Covecube continue to push out new beta releases of their forthcoming disk management add-in for Windows Home Server v1, Stablebit Scanner.

StableBit Scanner is an advanced hard drive scanning and monitoring tool for Windows Home Server v1. It monitors all hard drives in your home server looking for damage then analyses and retrieves files from the damaged sectors of the disk.

StableBit Scanner reads and monitors the on-disk Self-Monitoring, Analysis, and Reporting Technology data in order to predict disk failure. StableBit Scanner tries very hard to get at the S.M.A.R.T. data, it asks the Operating System, it asks the disk directly by issuing commands to it, and it talks to USB bridge chips in order to get direct access to drives behind USB enclosures. If S.M.A.R.T. detects disk failure, you are notified immediately.

StableBit Scanner is designed not to interfere with any other disk access. If another application starts accessing the disk, or if you start copying a file over the network that is coming from the disk being scanned, StableBit Scanner will suspend the current scan operation and wait for the disk to become free.

Features:

• Hard Drive Monitoring
• File Aware Scanner
• Scan throttling
• Disk overheat protection
• Reading and analysis of SMART data
• Perpetual, scheduled and manual scanning available

Since the first release earlier this month, the developers have released a number of updates to improve stability of the add-in and zap emerging bugs.

Changes are as follows:

v1.0.0.2472

• Fixed a bug where if you opened the StableBit Scanner settings before opening the main tab it would appear as if your license was not found.

v1.0.0.2467

• Remove service dependency on WHS Backup Service.
• Corrected a problem with service not starting properly if it can’t retrieve all the USB hardware IDs.
• Added more detailed error reporting for Paul’s bug.

v1.0.0.2462

• A corrupt user config file would prevent the client from connecting to the service.
• Any corruption to the user config file will not prevent the console from connecting to the service. Note that this is not the file that stores user settings, but an internal file used to store connection state information.

v1.0.0.2443

• In Settings, hours are now formatted 00-23 for places without AM/PM designators.

v1.0.0.2439

• Fixed service connection issues for non-english systems.
• Fixed performance graph drawing artifact.

v1.0.0.2416

• Tweaked internal error reporting structures.
• Fixed a bug where if while scanning, you made a change to the settings, that would need to stop the current scan, the scanner would freeze momentarily and abort all the current scans, loosing the progress it had made.

Download: Stablebit Scanner | Rate this add-in

Nick Asseloos has released an update to his home server administration and diagnostics add-in, AdminiMe 2010.

Fixes:

• APP:CA002 Cpu Analyzer Index (zero based) must be greater than or equal to zero and less than the size of the argument list.
  A proper message is now shown to indicate that the CPU is overloaded.
• Isn’t possible to change the network card, Apply button doesn’t enable
  The button now gets enabled and selecting a card should work.
• Documentation on using the mail functionality in the Communication dialog has been increased.
• Server: Nag screen contains control characters
  Control characters have been removed.
• The part of the add in that shows the add in is registered says: ‘Registrd to:Name’
  Changed to: ‘Registered to: Name’
• Sent emails are german and contains formatting code \\r\\n in the text, right before the text \””In der registrierten Version …\”” “
  Control characters have been removed.
• Server: Console crashes when invalid license file is on the server
  An extra check is done and handled.
• Server: Settings aren’t all saved
  Now when changing settings (like events,…) these are saved as well.
• Server: In some cases, selecting the networkcard wasn’t persisted
  Now when changing the networkcard in the config settings the selected card is saved.
• Server: Error when starting ‘There was a problem while checking the registration file:The device is not connected.’
  Now an extra check is done and this error should be handled.
• Server: Checking the last item in the list of Application Logs (Config tab) doesn’t submit the change, isn’t saved
  Now you can select the last item and save the change too.
• There was a problem while checking the registration file:The type initializer for ‘Microsoft.HomeServer.Controls.ShareManager’ threw an exception.
  This led to problems that mails were sent as unregistered, while the license file was present.
  Now an extra check is done and this error should be handled, in some cases it could still occur.
  If this is the case, send a mail to support@asoft-ware.com for a workaround.
• Server: When a user chose to ignore messages, in the WHS Console then these messages were also reported.
  Now when you choose to ignore messages, they will not be reported anymore.
• Server: In some cases where there was high memory consumption it could be that AdminiMe reported this, while the treshold was not yet reached.
  This was not a bug but the algorithm has been changed slightly so that it is more sensitive.
• The links to the registration page/AutoExit page on the console toolbar where opened locally in the console
  Now they are opened on the client itself.
• You can now disable the monitoring of a disk’ usage, by setting the treshold to 0.
• The disk id’s in the disk overview tab are now padded with a zero and sorted correctly
• The disk rate is now converted to the best format (Kb/s,MB/s,…)

Make sure you uninstall the previous version before upgrading to the new release.

