Manufacturer: LaCie	Model: d2 Network 2 NAS Drive
Price: From $189/£159	Web: LaCie

We started our look at LaCie’s 2010 NAS drive refresh with the 2big Network 2 a couple of weeks ago, and found it to be a well built, capable storage device with a well crafted user experience, courtesy of its web-based management console. Whilst we can consider that model to be the mid-level option within LaCie’s NAS-drive range, those brand new to network attached storage may also want to consider the d2 Network 2 model – a entry-level, single drive device which offers many of the features of its big brothers, but in a more compact package designed for those with limited amounts of data, or the need for greater portability (perhaps for off-site storage and archiving). Depending on your needs, the 2big Network 2 may have a place in both home and small business environments, but with a single drive, is it a solution with too many limitations?

Our review model is the basic 1TB drive (1.5TB and 2TB options are also available) with the following specifications:

Let’s take a look to find out more.

What’s in the Box?

Whilst the d2 Network 2 may be the entry-level model, LaCie haven’t reduced the packaging spec, and you’ll find the product well packaged with an aluminium drive mount as well as bundled USB and Ethernet cables.

Full contents are as follows:

• LaCie d2 Network 2
• Ethernet cable
• USB 2.0 cable
• External power supply
• Utilities CD-ROM with software and User Manual
• Quick Install Guide
• Drive Mounting Plate
• Allen Key

Waiting for home servers to be launched is a little like waiting for a bus. You wait for ages, then two come along at once.

That’s the case in Australasia, anyway where this week we heard not only that the new HP MediaSmart Server was due to be launched in Australia at the end of the month, but also that the Acer easyStore Home Server has made it over to New Zealand!

Kiwi online retailer Ascent have the home server in stock and ready for despatch.

Slowly but surely, it looks as if Windows Home Server-based devices are creeping steadily across the globe.

More Info: Sam Wood – Tentacle Blog

We featured PlayOn Media Server last week on the site – it’s an application which allows you to view online video from a wide range of sources such as Hulu, Netflix, YouTube, CBS News, CNN and more on devices such as the PS3, Xbox 360 and a growing number of digital media receivers.
With a little tinkering, you can also use PlayOn Media Server with Windows Home Server!

Thanks to the guys at MediaMall Technologies, we have two free licenses (worth $39.99 each) to give away.

All I want to know is:
What is the best TV series of all time?

Head over to the WGS Forums to enter – You have a week to enter and we’ll pull two lucky winners out at random. Whilst the competition is open to all, PlayOn Media Server works best in the USA (as some of the content is restricted to US only viewers), so if you’re outside the US, you may want to give this one a miss (sorry!).

So, the competition closes on February 28th 2009. Get cracking!

More Info: Enter the Competition

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)

Our moderating team over at WGS Forums have this week launched a brand new Windows Home Server Frequently Asked Questions section which is designed to provide answers to the most common questions asked by new (and experienced WHS owners).

The FAQs have been compiled based on common posts we’ve seen on the forums, and currently cover a wide range of topics including:

Upgrading from the WHS Evaluation Edition
How to Manually Uninstall an Add-In
Troubleshooting Windows Home Server

and a whole lot more.

Head on over to the WGS Wiki to check out the list and feel free to shout if there’s other topics you’d like to see covered.

More Info: Windows Home Server FAQs

Great news on the way for those of you who use Squeezeboxes with Windows Home Server to play music around the home.

Currently, the software used to control your Squeezeboxes, SqueezeCenter is relatively fiddly to install on WHS, but the next release of the application, 7.3.3 will include a Windows Home Server add-in which will make installation much easier.

Version 7.3.3 is currently in beta, and a post on the SqueezeCenter forums is asking for specific feature and integration requests for WHS – head on over and let the guys know what you want!

Download: SqueezeCenter for Windows Home Server

A new Windows Home Server add-in hits the community today, and I reckon it’s one that many of you are going to be really interested in. Particularly the parents out there.

Loger, by Jose Cerna is an add-in which allows you to set timed access limits for each user for the computers on your home network.

For example, if you wish to limit the time your son/daughter can spend on the computer to 2 or 3 hours a day, then you can do this through Loger.

Windows Vista and Windows 7 have a similar feature, but of course this has to be set on each client and does not force the user to log off.

The add-in is currently in an early beta, and Jose is looking for testers to provide feedback and support to allow him to further develop and complete the add-in.

Loger consists of three components:

Server – This is an add-in to be installed on your Home Server which controls access. Jose’s working on this element right now.

Manager – This is to be installed and used on any machine (including the home server) that you want to manage users on.

Client – This is to be installed on those machines that you want to monitor usage time.

The following screenshots come from the Client and Manager apps – the home server add-in will be developed with your feedback.

Sounds like a great add-in, and who knows, maybe the platform from which more comprehensive parental controls could be built?

To join the beta, head over to Jose’s website where you can download the beta and submit your feedback.

Download: Loger v1.65

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

A small gift from the Windows Home Server team to celebrate the New Year.

Today the Windows Home Server team is releasing a small update to the product.  The update improves the capability of Windows Home Server to repair abnormalities detected in the home computer backup database.

The update should be automatically downloaded and installed on your home server over the next several days, if you have Windows Update turned on.  You can check if you have Windows Update turned on, by opening the Windows Home Server Console – Settings – General page.

The Knowledge Base article will be up later today.

More Info: WHS Team Blog

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

Nic Fillingham from Channel 10 caught up with Todd Headrick at CES to talk through some of the latest home server hardware announced at the show, which will be hitting the market later this year.

You can check out the video over at the Windows Home Server Team blog.

More Info: WHS Team Blog