Windows Home Server Power Pack 3 Announced, Adds Enhanc

[z3r010]

The Windows Home Server Team has announced today the beta of Windows Home Server Power Pack 3 (PP3). And if you’re running Windows 7, Windows Home Server PP3 comes with several new features designed to take advantage key Windows 7 features:

• Full Image-based Backups of Windows 7 PCs. After the Windows Home Server Connector is installed on your Windows 7 PCs, Action Center should no longer display that your files are not being backed up.
• Windows 7 Libraries Support. Music, Photos and Videos shared folders from your Windows Home Server will be added to Windows 7 Libraries. Content saved to these shared folders will be able to be quickly accessed through your Windows 7 Libraries. And any application, like Windows Media Player and Windows Media Center, will be able to access content saved on your Windows Home Server through Libraries as well.
• Windows Search 4 is now included. With Windows Search 4, PP3 offers improved query search times, indexing times and reliability. Easy search through a Library in Windows 7 with files stored in multiple locations.
• Windows Media Center Enhancements. Archive old recorded TV shows onto your Windows Home Server in a variety of formats. Use Console Quick View to see statistics about your Windows Home Server through Windows Media Center.

More in-depth information on these features – see their blog post on PP3.

The Windows Home Server Team does not yet have a final release date for PP3 however they are shooting to have PP3 available shortly before GA of Windows 7. If you’re running Windows Home Server and have several Windows 7 PCs – I encourage you to give PP3 a try and help the Windows Home Server Team make PP3 rock.

To beta test PP3, please sign up as a beta participant of the Windows Home Server program on Microsoft Connect. Once you’ve signed up, you’ll be able to download PP3.

Windows Home Server Power Pack 3 will be a free update to existing Windows Home Server users via Windows Update.

I’ll be installing PP3 on my HP MediaSmart Server EX470 either tonight or sometime over the weekend. I’m stoked about the Windows 7 integration!

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[tw33k]

Sounds brilliant...I'll definately be grapping a copy of this. I do want to investigate further though. I want to know things like minimum specs required etc but it sounds like just what i need

 

[wwoods]

Sounds brilliant...I'll definately be grapping a copy of this. I do want to investigate further though. I want to know things like minimum specs required etc but it sounds like just what i need

Is this on technet ? would love to see it there......

 

[andych]

Is this on technet ? would love to see it there......

WHS is definitely on Technet...I think the Powerpack 3 Beta is only on Connect though.

As for specs.....it really runs on just about anything. Mine is on an old Athlon 3600+ with 1gb of Ram. I do have 2tb of storage on there though.

 

[Lordbob75]

Nice. This is EXACTLY what I need! For both my home, and perhaps I can get my boss to use this...... Hmmm....

Just to ask: I would use this to set up a server to access from multiple computers and places. Is there a way, and how, to set this up to access from the internet?

~Lordbob

 

[bobtran]

Nice. This is EXACTLY what I need! For both my home, and perhaps I can get my boss to use this...... Hmmm....

Just to ask: I would use this to set up a server to access from multiple computers and places. Is there a way, and how, to set this up to access from the internet?

~Lordbob

Absolutely...Web access is part of the product. The bare metal restore can't be beat and shared folders for the home network simplifies administration. Unattended backup and administration of backup retention works really well. Looking forward to the integration of the Win7 libraries. This product already works with Win7 both x86 and x64. You can connect, backup, and administer up to 10 pc's to each WHS. Outstanding product.

 

[wwoods]

WHS is definitely on Technet...I think the Powerpack 3 Beta is only on Connect though.

As for specs.....it really runs on just about anything. Mine is on an old Athlon 3600+ with 1gb of Ram. I do have 2tb of storage on there though.

Yea , have a WHS serer here at home, was wondering if the Beta3 was on technet....so I could grab and try

 

[Lordbob75]

How would I access the server from, say another state/country? Say I set this up at home with stuff on it, like pictures. I go over a few states for vacation, and want to get some work done with the pictures, but they are not on my laptop. Is there a way to access the files? More importantly, HOW?

