The Home Server Show 67 – PP3 In Depth

The Home Server Show 67 – PP3 In Depth

Today, John, Jim, Chris, and Dave talk about PP3 in depth.  We will go over what we like and what we don’t like.  We will also go over a few tweets and forum posts about PP3.  Chris un-installs the beta and installs PP3 during the show.  This is another fun one with some outtakes at the end that you will not want to miss.

Are you going to CES?  I’ve added a forum to discuss all things CES.  Please drop by.

AJ and Diehard have been added as a moderators of the forums.  Due to fundage and time I’ve decided to stick with bbPress for now.  After the new year I’ll take another look at it but if you have suggestions for the forums there is a thread for that.

Show us your Tech – Mark Pendergrast

Add-In: Time Traveler I’m happy to see another “Pay Per Use” add-in coming to WHS.  I’ve always said, if It’s good software I don’t mind paying for it.

TV Archive Rights Issues – We talk about TV Archive a bunch.  Give a listen and please offer up your experiences.  Chris mentioned one article about rights but we were unsure if it applied to this instance.

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Top Nine Tech Things You Should Have Tried in 2009 (but still can in 2010).

The end of the year is a great time to start throwing around lists of stuff.  As I started reflecting on 2009, I thought about all the technology that I used and how I wish others had know about it as well!  So here it is – the nine things I wish you had tried in 2009!  (Not in any order)

Full Disclosure:  I was not paid to write these nice things and it is solely my own opinion.  If you have one, leave a comment below.

1. Skype  - http://www.skype.com – I use this Voice over IP (VOIP) application all the time to talk with friends and family all over the world.  It free for PC to PC use and a small fee for PC to Phone.  We even use it to record all our podcasts.  The video chat is still the best part!  It’s been around for awhile (like 2003?), but seems to be gaining in popularity again. 
   
    
2.  Facebook - http://www.facebook.com – I predicted last year that Facebook would be on it’s way out by now and that we would have moved on to something else.  While that might be right among the tech crowd, that couldn’t be more wrong among the masses, with over 350 million users now and wild growth every day.  If you are one of the last holdouts not on FB, give in and give it a try.  Heck, my mom is even on it!
   
   
3. Windows 7 - http://www.microsoft.com/windows – With it’s release on October 22, it was everything Microsoft had promised with Windows Vista, just 3 years late.  As an OS, it new, fresh, fast and fixed (mostly).  If you have a PC running Vista, it’s worth the upgrade.  If you have a PC running XP (see note about how to reuse it on #4), buy a new PC running Window 7.  You will be glad you did.
   
   
4.  Windows Home Server (WHS) - http://www.microsoft.com/windowshomeserver – It’s one of the cheapest and best keep secrets at Microsoft!  If you are looking for a neat, clean and easy way to back up your the PCs you own, there is nothing better.  It also makes network files sharing (like you do at work) a breeze!  You can even use and old PC that has out lived it’s usefulness (like that XP PC that I told you to ditch) and a $100 OEM version with a couple of larger hard drives. Easier yet, purchase an HP MediaSmart Server.  (More info at http://www.homeservershow.com)
   
   
5. Microsoft Security Essentials - http://www.microsoft.com/Security_Essentials – For years now we have been over paying for antivirus solutions!  In 2009, Microsoft changed the rules.  Security Essentials is a full service solution to protect your PC from all that is bad on the internet.  It’s light, takes very few resources and best of all, IT IS FREE!  Uninstall that bloated package you are currently running and give this a try.
   
   
6. Malwarebytes - http://www.malwarebytes.org/ – So why another security tool if Security Essentials is enough?  It’s always good to have a back up!  Malware bytes is a tools that can identify and remove malicious software from your computer that others have missed. It has some of the best scanning I have ever seen.  The free version does not have any scheduling abilities, so I run it manually about once a month.  Just a good practice!
   
   
7. Google Chrome - http://www.google.com/chrome – Most people are stuck in a rut using the IE web browser because it came with their computer and they are afraid of trying anything else.  In case you didn’t know, there are other options.  To be fair, I use IE and Firefox too, but Chrome just works best for me.  Try all three and decide yourself.  It doesn’t hurt to have them all installed on your PC.  Just know that you have choices. 
   
   
8. A Podcast  - The typical response I get to that is, “What’s a podcast?”  A podcast is a series of media files (either audio or video) that are released regularly (like a TV show) for download through some type of web syndication.  Podcasts can be found simply in iTunes (found by searching in the iTunes store) or via a site like http://podcast.com/.  Think of it like a recorded radio broadcast or TV show that you can download and consume on your time schedule.  The best thing about them is that they come in all flavors and on just about any topic.  Most of the time they are also done by enthusiasts who really care about the subject they are covering.  A good example (of course) would be the podcast that I help with.   http://homeservershow.com/category/podcast.  Try it once!
   
