USING HSS
When you have restarted the Windows Home Server Console you will see a new tab called HomeServer Sync. Those of you who may have seen the previous beta may remember it was called Offsite Backup then.
If you click on this it opens the HSS area
The first time you access it you will see that the account status shows Not Signed in and the Service is Stopped. These are the next steps to get this up and running.
So click on the Sync Manager button.
You need to enter the name of you Windows Home Server (ignore the IP in this release) and enter a port number you will use. Tranquil recommend using 2020, but you can use anything you like as long as it’s not already being used. Then browse for a server folder to use.
Check the Sync Directions you want to use – in my case I left the default Sync Both Directions selected.
Then you need to enter a PSK key in the box – this can be anything you like – just make sure you don’t forget it otherwise you wont be able to communicate with the server from your client when using the VPN service.
Once you have done that, click Save and confirm you want to save the information.
Then you need to click Start Service Service and Start the VPN.
Then click Close to take you back out.
Now you need to click on the Settings button (not the Windows Home Server Settings button!)
Select the schedule you want to use for the backups. You will also need to enter your user name and password again and click Sign In.
You can then choose to enable compression and / or encryption. Both are enabled by default but if you want to use encryption you need to enter a password here. Again, don’t forget this password otherwise you won’t be able to access your backups.
Then just click Save.
Now you can see that the account status is Active and the Service is Running.
Right, we are not quite finished yet…..
Now you choose to add files and folders to the backup.
You can add as many files and folders as you want.
You can see what you have added as it appears in the list, and shows you when you added it.
Question for Andrew,
I have the final beta software for this product and I am having problems installing it. I have tried various emails to the developer but none get answered. I am probably emailing to a bad address or something. How do you contact the developer? I see no email addresses on their web site.
In particular I have had problems getting it to set up the VPN. I get the prompt that asks for login information which I do but I do not get the dialog that tells me that I added the VPN. It goes straight to the Hardware Installation dialog, and at the end of the install it tells me the VPN is missing.
Hi Rick
For each beta, did you create a new HSS account? I had to do this otherwise I had problems early on….
Andrew
Rick,
Hi – the issue may be a previous VPN install – we will send reply email asap, advising how to 'fix' (remove) a previous beta VPN install.
As Andrew said, could you also confirm you have created a registered for a new account first ?
Hello,
I did not have a previous install of this (or the VPN). I did create a new HSS account before I started the install the first time. When the account creation finished it said something about sending me an email but I never got the email.
I can log into my hss account and I can back up files to it without any issues.
It appears maybe the VPN account was never set up for this account or something. Should I try to create another account? Can I get the current account deleted or should I just choose a different user name?
Rick
I have installed the addin on my WHS. During the install where it asks you to put in your VPN Credentials. I do so and it pops up the Security Warning. I clicked on continue anyways, and then it pops up a box saying no virtual device found. And I think this is why I cannot put in a VPN Node pass key. It says Tranquil VPN Client service not installed in this machine.
What do I need to do to get this installed?
This is exactly what my problem is.
hi Chris
I had that issue on some of the earlier betas – all I did was remove the add-in and reboot and then try again.
I assume you are running the latest version 1.10?
Andrew
I have uninstalled/rebooted/reinstalled. it keeps telling me no virtual device or it sometimes gives me authentication credentials invalid. but, I can use the addin for backups just not the VPN. the one feature I really wanted to try before buying. And no one can tell us how to contact the Beta Support.
Chris
I have forwarded your question directly to the head of Tranquil.
Andrew
Thank you Andrew for passing it on. It is a little disturbing that they are running a Beta for their software and there seems to be no way to contact them and give them feedback. I tried multiple times via their "Contact Us" on their web page and I finally did get a single response after I posted on this site. They said they would get back to me ASAP once they checked my account. That was two days ago.
I tried the uninstall/reboot/reinstall and saw no improvement either.
I guess we wait.
Rick
Hi Rick
Im not trying to make excuses for them, but I know for the last severals days they have all been working to get the final product out the door (lets just say check back on UWHS in about 4 hours….)
