Home Server Status, is a program that shows the status of your Windows Home Server 2011. It allows at a quick glance to see if your server is connected to the network, if a backup is running, was successful, or unsuccessful on any client machine. It will even send status alerts to email or push notifications to your mobile device.

Here’s what’s new in this latest release:

• Fixed: Small bugs.
• Fixed: SMTP bug when backups are running, cancelled, etc.
• New: Improved settings page with tabbed pages for additional functionality
• New: Ability to enable iOS alerts via Prowl for iPhone, iPad, and iPod
• New: Ability to enable SMTP and UDP network backup alerts
• New: Network Backup Log for all those running HSS on your network
• New: Ability to detect Windows shut down, restart, and logoff during a backup
• New: Automatic checking, download, and installion of updates
• Updated: Less resource intensive

Home Server Status is available as a 14 day trial. After your trial, a one-time payment of $6.95 will gain you a license for all computers, up to 10, connected to your Windows Home Server 2011.

More information is available from here.

Add-In: Home Server Status v3.02 is a post from: MS Windows Home Server - Your Personal Guide to Microsoft Windows Home Server!

The add-in for WHS v1, WHS 2011 and SBS 2011 users automates data backup directly to Amazon S3 and Windows Azure.

Version 2.6.2 comes with few minor but important enhancements:

1. Force schedule full backup. This might be necessary for the following reasons:
a. The total size of differential backups outgrow the size of the full backup.
b. To make for a more efficient restore so that you don’t have to restore one year old full backup and then roll over a large number of differential backups
c. To make more efficient retention where you can purge older unnecessary differential backups after the new full backup is completed.

More info http://blog.cloudberrylab.com/2012/02/cloudberry-backup-block-level-backup.html

2. Bandwidth settings improvements. There are two improvements. First, we have split local and cloud bandwidth settings, second, you can now change the bandwidth settings and apply it to the running backup plan. No need to restart it any more.

More info http://blog.cloudberrylab.com/2012/02/cloudberry-backup-online-bandwidth.html

CloudBerry Backup for WHS is available as a 30 day trial after which it will cost you $29.99. More information is available from here.

Add-In: CloudBerry Backup for WHS v2.6.2 is a post from: MS Windows Home Server - Your Personal Guide to Microsoft Windows Home Server!

Build 5635 of StableBit DrivePool has been released.

This latest build of the Drive Extender type add-in for WHS 2011 users has the following changes:

• [D] Better support for empty pool. Treat as a disk that has 0 bytes free.
• Fixed Dashboard crash on missing disk.
• Added BitLocker support for pool parts (disabled by default – see .config).
• Fixed null reference when removing drives from an unmounted pool.
• Fixed pool condition UI bar getting stuck at 0.
• Fixed deadlock when 2 background services were attempting to start at the exact same time. Did not stall I/O.
• When removing a drive, show it as such, instead of missing disk.
• When removing a drive, report duplication warnings.
• Do not automatically duplicate when encountering an incomplete file if there are duplication warnings that need resolutions.
  Give the user a chance to view the warnings and resolve the issue.
  This does not affect nightly duplication runs (when there are unduplicated files present).
  This does not affect instant duplication runs when moving a file from a duplicated folder to a non-duplicated folder and vice versa.
  This does not affect duplication runs when adding a non-empty pooled disk, et al.
• Do not list system reserved volume in Pool tab.
• Volume name is now respected by DrivePool tabs.
• [D] Pool drive can now have a volume name.

[D] = Driver was modified (reboot required on update)

More details on StableBit DrivePool can be found here.

Add-In: StableBit DrivePool Build 5635 is a post from: MS Windows Home Server - Your Personal Guide to Microsoft Windows Home Server!

A beta refresh for Service Pack 2 of the add-in Lights-Out has been made available for WHS v1 and WHS 2011 users.

Here’s what’s new:

New option for client action after backup
Service Pack 2 Beta refresh introduces a new client option called “Force end action”. This option is enabled by default to ensure the previous behavior. If you disable this option, the action after backup is only executed if a start-up or wake-up for a scheduled backup has been detected AND if there has been no user activity in the last 10 minutes or during backup.
This new features prevents a standby or shutdown (after backup) if a user is already working on the machine. It also prevents a standby or shutdown

• Fixed end of DST problem with WHS v1 connector
• Fixed wrong date formatting in calendar for some regions like Japanese
• Fixed wrong backup date when client backup is disabled
• Fixed problem with deleted tasklist (delete was not handled, tasks were not removed)
• Fixed bug in edit properties dialog
• Changed action after backup: runs only if started for backup with no user activity

Downloads:

• WHS 2011 http://www.homeserversoftware.com/lo/whs2011/beta/LightsOutVail1.5.1.1656.wssx
• WHS v1 http://www.homeserversoftware.com/lo/whsv1/beta/LightsOutInstaller1.5.1.1656.msi

Installation:

• Important: Always uninstall any existing version first!
• Close WHS Console/Dashboard and download the beta version
• Install beta and open WHS Console/Dashboard again

Add-In: Lights-Out Service Pack 2 Beta Refresh is a post from: MS Windows Home Server - Your Personal Guide to Microsoft Windows Home Server!