   
   
   
   
9. Twitter - http://twitter.com/ – Similar to Facebook, Twitter is a free social networking service that  connects people with short, text based posts.  Tweets, as they are called, are 140 character messages or “micro-blogging” bits that are send or received by users.  Great for ideas like “crowd sourcing” or gathering friends for a “tweet up.”

Home Server Shows #61 and #62 – Renegades and Restoration

Dave is back this week after letting Chris, John and me run the show for #61.  Both shows are now available.

Show #61
Show #62

This week we talk about how to make a Home Server out of an old PC.  We also have a listener roundtable that Dave recorded at his Windows 7 Launch Party.

If you are a blogger and you would like some more exposure to your articles visit GeekGazette.net.

MyMovies 3

MissingRemote.com review of MyMovies

The Before you Build Checklist – This is also available on the main page under popular posts.

Podcast List has been cleaned up. – This is also available on the main page under popular posts.

Thank you goes out to usingwindowshomeserver.com and Perfect Disk.  Dave was a winner!

We have been using twitter a lot lately.  @schooltechtv had a hard drive issue and looks like it is solved!

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The Home Server Show #59

The Home Server Show 59 for October 9th, 2009.

In show 59 John, Jim, Chris, and Dave go over the week’s news and e-mail.  Dave has a chat with Brent Friedman, Add-In author of  WHS Mobile, TV Manager,
DVD Manager, FTP Manager, and Tab Creator.

Here are links to items we discussed on show 59.

Lacie External Drive

Add-In: Directory Watcher

Roberts Podcatcher

We had an e-mailer with a FireFly issue. Here is that fix. Thanks to John for digging that one out.

Add-In of the Week – WHS Mobile

Interview with Brent Friedman.  Find Brent’s blog and Add-In’s here.

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The Home Server Show #58

  Who invited this box to the party?

This week’s show is full of news and e-mail.  Dave also hosts a roundtable with Alex Kuretz, Andrew Edney, and Drashna.  They talk about the new x510 and the new HP MediaSmart Server line.

Cougar is close to releasing his Wordpress for Windows Home Server Add-In

How do you upgrade to a new Windows Home Server?  Start here.

The AK Method The Damian Method

We talk about this a bit on the podcast so be sure to listen.

PP3 DelayAdd

Add-In of the Week: Digital Archound

Roundtable with:

Alex Kuretz – mediasmartserver.net
Andrew Edney – usingwindowshomeserver.com
Drashna – wegotserved.com

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So You Wanna Watch More College Football? Use ESPN360 and Window Media Center to Light It Up!

In my post 20 mile run recovery, I decided to watch some College Football!  Here is a screen shot from my PC. 

Using ESPN360.com and Windows Media Center with a cable card, I can stream 3 football games all at once.  I had UCLA v Stanford (upper left), Florida St. v Boston College (upper right) and Washington v ND (bottom left).  To make matters worse, I added two laptops to the mix!

Yep, you are seeing it right.  I am watching 5 games all at the same time!  Besides the ones above, I added Western Michigan v Northern Illinois (left) and Florida International v Louisiana-Monroe.  Not the greatest games to watch, but hey, It can be done!

Because I am using Window Media Center, I can also switch the ND game to either Penn State v Illinois (which is a regional block on ESPN360) or LSU v Georgia.  It’s College Football bliss.

Remember, I search (or watch 5 games at once) so you don’t have to!

Home Server Show #57

The Home Server Show 57 – Sniffles and Streaming

In Show #57, Dave, John, and I go over the latest Add-Ins and news for WHS users.  Dave also has an interview with Neil Sharma of Twonky Media.   Dave actually edited this episode so you won’t have to hear all of our goof-ups!  Well, most of the episode.  Also, take a look at forums.homeservershow.com.  He put up a small set of forums in order to do some testing.  This may be a better way to communicate information on posts, podcasts, homebuilds, etc.  He don’t intend for these forums to be a tech support mechanism like WGS or MSS.net.  Those guys have great forums.  He’s been looking for a spot to put all his homebuild submissions and he thinks this would be a nice place to showcase them.

