Dave and the guys over at the Home Server Show have just released show number 126.
Here’s what Dave has to say about this weeks show:
[box style=”rounded” border=”full”]The Add-In news keeps on coming in. This episode is all that and more. We snagged Mike H.(geek-accountant) from the live ustream chat and he gives out a teaser of an upcoming BYOB podcast featuring his super-router running pfSense and Untangle. [/box]
You can download and listen to show 126 from here
Ian over at the Digital Lifestyle.com has just released this weeks Digital Lifestyle Show and this weeks it’s all about the mobile!
Here’s what Ian has to say about this weeks show:
A special show this week as Garry and I are invaded by the TDL Mobile guys to talk about the iPad 2, Windows 7 Service Pack 1 problems with Media Center, My Movies, this weeks news and as they are Windows Media Center users we talk about how they are integrating Media Center in to their lifestyle.
It’s a bumper show this week running over an hour and half, I hope you enjoy it as much as we enjoyed recording it.
You can download or listen to the show from here
I will be back to my regular co-hosting duties next week as I have been in Seattle this week at Microsoft.
Today was the day that Apple announced the iPad 2. If you are in the US you can get it next week, everyone else has to wait until later this month. But either way, you can get the latest version of iTunes today.
So as you can see the updates are pretty much aimed at iOS 4.3 which will be shipped with the iPad 2 next week.
My advice would be to get the update before next week otherwise it might be slow when everyone wants to hit the servers on the 11th!
D-Link today announced the availability of its Wireless-N PowerLine Router (DHP-1320), a combination networking solution for extending wired and wireless home networks throughout the house by tapping into a home’s electrical wiring.
The DHP-1320 uses PowerLine 200 Mbps technology with a Wireless-N router and Ethernet port to strengthen and extend network signals in a home, delivering network connectivity to hard to reach places, such as a basement or upstairs bedroom – all with no messy installation.
Here is the complete press release for those of you who are interested:
FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif. – March 2, 2011 – D-Link® today announced its Wireless-N PowerLine Router (DHP-1320), a combination networking solution for extending wired and wireless home networks throughout the house by tapping into a home’s electrical wiring, is now available. This combination IPv6-ready network solution merges PowerLine 200 Mbps technology with a Wireless-N router and Ethernet ports, offering consumers two connectivity options to extend home network coverage and enjoy high-bandwidth applications, including HD video content, multimedia, VoIP calls, and more.
“As the amount of high-bandwidth Internet-based content viewed and shared in today’s homes continues to grow exponentially, superior network coverage is essential,” said Daniel Kelley, associate vice president of consumer marketing, D-Link North America. “With this combination router and D-Link’s line of PowerLine accessory products, we’re able to provide consumers with a simple way to extend their networks into ‘dead zones’ where wireless coverage has previously been limited or spotty, such as a basement, an upstairs bedroom, or other hard to reach locations.”
Wired and Wireless Network Coverage Anywhere in the Home
The DHP-1320 extends wired and wireless networks to all devices in the home with optimal speed and bandwidth for a range of HD video-on-demand, gaming and other applications. Essentially turning a home’s existing electrical system into an Ethernet network, PowerLine’s extended coverage can be obtained without any drilling, difficult installation or messy cables. Simply plug the DHP-1320 into an electrical outlet and the technology distributes broadband to Internet-connected devices both wirelessly and through the electrical wiring in a home. D-Link® PowerLine adapters then plug into outlets anywhere in the home to extend wired coverage to additional rooms and devices where coverage is limited.
The DHP-1320 also provides IPv6 support, enabling consumers to future-proof their home networks for the next-generation of the Internet, ensuring connectivity with new wireless devices for years to come.
