Update: Last day today for your questions - send them in!
Back in October last year, we ran a pretty cool Q&A with the Windows Home Server team in which WGS readers submitted their questions and Todd Headrick, Charlie Kindel and Joel Sider from the WHS team at Microsoft came back with their answers - during the interview, the team revealed Windows Home Server Power Pack 1 to the world amongst revealing x64 compatibility was on the way.
I’m delighted to announce today that We Got Served will be running its second reader Q&A with the team that brought you the HP MediaSmart Server!
HP’s Managed Home Team worked together with Microsoft on the WHS-based MediaSmart Server for over four years before it was released last last year to worldwide acclaim, and are close partners with Microsoft on the future development of Windows Home Server - now’s your chance to get behind the scenes and ask them those burning questions you want answered. It could be around the history of the project, how many prototypes they went through before deciding on the final design, how they decide the specification of their products, how the MediaSmart Server fits with the rest of HP’s MediaSmart kit, what’s coming up next for the MediaSmart Server, and most likely, “Who planted that Easter Egg?”.
It’s rare that we get the opportunity to do these kind of candid and open Q&As, so scratch your heads, and let us have your questions in the comments section below!
Guiding points as with previous Q&As:
1. Please include your full name, nearest city and country with your questions. Helps make things a bit more personal.
2. No guarantees on which questions get answered - the way things work, more interesting questions get more interesting answers, so think carefully!
3. Please do not submit support requests and other similar issues. HP Support is your friend for these.
Check back in a few weeks for the interview - for now, get cracking on those questions!
March 15th, 2008 at 10:21 pm
Hey guys, I have two questions for you.
1. Has there been any thought about enabling the auto power on with the MediaSmart Server? How about a plug-ing that will enable it in the bios? I currently have my WHS on a UPS, but if it’s a long period of time, that will eventually shut off, and would love for it to power itself back on when the power does resume.
2. It is still a some time before the next version of WHS ships, but is there going to be any way to upgrade the MediaSmart Server to the next version when it comes out?
Michael Woodward
Florence, AL
USA
March 15th, 2008 at 11:48 pm
Hey,
I think a very relevant question is what did HP do with Shadow Copies and why are they disabled on MediaSmart Servers?
Josh Pearl
New York, NY
USA
March 16th, 2008 at 2:00 am
Hi,
My MediaSmart is a 470 with two additional WD 500GB GP drives.
I’d like to know your opinion on the advisability of changing the Jumbo Frames settings of the NIC from its factory default of 1,500 to 9,000. All my computers and switches are capable of Jumbo Frames up to 9K, but, of course, my router is not.
Ron Miller
Columbus, Ohio, USA
March 16th, 2008 at 5:02 am
Do they have plans to offer a version with 1-4 Cable Card based TV Tuners? That would fit in great with the HP Media Extender TVs.
Will they offer internet based backup of server content?
Why not include 2GB of memory? With the price of memory so low and the server costing so much, it should be possible with little increase in price. I hear that changing the 512MB to 2GB really improves performance. Will upgraders violate their warrenty?
March 16th, 2008 at 5:07 am
I forgot to include my information with my questions.
Michael Wacey
Berwyn, PA
March 16th, 2008 at 10:50 am
Does HP have any plans to release the home server in Australia ?
March 16th, 2008 at 1:09 pm
The four options for default webpage for a MSS (2 MS-based and 2 HP-based) are confusing and redundant. Getting to certain functions requires multiple Logins. Do you have any plans to integrate the Login process any better? Make it seamless? Thanks.