The AWIECO WakeOnLan add-in has had an update.

“AWIECO WakeOnLan has the ability to remotely turn on a computer. It enables the Server to start up every computer attached to your network. You can also power off a computer out of the Launchpad.”

Version 1.2 has the following new addition:

• Added: WP7 support

More details can be found here.

Add-In: AWIECO WakeOnLan v1.2 is a post from: MS Windows Home Server - Your Personal Guide to Microsoft Windows Home Server!

With this AddIn you gain access to all administrative areas of your server like Control Panel, Administrative Tools, My Computer, Network Places and many more. You can add shortcuts to your own programs installed on your server or to web-frontends of services and devices available in your network (like routers, printers, etc.). All of this can be used when being connected to your server from the local network as well as from a remote location.

Advanced Admin Console 2011 is available as a 30 day trial after which  functionality will be reduced. Otherwise the add-in will cost you $19.95.

UPDATE: Purchase a license for Advanced Admin Console 2011 before February 15th 2012 and save $5 by using coupon code AACTWTR1

Add-In: Advanced Admin Console 2011 v1.0 is a post from: MS Windows Home Server - Your Personal Guide to Microsoft Windows Home Server!

iHomeServer 2 is a native WHS (WHSv1 and WHS 2011) add-in that runs and manages iTunes on your Home Server.

New features in this version include:

• Watch Folder management
• iTunes track management
• iTunes playlist management
• Metadata editing
• Cover art editing
• Native 64-bit support

All from within the familiar Windows Home Server dashboard.

iHomeServer v2 (for iTunes) is available as a 30 day trial, after which it will cost you $30

Further information on iHomeServer 2 is available here.

Add-In: iHomeServer v2 (for iTunes) v2.0.29.0 is a post from: MS Windows Home Server - Your Personal Guide to Microsoft Windows Home Server!

Alexander Kent the developer behind Grid Junction, an Add-in for managing a UPS via the Windows Home Server Console has announced that the version for WHS 2011 has been cancelled.

In a statement released today Alexander said that the project did not gain enough traction to warrant further development:

“After careful consideration we have made the decision to suspend development of Grid Junction 2.0 for the foreseeable future. We have decided not to release the source code or any unfinished versions of Grid Junction 2.0. If you currently have Grid Junction 2.0 beta installed, please uninstall it at your earliest convenience.”

From HomeServerLand.

Grid Junction for WHS 2011 Cancelled is a post from: MS Windows Home Server - Your Personal Guide to Microsoft Windows Home Server!

The add-in will automatically scan your server storage and display duplicate files in an easy-to-view layout directly within the server’s user Console.

New Features:

• Added search criteria to the Batch Resolve dialog for easier management of large duplicate file sets (i.e. view all duplicate files, view duplicate files located within a select folder, view duplicate files by file name)
• Added a "Reset all duplicate history" feature (More Settings | Reset all duplicate history) to allow for better management of duplicate history
• Added a vertical split-container within the Batch Resolve dialog to allow easier viewing of larger duplicate file sets
• Added an easy to view "Duplicate file" count to the lower-left area of the main page of the add-in. This allows you to quickly see the total number of duplicate files which currently exist on your server

Existing Snoop-de-dupe users can upgrade for free directly within the add-in.  Open the WHS Dashboard  and select the Snoop-de-dupe tab then select More Settings | Check For Software Update and follow the link to download the software update

Snoop-du-dupe is available as a 15 day free trial, after which it will cost you $14.99. More details information is available at  http://www.snoopdedupe.com/

Add-In: Snoop-du-dupe v1.60 is a post from: MS Windows Home Server - Your Personal Guide to Microsoft Windows Home Server!

StableBit DrivePool build 5536 is now available for download.

This latest build of the Drive Extender type add-in for WHS 2011 users, includes the following changes:

• [D] Changed driver load order to address disappearing shares on reboot.
• [D] Fixed timestamp issue in disk driver. Was preventing installation from going through on some systems.
• Added new Drives sub-tab under the DrivePool tab. Shows disk space usage on all pooled drives.

[D] = Driver was modified (reboot required on update

As always, more information on StableBit DrivePool can be found here.

Add-In: StableBit DrivePool Build 5536 is a post from: MS Windows Home Server - Your Personal Guide to Microsoft Windows Home Server!

Home Server SMART (HSS) 2012 is the second-generation add-in for SMART disk monitoring for Windows Home Server…HSS consists of two main components, a user interface and a service. The user interface is where you can see the health of your disks, view detailed analysis and configure settings. The service, on the other hand, runs continuously, monitoring your disks at pre-determined intervals (default 10 minutes; you can change this). The service can raise WHS alerts and send email notifications when problems are detected. You do no need to be logged into the server for the service to run.