Additional features of the Hybrid Wireless-N PowerLine Router (DHP-1320) include:
· HomePlug AV certified with up to 200Mbps throughput
· Wireless N 300
· 3-Port 10/100Mbps Fast Ethernet Ports
· Wi-Fi® Protected Setup™ (WPS) for Simple Push-Button Wireless Network Configuration
· Atheros Hy-Fi™ technology expands coverage, improves performance and simplifies network set up and management
· Built-in QoS Engine Enhances Internet Experience
· Supports Secure Wireless Encryption Using WPA™ or WPA2™
· Supports 128-bit AES Encryption For PowerLine Network Security
· PowerLine Sync Connection (ENY) Button
· Plug & Play Installation
Also shipping are a number of 200 Mbps PowerLine accessory products, including the PowerLine AV 4-Port Switch, Wireless N Extender, and Network Starter Kit. Combining these products with the DHP-1320 allows consumer to create the ultimate wired and wireless home network.
Availability and Pricing
The DHP-1320 Hybrid Wireless-N PowerLine Router is now available throughout D-Link’s vast network of retail and e-tail outlets in North America, and at the company’s online store, http://www.dlinkshop.com, with an MSRP of $129.99.
The following 200 Mbps PowerLine products are also now available:
· PowerLine AV 4-Port Switch (DHP-346AV); $99.99
· PowerLine AV Wireless N Extender (DHP-W306AV); $119.99
· PowerLine AV Network Starter Kit (DHP-307AV); $139.99
About D-Link
D-Link is the global leader in connectivity for home, small business, mid- to large-sized enterprise environments, and service providers. An award-winning designer, developer, and manufacturer, D-Link implements and supports unified network solutions that integrate capabilities in switching, wireless, broadband, storage, IP Surveillance, and cloud-based network management. For more information visit www.dlink.com, www.dlink.ca or connect with D-Link on Facebook (www.facebook.com/dlink) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/dlink).
Back in January we told you that Synology were beta testing their DiskStation Manager 3.1 software. Well yesterday they released the final version, and it has some new features worth taking a look at.
According to Synology:
[box style=”rounded” border=”full”]Sleek and full-featured. Synology DiskStation Manager 3.1 takes your NAS experience to the next level. Running on Synology NAS servers, DSM 3.1 offers more robust task-handling capability, greater storage reliability, and higher productivity. The intuitive and feature-rich applications help you simplify the otherwise time-consuming tasks.[/box]
Beyond NAS server Operating System
Milton Keynes, United Kingdom—March 1, 2011—Synology® UK Ltd. today announced the official release of DiskStation Manager 3.1 (DSM 3.1) OS. Its successful beta program attracted over 10,000 users in just 40 days. Synology commits to provide periodic free NAS server OS updates that benefits users to continue to enjoy the latest technologies and new functionalities.
“DSM 3.1 builds on the award winning DSM 3.0 with additional consumer and business features to exhibit Synology’s enthusiasm to answer users’ requests and demands,” said Rosiel Lee, product manager of Synology Inc.
DSM 3.1 brings users a wealth of upgrades and benefits:
Elevating management efficiency – Multiple volumes on a single RAID allows users to expand volume size dynamically and manage storage effectively. Sharing of print/fax/scan on multifunction printers increases the efficiency of various operations. Furthermore, enhanced File Browser performs database index to file name, advanced search criteria, and preview of documents, images or video, delivering quick search.
Increasing data availability – Synology Hybrid RAID supports dual disks redundancy. Furthermore, the Shared Folder Sync feature allows users to synchronize specific folders from one DiskStation to another on real time basis. Users will be able to share documents seamlessly and have an immediate backup DiskStation up and running right away in case of hardware failure. In addition, backing up the same shared folder to multiple destinations is now supported for more layers of protection. Windows ACL support now allows data to be restored along with its preconfigured access permission settings.
Enriching the capabilities of mobile devices, including iPad® – Three iPad-native applications –
DS cam, DS photo+ and DS audio are available, offering intuitive hands-on experience. AirPrint® support allows users wirelessly print documents from iPhone® and iPad® to any AirPrint-enabled printers connected to DiskStation. Moreover, the new DS file application allows users of iPhone to download and upload documents from and to DiskStation.
