Another add-in update this week, this time courtesy of Alex Kuretz who has updated MSS Fan Control to support EX47X HP MediaSmart Servers running the new v3.0 Software Upgrade.

The add-in allows the user to control the behaviour of the MediaSmart Server’s fans – increasing or reducing their speed, which impacts the noise output from the server.

Unfortunately, this cracking add-in only works with the EX47X series, as HP moved fan controls into the BIOS in later generations of the product. However, if you own an EX470 or EX475, make sure you check out this one.

Download: MSS Fan Control v1.0.0.9

I’ve had literally hundreds of emails from readers this month asking for an update on the status of HP’s MediaSmart Server update for the EX470 and EX480 series. The company previously announced a v2.5 update would be available in the Autumn before subsequently pulling that release and announcing the release of a v3.0 update this month.

Bad news reaches us today from HP…

HP MediaSmart Server 3.0 Software Update Progress

In the latter stages of testing our 3.0 software update, a couple of issues were discovered with the upgrade disks.  One was related to compatibility with Power Pack 3 and the other with the media streaming software.  Both issues have fixes and we are now going back through our build and testing process.  As a result, the 3.0 software update DVD availability will now be in February.  While this delay was unexpected, we remain committed to providing this upgrade path for owners of our EX470/475/485/487 products.  As previously communicated, these upgrades will be available as a server recovery solution.

The cost of the upgrade DVD has been finalized and will be US$25 or €25.

Given the WGS mailbox has been bulging with questions on this topic, I know many of you will be very disappointed with the news, and the temptation is to question whether the update truly exists.

I can confirm that the update is definitely real. How do I know? Well, HP released beta disks with the update to a very small number of testers, including WGS, a couple of weeks ago.

I’ve successfully updated an EX475 from the original software to v3.0 as you can see from the image above, using the beta upgrade disk (which require a server recovery). You’ll notice the AMD Sempron processor from the EX475 is listed in Windows Home Server’s Settings page on top of the v3.0 design MediaSmart Server Console Tab, which shows the update in action.

It’s unfortunate (and frustrating!) that late breaking bugs in have delayed release of the update by a further two months. Fingers crossed we see the update released once and for all in February.

I’m sure by now, you’ve already seen my post on how to install Tomcat on your custom built (or non-HP) home server. If you haven’t, you may want to check it out here.  One of the things that I mentioned was that there are some special considerations for installing on the HP MediaSmart Servers. Well, the EX485 and EX487 already have Tomcat installed and configured, so you won’t need to even bother with this. And though I don’t have a EX490, EX495 or the DataVault, I’m pretty sure it falls under the same category as the EX485/487 and uses the same or upgraded software. (HP, feel free to send me one).

However, there is a bit of extra work on getting it to work on the EX470 and EX475 because while it has a java server installed, it’s not Tomcat. Jetty was used for these systems and is a lot more difficult to use, and configure. While I would rather just replace Jetty (as HP has done), but the less monkeying with stuff, the better.

What you will need:

• Apache Tomcat – Grab the “Windows Service Installer” from the bottom part of the page

Instructions

Start the Tomcat installer. Agree (and read) the license agreement, and then proceed to the options. You’ll want to enable the “Service” and “Examples” options, and if you want, the “Native” option also. After that, you should be able to just use all the defaults and it should pick up the location that Java is installed.  If not, the location is “C:\jre1.4.2_13″, so use that if it wants to use the below path (which is incorrect).

Once you’ve finished installing it, it probably won’t start. Why? Because Jetty is already using the same default ports.  So head over to “C:\program files\apache software foundation\tomcat 6.0\conf\” and open up “server.xml”.  You may want to download a “real” text editor like Notepad++, notepad2, or the like as the built in notepad program doesn’t read the file right and may prevent tomcat from starting.  Once you’ve opened it, find ‘<Server port=”8005″ shutdown=”SHUTDOWN”>’  (should be right near the top) and change the port number from “8005″ to “8015″ or something else distinct.   Now find “<Connector port=”8009″ protocol=”AJP/1.3″ redirectPort=”8443″ />” and change this to “8089″ (ideal if you want to install the 2.5 update).  Once you’ve made these changes, save “server.xml”.

You’ll probably have to start the Tomcat service now. Either just reboot the server, or open up Services console (located in Administrative Tools, or by running “services.msc”). It should be near the top and named “Apache Tomcat 6″, or similar. Start the service, and leave this console open, you’ll need it later.

