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Windows Home Server Power Pack 3 Available Now
Windows Home Server Power Pack 3 Available November 24th
Asus TS Mini NAS Windows Home Server Backups Up to 10 PCs
HP MediaSmart EX495 Windows Home Server Review (Better Time Machine Support!)
How to Build Your Very Own Badass Windows Home Server
Windows Home Server Power Pack 3 Won't Be Live Until End of 2009
HP's MediaSmart EX490 and EX495 Have Additional Mac Functionality, More Video Encoding
Lenovo's Sleek IdeaCentre Q110 Nettop Has Nvidia Ion Graphics
Lenovo Twitters New IdeaCentre Q100 Nettops, IdeaCentre D400 Home Server
Windows Home Server Power Pack 3 Beta Adds New Windows 7 Functionality
How to Use Time Machine Backups on Windows Home Server (or Any Networked Storage)
HP LX195 Budget Windows Home Server Review
Acer Aspire easyStore Expandable 1TB Windows Home Server Cube Is $400
HP's LX195 Low-End Windows Home Server is $390
A Better Look at HP's Compact MediaSmart Server LX195
HP's MediaSmart Server LX195 Leaked, Is a More Compact Windows Home Server
Windows Home Server Power Pack 2 Hits Tomorrow, Brings Improvements to Media Sharing, Remote Access
Gizmodo's Complete Windows 7 Coverage
Win 7 Tip: Windows Home Server Is Almost 100% Compatible Already
HP MediaSmart EX487 Server Has Remote MP3 Streaming, Mac Time Machine Compatibility

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zeroprime
11/25/09

In reply to Windows Home Server Power Pack 3 Available Now
I'm conflicted on this. With a mixed household (Win7 media center and netbook, iMac & iPhone) I don't know if I'd rather have WHS on my file server or use Ubuntu Server. On the one hand, WHS has seen a lot of improvements, but a linux server has a smaller OS overhead and I don't like locking myself into Windows or Apple too much.

I've set up (partway) my headless server and it's been a great learning experience, but it's also been a long drawn out process and a general pain in the butt configuring linux. Plus, it's an H340 so there are drivers for WHS and not some for linux (HDD activity led, system status)

The updates are really tempting but I guess I better give linux a real shot first, seeing as being a server is where it excels.
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Jason Chen promoted this comment zeroprime was starred zeroprime was unstarred

Worf
11/26/09

@zeroprime: Depends.

I have a bunch of Linux fileservers, and they're great - they serve up files great, and are all RAID-protected against hardware failure.

However, my primary reason to get a WHS is not serving files, but rather for backups - WHS can do image-based backups of up to 10 machines daily. If something goes wrong, you pop in the WHS recovery CD, click Next a few times, and your computer is restored. Best of all, it only keeps one copy of files, so if you have multiple Win7 machines (or XP/Vista), you really only store the OS once.

So it really depends - do you want a NAS-type box? If yes, go with Linux and RAID arrays. If you want a convenient home-backup server, WHS is hard to beat. You can do the same with Ghost and other things to get it to work, but then you have to futz with it on every machine.
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zeroprime promoted this comment Worf was starred Worf was unstarred

zeroprime
11/26/09

@Worf: Thanks, you hit a lot of key points about why on would want one or the other OS and that really reminds me of why I'm doing it the way I am. It is mostly a raided NAS, and the only backups I keep for my systems are an initial clean image.
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davepermen
11/25/09

In reply to Windows Home Server Power Pack 3 Available Now
installed, and works great out of the box. instant search even on the server is amazing :) and finally full backups of win7 machines, including that additional partition to restore.

the media center feature is of no use for me right now, but sure is cool, too.

another power pack, another reason to fall in love with whs :)
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dagamer34
11/19/09

In reply to Windows Home Server Power Pack 3 Available November 24th
Anyone know if there's a way to convert TV shows into an iPod Touch-friendly format automatically?
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Nathan Obbards
11/19/09

In reply to Windows Home Server Power Pack 3 Available November 24th
Anyone know what it adds? I have a computer lying around that I am considering loading this on. I have a copy for free already, so might as well.
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jeffk
11/19/09

@Nathan Obbards:
[lmgtfy.com]
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Edited by jeffk at 11/19/09 12:58 PM jeffk was starred jeffk was unstarred

Nathan Obbards
11/19/09

@jeffk: I looked, I didn't see anything about the update.
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jeffk
11/19/09

@Nathan Obbards:
Here's the blog entry
[windowsteamblog.com]
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Nathan Obbards
11/19/09

@jeffk: I just found a slightly better explanation, but it was kind of hidden.