Extending multimedia enjoyment – Download Station not only supports searching of desired files and RSS feeds, but also allows users to preview and select files at torrent startup. Audio Station showcases an equalizer, a mini player, personal playlists and editable ID3 Tags. Furthermore, Photo Station allows every account user to host his or her own photo album and blog and supports sharing of photos to facebook, twitter, and PlurkTM.
Boosting surveillance intelligence – Surveillance Station 5 can be operated on Internet Explorer®, Firefox® and Chrome®. The Smart Search feature allows users to detect any motions, missing and foreign objects, camera occlusion as well as focus lost, and adjust image quality for detailed viewing.
The supported models are:
DS1511+, RS411, DS411+, DS411j, DS211+, DS211, DS211j, DS111, DS411slim, DS1010+, RS810+, RS810RP+, DS410, DS410j, DS710+, DS210+, DS210j, DS110+, DS110j, DS509+, RS409+, RS409RP+, RS409, DS409+, DS409, DS209+II, DS209+, DS209, DS209j, DS109+, DS109, DS109j, DS409slim, RS408, RS408-RP, DS508, DS408, DS108j, RS407, CS407, CS407e, DS207+, DS207, DS107+, DS107, and DS107e
The developer for WHS Phone has updated the beta release to version 1.24 and has fixed some bugs. Development on a pretty useful add-in for WHS version 1 continues. Read on for more details!
WHS Phone for Android is bringing the WHS Phone application to Android. WHS Phone has been released to work with Windows Phone 7, as Tim has written about before. You can connect to your v1 server to stream music, download files, see client backup status, stream photos and more. I’ve been beta testing the version that works with Android for about a week and a half now and have to say that I like it a lot! The developer intends to bring the same functionality that is in the Windows Phone 7 version to Android.
It is easy to connect to my v1 home server from my Droid 2 handset. I’ve been able to download PDF files, check up on backup status of my clients, and evaluate remaining disk space on connected drives. Unfortunately for me, all my music is in MP4 files and the Android application will only stream MP3 and 3GP files. So no music streaming for me! Hopefully, support for MP4 music files can be added over time. In addition, the application does not support video streaming, although the developer promises to work on adding that over time. All in all, having quick and dirty access to files stored on my home server from my handset is convenient.
Here are a few screenshots of the beta. Understand that these may change as the application is finalized, but it gives you a good feel for the UI and layout.
If you’d like to check out this beta, cruise on over to WHS Phone Android Beta Forum, register with the forum board, and post that you’d like to test the beta. The folks running that forum will get you squared away in no time. Give it a shot!
I’ll bring you more details as the beta progresses.
WHS Phone Website
If you use Windows Media Center to watch movies and TV shows, and lets face it, most of us do, you will probably need some additional software to make the experience better. My Movies is one of those pieces of software, and frankly is must have. Today the pre-release of My Movies 4 is available and it finally includes TV Series support.
What is My Movies?
My Movies for Windows Media Center is a movie collection program for Windows Media Center in Windows 7 and Windows Vista. Windows Media Center is a built-in feature in the Windows 7 Home Premium, Professional and Ultimate packages, as well as the Windows Vista Home Premium and Ultimate packages.
With My Movies for Windows Media Center, you can experience your entire movie collection, and browse through and play your movies, browse cast, play trailers and much more by using a remote control within your living room or home theatre. My Movies for Windows Media Center also includes the My Movies Collection Management product, which allows you to maintain and manage your movie collection outside Windows Media Center.
Here is what Brian says about My Movies 4:
My Movies 4 brings extended TV Series support to My Movies for Windows Media Center and My Movies Collection Management. You have with My Movies 3 always been able to add TV Series on DVD, Blu-ray or HD DVD to your collection, and users of TV series in online single file structures have been able to have their TV series supported to some extend by using the Series/Box set functionality along with the option to add multiple discs to a disc title profile.
