Thanks to the guys over at VIA in Fremont for sending us over the Artigo A1000 for review.

I’m in the process of getting this guy built, so look out for a full review next week.

In the meantime, here’s a few unboxing shots for you.

Headline…. it’s the smallest computer I’ve ever seen. Truly fantastic engineering.

It’s been a while since we updated our list of routers that can automatically be configured to support remote access by Windows Home Server.

You’ll probably know that Windows Home Server is meant to be able to configure remote access for your router if it supports uPnP, but in fact, this only seems to work with some routers. If you’re having problems with your existing router, make sure you’re running the latest firmware for the router, as this can work miracles.

So, if Windows Home Server auto-configured your router, then please visit the forums and let us know your router’s name and model number. If you have a firmware/hardware revision to hand, then that’s useful too. If you see a router listed that you do not believe auto-configures, it may be that you’re runner a different version of the router’s firmware. Please check the forum to see who submitted the router and contact them via the Personal Messaging system to check which firmware they’re using. Then let me know so I can update the list.

Update: List Updated 15th February 2009

So far we have:

• 3 Com 3CRWDR100A-72 (UK) (Firmware 2.06)
• 3Com 3CRWE554G72T (UK)
• Actiontec MI424-WR
• Asus WL-700gE (UK)
• Belkin N1 (UK)
• Belkin F5D7230-4 (UK)
• D-Link DGL-4100 (UK)
• D-Link DGL-4300 (UK)
• D-Link DGL-4500
• D-Link DI-524 (UK)
• D-Link DI-634M (UK)
• D-Link DIR-615 (UK) (NEW)
• D-Link DIR-625 (Firmware 1.09)
• D-Link DIR-635 (UK)
• D-Link DIR-655 (UK)
• Draytek Vigor2820 (Firmware 3.3.2_RC1) (NEW)
• Linksys BEFSR41 (UK)
• Linksys BEFSR81 (UK)
• Linksys BEFSX41 v.2 (UK)
• Linksys BEFW11S4 (UK)
• Linksys RT31P2
• Linksys RV082 (UK) (NEW)
• Linksys WAG300N (UK) (Firmware 1.01.06) (NEW)
• Linksys WRT54G (UK)
• Linksys WRT54GL (UK) (v1.1)
• Linksys WRT150N (UK)
• Linksys WRT300N (UK)
• Linksys WRT350N (UK)
• Linksys WRT600N
  Linksys WRT610N (UK) (NEW)
• Linksys WRVS4400N (UK)
• Microsoft MN-500
• Microsoft MN-700
• Netgear DG834 (UK) (Firmware 1.0.2.13)
• Netgear FVS114 (UK) (NEW)
• Netgear FVS318 (UK)
• Netgear GT834GT
• Netgear WGR614 (HW v.6,7) (UK)
• Netgear WGT624 (UK) (V3, Firmware V4.2.10_1.0.1)
• Netgear WPN824 (UK)
• Sitecom WL-153
• SMC SMCWGBR14-N (Firmware 1.0.0.13) (UK)
• Thomson SpeedTouch 585i (UK)
• TRENDnet TEW-633GR
• TP Link TP-WR541G (UK)
• US Robotics USR8200
• Xincom XC-DPG502 (FW 2.1)
• Zyxel P-334WT
• Zyxel P-2602R-D1A
• Zyxel P-2602HW-D1A
• Zyxel X-550
  

Keep sending in your router models via the link below.

More Info: Routers That Successfully Auto-Configure with Windows Home Server (WGS Forums)

According to Computerworld, Symantec will be joining the line up of cloud-based backup providers at some point in the next few months.

Symantec purchased SwapDrive Inc in the summer last year, and it’s thought that the technology acquired in that purchase will form the backbone of the standalone service.

It’lll be interesting to see whether this offers support for multiple platforms, like Amazon S3, or will require a specific (non-WHS) client like HP Upline.

More Info: Computerworld

Sarah over at Channel 10 points to a great new plugin for Media Center that allows you to add channel logos to your Media Center’s TV Guide.

Image: Hack7MC

My Channel Logos for 7MC bundles a set of US Channel logos with the plugin, and allows you to add your own logos too.

More Info: www.hack7mc.com

Those of you who are active on our forums will know by now that we’ve moved over to a brand new server.

As a result, the location of our forums has changed, so make sure you update your bookmarks!

