Weekend Home Server Maintenance – MediaSmart Server and Squeezebox Upgrades

By on April 8, 2008 in Windows Home Server

At the weekend, I worked through a couple of much needed upgrades for my home server. First off was upgrading the memory on my HP MediaSmart Server – the 512Mb of memory bundled with the server is fine if you want to just use the base functionality of Windows Home Server. However, if you want to install add-ins and other services, you’re going to have to do a little plumbing.

Fortunately, Donavon has written an excellent visual walkthrough of what’s required – it’s not the most straightforward memory upgrade I’ve ever done due to some of the bespoke components within the HP MediaSmart Server. However, it’s also not the most difficult I’ve ever done either. I slotted in a 2Gb stick for good measure.

The install went well, without incident and does provide a decent boost in performance and responsiveness. I’d say it’s a “must-do” upgrade for HP MediaSmart owners.

Next up, I noticed that over at Logitech, SlimServer (the software that controls and streams music to the Squeezebox) has been renamed and upgraded to SqueezeCenter 7. Following an upgrade of the software, plus a firmware upgrade on the Squeezebox itself (just press and keep hold of the Brightness key on your remote to activate), again, the Squeezebox is running a little faster in finding and playing tracks directly off the home server.

So, if you own the HP MediaSmart Server and/or a Squeezebox, there’s two short projects to add to the list for next weekend.


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About Terry Walsh

Terry Walsh is the founding editor and owner of We Got Served. Since February 2007, the site has provided detailed coverage and analysis of the emerging home server category, and has subsequently grown into a trusted outlet for digital home news and reviews.
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  • Tim

    I’m running PHP under IIS with a MySql DB, installed 3 add-ins and installed iTunes application to serve my Apple TV – does the 2gb RAM really make a big difference?

    Where in the UK did you buy the memory module from for the HP MediaSmart, can you provide a link?

    Thanks

  • DMZ

    I love the memory upgrade hack – I’ll definitely be doing it when I pick up a MediaSmart. I’d assume you’d see some improvement in write (and possibly read) performance, too, since more memory means more cache.

  • James

    Hi
    Which memory module did you buy?
    Thanks
    James

  • Terry Walsh

    Hi all

    Look for a 2GB 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 667 (PC2 5300) and you’ll be fine. I always use Crucial RAM.

    Terry

  • Wilson

    The memory upgrade is a 100% MUST. I did it right away when I bought it using the same walkthrough and it is a remarkable difference in speed and performance, especially when you’re doing virus scans daily with Avast, weekly defrags, running other add-ons, and most importantly, streaming HD and other video across the network. It’s a pain in the butt to do, but something that you won’t regret. I just used a 2GB pc5300 ddr2 memory module that was around $60.

  • Wilko

    How do I install the Squeezecenter on the HP MediaSmart Server? I use the external remote, and I’m trying to start the .exe from the c:\ directory. But I don’t have acces to the file. I already changed the security permissions of the HPserver\Administrators group to ‘full contol”. But that does not work for me!?

  • John Bowling

    I have tried multiple times to install the squeezecenter upgrade but the menus in the download install it on my accessing computer not on the server. My home server (an HP Server with 2G) hase the 6.5 server installed on by Ripcaster.co.uk and this works fine with the transport. But the Duet doesn not see the HPserver Slimserver 6,5. It does work well with the Squeezecenter 7.0 on my computer but despite everything I cannot get it to see the server. I cna see the programmes of Server 7.0 on my access compuer – my desk top. I cannot see SlimeServer or its components appart from one graphics folder. where is it held on the server. I have mapped all the drives i can see on the server on my access computer. then the Squeezecenter menu offer those for installing – but not for the launch programmes which it put on the access compuer. Should I see a slimserver add in – because I cannot. I am missing soem fundamnetal understanding of how to access the server I fear… #help would be gratly appreciated.

    Both the Transporter and the Duet are wonderful in fact the DAC in the transporter is better than my Audiolab DAC to listen to. I just want them all to work together off the HP Server.

  • Jeff Maurer

    John, I had the same problem. You can install Squeezecenter using a remote desktop into WHS. Do a Start/Run/cmd (in other words open a command window). Then browse to the location of your Squeezecenter bits on the WHS and execute. That should do it.

    best,
    Jeff

  • John Bowling

    Thanks Jeff,
    I found a review of the Slim Devices Duet on The Home Server site and this included a step by step advice on what to do. I also in desperation got a few home server books including “Teach Yourself Visually MS Windows Home Server”. The concept of Remote Access did not occur to me until then – that menu item as been sitting there for year and I never paid it any attention.
    The documentation we get with this new to the normal(and experienced computer person)is some what lacking in teaching the basis concepts a server involves. Still this site and others is doing a great job of filling in the gaps.

    I have now done the deed and it all works hunky dory nad my Transporter even works with the Duet after a froimware upgrade. just got to get AlienBBC working with the new version of Sqeeze centre because i have lost that service again – and Its great.
    well thnks off to listen to my music all 1000plus albums .. maybe some time. :-)