Paul Yantko
Atlanta, GA
March 16th, 2008 at 6:27 pm
I have heard that the 2.0 release of WHS will be based upon Windows Server 2008 (code name “Vail). From several posts it was revealed that Vail is going to include more entertainment “capabilities,” than the WHS product based upon Windows Server 2003. From several message sites on the subject of whether this means that 2.0 WHS will somehow become one with Windows Media Center, it was reported that Mr. Todd Headrick, WHS Product Planner said: ‘“Time will tell – and please don’t infer that ‘time will tell’ means yes. There are a tremendous number of complex issues that need to be resolved to make this simple question become a reality.’ ”
I hope this does not mean that the current HP Mediasmart Server (EX470/EX475) will become obsolete. Adding “more entertainement ccapabilities” may mean that the HP Mediaserver might not have the horsepower or video card capabilities to act as a WMC. After investing in the HP MSS I would hope that VAIL will be able to run successfully on the HP MSS and not make it obsolete (before it even has its bugs worked out)! That would be a big mistake on Microsoft’s part. If such occurred, as I don’t plan on buying the hardware for WHS every 2 years. I would serously consider switching my computer hardware to Apple if something like that happened. Are we safe with our present HP MSS purchases or should be dump them on EBAY now?
March 16th, 2008 at 7:07 pm
Piggybacking on Greg Hoza’s question, what is HP’s stance on upgrading memory in the MSS? Does it void the warranty?
March 16th, 2008 at 10:16 pm
I second Jason’s question, please can we have Mediasmart in Australia, and while we’re on the subject, can we have it at a price representative of the huge changes in exchange rate recently. Currently it is cheaper to buy quite a lot of ‘name brand’ kit and have it shipped from the states than to buy in Aus, which must present a support nightmare for both customers and suppliers.
Shan
Brisbane, QLD, Australia
March 16th, 2008 at 10:53 pm
Is “Vail” (the next WHS version) going to be available close to the time the data corruption bug gets fixed and, if so, are consumers going to get a free upgrade? Many of us can’t use our servers for what we bought them for, and it would be frustrating to have spent $700 for a WHS machine and not be able to use it until it’s obsolete.
March 16th, 2008 at 11:00 pm
Moderator, can you add this to my previous post:
Colin McGraw
Castle Rock, CO USA
March 17th, 2008 at 3:27 pm
I, too, would like to know about Microsoft’s plans to integrate more media functions into the WHS.
I would really like a home server, but there is pretty much no chance of me getting one in its current state without tuner support. I’m not really sure how many always-on servers you expect a consumer to have in his house, but the truth is that one is already really pushing it. Having a separate server with tons of storage and always-on sucking power just to capture my television programs seems just ridiculous.
Also, on that vein, are there any plans to improve the power efficiency of WHS such that it turns off when not needed?
March 17th, 2008 at 3:28 pm
I, too, would like to know about Microsoft’s plans to integrate more media functions into the WHS.
I would really like a home server, but there is pretty much no chance of me getting one in its current state without tuner support. I’m not really sure how many always-on servers you expect a consumer to have in his house, but the truth is that one is already really pushing it. Having a separate server with tons of storage and always-on sucking power just to capture my television programs seems just ridiculous.
Also, on that vein, are there any plans to improve the power efficiency of WHS such that it turns off when not needed?
Michael Liu
New York, NY USA
March 17th, 2008 at 4:07 pm
I’d like to hear their response to Michael Liu’s question regarding improvements to power management. Since we don’t have access to the BIOS (without guesswork due to its headless nature), will HP be providing a solution?
Paul Venton
Cornwall, UK
March 18th, 2008 at 5:07 pm
Since printers are such a large part of HPs business I was surprised that one of the things that HP didn’t “add” to WHS (software-wise) is some add-ons that make this box a great print server out-of-the-box. Sure, you can connect to the box using Remote Desktop and install the printer driver and printer yourself (and I have), but I’m surprised that this wasn’t a focus for HP.
Is this something that is planned for a future release?
Geoff Armstrong
Fort McMurray, AB, Canada
March 18th, 2008 at 7:00 pm
Any chance; HP to be offering some sort of public or selective BETA program(s) for future MediaSmartServer Updates and feature enhancements?
Alexander Kent,
Los Angeles, CA, USA
March 19th, 2008 at 4:26 pm
I would like to know what the status is of getting the bug fixed that causes the “Input string was not in the correct format” error and causes the HP last update date to display as XX/XX/XX in the WHS Console.