Features New to HSS 2012

• Works with disk pooling software Drive Bender and StableBit DrivePool.
  • Default setting not only ignores virtual disks, but hides them from the UI (since they have no SMART data anyway).
• BitLocker Drive Encryption integration – encrypt, decrypt and manage all of your volumes, whether or not those volumes have a drive letter – you can even enable the BitLocker server role from within the add-in!
  • Allows you to encrypt drives that participate in drive pools.
  • Allows you to hide disks that cannot be encrypted, decluttering the UI.
  • Allows you to make use of an HSS helper service to unlock BitLocker-encrypted USB volumes at boot time when those disks participate in disk pools. This can help ensure the disks are ready for use when the pool is started.
• You could ignore individual problems on disks in HSS for WHS v1, but now you can un-ignore (resume) them, either on an individual basis or for all problems on all disks.
• You can now ignore entire disks (and resume them as well) – useful for hiding flash drives and media card readers, as well as disks that you know are showing incorrect information (rare, but it’s been reported).
• Improved the ability to stop, start and restart the HSS service.
• Shut down or reboot your server from within the add-in.
• Send alerts via email.
• Bug Report Helper – runs a small self-test to detect installation problems and provide details to help in troubleshooting.
• Don’t use, and don’t plan to use BitLocker? You can hide the BitLocker tab completely.

Features in HSS for WHS v1 and HSS 2012

• Continuous disk health monitoring by an always-on service.
  • Monitors health of attributes and will generate alerts when a failure condition (threshold is met or exceeded) is detected.
  • Monitors disk temperature and airflow temperature, and generates alerts when unacceptable temperatures are detected (airflow temperature is flagged in HSS 2012 only).
• Customizeable temperature thresholds for Warm, Hot, Overheated and Critical.
• Temperature display can be shown in Celsius (default), Fahrenheit and Kelvin.
• Proactive alerting when changes occur on certain "super critical" attributes such as bad sectors, spin retries and end-to-end errors, even if they have not actually "failed."
• List of physical disks shows status icons for an "at-a-glance" view of disk health.
• Each attribute shows a colored icon in addition to a status message relative to its health.
• Double-click any SMART attribute to learn more about that attribute on the selected disk.
• Supports most IDE/PATA and SATA controllers that expose SMART data via standard Win32 IOCTL calls or WMI.
• Supports most USB and FireWire enclosures that expose SMART data via standard Win32 IOCTL calls.
• Allows you to clean up data from "stale" disks — disks you’ve removed from the server.
• Allows you to perform a manual polling of the disks for the latest data, rather than waiting for the service to poll them again.

Available as a pre-release, HSS beta 1 (version 2.2.1.21) can be downloaded from here, whilst heir wiki page can also be found here.

Thanks to the HomeServerShow forums for the update.

Add-In: Home Server SMART 2012 Beta 1 v2.2.1.21 is a post from: MS Windows Home Server - Your Personal Guide to Microsoft Windows Home Server!

This latest build includes the following changes:

• Tweaked folder details presenter.
• [D] Changed pool part initialization / refresh to be synchronous.

[D] = Driver was modified (reboot required on update)

More details on StableBit DrivePool can be found here.

Add-In: StableBit DrivePool Build 5472 is a post from: MS Windows Home Server - Your Personal Guide to Microsoft Windows Home Server!

This latest build of the DE type add-in contains the following changes:

• [D] Added support for undocumented directory listing file system behavior having to do with indexed requests.
         Managed to keep the same parallelized performance aspect of the algorithm, while adding deterministic ordering of results.
         Indexed queries are not as fast as non-indexed queries, but they are rarer (E.g. Triggered by: XP, OS X, boxee, MS-DOS applications, …), and are only issued for large directory listings.
• [D] Tightened up the directory listing algorithm code.

[D] = Driver was modified (reboot required on update)

More details on StableBit DrivePool can be found here.

Add-In: StableBit DrivePool Build 5452 is a post from: MS Windows Home Server - Your Personal Guide to Microsoft Windows Home Server!

Build 5449 has the following changes:

• Fixed installation issue, where if the previous M4 install failed in the middle, future installs would not work.
• [D] Fixed directory enumeration issue that was causing the WHS client backup engine to report damage in the backup database. Note that, when reproducing this issue, the backup database files were not actually damaged.

[D] = Driver was modified (reboot required on update)

More details on StableBit DrivePool can be found here.

Add-In: StableBit DrivePool Build 5449 is a post from: MS Windows Home Server - Your Personal Guide to Microsoft Windows Home Server!

This plugin allows you to view how much space you have available on your Drobo from within WHS 2011 dashboard as well as the status of the drives.

Beta 2 includes the following changes:

• Added support for multiple Drobos
• Now include the Drobo name and the Drobo type
• Added a link to open the Drobo dashboard

Note, you must have the Drobo dashboard software installed on your Windows Home Server for the plugin to work (you probably have it installed already! If not you can find the right version from the drobo website).

You can download beta 2 of the WHS Drobo Status add-in from here.

Add-In: WHS Drobo Status Beta 2 is a post from: MS Windows Home Server - Your Personal Guide to Microsoft Windows Home Server!