If the Tomcat service doesn’t start here, you may want to download and install the updated java runtime, either to the same location or another and use that here.

After it’s started, try opening “http://localhost:8080/examples/servlets/servlet/HelloWorldExample” on your server, if you installed the examples that greets you with “Hello World”.

After that’s done and you’ve verified that it’s working, we’ll need to reconfigure jakarta to work with tomcat.  Jakarta is the connector for IIS and Tomcat that passes IIS web requests to tomcat.  HP did you a favor and already installed and configured it.  Now all we have to do is hi-jack it.

So, now head over to “C:\Program Files\Hewlett-Packard\HP MediaSmart Server\jetty\conf\” and open “workers.properties”. Set the file to the following:

worker.list=ajp13,tomcat6

worker.tomcat6.port=8089
worker.tomcat6.host=localhost
worker.tomcat6.type=ajp13

worker.ajp13.port=8009
worker.ajp13.host=localhost
worker.ajp13.type=ajp13

Save the file, close it and now open “uriworkermap.properties” in the same folder and add the following line to the end:

/examples*=tomcat6

This last file configures what directories will be passed on from tomcat to IIS. Right now, this enables the “examples” directory to be passed on and accessible from the remote access website. If you need to add more, like subsonic, add “/subsonic*=tomcat6″.

Now open up the Services console again and restart the “World Wide Web Publishing Service” .

Once that is done, open up “https://mydomain.homeserver.com/examples/servlets/servlet/HelloWorldExample” on any computer and you should be greeted with a familiar “Hello World” page.

Looks like Newegg are clearing out their stock of the first generation HP EX470 MediaSmart Server.

The EX470 is available for $279.99 and you can get an extra reduction by using the coupon code HP1X191, taking the price down to just $252.

Worried it’s a little old? Fear not, slap a 2GB RAM module into this guy, install the forthcoming 3.0 MediaSmart Server update, and you’ll have a decent home server! The processor’s a little long in the tooth, but should run the latest HP software reasonably. If you’re looking for a great home server at a top notch price, you could do a heck of a lot worse.

(Thanks to Scott for the tip!)

More Info: Newegg

HP released a statement this morning confirming that the MediaSmart Server 3.0 software update would be available to order in December, at a cost of around $25.

Previously, the company indicated a Fall timescale for delivering the update, but stated that additional testing is required to ensure the upgrade solution is robust. Given the update requires users to perform a Server Recovery on their home server, it’s highly important that the solution is tested thoroughly.

The update, provided in the form of a new Server Recovery DVD, will be compatible with all MediaSmart Server models, with the exception of the LX195. HP also advise that owners of the EX47x series who have not upgraded the memory in their machines will experience sluggish behaviour when using aspects of the 3.0 software. You may remember that last year HP improved existing EX47x warranties to include protection for users performing memory upgrades on their home servers. HP Photo WebShare will also be removed from EX47x machines as it is now obsolete.

If you’ve read our review of the EX495 this week, you’ll have noted that HP’s Server Online Backup is now not included in the 3.0 Software, but is due to be made available as a downloadable add-in. HP’s statement does not mention whether the add-in will be removed as part of the update for EX48x models (my hunch is that it will be as the recovery DVD will re-image the system partition) and I’ve asked HP for clarification. Certainly your backed up data should be safe on Amazon’s servers and can be accessed again as soon as the add-in is made available to download.

In summary, here’s what to expect:

For EX47x owners, the 3.0 software is a massive update and I’d encourage you to get a 2Gb memory upgrade for your machine in the coming weeks in preparation for the update. I’d recommend Donavon West’s installation guide as a great resource to support you on the upgrade. Check out our EX495 review for a full run down of what’s included in the new software suite.

The $25 update cost is higher than I thought it would be, although mastering DVDs and mailing them out is never going to be a cheap/free option. I did enquire as to the possibility of ISO downloads, but this is not allowed due to OS licensing restrictions. That said, the new software does bring a lot of new functionality to the MediaSmart Server, so take a look at the new features, and you can decide for yourself whether it’s worth the money.

Here’s the statement in full:

Update on the upcoming software upgrades for MediaSmart Servers

Back in May, we announced a plan to allow current MediaSmart Server customers to upgrade to the most current software version beginning this Fall.  Below are additional details on the plans to deliver these upgrades.