[windowsteamblog.com]
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jeffk
11/19/09

@Nathan Obbards: That is better, thank you.
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Edited by jeffk at 11/19/09 1:03 PM jeffk was starred jeffk was unstarred

dagamer34
11/19/09

In reply to Windows Home Server Power Pack 3 Available November 24th
THANK THE LORD. I was so tempted to go and install the beta but I was afraid for my data.

WOOOT! I <3 MICROSOFT!
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Lite: hates Illinois Nazis
11/18/09

In reply to Asus TS Mini NAS Windows Home Server Backups Up to 10 PCs
Does it support DLNA?
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Professional_Iceberg_Hunter
11/18/09

In reply to Asus TS Mini NAS Windows Home Server Backups Up to 10 PCs
I don't get it. Does the server cap at 2 gigabytes? I mean, if it has two slots couldn't you just add two 2 gigabyte hard drives? I mean, I'm no rocket surgeon or anything.
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Lite: hates Illinois Nazis promoted this comment

Lite: hates Illinois Nazis
11/18/09

@Professional_Iceberg_Hunter: 2 slots, 2 x 2gig drives mirrored for safety = 2 gigs.
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Mike Wiltse
11/18/09

@Lite: hates Illinois Nazis:
Windows home servers don't mirror. They have specific redundency for shares, if you have multiple drives, but things like backups and the os are not redundent.
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Lite: hates Illinois Nazis promoted this comment Mike Wiltse was starred Mike Wiltse was unstarred

SS
11/18/09

@Lite: hates Illinois Nazis: @Professional_Iceberg_Hunter:
are we talking gigabytes or terabytes ?
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SS was starred SS was unstarred

Professional_Iceberg_Hunter
11/18/09

@SS: Terabytes.. I can't find that ninja of an edit button.
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Stitchopoulis promoted this comment

oakman1000
10/23/09

In reply to HP MediaSmart EX495 Windows Home Server Review (Better Time Machine Support!)
I could be wrong, but I think you can't stream Hi def TV recordings from it...right?
I use media center and now that no one makes media center extenders anymore, the only option is to stream to other computers around the home. If the server cant stream HDTV to other PC's, what's the point in having all of your media in a place that cant stream most of it? #hpex495review
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Xeno promoted this comment oakman1000 was starred oakman1000 was unstarred

Xeno
10/23/09

@oakman1000: I don't see why it shouldn't be able to. The processor is plenty fast. My 360 is quite able to stream HD from my media center PC that is stored on a NAS so I don't see why this shouldn't be able to. #hpex495review
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oakman1000
10/23/09

@Xeno: Yes, your right you it could stream to an Xbox because of its MCE extender capabilities. It cant stream to other PC's because of DRM. The only option at the moment to stream HDTV to other rooms is through an Xbox. I don't want Xboxes all around my home + they are too noisy for bedrooms. #hpex495review
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Xeno
10/23/09

@oakman1000: The DRM is annoying but some of it suposedly goes away with Win 7 MC. Hopefully most of my recordings will be open after I upgrade. Possibly not since cable companies are a$$holes most of the time. I've mitigated the XBox noise with furniture cabinets but a nice power full extender(or a new quieter xbox would be welcome for sure). #hpex495review
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dagamer34
10/23/09

In reply to HP MediaSmart EX495 Windows Home Server Review (Better Time Machine Support!)
Any real reason to get the dual-core version over the single-core one? Hard drive space can easily be expanded, but swapping CPUs would take some more work. #hpex495review
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mattycakes
10/23/09

In reply to HP MediaSmart EX495 Windows Home Server Review (Better Time Machine Support!)
I have absolutely zero need for a home server, but now I really, really want one. #hpex495review
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Xeno promoted this comment mattycakes was starred mattycakes was unstarred

Xeno
10/23/09

@mattycakes: Then invent some needs so you can justify it to yourself. Simple. #hpex495review
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D0rk
10/23/09

In reply to HP MediaSmart EX495 Windows Home Server Review (Better Time Machine Support!)
I was hoping for more storage in stock trim for those prices. I really want one but it would total to nearly a thousand dollars by the time I got done putting in enough hard drives to increase the storage and add RAID. #hpex495review
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Jason Chen promoted this comment D0rk was starred D0rk was unstarred

Rejexted
10/23/09

In reply to HP MediaSmart EX495 Windows Home Server Review (Better Time Machine Support!)
can I hook up to this thing when I'm not home? #hpex495review
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Barry99705 promoted this comment Rejexted was starred Rejexted was unstarred