Build 5421 has the following changes:

• [D] Fixed simple rename crash (E.g. when renaming from OS X).
• [D] Disk buffer fixes.
• Attempted to fix folder re-share on migration (unable to reproduce).

             [D] = Driver was modified (reboot required on update)

More details on StableBit DrivePool can be found here.

Add-In: StableBit DrivePool Build 5421 is a post from: MS Windows Home Server - Your Personal Guide to Microsoft Windows Home Server!

Release v1.2.3.5 beta (2012-01-14) has the following changes:

• Bug fix: The pool could lockup under certain conditions (issue is caused by the named (alternate) stream support previously introduced, as a result this has been removed for the time being).
• Bug fix: BSOD could occur on systems running MSE.
• Update: The health monitor has been improved and now sleeps after each scan (currently this sleep time is 96 hours).
• Update: The pool file count meta-data is now persisted across reboots.
• Update: Client / server security has been introduced. This feature uses the Windows authentication system.
• Update: Client / server networking is now fully encrypted using AES.
• Update: Folder time stamping has been improved and now works as per the NTFS spec.

Download the Windows version
Download the WHS version
Download the client version

Important notes regarding this beta.

1. To install on a system running v1.2.2.2 (or earlier), simply install over the top of the existing installation.
2. If you experience an issues with this beta and wish to go back to v1.2.2.2, you are able to install v1.2.2.2 straight over the top of this beta.

More details on Drive Bender can be found here.

Add-In: Drive Bender Beta 2 of the Tomcat Release is a post from: MS Windows Home Server - Your Personal Guide to Microsoft Windows Home Server!

This latest build in beta stage M4 (Milestone 4) includes the following changes:

• [D] Fixed directory listing. Sometimes it would incorrectly tell the caller that there are no more files.
• [D] Changed disk buffer access one more time to use exception handling instead of relying on WDF.
  [D] = Driver was modified (reboot required on update)

Please be aware of the following confirmed issues

• If part of a HomeGroup, after a folder move, renaming the folder that was moved will duplicate the share in the HomeGroup.
  This is a WHS HomeGroup bug, confirmed with non-pooled folders using standard interface.
  Workaround: Leave and re-join the HomeGroup using the Dashboard.
• Folder size calculation may drift. This does not affect data reliability and will be fixed in a later build.
  Remeasuring fixes this.
• Shadow copies are not supported on the pool.
• Boxee (and other linux based solutions) might list duplicate folder names.
• Making pooled files available offline is not supported at this time.

More information on StableBit DrivePool can be found here.

Add-In: StableBit DrivePool Build 5417 is a post from: MS Windows Home Server - Your Personal Guide to Microsoft Windows Home Server!

Currently at the Milestone 4 (M4) stage, here is the change log:

* [D] Cleanup success code is now consistent with IRP.
* [D] Fixed crash in handling lock control.
* [D] Fixed virtual physical disk buffer access (was causing a number of crashes).
           This buffer is really meaningless, as we don’t do much with it.

[D] = Driver was modified (reboot required on update)

More details on StableBit DrivePool can be found here.

Add-In: StableBit DrivePool Build 5401 is a post from: MS Windows Home Server - Your Personal Guide to Microsoft Windows Home Server!

DrivePool have their first public version of BETA M4 available for testing.

This BETA M4 1.0.0.5380 includes the following changes:

• Better Dashboard integration.
• Better Windows integration.
• Superior pooling engine. 100% native code, runs over NTFS.
• Duplication changes run in the background.
• Same general architecture that uses pure NTFS files on the pooled drives.

Upgrade instructions and notes are available from here.

DrivePool Release First Public Version of BETA M4 is a post from: MS Windows Home Server - Your Personal Guide to Microsoft Windows Home Server!

Version 2.0.0.6 release candidate for WHS 2011, WSS-e and SBS-2011 includes the following changes:

Improvements:

1. Improved error recovery for Failed Disks
2. Automatic detection of new disks
3. VMWare/ESX iSCSI support
4. Online Help updates

Fixes:

      5.   Corrections in pie chart % calculations

InteliSAN LDisk is currently available as a free trial with pricing to be announced.

More details are available from here.

Add-In: InteliSAN LDisk v2.0.0.6 RC is a post from: MS Windows Home Server - Your Personal Guide to Microsoft Windows Home Server!

Protection is controlled centrally on the home server and is completely transparent on the PCs connected to it. The G Data Internet Security for Home Server includes a AntiVirus, Firewall, AntiSpam and AntiPhishing.