Add-In of the Week – BDBB

TwonkyBeam
http://www.twonkymedia.com/Beam/index.html

TwonkyServer
http://www.twonkymedia.com/buy_server.html

Twonky Media Manager
http://www.twonkymedia.com/learn.html

TMS 5.1
http://www.twonkyforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=6741
http://twonkyforum.com/unsupported/5.1/

Twonky for WHS will be going to a 5.1.1 version soon.  Hold off on downloads until then.  You’ll know as soon as I find out it’s been released.

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The Home Server Show #56 – New HP MediaSmart Home Servers!

Anyone want to buy an EX470?

Today’s show will feature an interview with KeepVault’s Dan Reynolds as well as the week’s big news items.  Yes, that means the EX490 and EX495,  ZuneHD, and more.  This is a good one so don’t miss it!

Links and News Items mentioned on the show

Add-In of the Week – Whiist

iTunes 9 on WHS

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Amazon vs iTunes? For Digital Music, I Almost Always Buy Music From Amazon!

It’s all about the price, isn’t it?  If you are still buying music from iTunes (and millions still are)…consider this. 

Disclaimer: I purchase mostly Christian music, but the deals are good for most genres.  I do not own music from or make any money from either of these two artists, even if you purchase them from Amazon.

To the left are two projects from two up and coming artists, Britt Nicole and Aaron Shust.  At iTunes, together they would cost me almost $18.

Below at Amazon I can get both for just $10.

Same music, better price.  It’s that simple.  Oh, and to make things better, sometimes albums are just $2.99! 

Both play the same on your iPod and Amazon leaves you with some gas money.

Note: Not all music is this price and sometimes you have to hunt for deals, buy hey, that’s half the fun!

Quit paying too much for music! 

Remember, I search so you don’t have to!

 

WHS and CrashPlan for Social Cloud Backup – Part 2

Last time, we discussed using CrashPlan on our home servers to create off site backup in what we’re calling social cloud backup.  You can hear a discussion about how this works on podcast #54.  Right now, CrashPlan doesn’t officially support WHS.  In Part 2, we’ll discuss how we got it working on our machines.  It’s not too hard, let’s call it mild difficulty.  Reminder: It’s FREE!

First, you need to log onto the desktop of your home server.  This can be done through add-ins like AutoExit, … … or Live Mesh.  Once on the desktop, open a web browser and go towww.crashplan.com.  Click download and install the program.  The install process includes the creation of a user account.  This is how you will connect to other users.

Next, you need to chose which folders you will backup.  CrashPlan can not yet backup network folders so you’ll have to use the D: (Data) drive.  Just navigate to the \shares folder you want to back up (or the whole thing) and you’re all set.  Or are you?…

You need to add a Friend in the Friends tab.  From there, you can send e-mails to friends who can then either serve as your off site backup location or can be granted access to storage space on your server.  You can set how much space to allocate to each friend.  Once your friend has CrashPlan up and running, your backups will then run in the background without the need for further input from you.  It’s a great solution.

THOUGHTS

WHS Add-In – One of the things you’ll notice when you first use CrashPlan is how much the application already looks like a WHS Add-In.  We’re not sure if Code 42 has plans to implement this themselves, but it seems like a natural step for them.

Paid Service – If you don’t want to back up to a friend or family, you have the option to save to the cloud at VERY reasonable rates.  1 year for $54 or up to 3 years for $125 ($3.47/month) for unlimited storage space.  That’s the best we’ve seen.

Family Backup – Many of use with home servers are probably the token family tech expert.  We know the value of data backup and are called to the rescue when a hard drive fails usually with little ability to help.  With CrashPlan, we can now act as a central repository for family backups.  They’ll have off site backup on your server and you can be the hero when they need to recover lost data.

CONCLUSION

We are still testing out CrashPlan, but our first impressions are very good.  The only cons so far are not cons of CrashPlan itself, but it’s integration with WHS.  We want to see an official add-in as well as the ability to backup the share folders directly.  Those changes would make CrashPlan the undisputed leader for WHS offsite backup.

Authors: Jim Collison and Chris Lux

Chris is a medical student at the IU School of Medicine and a WHS and Media Center enthusiast.  You can see his blog at http://luxlive.spaces.live.com

The Home Server Show #55

On today’s show we go over the latest press releases from Apple and how that effects Home Server users.  We also take a look at the Microsoft Press release from CEDIA.  All this, e-mail,  a Blue-Ray eating 2 year old, and a coupon for KeepVault in show 55.

Why didn’t the iPod Touch get a camera?

Microsoft at CEDIA

Microsoft’s Biggest news  from CEDIA on Media Center

Full Press Release from Microsoft

Make sure you listen to the end of the show for a coupon for 10% off on KeepVault for Windows Home Server.

