Windows Home Server Power Pack 1 goes live

That nasty Windows Home Server data corruption bug might finally be a thing of the past, as WHS Power Pack 1 has gone live after a month-long beta test. Not much else to the enhancement suite: x64 support and support for backup to external media are along for the ride, but otherwise it's mostly performance tweaks. Go on and grab it now, you crazy home-server admins.

[Thanks, Neal]

[Keisha Kornbread @ Jul 21st 2008 3:36PM]

Now I can buy that HP Server.

[Krush @ Jul 21st 2008 3:39PM]

Now I can trust my "legally" downloaded music and movies to be safely stored on the server..... NOT

[MioTheGreat @ Jul 21st 2008 4:07PM]

WHS doesn't care what kind of data you store on it.

[Krush @ Jul 21st 2008 5:34PM]

Nor does it care what type of data it inadvertently corrupts ....

[MioTheGreat @ Jul 21st 2008 6:11PM]

Actually, it sort of does.

It only corrupted data with some kind of special NTFS stream attached to it. I'm not familiar with all of the details of the bug, however.

So I don't think most 'normal' files were affected, but only ones being accessed be certain apps.

[Phil @ Jul 21st 2008 3:39PM]

I have to say, that was an extremely fast beta testing period. I put this out until last September, I didn't think it would come out this soon. Score 1 for MS, this is a great update.

[Phil @ Jul 21st 2008 3:40PM]

last = the end of

[John @ Jul 21st 2008 4:10PM]

Uhhh...wasn't the problem of overwriting/corrupting data over a year old? Considering that's pretty much the only point of a backup/storage server, I fail to see how this "scores 1 for MS". If anything, it brings the server to "functional" levels, god forbid they aim for "passable" or even "preferable to a Linux server."

[Phil @ Jul 21st 2008 4:17PM]

I agree that the Corruption bug should have been fixed sooner and not with a "Power Pack", it should have been its own KB Article with corresponding fix. I was merely commenting on the fast beta-to-live cycle of PP1 as a whole.

And too be completely honest, the corruption bug only affected you if you saved or edited a file DIRECTLY on the server. The data wasn't being randomly corrupted, only if it was being modified from a share. Still the bug should have been disclosed and fix sooner, but don't blow it out of proportions.

[jakem @ Jul 21st 2008 3:39PM]

HP Mediasmart Server owners can also download the latest PP! compatible update once they've upgraded to PP1 by clicking on the "Check for updates" link in the Home Server Console. This includes a 6-month subscription to McAfee antivirus if you're interested.

[Jon @ Jul 21st 2008 4:14PM]

You dont NEED to update , you can get the HP update without updating as well : )

[retro77 @ Jul 21st 2008 5:45PM]

Jon, how do you update without updating again?

[Jon @ Jul 21st 2008 7:55PM]

Smart ass ... You dont need WHS PP1 to download the HP new software update that also came out today

[Lancelot @ Jul 22nd 2008 2:10AM]

Yea, that's what I would want. A resource hog anti-virus ( Mcafee) on my
home server. Like M$ doesn't do enough to eat up your resources, without any help from 3rd party software..

[the godfather @ Jul 21st 2008 3:40PM]

Sweet, I just got my HP EX470 last week and installed the beta of PP1 and I had no problems with the data corruption bug. I'm remotely updating my WHS from work :) Great little product for the price.

[vypergts @ Jul 21st 2008 3:56PM]

I would too, but my office blocks 3389 and I was too lazy to figure out a workaround :(

[extinctdoughnut @ Jul 21st 2008 4:42PM]

If you set up TSweb you can edit html login to make it use any port you want, as long as you have a router that change change the incoming ports for you 8888 (or whatever)->3389.

Unfortunately my work blocks all RDP. At least I have my home web server running on 443 so I can pull down mp3's at leisure with no peeking. I use TSweb all the time when traveling though.

Find
MsRdpClient.AdvancedSettings2.RDPPort = 3389

In the script and change it to your new port.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/326945

[Dillon @ Jul 21st 2008 3:52PM]

Wow... when I first read the title quickly, I thought it said "Windows Home Server Power Glove 1 goes live"

...I knew it was too awesome to be true :(

[Bobby @ Jul 21st 2008 4:14PM]

"The power glove, it's so bad"

[kal326 @ Jul 21st 2008 4:00PM]

WTF now there are Power Packs in addition to Service Packs? Add this on to the other existing Hotfixes and Security Updates and you get patch soup. Why not just simply the whole process with a new term OWFU download, Oops We Fucked Up. Calling something a different name doesn't change the core issue.

[Josh L @ Jul 21st 2008 4:15PM]

They had a known bug and they fixed it.

Then they added new features.

Then they let you download and install it for free.

What are you bitching about?

[Dubb @ Jul 21st 2008 4:46PM]

You should check out MCE updates, their called Rollup's or something.

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=e5daf37e-e243-4410-bc51-81cf2b56fe6e&displaylang=en

[Dubb @ Jul 21st 2008 4:47PM]

Before I get grammar nazi'd, their = they're, yes I know the difference.

[tcc3 @ Jul 21st 2008 4:04PM]

Needs more Media Center

[Mr. E @ Jul 21st 2008 6:42PM]

Turn off media sharing. Install TVersity. Stream EVERYTHING.

