G. Wade is working on a couple of different WHS 2011 add-ins and he wants your input.
Join in the conversation on the Home Server Show forumsI have been working on a couple of different WHS 2011 add-ins. The one that I am working on more actively is going to expand on the Server to client relationship that the Dashboard currently does. This add-in will allow users to run a variety of applications on the WHS from the client using Remote Desktop Services as the Dashboard does today. The first application that I am working to package is Resource Monitor. The plan would that you would install this add-in and a new icon would show in the launchpad and be called Resource Monitor. When you click on this new icon Resource Monitor would open on the client (current machine you are on) and the ResourceMonitor.exe would open over Remote Desktop Services.
Here is the current list of default applications that are available to have a Remote App created for:
Calculator
Character Map
Connect to a Projector
Create a System Repair Disc
Dashboard
Dashboard (Safe mode)
Data Sources (ODBC)
Default Programs
Disk Cleanup
Disk Defragmenter
Internet Information Services (IIS) Manager
iSCSI Initiator
Paint
Remote Desktop Connection
Resource Monitor
Security Configuration Wizard
Snipping Tool
Sound Recorder
Storage Explorer
Sync Center
Systme Configuration
System Information
Windows Live ID
Windows Media Player
Windows Memory Diagnostic
Windows PowerShell
Windows PowerShell (x86)
Windows PowerShell Modules
Windows Update
WordPadI am pretty sure that any other *.exe that is installed on the WHS2011 server can be made into a Remote Application as well… I will do some checking into that and possible make a second add-in after I complete and roll-out my first.
Are there applications that you would like to see using this functionality?
While it’s nice to see more activity on the WHS 2011 addin front I think G. Wade is wasting his time and talent with this project. With the Advanced Admin Console you can launch any program that’s installed on the server right from the Dashboard. Ok, you can’t do that from the Launchpad but the Dashboard is also available on the Remote Web Access website (the Launchpad isn’t).
You can do something similar if not the same using AWIECO RemoteLauncher version 1.0.1. Maybe I’m missing something.
Personally I think it’s more important that someone actually wants to develop an add-in for WHS 2011, although I agree maybe choosing something that’s already been done isn’t worth his time
I agree, it’s great that someone would like to dedicate their personal time to development an add it, please don’t get me wrong, its rather disappointing, the lack of enthusiasm with WHS these days, to think that the removal of DE, just my opinion, has busted WHS’ “bubble”. but I think it’s agreed, It would be great to get a new add in.
One idea to consider, is a dash board app for doing a server migrations as well as backup. I’m in the middle of a upgrading to WHS 2011, and I don’t trust windows copy and paste, and I’m looking for a good app, similar to synctoy, that will do a bit for bit comparison of data in two directories or even CRC, and has some automation to do backups, or directory sync with compression. Two free open source apps that I’m testing now are Freecommander (looks like dev has slowed on this one) and freefilesync.
Maybe the developers would be cool with a WHS addin for their product.
http://www.freecommander.com/
http://sourceforge.net/projects/freefilesync/
I believe there is an auto-folder syncing tool for WHS v1, but something that you could build-in to WHS 2011 would be awesome. I basically do an on-demand SyncToy for my mp3’s now.