HP recently announced the new EX490/495 MediaSmart Servers.  These Servers provide our latest software capabilities including an enhanced video converter, greater Mac Support including bare metal recovery, and a simplified user interface.  It is this software version (3.0) that will be made available to existing EX470/475/485/487 customers.  Note that these software upgrades are optional and will be available as a new installation DVD as opposed to a software download.

We are currently proceeding down the path of a server recovery solution that will not only upgrade your software to the 3.0 version, but also preserve the data in your shared folders.  This approach is preferable to a factory reset that would otherwise require customers to manually offload and restore all server files that the customer wants to preserve.  However, the server recovery approach requires additional testing cycles to validate the approach and the resulting data integrity.  We expect the upgrade DVDs will be available to order through hp.com beginning in December, 2009.  Note that if testing shows the server recovery solution to be problematic, our plan is to change the upgrade process to a factory reset.

As previously communicated, there will be certain limitations of this software upgrade depending on your product.  For example, customers using the Photo Webshare feature in the EX470/475 products will lose this feature if they choose to upgrade (although we expect existing Webshare album photos will be moved into the Photos shared folder).  In addition, customers who have not upgraded their DRAM in the EX470/475 products will likely experience sluggish behavior or limited functionality running certain aspects of the latest 3.0 software.  Finally, the 3.0 software will not be made available for the LX195 model.

The final cost of the upgrade DVD is pending, but is expected to be in the US$25 range.

We thank everyone for their continued support of the MediaSmart Server family of products.

Back in May we revealed that HP would be re-launching the HP MediaSmart Server in Europe at the end of the year, with both LX and EX ranges slated for release.

HP Norway now have a holding page up on their website, stating that the home server will be released over there in December 2009. At this point, we don’t know which other countries in Europe will also receive stock (I’m guessing the UK and Germany will be on the list) or timings.

HP Media Smart Server is currently not on sale, but a relaunch of the product is planned in December 2009. If you want a reminder when the product is in the shop again, you can sign up below. Your information will be used only for this reminder.

With Acer’s easyStore Home Server being released in a very haphazard manner in Europe (no product released at all in the UK, and no stock available in Germany at the moment) and Fujitsu seemingly turning to Linux for it’s next small NAS server, let’s hope HP can get the MediaSmart Server into Europe consistently and with decent availability.

Watch this space for more news over the coming weeks.

HP today released an update for owners of the EX470 & EX475 MediaSmart Server, fulfilling a promise made earlier in the year to enable two new features on the models.

Apple Time Machine Backup and online backup powered by Amazon’s S3 service have been available on HP’s later models, the EX48x series and LX195 MediaSmart Server for some time.

To get the update, HP advise owners to head over to HP.com and download the update, following these instructions:

1) Go to http://www.hp.com

2) On the hp.com home page go to the bottom right hand corner where it says “Software & Driver Downloads” and click the link

3) In the text box enter in either EX470 or EX475 and then press the “Enter” key on the keyboard

4) Choose “Server 2003” to locate both packages -customers have the option to download one or both applications

5) Installation instructions are available for both applications by clicking the “view directions” link

As regular readers will remember, HP have now additionally committed to making a new HP MediaSmart Server restore disc available to EX47x owners later this year, which will align the full feature set of these models to that of the EX48x series.

More Info: HP.com

Two mammoth pieces of news today released in a statement from HP’s home server team. Firstly, that the company have reversed the decision to preclude EX47x users from the recent v2.5 software update by releasing a new DVD image for all existing owners of those models. Secondly, an announcement that European users have been waiting for for a long time. The HP MediaSmart Server is coming back to Europe!

Certainly on the latter point, I’ve discussed the European point with HP continuously for the last few months and I know they have been working very hard behind the scenes to make this happen, so this is fantastic news. On the decision to provide the v2.5 update to all, it sounds like all of the feedback you guys supplied (check it out here), along with the readers over at mediasmartserver.net made the difference. Thanks to everyone who contributed to the debate. I’m guessing that reversing the original decision was not a small step to take, but it’s good to see a big company like HP listen to its customers and respond in the right way.

Here’s their statement in full – give us your thoughts on both announcements:

HP Announces Software Upgrades and European Availability for MediaSmart Servers

We have two updates to share with our MediaSmart Server communities.

We have listened to the customer feedback on wegotserved.co.uk, mediasmartserver.net, mediasmarthome.com and other popular Windows Home Server blogs related to our recent software update availability.  Based on this feedback, we are working to provide a supported path to allow customers to update all generations of their EX Series and LX Series MediaSmart Server products to the current software version.