Links and News Items mentioned on the show

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Throw a Windows 7 Launch Party, MS Covers and Win A PC? Duh!

 

 

 

 

Microsoft has decided to take this launch to the streets!  Maybe your street? 

If you are willing to host the party, Microsoft will make sure you have the goodies. 

You first will need to apply online to host a Launch Party.  If you are selected, you will choose a day from October 22-29 for the party as well as receive party favors for the gig.  Lucky one’s will not only receive a special Signature Edition of Windows® 7 Ultimate but your very own Windows® 7 Party Pack

As an extra special party favor, hosts have a good chance of winning a PC worth $750! Become a host — you're in. Winners will be notified, and prizes delivered after October 30, 2009.

If you love throwing a party on someone else’s dime, now is your chance!

Remember, I search so you don’t have to!

The Home Server Show #54

On today’s show the guys are back to discuss CrashPlan for Windows Home Server and we also go over some posts on homeservershow.com.  We also discuss how to get an even better deal on a new HP EX485 or 487 server.

Super deal on the EX485 and EX487

Techbargains Deal

FireFly

How many Add-Ins are you running?

Reader submitted deal on 4 bay eSata

Okoro Promotion

CrashPlan with WHS

Microsoft to release news on Media Center at Cedia

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WHS and CrashPlan for Social Cloud Backup – Part 1

Several weeks ago on the Home Server Show podcast, we (Chris Lux and Jim Collison) began to discuss the idea of private offsite backup for files stored on our Home Servers.  Sure, there are applications out there like KeepVault, Carbonite or Amazon S3 that will allow you to back up to offsite servers for a fee.  Jim even purchased a 1TB ioSafe Solo external drive for secure back up at home.  But what if you don’t want your data the cloud or wanted offsite backup that is more cost effective (like free) and private?  What if you could use the free space that is not being used on a family or friends computer?  Your very own private cloud?

We began with the idea of using Live Mesh.  Live Mesh is a fairly new service from Microsoft that is still in beta.  It’s main purpose is to help you sync your personal files between private PCs.  It also allows you to back up and store up to 5GB of data to the cloud.  Handy if you don’t have a regular backup plan.  Mesh had one serious limitation in our testing for this idea of a private cloud.

Since you might be sharing data to a PC that you don’t have complete control over, some kind of encryption would need to be involved BEFORE any data would be moved.  We originally thought that if we used NT back up (a fairly hidden application on the WHS) we could achieve the needed encryption.  However, NT back up creates a single compressed file when it backs up.  Live Mesh will not move a file that is larger than 2GB.  In larger Home Servers, this could be a problem.

NT Back up itself was kind of a pain since it needed to be run thru a remote desktop connection to the Home Server.  Not too hard for the advance user, but not very easy for the average user.  It was a good idea, but needed some additional work.  If this was going to be an idea that worked, it needed to be easier

Enter CrashPlan. 

CrashPlan is a client based, web enabled backup service that seems to do everything we needed for this project (so far).  It has a simple client install (no WHS Add-in as of yet), provides multiple platform support and has a file encryption solution. 

The client application runs on all Windows, Mac, Linux and Solaris platforms and performs automatic backups to the file level.  It is FREE for personal use and automatically backs up your computers daily (even sends you an email if a backup has not completed). With the free version, you can back up to your own drives and other computers either on your network or anywhere connected on the web.  They also have unlimited back up to their servers for a fairly low fee.  For this post, we are using the free service. 

CrashPlan will also will backup to multiple destinations.  Very helpful if you are extra paranoid about your data.  You can backup your files to a friend in California and your parents PC in Texas.   Where ever there is extra hard drive space and you have the right permissions, you can use it. 

Want to return the favor?  The back up can work the other way as well.  You can grant access to your friends and family and the can use your extra WHS storage.  

Worried about taking up too much space?  CrashPlan reduces file size by using advanced compression technology. It identifies duplicate files and parts of files and stores them only once. When files change, only the new information is backed up.  You can also restrict the amount of data that is moved to storage on a client by client basis.

CrashPlan also uses private key encryption to secure your files before they're backed up. That means that the only person who can decrypt your files is you (or your mom if you give her your key).  Jim tried hacking a file that Chris sent to no avail.

A final feature, that was not a requirement, but we found very handy, was the web management tool.  From it, we could see what PCs we have connected…

and even manage your friend connections…

All very simple and very easy. 

In Part 2 we will cover how to install and set up the client to make it all work.  Stay tuned!