[matt @ Jul 21st 2008 4:17PM]

So why should I buy this over my server running debian in the garage? Anyone who knows that they need a server is probably technically competent enough to run a small linux server, on an old PC for nowt.

[Ian @ Jul 21st 2008 4:36PM]

LOL. Cause WHS does cool stuff a generic server does not. And it is made so that you don't need to be a *nix nerd to use it. That's the POINT of the product.

IMHO watching uber nerds deride products like this makes me laugh. Lets keep it going! Why do you need a mouse and monitor? Anyone smart enough to use a computer should be able to do fine with a card reader and teletype console.

WHS is a great product. It's the first backup/restore solution for Windows I've seen that is this easy to use. My machines wake in the middle of the night, backup and go back to sleep. Restores are a simple matter of booting from the restore CD. It's slick and it works very well and it takes minutes to setup. Not hours. No scripts, no digging through *nix forums. It. Just. Works. The SDK is nice and enables neat add-ons. The remote access is slick, the RDP gateway is nice as well. It's built on Server 2K3 which is rock solid.

Could I setup a *nix box to do this? Sure. But why? Why waste my valuable time dicking about with it?

[the godfather @ Jul 21st 2008 4:47PM]

It's small, simple, quiet, and doesn't suck down tons of watts. Thats why I bought it at least.

[SchmuckyTheCat @ Jul 21st 2008 4:58PM]

Because Lunix doesn't do Single Instance Storage.
Because Lunix doesn't proxy remote desktop.
Because everything else that it does do is so incredibly complicated that only Lunix nerds would consider it a replacement.

[ben @ Jul 21st 2008 7:27PM]

My free time isn't really worth $400-600 for a weeks worth of evenings.

"Can't teach an old dog new tricks" though.

[Luigi193 @ Jul 21st 2008 4:18PM]

'bout time!

[telepheedian @ Jul 21st 2008 4:57PM]

POWER PACK OBTAINED.

NOW ACTIVATING POWER BOOTS.

Seriously, the name is very unmicrosoft-like.

[The Dude @ Jul 21st 2008 5:09PM]

FINISH HIM!

[Justin @ Jul 21st 2008 5:19PM]

It may be un-Microsoft business but we're talking about a company that made an OS named Bob and a server monitoring app named MOM.

[cesium @ Jul 21st 2008 6:07PM]

Bob was an interface, not a separate OS

[zee @ Jul 21st 2008 5:47PM]

Quick ques. - Can this server be positioned on its side? I have only 9 " ht clearance on shelf? I can't see any reason why not , just cking with all the experts here.
thanks
z

[Mr. E @ Jul 21st 2008 6:45PM]

Not sure if you're joking or not, but "Windows Home Server" is a software product. If you're talking about a physical server that's running WHS, we'd need to know what model you're talking about before answering.

[atbnet @ Jul 21st 2008 8:15PM]

If you are talking about the HP one, yeah it can. Mine is coming tomorrow, very good timing with the Power Pack release.

[Russell @ Jul 21st 2008 9:41PM]

Updating mine right now, been quite happy with the PP1 beta's.

I went with the cheapest HP single drive unit, bought 4 drives, and replaced the HP drive and added the three extra.

Much cheaper than trying to get it larger from HP and much cheaper than trying to build it yourself and still have swap trays, low power use, easy recovery/rebuild from scratch and the small headless form factor.

I'm happy I went with it over something like the ReadyNAS linux based NAS systems. For a windows user, it is much more powerful and versatile.

[Russell @ Jul 21st 2008 9:42PM]

Updating mine right now, been quite happy with the PP1 beta's.

I went with the cheapest HP single drive unit, bought 4 drives, and replaced the HP drive and added the three extra.

Much cheaper than trying to get it larger from HP and much cheaper than trying to build it yourself and still have swap trays, low power use, easy recovery/rebuild from scratch and the small headless form factor.

I'm happy I went with it over something like the ReadyNAS linux based NAS systems. For a windows user, it is much more powerful and versatile.

[TRAFFICBLOWS @ Jul 22nd 2008 10:26AM]

How many Watts does the HP use?

[zee @ Jul 21st 2008 10:38PM]

my bad..I was referring to the hp mediasmart server ex470.

btw- Any preferences or recommendations for a media server that does it all- apple itunes, mp3 music, photo, client bkup and good mgt capabilities? I'm a little leary of the linux based units- file fmt difference and limitations, os unfamiliarility etc...

thanks E and atbnet
z

[zee @ Jul 21st 2008 10:41PM]

atbnet
if the ex470 does work lying on its side then it may be the best choice...

z

[John @ Jul 22nd 2008 8:23AM]

Too little, too late.

[Iggy @ Jul 26th 2008 11:23PM]

Check out the Home Server from Velocity Micro, pretty sweet

http://www.velocitymicro.com/wizard.php?iid=143

[Iggy @ Jul 26th 2008 11:43PM]

Check out the Home Server from Velocity Micro, pretty sweet. I think they are shipping it already with PowerPack1

http://www.velocitymicro.com/wizard.php?iid=143

[Iggy @ Jul 26th 2008 11:44PM]

Sorry, didnt mean to post twice