Barry99705
10/23/09

@Rejexted: Yep. #hpex495review
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jetRink
10/23/09

@Rejexted: Yes, you get a personal web address to go to where you can access your server and any PCs on the network through remote desktop. You can also stream any music or media that you have on the server, so you could listen to your collection at work through the web client. #hpex495review
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Moonshadow101
10/23/09

@jetRink: Is this a native element of WHS or is it an HP addition? #hpex495review
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Xeno promoted this comment Moonshadow101 was starred Moonshadow101 was unstarred

Xeno
10/23/09

@Moonshadow101: Native to WHS. #hpex495review
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Barry99705
10/23/09

In reply to HP MediaSmart EX495 Windows Home Server Review (Better Time Machine Support!)
I wish they'd release their components to other WHS users. I have a home built home server, which rocks, but have to keep my G5 tower for our iTunes media server running as well. #hpex495review
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ara
10/08/09

In reply to How to Build Your Very Own Badass Windows Home Server
There is one thing I'd like to add to that article. USE RAID. Just RAID the HDDs before you install. WHS file duplication is slow as hell, it's duct tape grade solution for redundancy. After setting WHS on a RAID I've been rather pleased to it, before it was plain ridiculous.
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Brian Lam promoted this comment ara was starred ara was unstarred

not_a_virus.exe.vbs
10/08/09

@ara: What level of raid?
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ara
10/08/09

@runemail: Using RAID is certainly not the way Microsoft envisioned WHS to be used, but they dropped the ball with the file duplicator so it's the way to get performance out of WHS macine. And yes, you loose the ability to easily swap drives, if all you want is "tape-like" slow backup storage, native WHS might work for you, but if you want to actively use it, like I do, it just won't cut it. Using Windows Server 2008 looses easy backup, media sharing, user managing, web access and multiplies the price, not really what I'm looking for... But most of all it drowns you into the bizarre world of user and device CAL licences, and other madness only enterprise sysadmins should have to deal with.

@Mozoltov, motherfucker: Whatever gives you the redundancy you are looking for, I personally had pile of 1TB drives to waste so I went for 1+0 with hot spare. In the article they used two 2TB drives so RAID 1 would match what WHS gives you, with better performance or course.
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Edited by ara at 10/08/09 4:21 PM ara was starred ara was unstarred

OMG! Ponies!
10/08/09

In reply to How to Build Your Very Own Badass Windows Home Server
Windows Home Server sucks because it's not a Macintosh! There I said it.

Windows sucks because it's Windows.
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GitEmSteveDave_ My Brute Dojo Code CDIAFIFE
10/08/09

@OMG! Ponies!:
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Seriously_now...
10/08/09

@OMG! Ponies!: How do I do this for mac? I have three external HDs I would like to access wirelessly?
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TheSonOfKrypton approved this comment Seriously_now... was starred Seriously_now... was unstarred

SEDAGIVE?!
10/08/09

@OMG! Ponies!: Macintosh? is that what Mac is short for? Who knew!
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TheSonOfKrypton promoted this comment SEDAGIVE?! was starred SEDAGIVE?! was unstarred

PurpleMonkeyDishwasher:
10/08/09

@SEDAGIVE?!: Isn't a Macintosh a type of Apple? I prefer Granny Smith
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TheSonOfKrypton promoted this comment

TheSonOfKrypton
10/08/09

@OMG! Ponies!: Let's not hold back people. Let the flame war commence.
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SEDAGIVE?!
10/08/09

@Seriously_now...: You can't do it on a Mac, Macs don't support HDDs.
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TheSonOfKrypton promoted this comment SEDAGIVE?! was starred SEDAGIVE?! was unstarred

TuxBobble
10/08/09

@OMG! Ponies!: How DID this guy get a star, anyway?
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PhyrePhox
10/08/09

@OMG! Ponies!: Maybe there is a snap-in to allow compatibility with Time Machine...oh, wait, the universe would implode if that happened, starting with Steve Ballmer's head...
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pellier
10/08/09

@Seriously_now...: just plug them into it,whs can do timecapsule backups.
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TheSonOfKrypton promoted this comment pellier was starred pellier was unstarred

USB_Humping_Dog
10/08/09

@PurpleMonkeyDishwasher: : You like Super Cougars, huh?
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Yournamehere!
10/08/09

@OMG! Ponies!: HA HA HA. Now really, young man, adults are talking...
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TheSonOfKrypton approved this comment Yournamehere! was starred Yournamehere! was unstarred