For now my advice would be to just remove the current add-in, remote to your WHS, check that a virtual NIC isnt there on network connections and come back in a few hours 🙂
You will then be able to use the very latest, and released build which should work (I tried it at length last night)
Andrew
Rick
Check out the new post:
http://usingwindowshomeserver.com/2010/08/05/home…
Worth doing 🙂
Andrew
Thank you Andrew.
I will check out the new release, I really want this thing to work, it is what I have been looking for since getting the WHS.
So I will try it out and hopefully purchase.
Rick
Well I really don't want to try a product out and it work, then I make the purchase. And if something goes wrong you can not contact anyone. Having poor Customer Service during a Beta Test is not a good thing.
thats a fair point Chris – personally I have had no issues with contact, but I certainly understand where you are coming from.
Like I mentioned before, they were rushing to get the final product out, but that was no excuse to not respond to support requests, as you say, they did ask for comments and feedback and ran the beta for a reason!
Andrew
Hello. I preordered HSS during their offering to do so. After having problems installing the VPN during the actual release, I put in a trouble ticket. They responded back that they wanted to do a remote access to my box, and I sent them my info and a block of times that was good for me to do this–that was over a week ago, and I haven't heard back. I then put in another trouble ticket for them to refund my money, again, I haven't heard back from them. What do you suggest I do? Thanks.
I have forwarded your email to the head of Tranquil and asked him for a response!
Just a quick update. They have now released the new version. I tried it and it appears everything is working as advertised.
I agree with Chris in that is was a bit frustrating to get no feedback or help from them when they were running the Beta.
Rick
Well same issue after installing the 15day trial. Am I missing something? I keep getting no virtual device found when I try and register the VPN. I have already uninstalled the beta addin and rebooted. Installed the new addin and rebooted. I have sent a ticket to the Help link in the addin. So just waiting to hear back.
Hi Chris
I ahve contacted Tranquil again for you and asked them to contact you directly to help you resolve this issue.
Let me know how you get on.
Andrew
Chris
I tried to install the latest build 1.14 today and got the same error you did but I have managed to fix it after trying a number of differnet things myself, including 2 WHS rebuilds!
DONT install the add-in via the Windows Home Server Console on your computer, go install it via the WHS Console on the Remote Desktop of your Server.
It works from there, it doesnt seem to work from a client!
Let me know how you get on.
Andrew
I have the same problem and have reinstalled V1.14 via RDC and that does not work either for me. You never get the "Next you will be prompted for VPN registration" dialogue on the reinstall
HI James
You dont get that prompt in the same place with 1.14 it would seem. You go into the Console and when you click on the VPN stuff it happens then.
Andrew
Hello all
V1,14 onwards does not 'force' the VPN registration (as some users do not want it)
Now the VPN can be registered (or not) on the Sync manager settings.
Rick
We have now deleted your old 'beta' account and confirmed your 'subscribed' status
We hope that the product now delivers
Good morning all
Some HomeServerSync users have experienced issues, regarding VPN / Account Expirations.
Most of the issues are due previous installations of 'beta' or 'earlier' versions of the Add In. Also if users have created multiple accounts with the same email address (no longer possible) this can also cause issues.
If you are having any issues, please let us know directly (labs@tranquilpc.co.uk) we will promptly provide the solution / support you need to get you up and running again. Please be sure to include your HomeServerSync User ID(s) with any message.
HomeServerSync 'pre-order' customers will have their account subscriptions 'started later today' after they reply to our customer service message.
HomeServerSync 'trial' account users will have an extension to their trial, if their trial period was cut short for any reason, due to the upgrade of the SQL DB.
If you are a trial account, please be sure to check your on-line account before your subscription ends (https://myhomeserversync.co.uk) and complete your subscription, or your account will become invalid, and backups / VPN / Sync will fail to work.
We know that HomeServerSync is a very powerful Add In to Windows Home Server – and we know that 'new users' are enjoying its benefits on a daily basis. We apologise to beta / early users who have experienced any issues.