Drive Extender data from earlier Vail beta versions are incompatible with latest Vail Beta

August 17, 2010

I kind of assumed it would be the case but any drive arrays created in the previous beta build of Home Server VAIL can’t be moved to the latest build…

The low-level data format for Drive Extender has changed with this release and is no longer compatible with data written by Drive Extender in earlier versions of Vail. Drives that were used as part of a server storage pool in an earlier version of Vail will show a status of incompatible version in the Hard Drives tab of the Dashboard. Incompatible hard drives can still be added to the default storage pool, but all data on the hard drive will be lost.

Fortunately I still have a 2tb spare disk to migrate data onto temporarily, so will do a rebuild tonight.

Windows Home Server adding support for OS X Time Machine backups

August 16, 2010

Awesome, the new version of  Home Server adds support for Macs…

A new preview release, which adds support for Apple’s Mac OS X Time Machine, went out over this past weekend to select testers. No date from Microsoft as to when the final is due (guesstimates say late 2010).

via ZDNet.

New Windows Home Server VAIL Beta now available

August 16, 2010

There’s a new beta of Windows Home Server, Codename VAIL. You can grab a copy at Microsoft Connect, remember this is a serious Beta, use at your own risk and always keep a backup. That said I’m going in all guns blazing, so look out internet!

How to avoid seeing the single shared folder in Windows Media Center

August 11, 2010

Here’s a great tip for how to avoid setting up your Windows Media Center and constantly starring at the shared folder on your Windows Home Server, rather than the contents of that folder (as above).

Rather than use the Windows 7 libraries (contrary to common sense) a fix can be found by using the old Windows XP/Vista method of changing the location used by your profiles My Pictures and My Videos folder.

Right click on My Pictures and select properties

Click the location tab and select the Move button

Navigate to your home server and click on the pictures folder and hit Select Folder

Then, just OK out of the properties window. You will be asked if you want to move your files, I let it, but I don’t have any files anyway, so it doesn’t have any side effect for me, if you have data already in you My Pictures folder, you should consider moving it first.

This tricks Windows Media Center into showing the contents of these folders, rather than just the shared folder, the same can be done to fix My Videos.

This tip via the excellent blog, Missing Remote.

Samsung’s build faster cheaper 2tb hard disk

August 3, 2010

Samsung have once again upped the ante on the hard disk stakes, by updating their 2tb disk to be fast, more reliable and cheaper.

Samsung latest 3.5-inch EcoGreen desktop hard disk does with three platters what its F3EG did with four: obtain a 2TB capacity. That’s 667GB per platter for what Samsung calls the world’s highest areal density, environmentally friendly hard disk drive on the market.

Specifically, this 3.0Gbps SATA disk with a 32MB buffer brings a 19 percent improved standby performance and requires 23 percent less power in standby mode than its EcoGreen F3EG. Better yet, it does all this for $60 less (just $119.95)

Now all you have to do it hold out until September

via Engadget.

Acer easyStore Windows Home Server receives a processor boost

July 23, 2010

After a few weeks of rumors Acer reveals the next generation of Aspire easyStore Home Server systems. The two new model numbers in the Acer Aspire easyStore series are H341 and H342.  The easyStore H341 features an upgraded processor from the original 1.6GHz Intel Atom 230 to the new Intel Pine Trail Atom D410 clocked at 1.6GHz (single-core). The easyStore H342 ships with the dual-core processor Intel D510.

via Home Server Land.

Microsoft’s latest small business server based on the next Windows Home Server codebase

July 12, 2010

Microsoft today unveiled the business version of the next generation Windows Home Server, based on Windows 2008R2

Where Aurora veers most wildly off the standard SBS trajectory, of course, is in its handling of email and collaboration tools. That is, there are none, at least not built into the product. But Aurora customers won’t be left hanging. Instead, they’ll be able to access Microsoft’s hosted service versions of Exchange and SharePoint, leaving the management of these solutions to Microsoft (or, I suppose, a partner).

Interestingly ‘Aurora’ will support HyperV virtualization, so if you’re looking for a more flexible home server, this might just be the answer.

It seems though ‘Aurora’ will also be able to run as a domain server (it must be the first server, it won’t support being added to a current domain).

The user limit will also be increased to 25 users, making it perfect for any small business who’s look for centralised storage.

via Paul Thurrott’s SuperSite for Windows

How to restart or shut down a PC over remote desktop

February 22, 2010

Here’s a quick tip if you’ve ever needed to restart your media center or home server when connected over Microsoft Remote Desktop connection, it is possible by clicking on the desktop, then hitting control+f4 on the keyboard, the brings up the Shut Down Windows dialog, which offers you all the normal control including restart and shut down, not normally offered to remore desktop users via the start menu.

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