With My Movies 4, we are extending this functionality to what some will refer to as proper TV series import, monitoring, management and browsing. The pre release is intended for users who would like to participate in reviewing, testing and giving us feedback for My Movies 4. The pre release requires 2,500 points or a licensed installer license file to participate – this is done to limit the amount of participating users to a level that we are able to handle support wise.
The functionality implemented for TV series is similar in requirements to what was originally created in XBMC, and today is used in various projects.
My Movies 4 and My Movies for Windows Home Server
If you are also running My Movies for Windows Home Server then there is some additional information from Brian:
My Movies for Windows Home Server is at the time of the pre release of My Movies 4 not updated for the TV Series functionality. It can however with one exception still fully function as a back-end for My Movies 4. The exception to this is that since the Windows Home Server software does not know of the added folders used for TV Series, it’s backup functionality will not include TV Serie graphics. This means that any backup during the pre release must be made from the Collection Management side.
We will during the pre release period release a Windows Home Server version where it’s backup will be able to backup TV Series as well, however we do not know yet when a release will be available where folder monitoring will function with TV Series functionality.
The public pre release of My Movies 4 will be made available to users with 2500 points or more.
You can learn more about My Movies 4 hereLet us know what you think of My Movies 4 – and don’t forget that it is a pre-release version so some things are likely to change, and please make sure that you give feedback to Brian and Rasmus. And look out for the UWHS hands-on review shortly.
Make sure to check out the My Movies 4 documentation for more information
Dojo North Software released Beta version 1.6.10.28 of Home Server SMART which now provides continuous, automatic disk monitoring and also supports USB disks! Yes, you can now see SMART data from your USB drives. Sweet! Read on to find out more about this updated Add-in.
Samsung HD155UI and HD204UI Disk Owners – Read First!
Samsung released a critical firmware update for owners of HD155UI and HD204UI hard drives. Do not install Home Server SMART on your Windows Home Server if you have any of these Samsung drives installed until you have installed the firmware update. This warning applies to other tools as well that use IDENTIFY DEVICE to obtain drive information.
http://www.dojonorthsoftware.net/Freebies/HomeServerSMARTBeta.aspx
Home Server SMART Installer MSI (current version is 1.6.10.28 BETA – released 2/26/2011 – digitally signed)
You must uninstall the previous SMART Add-In from within the Console prior to installation of the new beta. I was running version 1.0.1.
Once you uninstall the Add-In I would suggest keeping a copy of the one your removed in another location and then copy the new beta to the Add-Ins folder. Once the new version is in the folder your WHS will alert you to the new Add-In.
Install the SMART beta the same way you install a normal Add-In.
Once the Add-In is installed, and the Console restarts, you will immediately get Warnings if your drives need attention. My original 750 Seagate in my EX485 seemed to be a little flipped up. Seriously SMART?
A closer look at the SMART interface from within the Console gives me all of the drive data.
Our friends at KeepVault have been in touch to let us know that they have just released a beta of their new KeepVault 4.0 add-in for Windows Home Server, Windows Home Server 2011 and Windows Small Business Server 2011 Essentials.
Here are some screenshots to keep you going – expect a full review shortly.
You can download your selected versions below:
Awieco has just released their DriveInfo Add-In for Windows Home Server 2011 and Small Business Server 2011 Essentials. The newest Add-In from Awieco brings back the graphical drive information to Windows Home Server 2011. Read on to find out more about this brand new Add-In from Awieco.
The AWIECO DriveInfo is a free add-in for Windows Home Server 2011 and Small Business Server 2011 Essentials. The add-in integrates itself into the “Server Folders and Hard Drives” area of your Dashboard. It shows a graphical overview of your hard disks and drives inside the Dashboard.
Installation is easy via a connected PC or directly over Remote Desktop as I did this morning.