Due to the generational differences of our platform architectures, we will not be providing the updated software as traditional downloads.  Instead, we will provide complete server image DVD’s through HP support in the same manner as replacement DVD’s are provided today.  We expect that there will be certain hardware limitations and/or trade-offs for the various platforms that will be detailed once the new server DVD’s are available.

Timing is tentatively scheduled in Fall 2009.  We understand customers would like these updates sooner, but this timing is necessary to adequately develop and test these new software images.  As we get further along in our development, we will provide an updated timetable.

We have also read the inquiries regarding European availability of the MediaSmart Server products.  We are pleased to announce that our European customers can expect to see our LX and EX series products for sale in Europe.  Targeted availability is Fall 2009.

We thank everyone for their continued support of the MediaSmart Server products and appreciate the continued feedback.

Experience Level: Standard

LED Light Show Settings lets you control the HP MediaSmart Server EX470 & EX475′s LED light show easter egg with a range of options to configure the speed and duration of the lights.

Developer: Jerry McCollom

More Info: Download | Support Forum

Release History

v1.0

• Initial release

If you’ve been scratching your head today wondering exactly how the new HP MediaSmart Server supports Apple Macs, and how Mac support differs from support for Windows PCs, HP have today published a (rather glossy) whitepaper entitled, “Managing a Digital Lifestyle in a Mixed OS Environment”.

It’s a good read and provides a good overview of what’s available in the new Encore systems.

More Info: Managing a Digital Lifestyle in a Mixed OS Environment (PDF)

With the announcement of HP’s new EX485 & EX487 today, bringing a new hardware spec and a raft of new add-ins, the question on everyone’s lips has been whether HP will release any of the new applications for existing HP MediaSmart Server owners.

The answer to that question is….. YES!

Without going into specifics, a spokesperson for HP today confirmed that some of the features of the new models will indeed be made available for existing owners, and a search of HP’s new MediaSmart Server microsite revealed the following nugget:

So, whilst we’re waiting for a final and full list of what features will be made available in a software update, it certainly looks like Mac support will be coming to existing HP MediaSmart Server EX47 and EX475 owners.

Update: HP have now confirmed that both Mac Backup and Online Backup, powered by Amazon S3 are the two features which will be made available for existing HP MediaSmart owners. Timing is TBC.

Hats off to HP for looking after their early adopters.

A lot of people have experienced slow transfer speeds to and from their HP MediaSmart Server, and some have had problems with it dropping connections all the time.  One brave  user has found a solution to this problem and has shared it with us. Blackprint has walked through the steps, written a tutorial and included pictures on how to update your NIC driver (aka ethernet driver).

Before starting, I want to warn you that not only is this very likely not supported by HP, but can result in losing network access to your server all together.  Now to turn it over to Blackprint:

You might be thinking “Why would I need to do this?” well I can tell you, from my experience, it solved the problem of my slow network speeds. I was getting around 200KBps and now have a steady 9MBps over wireless-n. Be warned: it can be risky because if it goes wrong and the ethernet port stops working, you will have no access to your box, so only update at your own risk.

What you will need

• Remote Desktop Connection
• The Driver

What to Do

Firstly, we need to check what driver version you currently have. Remote Desktop into your Home Server, right-click on my computer and click on manage. Go to Device Manager, expand Network adapters, right click on the SiS191 and go to properties.

Click on the driver tab. The latest version (at time of writing) was released 03/03/08.

If your driver is before this version and you are experiencing slow network speeds, it’s time to update.

Extract the zipped driver file, somewhere in the Shared Folders is fine. Open the Setup.exe in the sgl206a folder.

Follow the installation through, if you see this message click Continue Anyway.

The driver will install and if done correctly it will ask to restart the server. I recommend restarting ASAP. If the server seems unresponsive for a couple of seconds during the install, it was normal in my case. I must have reinstalled this driver a few times during the writing of this tutorial and have had no problems.

Done

You can check the new driver version by following the initial instructions above. Remote Desktop into your Home Server, right-click on my computer and click on manage. Go to Device Manager, expand Network adapters, right click on the SiS191 and go to properties. Click on the driver tab.

Additional Info

The driver link may become out of date. You can get the latest driver from the SiS download page. Read and accept the agreement. Select Windows Server 2003, Network Driver, SiS191 and click Go. Choose a location to download from, I recommend choosing as close to your home as possible to get the best speed. You can then follow the instructions above.