~Lordbob

 

[Fisherking]

Wanted - Beta testers

Microsoft beta-fies Home Server PP3 for Windows 7 • The Register

 

[bobtran]

How would I access the server from, say another state/country? Say I set this up at home with stuff on it, like pictures. I go over a few states for vacation, and want to get some work done with the pictures, but they are not on my laptop. Is there a way to access the files? More importantly, HOW?

~Lordbob

Assuming that you don't have a hard coded IP address from your ISP (which makes it easy with the IIS server in the WHS) you can sign up for a free subdomain name administered by Microsoft's Windows Live Custom Domains service via the homeserver.com site which will take the form of "mydomain.homeserver.com". This does require a windows live id, but it is a dynamic DNS service so even if your router's IP address changes, your subdomain will be updated to point to the new address. (Windows Home Server periodically polls the router for its current IP address and sends that address to the dynamic DNS server on homeserver.com. The server then updates its DNS database with the current IP address of your router.) and Walla....you can get there from anywhere.

You could also use a pay for Dynamic DNS service but why pay for what is freely provided with your WHS.

For detailed how to information related to WHS I highly recommend the book "Microsoft Windows Home Server Unleashed". Great book.

 

[PotatoMan83]

I have this on my connect page..unfortunately, it will not install on my copy of 7 (home premium x64 7600 16385)

 

[Lordbob75]

Assuming that you don't have a hard coded IP address from your ISP (which makes it easy with the IIS server in the WHS) you can sign up for a free subdomain name administered by Microsoft's Windows Live Custom Domains service via the homeserver.com site which will take the form of "mydomain.homeserver.com". This does require a windows live id, but it is a dynamic DNS service so even if your router's IP address changes, your subdomain will be updated to point to the new address. (Windows Home Server periodically polls the router for its current IP address and sends that address to the dynamic DNS server on homeserver.com. The server then updates its DNS database with the current IP address of your router.) and Walha....you can get there from anywhere.

You could also use a pay for Dynamic DNS service but why pay for what is freely provided with your WHS.

For detailed how to information related to WHS I highly recommend the book "Microsoft Windows Home Server Unleashed". Great book.

Thanks. I can set all that up, and it makes sense (which is always nice).

~Lordbob

 

[Zidane24]

I have this on my connect page..unfortunately, it will not install on my copy of 7 (home premium x64 7600 16385)

That is because it is a separate OS...used to make a desktop into a family server that can do backups/stream/protect...all kinds of stuff...I wish I had connect and could grab it from there

 

[PotatoMan83]

That is because it is a separate OS...used to make a desktop into a family server that can do backups/stream/protect...all kinds of stuff...I wish I had connect and could grab it from there

It was apparantly supposed to be able to be used on Windows 7 to enhance existing features tho..

 

[Zidane24]

It was apparantly supposed to be able to be used on Windows 7 to enhance existing features tho..

honestly I haven't heard of that...would be cool though

 

[andych]

It was apparantly supposed to be able to be used on Windows 7 to enhance existing features tho..

Not quite....WHS is as Zidane said....on a separate PC andall Power Pack 3 does is to enhance the feature set to work a lot closer with Windows 7. You now can get a quick view from Media Centre at your WHS etc.
Have a read of the blog....there is good info there.

 

[andych]

That is because it is a separate OS...used to make a desktop into a family server that can do backups/stream/protect...all kinds of stuff...I wish I had connect and could grab it from there

You can join Connect....and get yourself a 120 day Evaluation of WHS as well as try the PP3 Beta. It doesn't cost you anything.
The retail version of WHS PP1 is on Technet with keys etc if you have a Technet subscription.

 

[Zidane24]

Beta. It doesn't cost you anything.
The retail version of WHS PP1 is on Technet with keys etc if you have a Technet subscription.[/QUOTE]
Okay I didn't realize I could get a trial...I will test it out and (more than likely) buy it...I have a free technet account and never bothered to search for it

 

[zay]

+1 on the ability to connect remotely. The built in features of WHS makes all that possible without the need for third party assistance. However, if you feel you must, you can get a free dynamic dns from www.dyndns.com; I have one, and it works like a champ. One thing to remember, do not set the dynamic dns settings in your router, use the tool from dyndns. The wizard in WHS will help you set up the remote access. You can even host a website from the WHS. Make use of the various plugins.

 

[PotatoMan83]

isnt home server like vista basic with server compatability?