Dashboard Integration
Graphical Storage Overview
User Shared Folders
Full Windows Home Server 2011 and Small Business Server 2011 Essentials integration
Auto Update Check in the Dashboard
Installation of DriveInfo Add-In
The AWIECO DriveInfo is a free add-in for Windows Home Server 2011 and Small Business Server 2011 Essentials. The add-in integrates itself into the “Server Folders and Hard Drives” area of your Dashboard. It shows a graphical overview of your hard disks and drives inside the Dashboard.
The AWIECO DriveInfo also picks up all your standard shared folders and user created shares. What’s more, it reveals the usage of the drives as well as folders in a bar chart for every hard disk. Additionally to the shared folders, you have the possibility to see the usage of the backup drive. The total overview of your server storage is presented in a pie chart.
AWIECO, the world`s first add-in developing company for the next generation of Microsoft Windows Home Server 2011 and Microsoft Small Business Server 2011 Essentials, provides the customers software solutions to expand the functionalities of their home and small business IT environment. The company´s main focus is to develop high-quality, easy to use and innovative software products for making the server more attractive to Home and Small Business.
Thank you to Elvis Corbo from Awieco for the heads up and for THREE great Add-ins for Windows Home Server 2011.
Timothy Daleo
In this episode we talk about GPT and Master Boot Record formatting and this short sermon gives you a brief overview of these types of technology. Read on to find out how the use of drives larger than 2.2TB will affect your systems.
The MBR is used for booting your operating system and holding your disk’s primary partition table. Think of it as a tiny bit of space at the “front” of your disk that that tells the disk and your PC how to use the disk. The MBR stores this information in 32-bit sectors, but because the sector size is only 512 bytes, you are limited to a disk space of 2.2 TBs. I have mentioned on BYOB before, take the 512 bytes x 232 (for 32 bit) and you get the magical 2.2TBs. 4,294,967,296 x 512 gives us the 2.199TB. Make sense now? This is a mathematical limitation.
In addition, another limit to MBR is that you can have at most only four primary partitions. GPT disks in Windows can have up to 128 primary partitions!
It is for these and other limits that the GPT scheme becomes important.
With drives under 2.2TB the math is not an issue, but since companies like Dell and HP are already offering systems with single 2TB drives, large format OS drives are on the horizon.
A GPT formatted disk, or a GUID Partition Table disk, is the replacement layout for BIOS based MBR on hard disks. As MBR disks are limited to 2.2TB, GPT disks are “limited” to 9,444,732,965 TB or 9.4 ZB. We are not going to be seeing drives hitting that maximum any time soon.
Converting drives in Windows Disk Management is as easy as a right mouse click when installing the drives. If needed, you can convert from GPT to MBR and back again, but any data on the disk will be destroyed. This means you can move disks, but not the data, between the formats.
I put two 3TB drives in my Windows Home Server 2011 and they perform great.
GPT has actually been around since the 90’s and has been supported by Microsoft since Windows Vista. Yes, every 64-bit Windows installation DVD since Vista has included support for UEFI and GPT disks.
Some GPT facts:
So I have established that GPT drives can be bigger than MBR drives so what? Why do BYOB listeners care? Well, as these new drives become mainstream they will filter into the OEMs and retail and be available to everyone. Even today, 02-27-11, BestBuy has 3TB drives on sale for $150 now. Imagine your next HTPC with a single low power 3TB drive that could contain your entire media collection.
The more we know now, the better prepared we can be and even design our systems for growth.
In other one of our Two Minute Reviews, we take a look at the Suede Jacket Sleeve for the MacBook Air from Waterfield Designs.
I love my MacBook Air – but I am constantly worried about scratching it. I’ve looked around for sleeves and bags to protect it, but there isn’t really much on the market for the Air – and I really didn’t want to just buy a bag that could fit anything that was 13″, so I was very pleased to be able to find the Suede Jacket Sleeve from Waterfield Designs. They do other bags for the MacBook Air, and I will be covering another one in another review shortly.