Here are the full details:

Award-winning technology

• Award-winning virus detection thanks to two virus scanner modules
• Secure protection against viruses, worms, rootkits, spyware, diallers, Trojans, adware and other riskware
• Instant protection against new viruses: email and web-based CloudSecurity blocks infected emails or websites in real time
• Integrated rootkit blocker / special module for discovering rootkits

G Data ManagementServer

• Easy setup: installation, virus scan, updates, settings and reports are remotely controlled using the home server
• Seamless integration into the Microsoft HomeServer 2011 console
• Automatic distribution of updates in the network
• Also central administration of clients that are not always connected to the home server (notebooks, netbooks, tablet PCs)

G Data AntiVirus and AntiSpam client

• „Invisible“ client protection in the background, including for computers that are not permanently connected to the home server.
• Mail protection for Outlook, Outlook Express, Mozilla and POP3 / IMAP mail clients
• CloudSecurity: Instant protection against new viruses and spam
• Fully functional when working offline
• If desired, independent settings and virus scans on the client are possible

G Data Firewall client

• Remotely controlled installation and configuration
• Simple administration using individual learnable access rules on the client
• Monitors all incoming and outgoing connections
• Blocks and reports DoS attacks, port scans and much more.
• Four security levels or expert mode
• Invisible stealth mode

G Data Internet Security for Home Server is priced at $99 (£99) and includes a one-year licence for 5 PCs with hourly virus signature updates, software updates and version upgrades.

More details are available from here.

Thanks to WeGotServed for the details.

G Data Internet Security for Home Server is a post from: MS Windows Home Server - Your Personal Guide to Microsoft Windows Home Server!

The add-in which enables you to adjust the settings for the Serviio UPnP/DLNA media server from within the dashboard/console is now at version 0.6.1.0:

Okay, back to beta here. This is a long-in-coming release for the new Serviio 0.6.x platform that supports streaming web/rss/live-stream media in addition to locally stored media. Also (and this is the big news on the add-in side), this release includes a new add-in for Windows Home Server 2011. I’ve tested these not nearly enough to be satisfied, but everything works on my side. Give them a go and please let me know if any issues in the issue tracker.

This latest release can be downloaded from here.

Add-In: Serviio for Windows Home Server v0.6.1.0 is a post from: MS Windows Home Server - Your Personal Guide to Microsoft Windows Home Server!

The add-in allows you to mount ISO files (DVD and CD images) stored on your home server so they can be viewed directly through your servers folder share on all of your PC’s and laptops.

Here are the release notes for this release:

New Features:

• Burn ISO images to removable USB devices
• New "Unmount all" button to simplify unmounting of multiple images from the server Dashboard
• New "Rescan watch folder" to allow mounting of all pre-existing ISO image files in a watch folder

Enhancements:

• Cleaned up the user interface.  Moved some tasks from the main view into a separate "More Settings" dialog view
• Fixed crash when browsing for ISO files on Servers with a non-standard Share layout (e.g. server Shares are not stored in D:\ServerFolders)

Installation tips for WHS/SBS 2011:

• Uninstall the previous version of the add-in.  From the Server Dashboard select Add-ins | ISO Mounter | Remove the Add-in and then close the Dashboard
• Download the new version of the add-in, via the link above, to your server or a PC with Home Server Connector installed
• Double-click the isomounter.wssx file to begin the installation process
• Wait for the installation process to complete.  You’re done!
• All existing settings and registration information will be saved from the previous version.

Installation tips for WHS V1:

• From the WHS Console select Settings | Add-ins | Installed then Uninstall the previous version of ISO Mounter
• Download the new version of the software, via the link above, to your \\server\software\add-ins folder
• From the WHS Console select Settings | Add-ins | Available then Install the new version
• The WHS Console will restart
• All existing settings and registration information will be saved from the previous version. You’re done!

This update is free for customers who have already purchased a license and can be downloaded directly from the add-in within the WHS Dashboard by simply clicking the "Check for software update" link.

New users can purchase a copy for $14.99 from here.

Add-In: ISO Mounter v1.20 is a post from: MS Windows Home Server - Your Personal Guide to Microsoft Windows Home Server!

Release v1.2.3.0 includes the following changes:

• Update: Support for a number of NTFS API’s including compression and junction points.
• Update: Named (alternate) stream support.
• Bug fix: The WHS Move Folder feature no longer quits with an error.
• Update: Added call trace mode from improved debugging (this is accessible from the "About" in the Manager, or "Other Tasks" in the WHS addin).
• Update: A number of file system performance improvements.

The WHS version for WHS 2011 users can be downloaded directly from here.

Add-In: Drive Bender for WHS v1.2.3.0 is a post from: MS Windows Home Server - Your Personal Guide to Microsoft Windows Home Server!

Here is the change log for both versions, remember to read these instructions carefully because SP2 introduces some functional changes:

Installation
Important: Always uninstall any existing version first!
Close WHS Console/Dashboard and download the beta version
Install beta and open WHS Console/Dashboard again

[WHS 2011 only] Changed IP and MAC address detection for WHS Client Computers
Problem: Lights-Out on WHS 2011 tried to resolve the client name into an IP address and then tried to get the MAC address via an ARP request. This was sometimes not working reliable. In SP2, this information is now transmitted from the Lights-Out client.
Advantage: Correct information
Disadvantage: Missing IP and MAC address if no client is installed/available. This affects currently Apple MAC OSX machines until a native Lights-Out OSX client is available (under development).