SEDAGIVE?!
10/08/09

@USB_Humping_Dog: What's not to like? You don't have to worry about pressure to stay the night, because the orderlies will get pissed if they catch you.
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TheSonOfKrypton promoted this comment SEDAGIVE?! was starred SEDAGIVE?! was unstarred

nat lyon
10/08/09

@OMG! Ponies!: see what you did (and in usual predictable manner it didn't take much).
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TheSonOfKrypton promoted this comment nat lyon was starred nat lyon was unstarred

matt buchanan
10/08/09

@PhyrePhox: Uh, HP's WHS boxes are Time Machine compatible.
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fastm3driver
10/08/09

@OMG! Ponies!: Since a Mac can't do this and Apple has nothing as good as WHS I would say admitting you have a problem is the first step.
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TheSonOfKrypton promoted this comment fastm3driver was starred fastm3driver was unstarred

Brazell
10/08/09

@PhyrePhox: The HP home server interfaces with Time Machine using some software that HP builds into it. Hopefully it's just a matter of time before there's a plugin that replicates that.
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TheSonOfKrypton promoted this comment Brazell was starred Brazell was unstarred

kernel panic
10/08/09

@TuxBobble: Isn't it obvious? By emulating the Giz staff. At this rate he will soon be a guest editor.
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TheSonOfKrypton promoted this comment Edited by kernel panic at 10/08/09 10:51 AM kernel panic was starred kernel panic was unstarred

CSX321
10/08/09

@SEDAGIVE?!: Macs only support one-button HDDs.
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TheSonOfKrypton promoted this comment CSX321 was starred CSX321 was unstarred

Xeno
10/08/09

@fastm3driver: Mac's don't need backups since...(choose your answer)
iFanboy: Mac's are so reliable that you don't ever loose data.
iHater: No one ever does anything useful or important on a Mac so there is no reason to back them up.
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salviati
09/15/09

In reply to HP's MediaSmart EX490 and EX495 Have Additional Mac Functionality, More Video Encoding
So is the 490 mainly a software update (with a slightly bigger hard drive). I may want to backup my Mac, but I see no other significant upgrade from the EX485. Can the software update be applied to the 485 as well?
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UnderLoK promoted this comment salviati was starred salviati was unstarred

UnderLoK
09/15/09

@salviati: This isn't Apple man, just because a new one comes out doesn't mean you need to buy it ;)
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Chimaera
09/15/09

In reply to HP's MediaSmart EX490 and EX495 Have Additional Mac Functionality, More Video Encoding
According to We Got Served:
EX 490: 2.2GHz, 2GB, 1x1TB @ $549
EX 495: 2.5GHz, 2GB, 1x1.5TB @ $699

Fall release. (I'm guessing October)
Both $50 less than their EX 48x counterparts.
They've been testing for a few weeks; retail packaging.

[www.wegotserved.com]
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jeepingeek
09/15/09

In reply to HP's MediaSmart EX490 and EX495 Have Additional Mac Functionality, More Video Encoding
Does this mean the 485 will soon be going on sale? I've had my eye on that for a while but my wife seems to think I have enough computers and that the nearly $500 is a bit too much for another toy. I really don't understand what she is talking about.
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Chimaera promoted this comment jeepingeek was starred jeepingeek was unstarred

Chimaera
09/15/09

@jeepingeek: Probably, but if you're unwilling/unable to wait, there's a few Amazon Merchants selling the 485 @ $420
[www.amazon.com]
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iatacs19
08/19/09

In reply to Lenovo's Sleek IdeaCentre Q110 Nettop Has Nvidia Ion Graphics
Are Atoms CPUs fast enough for NAS duty?
Reply

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whiteknight89 digs DBZ
08/19/09

@iatacs19: Yes, absolutly. Many NAS's out there have sported less-than-gigahertz speeds, so it won't be an issue, so long as the underlying OS isn't a resource hog.

edit: That last sentence should be read as "...so long as you install XP, Win7, or Linux." ;)
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Edited by whiteknight89 digs DBZ at 08/19/09 12:49 PM

UnderLoK
07/20/09

In reply to Windows Home Server Power Pack 3 Beta Adds New Windows 7 Functionality
Wish I would have seen this sooner... You mention "Stability risks aside".

This is based on Win2K3 which is SOLID AS A ROCK. Save the Windows hate for the area it belongs which is NOT the server series. I, like many have 22 2K3 boxes here that have Z E R O downtime in 3 years... That's right, three. We can go back further than that, but 2 of them hard hardware issues prior to that.

IBM xSeries + 2K, 2K3, 2K8 kicks ass.
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