve management.
  • Update: When a license expires, the pool no longer shuts down, it now switches to read-only mode after an hour.
  • Update: Improved IO error handling and logging.
  • Update: Duplication processing speed has been vastly improved on large folder.
  • Bug fix: The release license request option now checks for the trial key before proceeding.
  • Bug fix: Some special characters can per vent files being renamed.
  • Update: All dashboards now support mouse scrolling.
  • Update: The client interface is now faster loading and more responsive on low end systems.
  • Added: Option to disable Windows AutoPlay for drive letter mount points.

More details on Drive Bender  are available from here.

add-ins • Windows Home Server
Full Story
By on August 03rd, 2012

Drive Bender 50% Off Offer Ending Soon

Drive Bender Logo

If you are a WHS 2011 user then Drive Bender are ending their introductory offer for Home Server users on the 10th August.

The offer includes the Home Edition of Drive Bender with life time support and maintenance for $20 saving 50% off the regular price of $40

You can grab the offer from here.

News • Windows Home Server
Full Story
By on August 03rd, 2012

Faster Backups and Restores in WS2012e than WHS

Tinkertry tells us that the slow backups and restores of WHSv1 and WHS 2011 have seemingly been addressed in Windows Server 2012 Essentials.

Ning-Kuang-response

According to Microsoft’s Ning Kuang who told Tinkertry:

“We were able to improve the performance by increasing the data size of the disk I/O operations. It is great to see customer appreciate the results!”

You can read the post here.

News • Windows Home Server
Full Story
By on August 02nd, 2012

The Home Server Show Podcast Episode 191

home_server_show_small

Its another week and Episode 191 of The Home Server Show is up:

Dave is out and Jim and John take over. The big topics are Outlook.com, Raspberry Pi, and some Home Server talk as usual.

You can find episode 191 here.

News • Windows Home Server
Full Story
By on August 02nd, 2012

Storage Pools and Storage Spaces

WeGotServed’s series of articles on Building a Windows 8 Home Server continues with their latest instalment: Storage and Storage Spaces.

ss-configured

Their comprehensive 7 page article looks at what Storage Spaces offers over Drive extender and then goes on to tell us how to setup and configure a Storage Pool and a Storage Space.

A comprehensive read which you can find here.

Tutorial • Windows Home Server
Full Story