Changed handling of Gateways or Repeaters
Problem: Devices connected via a router (or a repeater or VPN gateway) are not visible to the Lights-Out network scanner because for each IP address we always get the same gateway MAC address. Manually added devices with fixed IP addresses sometimes lost the IP address because Lights-Out wrongly detected an IP address conflict and changed that fixed IP address to 0.0.0.0.
Service pack 2 addresses this problem with two changes: Manually added devices are marked with a “fixed IP flag” and are no longer changed to 0.0.0.0 on a conflict.
The second change is a new flag for routers (and repeaters or gateways). Setting this flag in the device properties (Lights-Out computers tab) allows Lights-Out to handle manually added devices with a fixed IP.
If you have a setup, where devices are connect via a repeater or router, assign a fixed IP address and add these devices manually in Lights-Out. Then run the network scanner and Lights-Out should automatically find and mark the router (or repeater/gateway).

User Action instead of Standby or Shutdown
Service pack 2 introduces a new user action. When you select “User Action” in Lights-Out settings, a new text box is displayed where you can enter a command file. The command or batch file can run several actions but must end with a standby or a shut down! You can use the internal shutdown.exe command or you can use psshutdown from the Sysinternals Suite. If you use psshutdown.exe then the first parameter has to be /accepteula, otherwise the command file blocks. Always use a zero time span to run the command immediately!
A standby looks like this:
psshutdown /accepteula /d /t 0

Other changes since 1.5.1 Build 1555

• Fixed MAC detection on server for bridged server NICs
• Fixed WHS v1 console crash after clicking on error link in monitored sources
• Fixed unwanted client standby when client was started from shut down for a backup
• Fixed problem with wake-up on client when no IPv4 route is available
• Fixed remote access detection after IIS reset
• Fixed handling of IP clients without a MAC
• Fixed problem with incomplete or damaged xml data files
• Changed internal structure of services (both server and client) to fix start-up problems
• Changed handling of IP and MAC detection for WHS clients
• Added new option for devices which act as router or repeater
• Added a user action to run a user defined command instead of standby
• Added handling of additional routers or gateways
• Added client command line application
• Added handling (starting) of dependent services on server resume

You may download Lights-Out Service Pack 2 for WHS v1 directly from here and for WHS 2011 from here.

Add-In: Lights-Out Service Pack 2 is a post from: MS Windows Home Server - Your Personal Guide to Microsoft Windows Home Server!

InteliSAN LDisk has been updated to version 2.0.0.5 beta for WHS-2011, WSS-e, and SBS-2011 users.

LDisk™ Adds iSCSI Target Storage capability to Windows Home Server-2011, Windows Storage Server-Essentials, and SBS-2011. Using LDisk™, you can create a single appliance to provide all your storage and backup needs.

Here is the change log for this latest version:

Improvements in GUI:

1- Progress bar for iSCSI Expansion tab

2- Name changes: Snapspace management, Rescan Disks

3- Added Max size to Volumes create popup

4- More clear disk name, location, and status

Fixes:

5- To correct disk Add when all disks were not initialized

6- To correct mirror volume delete

7- Better error handling after disk failures

8- To correct GUI issues with no disks in the system

The add-in is currently in beta with final pricing to be announced.

Add-In: InteliSAN LDisk v2.0.0.5 is a post from: MS Windows Home Server - Your Personal Guide to Microsoft Windows Home Server!

Version 12.5 Build 309 includes the following 12 changes:

1. Updated group policy administrative template files (.adm, .admx, .adml).
2. Setting of the next run date in scheduling has been fixed.
3. Modified “About” dialog.
4. Scheduling in PD 12.5 Professional (Consumer version) has been updated to enable emptying the recycle bin and deleting of temporary files.
5. Fixed a problem in saving settings in Hyper-V Guest and vSphere Guest.
6. Fixed crashes caused by port scanning software (GFI LanGuard and Nessus).
7. Improved performance on startup and on saving of global settings.
8. Corrected the startup time for schedules created immediately after system restart.
9. Corrected positioning of windows created outside the visible screen surface.
10. Fixed SSD drive detection in virtual environments.
11. Improved progress bars and logging for PerfectDisk Exchange.
12. Fixed an issue detecting IDE drives in vSphere Guest.

Existing users can click “Check for Updates” or wait for the program to Autoupdate.

PerfectDisk Home Server is available as a free trial after which it will cost you $39.99

Add-In: PerfectDisk Home Server v12.5 Build 309 is a post from: MS Windows Home Server - Your Personal Guide to Microsoft Windows Home Server!

The product which automates data backup directly to Amazon S3 and Windows Azure includes the following changes:

• Continues Real-time backup (CDP) – With this feature your data is backed up in real-time as it changes. Every change to the files will be captured automatically and you don’t need to set up a separate schedule for the backup. The software will automatically look for new and modified files and send the copies to the cloud storage in the background.

• Full support for AWS South America (Sao Paolo) region, which will make it easier and faster for South American users to backup their data.