Here is how they describe themselves on their website:
No mass production or overseas workforce. WaterField bags are designed and made in San Francisco, where rent is high, labor is expensive and competition is intense. We wouldn’t go anywhere else!
In a nutshell, WaterField products are ridiculously well-made, fastidiously designed, have more personality than you can shake a stick at, and are so “user-friendly”, that you can actually operate them with one arm tied behind your back. This turns out to be a huge benefit for high-frequency travelers; the busy, laptop-carrying, cell phone-obsessed commuting types; or the dual diaper/carrying bag parents.
Here is how Waterfield Designs describe the Suede Jacket Sleeve:
[box style=”rounded” border=”full”]It doesn’t get any thinner than this! The Suede Jacket Sleeve helps prevent scratches and dings on your Mac and the custom-sizing plus stretch memory of the Ultrasuede® insures a snug fit. An embedded layer of neoprene inside the bottom of the case protects your laptop where it needs it most when you set it down. A finger loop on either side helps you easily slip the sleeve over your laptop. This elegant, low-profile sleeve slips easily into a briefcase, messenger bag or backpack and helps protect your laptop from the minor bumps and bruises of daily use. Custom sizes for each of the Apple MacBook and MacBook Pro models.[/box]
The Suede Jacket Sleeve comes in a plastic wrapping to protect it during shipping.
As you can see, the sleeve is about the same size as the MacBook Air, which means it provides a very nice and snug fit.
And here is my MacBook Air mostly protected – again, you can easily see how snug the fit it, which I was very happy about.
I really like this sleeve. It feels very nice to stroke (if that’s your thing) and it is very light weight. It holds the MacBook Air very well and it protects it against scratches. Obviously it won’t protect it from dropping it, but that is not what this sleeve is designed for. This can be carried in another bag or just carried on it’s own.
I really liked the option of either a horizontal or a vertical sleeve – everyone has their own preference so that is really good.
The time from ordering to delivery was excellent as well – so thank you Waterfield Designs.
And if you have a MacBook or a MacBook Pro, you can also buy the Suede Jacket Sleeve.
If you want to protect your MacBook Air, and you don’t want another bag, then the Suede Jacket Sleeve is a must have as it really does protect your MacBook Air, is very well made, is reasonably priced and it feels nice too.
Sizes and Prices
| Each size available in Horizontal and Vertical:
|
The guys over at BYOB, including our very own Tim Daleo, have just released the BYOB podcast episode 33.
Here is what they say about this weeks show:
[box style=”rounded” border=”full”]This week the BYOB tackles GPT. A quick explanation from Tim and we discuss how GPT affects backup and restore. Mike also talks about his first ever Lian-Li case he did NOT like, and Michael makes us envious with his new Dell U3011. To close we have a round table discussion on benchmarks.[/box]
You can download BYOB Episode 33 from here
You know that Windows Home Server 2011 monitors your WHS, but did you know 2011 can send you email notifications? Yes, WHS 2011 can email your alerts and warnings through this little application included in Windows Home Server 2011. Read on to find out more about this hidden jewel.
The Alert Viewer Email Notification application was actually in prior releases of 2011/Vail but rarely talked about.
Every thirty minutes, the ‘Alert Email Evaluation’ task runs on the server that evaluates the network for alerts. An email notification is sent out if any alert that is set for email notification occurs. A second email will not be sent if the alert is still active within the next alerts evaluation cycle
To start the Set Up open the Alert Viewer and click on the link in the lower left corner.
Fill in your server information. You can find your SMTP on your ISP’s set up page. Microsoft has a short list of popular SMTP data here. You might need to change the port so make sure you use the right port number for your ISP!
The following alerts in the Alert Viewer result in email notifications when you set up your server to send email notifications for alerts:
Once you have completed the setup it will send you a test email.
Once you have completed the setup it will send you a test email.
Sweet. Thank you Windows Home Server 2011 Team for keeping this cool function!