Download: AdminiMe 2010 UR 1

Experience Level: Standard

P80 creates a new web page on your home server’s remote website with details of various aspects of your home server, including:

• drive information
• backup statistics
• home server health status
• and more.

Developer: Kris Rodenhausen

More Info: Download | Support

Release History

v2.6.9.1 (8th July 2010)

• Run Scripts on WHS from P80
• Cloudberry Backup is no longer supported in P80
• Performance Counters (CPU Usage, Memory Usage and Network Usage). Displayed in P80 and in the browsers title bar.
• Check for new version and show link to download new version of p80
• External USB HDs and Backup HDs have a new color (Blue). Now they only change color to red when the capacity is 10 percent or less.
• Time to backup is now fixed.
• If the session state expires then the user is kicked out of P80. Default time is 20 minutes. This can be changed in the web.config file.
• WHS Console – P80 settings tab now translated
• Shutdown now added to AutoExit capabilties. Force Shutdown was the only option before for shutdown methods.

LightsOut, a Power Management add-in for Windows Home Server by Martin Rothschink, has been updated to version 0.8.2. New features and fixes are as follows:

Important changes:

• Fix for ACER Aspire easyStore H430 (see below)
• Fix for wrong backup time calculation
• Fix for occasionally wrong standby detection

Changes on LightsOut Client (used for server wake-up via WOL):

• Improved support for virtual NICs installed by VirtualBox or Vmware
• Improved support for VPN networks

More Info: LightsOut | Discuss | Rate this Add-in | Home Server Blog (Source)

Experience Level: Standard

Whiist is a Windows Home Server Add-In that allows you to create and manage web content on your Windows Home Server.

After installation Whiist adds a “Website Management” tab to your Home Server Console. Using this tab you can easily create and manage new websites, photo albums, and homepage links.

Developer: Andrew Grant

More Info: Download | Support Forum

Release History

v0.82

• Fix for PP1 (use provided ConsoleServices instead of creating a new instance).
  

v0.81

• Fix for media smart server. (XML file for links is now modified instead of recreated)
  

v0.80

• Only IIS entries created by Whiist are now editable
• Added an editor to customize the image on the front page
• Added settings menu

For more, see developer’s website.

Samsung Photo Frame Control is an English language Windows Home Server add-in from German developer Daniel Buschke which allows you to manage a variety of Samsung’s Wireless Photo Frames from within the home server console.

This add-in replaces the standard Samsung management software, which is generally used via a web browser (and from experience is really clunky).

It allows you to stop and start slideshows, select photos to include in the slideshow as well as add RSS feeds to the photo frame for display (from Flickr or another web service).

You can check out full details on the add-on over at Daniel’s site (Google Translate)

Download: Samsung Photo Frame Control

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

Following today’s announcement of the Acer Aspire easyStore Home Server, Acer now have more details of the product available on their UK website.

The Aspire easyStore Home Server: a wonderfully compact home appliance that allows you to store, protect, share and grow your digital library with family and friends.

• Store your photos, music and video in one place.
• Protect your files with automatic backups, quick recovery and antivirus software.
• Share your files with family and friends anytime, anywhere.
• Grow your storage capacity by adding hard drives as you wish.

Bringing the digital home together
With the Acer easyStore Home Server, families can store photos, music and videos all in one place, protect that precious digital content with automatic backups, quick recovery and antivirus software, and share files with family and friends anytime, anywhere. As the home library of digital content increases, hard drives can be added to increase storage capacity.

“Windows Home Server helps families ensure that their precious digital content is safe, secure and easily accessible at home or on the road. The new Aspire easyStore Home Server from Acer is a great example of this new generation of products,” said Charlie Kindel, general manager of Windows Server Solutions at Microsoft. “We are excited to have Acer join the growing Windows Home Server product category and bring this new offering to consumers.”

Aspiring the digital experience with ease and fun
Design for families who need more just video or picture storage at home. Through Aspire easyStore Home Server, close family members and friends can securely access with easy through Internet regardless where they are. With one-touch USB Copy, Power Saver Scheduler, and DLNA certified, Aspire easyStore Home Server brings in convenience for the family and friends.
“Aspire easyStore Home Server truly brings in gap between the technology and people.