The new address is http://forum.wegotserved.com

Direct links to the WGS Wiki have also changed – you can now find them at http://wiki.wegotserved.com

There may be a few broken links still to be resolved and the main menu link above is waiting for a redirection to go live. Until then, make sure you use the URLs above.

Whilst the snow comes down outside, I’m working on the WGS Hands-On review of the VIA Artigo A2000 Storage Server.

It’s the barebones version of the server – nice and easy to install, but the forthcoming fully assembled WHS version will be even more simple!

Here’s a few shots of the unboxing.

Stay tuned for the review later this week!

Over the past few months, I’ve heard increasing reports of Windows Home Server being utilised in small and home offices (SOHO), where a product like Microsoft’s Small Business Server would simply be overkill.

Canadian developer Level Platforms Inc have now announced that its Managed Workplace remote monitoring application will now be supported on Windows Home Server, allowing outsourced IT suppliers to remotely monitor and support Windows Home Server based networks.

This is the first application we’ve seen which directly supports the business market for Windows Home Server and is a really interesting extension of WHS’ proposition.

Are you using Windows Home Server in your business? Let us know how.

Here’s the press release:

Level Platforms’ Managed Workplace and Microsoft’s Windows Home Server deliver full managed services capabilities to peer-to-peer networks

January 29, 2009

Ottawa, ON, Canada – January 29, 2009 – LPI Level Platforms Inc, the global leader in remote monitoring and management software for solution providers and managed services providers today announced that the Small Office/Home Office (SOHO) market is now “open for business” with Microsoft’s Windows Home Server.

While the millions of SOHO businesses have the greatest need for outsourced IT, cost and technology limitations have made this an elusive target for managed services providers.  With Level Platforms award-winning Managed Workplace installed on a Windows Home Server, solution providers can now deliver end-to-end remote management of workgroup networks including monitoring of all devices (servers, PCs, network devices, printers, IP telephony, etc.), all applications running on Windows devices, alerting, full asset management, remote control, patch management, back up and security, extensive reporting, local storage and much more at a very low cost easily affordable to SOHO businesses.

Many small businesses aren’t yet ready to make the leap to Windows Small Business Server but need the added features, performance, flexibility and security that result from the deployment of a server on their networks.  Now solution providers can deploy Windows Home Server with Managed Workplace and deliver a high value fully managed solution for these businesses.

This addition further extends Managed Workplace’s deep integration with the entire family of Microsoft Servers that already includes Windows Server 2008 and 2003, Small Business Server 2008 and 2003 (SBS), Essential Business Server 2008 (EBS), and full support for Hyper-V, Microsoft’s hypervisor-based virtualization solution.

Built on the same codebase as Windows Server 2003, Windows Home Server represents a powerful solution for the SOHO market. While the backup and recovery features are limited to 10 workstations (including Macs), Managed Workplace running on Windows Home Server can monitor and manage any number of devices operating in a workgroup environment with 100% of the functionality of larger sites including the full management of the Windows Home Server itself as well as any other servers on the network. Solution providers can also deploy additional remote backup software, specialized applications and other server based applications on the Windows Home Server to extend their service offerings.

“The SOHO market represents a tremendous opportunity for solution providers looking to provide cost-effective best-in-class support to smaller businesses,” said Peter Sandiford, CEO Level Platforms.  “Most of our 3000 Partners worldwide provide managed services to the Windows Small Business Server market.  With this announcement we are radically expanding the size of their available market and bringing the benefits of managed services to millions of businesses that were not previously accessible to the service provider community.”

“This is great news,” said Aaron Booker, President of Hardlines, a Washington-based solution provider focused on the small business market. “By adding the Windows Home Server as a supported platform for Managed Workplace, Level Platforms has opened the doors to a hugely underserviced and important segment of the business market.”

David Schmidt, CEO of Fusix Corporation, based in Ontario, added, “Fusix focuses on smaller businesses that often struggle with the effective use of technology. Larger organizations already receive enhanced benefits through the deployment of servers. Now, with a flexible and cost-effective solution for smaller businesses, Level Platforms and Windows Home Server eliminates the difference between the haves and have-nots.”