More details on CloudBerry Backup for WHS can be found here.

Add-In: CloudBerry Backup for WHS v2.6 is a post from: MS Windows Home Server - Your Personal Guide to Microsoft Windows Home Server!

My Movies for Windows Home Server 2011 has just had an other update bringing it to version 2.10

My Movies for Windows Home Server 2011 operates as database back-end for My Movies clients in multi-zone environments. My Movies for Windows Home Server 2011 2.10 operates as back-end server for My Movies 4.02. My Movies for Windows Home Server 2011 does not support My Movies 3 clients.

The My Movies for Windows Media Center or My Movies Collection Management products can be downloaded and installed on client PC’s to maintain movies in the database on My Movies for Windows Home Sever.

More details on My Movies for Windows Home Server 2011 can be found here.

Add-In: My Movies for WHS 2011 v2.10 is a post from: MS Windows Home Server - Your Personal Guide to Microsoft Windows Home Server!

Version 12.5 includes enhancements to OptiWrite that provide up to a 20% improvement in OptiWrite performance, as well as bug fixes.

The Pro version for home consumers now includes the Space Management features that recover disk space, giving your system the most free space possible to run at peak performance

Space Management Features:

• Duplicates Finder: Recovers disk space by detecting and removing duplicate files such as text documents, pictures, music, and videos.
• Recycler: Purges the Recycle bin and removes temporary files so that your drive remains clutter free.
• Space Reports: View a graphical and statistical report of file usage and allocation.

The business version of PD Pro 12.5 also has peer-to-peer remote capability:

• Remote Control: allows users to take control of any client running on a remote computer with the power to access features normally only accessible via a local client.
• Remote Management: allows users to make on-the-fly changes to client configurations and behaviors without the need to use Remote Desktop.
• Console Integration: supports direct connections to remote clients via the PerfectDisk Enterprise Console.

PerfectDisk 12.5 is free to all licensed PerfectDisk 12 users, even if you are not on Support & Upgrade Protection.

More details on PerfectDisk Home Server is available from here.

Add-In: PerfectDisk Home Server v12.5 is a post from: MS Windows Home Server - Your Personal Guide to Microsoft Windows Home Server!

“My Movies for Windows Home Server is a single add-on program for Windows Home Server, providing a set of features around movies and music, making it the perfect solution for adding, identifying and maintaining movie and music data on your Windows Home Server, serving it to different Media Center solutions or music playback devices.”

Version 2.10 PR9 includes the following changes:

• Added: Embedding of meta-data into converted MP4 files, and possible any other MP4 files.
• Added: Filenames of converted MP4 files does not add profile name if only one profile is in use.
• Change: 1080P backdrop storage to require 1250 points instead of 1000 as per documentation.
• Fix: MetaData Connector could not detect server.
• Fix: Converter now uses temp folder for conversion target, for DNLA server to see files.
• Fix: Waiting converter jobs are now sorted on top when sorting by startdate.
• Fix: Rollback of a change in WHS that could be the cause of some users having issues.

More details on My Movies for WHS can be found here.

Add-In: My Movies for WHS 2011 v 2.10 PR9 is a post from: MS Windows Home Server - Your Personal Guide to Microsoft Windows Home Server!

LDisk Adds iSCSI Target Storage capability to Windows Home Server allowing you to create a single appliance to provide all your storage and backup needs.

Version 2.0.0.4 beta includes the following changes:

• Major improvement to Disk Pooling / Drive Extender. With this change, you can create one storage pool, and serve iSCSI or NAS volumes from the same storage pool. Only one disk is needed for both NAS and SAN volumes.
• Combining all LDisk tabs under one main Tab to simplifies use of the product.

If you are close to the end of your first 30 day trial period you can extend your trial for a 2nd 30 days by un-installing the old LDisk from WHS dashboard. (This removes LDisk and its configuration which enables you to continue your trial). If you have any data on LDisk volumes, please back them up before removing the old version.

LDisk is available as a 30 day trial with pricing to be released. More information is available from here as well as a PDF datasheet which is available for download.

Add-In: LDisk 2.0.0.4 Beta is a post from: MS Windows Home Server - Your Personal Guide to Microsoft Windows Home Server!

The add-in which is designed for Windows Home Server to manage an Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) via the Windows Home Server Dashboard is available as a free trial version which will run until January 31, 2012.

Which Battery Backup (UPS) Devices are Supported?
Generally speaking, the most commonly used industry leading uninterruptable power supply manufacturers such as APC, Belkin and Tripp Lite (among others) are known to be supported. But given the vast number of models and variations please check the supported UPS devices list.

• Supported Uninterruptible Power Supply

Do I need Special Drivers or Software?
In most cases the vendor supplied battery driver or the generic windows battery driver should be sufficient. Unless the manufacturer included specialized software for explicit use on Windows Home Server(s) we do NOT recommend any manufacturer supplied software to be installed besides the driver (if required). In addition we recommend that any users who already installed any of such software to uninstall it before installing the GridJunction Windows Home Server Add-in.