With more people are travelling and live in different places, it brings the family together sharing memory and fun without boundary. In addition, we are excited to team up with Microsoft and Intel to share the same concept by delivering this fun and easy to use product out for consumers,” expressed Allen Jong, Director of Stationary Computing Business Unit, ITGO, Acer Inc.

Powered by Windows Home Server
Running on the Windows Home Server operating system, the Aspire EasyStore Home Server is equipped with an Intel® Atom™ Processor 230, a maximum storage capacity of 4TB and up to four 3.5″ hot-swappable SATA hard disk drives. The Acer EasyStore Home Server also comes with a 6-month free trial of McAfee® Total Protection™ Service.

Technical Specification

Media sharing

Enable the Media Library Sharing option to share chosen folders

PC backup

Once Aspire easyStore Home Server client software is installed, WHS automatically backs up the home PC every night.
After the initial full hard drive backup, changes are backed up incrementally.
The backup frequency and time is customizable.

PC Restore

If a home PC’s hard drive crashes, use the PC Recovery Disc to boot the PC and restore from a hard drive image stored on the Aspire easyStore Home Server.

Server management

Windows Home Server (WHS) Connector allows all home PCs with administrative access privileges to manage the Aspire easyStore Home Server through the WHS Console. Management options include customizing backups, assigning user access privileges, setting up shared folders and configuring server storage or security options.

Storage expansion

WHS Drive Extender allows the addition of an internal or external drive to increase the Aspire easyStore Home Server’s total storage capacity.
No need to power-off the unit.
No more drive letters for multiple hard drives.

Folder protection

Allows shared folders with the duplication option enabled to be duplicated on a separate hard drive on the Aspire easyStore Home Server.

Remote access

Set up a free and secure personal web address for remote access to the Aspire easyStore Home Server through the WHS Console and Windows Live™.
Enabling the remote access option and configuring user accounts via the WHS Console permits Internet access to the Aspire easyStore Home Server from a remote PC.

Network access

Connect to the Aspire easyStore Home Server directly from a home PC by installing the client software.

One-touch USB copy

A button that uploads all data on a device connected to the front-loading USB port; the data is automatically sorted and stored by file type into designated folders.

DLNA Certified™

Enjoy music, photos and videos on TV with family and friends via DLNA 1.5 certified Home Server (DMS) and digital media player (DMP)

Lights out

Save energy by scheduling standby and resume times for the Aspire easyStore Home Server.

Configurations

Acer Aspire easyStore Home Server
TS.R360W.011

Aspire easyStore Home Server, English preload. Windows Home Server, Atom 230, 1x1GB DDR2 800, 1x640GB HDD. UK, EUR, CH power cable.

More Info: Acer

Another new add-in for Windows Home Server is released today.

Anthony Uwadia’s WHS Task Viewer allows you to view and manage all running tasks on your home server, from within the Windows Home Server console.

Just like the Task Viewer on your home computer, all currently running tasks are displayed along with their memory and processor usage.

Three graphs along the right hand side of the pane display your total CPU usage, free physical memory and free virtual memory.

You also have the option of killing selected tasks – make sure you know what you’re doing before taking advantage of this option! Work is continuing on this element of the add-in to allow more processes to be killed by the user if required.

The add-in’s graphs are easily customisable from the Settings tab.

WHS Task Viewer is now available for you to download over at the WGS Add-ins area. Enjoy!

More Info: Download | Discussion and Support

Brent Friedman has updated his free DVD ripping add-in, DVD Manager to version 0.0.0.0.30 Alpha.

New in this update is the ability to rip you DVDs from a home computer on your network, directly to a shared folder on your home server, which is a great ideas with many home servers not having a DVD drive.

Checking progress for these kind of rips has not yet been installed, and you’ll need AnyDVD or DVD34 to decrypt the DVD and the Windows Home Server Connector software installed on that home computer.

More Info: Download | Discuss

Kentdome Technologies have released version 1.3 of Grid Junction, the add-in which helps you manage and monitor a Uninterruptible Power Supply attached to your home server.

The update includes includes improvements in stability, performance, and enhanced uninterrupted power supply compatibility along with bug fixes and the ability to run custom scripts (for example, sending an email) when alerts occur.

More Info: Download | Discussion and Support

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)