“We are excited to work with Level Platforms to extend the value of Windows Home Server to the Small Office/Home Office market,” said Charlie Kindel, General Manager, Windows Server Solutions Group, Microsoft.  “This solution will help Microsoft Partners introduce the benefits of Windows Server technology to a large and important market segment establishing a solid foundation for improved performance and reliability today and growth for the future.”

More Info: Level Platforms

Western Digital have just launched a new 2TB drive – the maximum capacity of your home server just got a little larger.

Check it out:

As hard drive capacities increase, the power required to run those drives increases as well. WD Caviar Green drives make it possible for energy-conscious customers to build systems with higher capacities and the right balance of system performance, ensured reliability, and energy conservation.

Reduced power consumption – WD has reduced power consumption by up to 40 percent compared to standard desktop drives with the combination of WD’s IntelliSeek™, NoTouch™, and IntelliPower™ technologies.

Helps enable eco-friendly PCs – WD Caviar Green drives yield an average drive power savings of 4-5 watts over standard desktop drives making it possible for our energy-conscious customers to build systems with higher capacities and the right balance of system performance, ensured reliability, and energy conservation.

Cool and quiet – GreenPower™ technology yields lower operating temperatures for increased reliability and low acoustics for ultra-quiet PCs and external drives.

Massive capacity – Capacities up to 2 TB offer the most available capacity for storage-intensive programs and space-hungry operating systems, like Window Vista®, with plenty of room left over for photos, music, and video.

Perfect for external drives – External drive manufacturers can eliminate the need for a fan in a high-capacity product with a WD Caviar Green drive, the coolest and quietest in its class.

IntelliPower – A fine-tuned balance of spin speed, transfer rate and caching algorithms designed to deliver both significant power savings and solid performance.

IntelliSeek – Calculates optimum seek speeds to lower power consumption, noise, and vibration. View demo >

NoTouch ramp load technology – The recording head never touches the disk media ensuring significantly less wear to the recording head and media as well as better drive protection in transit.

Perpendicular Magnetic Recording (PMR) – Employs PMR technology to achieve even greater areal density.

StableTrac™ – The motor shaft is secured at both ends to reduce system-induced vibration and stabilize platters for accurate tracking, during read and write operations. (2 TB models only)

Low power spin-up – WD Caviar Green drives consume less current during startup allowing lower peak loads.

Advanced power technology – Electronic components deliver best-in-class low power consumption for reduced power requirements and increased reliability.

Ideal For
Environmentally friendly PCs and external storage requiring lower power consumption and cool, quiet operation.

More Info: Western Digital

We’re about to do a little maintenance work behind the scenes here at WGS, which is likely to cause some downtime for areas of the site over the next few days.

The forums, wiki and add-ins section will be affected, so if you see that those sections are closed, don’t worrry, they’ll be back soon!

Whilst Jungle Disk already offer an add-in for Windows Home Server which allows you to use their online backup service, its feature set is pretty limited compared to the desktop edition of the software.

A new add-in by Pål Andreassen allows you to install an monitor Jungle Disk’s standard desktop software on your home server, and monitor it via the WHS Console.

So, you can now use all of the features of Jungle Disk desktop edition on your home server!

Requirements

- Jungle Disk Desktop Edition must be already installed on the home server.

- This Add-In has only been tested on the latest Jungle Disk version (2.5)

Known Issues

- Setting window does not save path to junglediskmonitor.exe

- This version requires jungle disk to be installed to C:Program FilesJungle Disk Desktop

- For some reason the jungle disk monitor seems to flicker when run inside the Home Server Console

- Still no setup MSI package. Installation is manual for now.

- Some times you need to click the “Jungle Disk” icon in the toolbar twice before the application loads

Download: Jungle Disk WHS (Desktop Edition) | Community Support

Alex Kuretz over at mediasmartserver.net has the lowdown on a software update for the HP MediaSmart Server (EX470/475).

The update brings some minor improvements and bug fixes to the home server, and now includes the ability to manually rollback the update if there’s an issue.

Check out Alex’s post for more.

More Info: mediasmartserver.net

I haven’t been able to tell you this to date, due to my MVP non-disclosure agreement, but Todd Headrick, Product Planner for Windows Home Server mentioned on the team blog that the code name for Windows Home Server Power Pack 2 is “Snoqualmie” (or SnoQ to its friends).

So, that’s:

WHS Power Pack 2: Snoqualmie
WHS v2: Vail

Who can guess the codename connection?

More Info: WHS Team Blog