 

Authors: Jim Collison and Chris Lux

Jim is an IT Manager at Gallup Inc in Omaha NE and a Windows Home Server user since January 2008.  He blogs about technology, home PC security, social networking and anything else that sounds fun on his personal technology blog at http://pcaverageguy.blogspot.com/

Chris is a medical student at the IU School of Medicine and a WHS and Media Center enthusiast.  You can see his blog at http://luxlive.spaces.live.com

Another Good Reason You NEVER Buy Cables In The Store!

Just picked up the Palm Pre the other week (post on that is still coming) and have been slowly purchasing adapters and cables for it.  Of course, it came with one USB cable (USB micro end) and a 110v adapter for the wall plug.  What I needed was the Touchstone charging kit for work and some extra cables for charging at home.  I could have purchase all of it from the Sprint store, but there are always better (sometimes much better) deals online.  Here is the deal.

 

Item
Sprint Store	$19.99	$69.99
Internet	$3.25  Every Day Source (Ebay)	$51.98 Mac Mall w/Shipping

I also purchase a Skinomi TechSkin for $9.95 on Amazon.  Got to protect the screen.

 

 

 

 

Remember, I search so you don’t have to!

The Home Show Podcast #53

The latest podcast is out from Dave for the Home Server Show.  

This week’s show includes:

Diehard’s Wish

Home Server Builder Specials

My hard drive failure

Backing up SBS clients to WHS

Dish Network for Media Center cancelled?

New Lenovo D400 WHS

Warranty service for your MediaSmart Server

How to replace your MediaSmart Server Power Supply

You can listen to the MP3 here for click here for other formats.

The Home Server Show #52

In today’s episode, Dave, Chris, John and I go over recent e-mail, news, and posts.  It’s a fun show with some laughs so don’t miss it!

Links and News Items mentioned on the show

New MediaSmart Server on the horizon?

Installing the HP 2.5 update on your EX470/475 series

HP’s Tell your story contest

Add-In: AutoExit 2008R2 and AutoExit 2009

Add-In: KeepVault updated

The ZuneHD is in the news everywhere!

Add-In: Download Manager

Twonkymedia.com Media Manager, new version

Sharepoint on the WHS

Active Directory on the WHS

Lux’s prediction, miniature PC’s will be all the rage!  Dell Lenovo

GeekGazette.net Take some time to visit this new site!

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Microsoft Finally Announces the Windows 7 Family Pack - $149

Giving into consumer pressure (my opinion), Microsoft announced on Friday, July 31st, that it was going to offer a 3 PC Family Pack for Window 7 Home Premium.

Priced at $149.99, the Family Pack would save the buyer $210 over three separate Home Premium Upgrades. The $50 per license price tag for Windows 7 is a 38% savings compared to the $80 per license that Microsoft charged for a two-license family pack for Vista back in 2007.

The family Pack should be available to preorder starting October 18th and in most retail outlets by the OS launch on October 22nd. 

I ordered 3 copies of Window 7 Home Premium when they were offering it for $50 last month.  Looks like I didn’t get screwed.  I was worried about that as rumors leaked early in July.  Good thinking Microsoft.

Remember, I search so you don’t have to!

The Home Server Show 51 – PP3, Survey, Mesh, News, and New Add-in From Alex Kuretz

We are cleaning up around here!  In this week’s episode we go over a few posts on homeservershow.com including the LX-195 deal, Live Mesh on your WHS, and the PP3 survey.  Dave also has Alex Kuretz of mediasmartserver.net and he will debut a brand new Add-In.  Don’t miss this episode!

Links and News Items mentioned on the show

Microsoft venturing into SoHo with WHS?

LX-195 Deal

Free Offsite Backup using Mesh and WHS

Our previous conversation with Alex Kuretz

New Member to the MediaSmartServer.net team

MediaSmartServer.net

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Upcoming Saturday Super Seminars at SLCC! Bullet Proof Your Home PC / Protecting Your Family on the Web

Our church, Shadow Lake Community Church, is once again offering free seminars for all those interested on Saturday morning, September 12, 2009.  SLCC is located at 1510 Papillion Drive, Papillion NE 68133 (Map)

I will be leading a session titled Bullet Proof Your Home PC.  We will spend the morning discussing the current security threats that exist to the average user on the internet as well as a few easy ways to protect you and your computer from viruses, adware, hacks, browser exploits and dozens of other problems that come with today’s surfing.  More info is coming, so stay tuned to this blog if you are interested in joining us.  Don’t think it’s only for the technical.  I speak for the average guy!  All are welcome to attend.

Remember, I search (and teach) so you don’t have to!