CAUTION: This is NOT the final version please try not to use it on your production/live servers.

If you would like to try a copy you can download it from here.

Grid Junction for WHS 2011 Beta Available is a post from: MS Windows Home Server - Your Personal Guide to Microsoft Windows Home Server!

Covercube, the company behind StableBit DrivePool have posted details of what’s coming up in their BETA M4 build. They say it is nearing completion and should be available to the public at the end of this month or at the latest in January. Of significance is that the BETA M4 build will be the final BETA and will turn into the 1.0 final once it’s tested.

M4 has a new look that’s deeply integrated into the dashboard, with an integrated and standalone mode. The integrated mode will add DrivePool into the standard UI available in the Server Folders and Hard Drives tab within WHS 2011:

Full integration with Microsoft’s Search API allows your pooled folders to be indexed and searched. For folders the standard move folder wizard is utilized to move and add folders and folder duplication now occurs in the background.

All this and more are coming up in the BETA M4 of StableBit DrivePool. More details of which you can find here.

Add-In: StableBit DrivePool BETA M4 Coming Soon is a post from: MS Windows Home Server - Your Personal Guide to Microsoft Windows Home Server!

The Drive Extender type add-in for WHS 2011 users has the following changes in version 1.2.2.2:

• Bug fix: Some users are seeing higher than normal usage of the WmiPreSE.exe process.

Drive Bender for WHS 2011 is available as a 30 day trial after which it will cost you $40 for private use.

More details on Drive Bender are available from here.

Add-In: Drive Bender for WHS 2011 v1.2.2.2 is a post from: MS Windows Home Server - Your Personal Guide to Microsoft Windows Home Server!

My Movies for Windows Home Server 2011 has had an update.

My Movies for Windows Home Server is a special build of My Movies specifically for Windows Home Server. It can function as a My Movies server for My Movies clients, or it can function as a data provider for Media Center’s movie library, media players such as Dune, TViX or products such as XBMC, Media Portal, Sage TV, Niveus Movie Library and many other. It contains a fully automated disc copier for DVD, HD DVD and Blu-ray titles, as well as a disc copier for audio discs, that allows automated ripping of CD’s to MP3, WMA, WMA Lossless, Flac or WAV.

Version 2.10 PR8 released December 1st 2011 includes the following changes:

• Added: Support for conversion of Blu-ray ISO files with supported image mounting software. This means video converter can work with Blu-ray ISO if the user manually have installed Virtual CloneDrive on the server.
• Update: Report unidentified disc option is extended.
• Change: Services now ignores disc inserts of mounted drives.
• Fix: Better handling of databases in incorrect states.
• Fix: Sorting of columns that only contains integers
• Fix: Lists are loaded a lot faster now (no sorting while added nodes).
• Fix: Media Center MetaData Connector compiled in X64, it now compiles as AnyCPU for X86 also.

More information on My Movies for Windows Home Server is available from here.

Add-In: My Movies for WHS 2011 v2.10 PR8 is a post from: MS Windows Home Server - Your Personal Guide to Microsoft Windows Home Server!

Version 1.2.2.0 of Drive Bender includes the following changes:

• Update: Many improvements to file duplication, including a more verbose duplication feature.
• Bug fix: Under certain conditions a networked connection to a Drive Bender mounted drive can be dropped by Windows. This is the result of incorrect NTFS "File Id" handling.
• Update: Lazy duplication has been removed from the Drive Bender options.
• Update: Improved performance for file/folder enumeration across a pool.
• Update: Improved pool recovery process.
• Update: You are now able to change the volume label of a drive letter mounted point via Windows (i.e. F2 the drive in Windows explorer).
• Bug fix: A large number of files no longer cause an error when using the duplication feature.
• Bug fix: Many minor interface bugs have been fixed.

Drive Bender for WHS 2011 is available as a 30 day trial after which it will cost you $40 for private use.

More details on Drive Bender are available from here.

Add-In: Drive Bender for WHS v1.2.2.0 is a post from: MS Windows Home Server - Your Personal Guide to Microsoft Windows Home Server!

The idea is that the add-in will enable you to create a child site off from the parent yourservername.homeserver.com/?.

This idea was done before in version 1 of WHS with the add-in P80, but its great to use a similar add-in for 2011 users being developed.

Child Site Add-In Being Developed for WHS 2011 is a post from: MS Windows Home Server - Your Personal Guide to Microsoft Windows Home Server!

This refresh has been released as the previous version expires tomorrow so update now!

Since its release in late July 2011 the Advanced Admin Console 2011 Release Candidate has proven that it’s ready for its final release. No bugs have been reported and I’ve got plenty of emails from users telling me that it’s fulfilling their needs and it’s running smoothly on their servers.

In order to test the update check and upgrade installation mechanisms there will be a final test release (version 0.9.6) dubbed the “Release Candidate Refresh”.

You can find the download here.

Add-In: Advanced Admin Console 2011 RC Refresh is a post from: MS Windows Home Server - Your Personal Guide to Microsoft Windows Home Server!