Andy Minor
Los Angeles, CA, USA
March 20th, 2008 at 6:39 am
Another thing I’m curious about is if they plan on an update that let’s Windows Media Center save recorded TV shows directly to the MediaSmart PC. Right now, the hack to (sort of) enable that capability is a little ugly.
I guess in general, I would ask if there will be better integration between WHC and Media Center PC’s and what that may look like if so.
Colin McGraw
Castle Rock, CO USA
March 21st, 2008 at 11:25 am
HP Folks!
First of all, I just wanted to say thanks to you and MS for an amazing product. We are setting them up in very small offices along with hosted exchange for a complete solution for the <10 person network. (Sometimes better than SBS there). And in larger offices, we have used 470/475s purely as a PC backup solution - incredibly cost effective and reliable for the key PC’s and laptop backup. I tested the reliabilty with one client where the CEO’s laptop crashed the day before he was leaving for a weeklong trip. Restored it in 45mins - PERFECT! Thanks!
My question is whether the rumor that you might support Apple’s Time Machine backup is true. That would be huge as at my house we run a mix of Mac and PC’s, and this scenario is becoming more and more true in offices as well. I love the iTunes libary piece, but am hoping for Time Machine support as well…
BTW - would love to add more RAM without voiding warranty as per questions above, but if you need to move to a new platform for future releases, that would be expected. Guys - let’s be real. Server 2008 is a little different than 2k3 in what it needs and can use. Please don’t slow innovation for backwards compatibility.
Thanks again,
Aaron Booker
Hardlines Company
Bellingham, WA
March 24th, 2008 at 6:46 pm
A few questions:
1) WHS upgrade options for HP MSS.
a) Will MS updates automatically be availble to the HP MSS users as they are pushed out by MS or do they also need to be a “approved” by HP before they will be avilable for the HP MSS?
b) When the next version of WHS becomes available from MS, does HP intend to try to make it available to MSS EX470/475 users as an upgrade option? Obviously my preference is that it would be a free option (especially given the data corruption problems early adopters have had with the first release of WHS), but the main question is whether EX470/475 users will be able to upgrade to the new version through HP or on their own and still be supported by HP.
c) Many users have already upgraded the RAM in the HP MSS even though this probably violates the warranty. However, the extra RAM results in improved performance, especially if you are running additional add-ins. Does HP plan to offer an RAM upgrade option for HP MSS EX470/475 users, make new models available with more RAM, or will HP provide support to customers that have done their own upgrades?
d) Any plans to provide new features/accessories that use the USB ports on the HP MSS? Maybe an HD tuner for recording TV shows so the MSS can be used as a DVR?
2) Does HP have any additional plans for extending the HP MSS EX470/475 beyond what is included in the WHS OS from MS?
3) Is there anything that can be said about future enhancements to MSS product line beyond EX470/475?
4) The HP MSS team’s thoughts on whether the HP MSS EX470/475 is a “server” or an “appliance”? As a server, users expect to be able to add their own software and upgrade the hardware (such as RAM) if the applicaiton demands require it or a new version of the OS is released. As an appliance, it is more understandable that the hardware is sold “as-is” and should be replaced by new models.
5) Plans for supporting Mac computers for backups (ideally as a Time Capsule server). I can understand that with the rivalry between MS and Apple that MS might not include this in the WHS feature set, but it would be an awesome feature and great differentiator if added by HP.
John Andrews
San Diego, CA USA
March 28th, 2008 at 10:06 am
1) what do you plan to do with the next generation of Mediasmart Server.
Christopher Gorman
Southend on sea, UK
March 28th, 2008 at 2:27 pm
1) Do you folks also work on the Media Vault? If so, which platform do you like best and why?
2) Do you see any other potential hardware configurations housing Windows Home Server? For example, do you have any plans to introduce a server with Video Out, Additional Memory, Beefier Processor? Or even a smaller form factor like the Media Vault, perhaps?
3) Have you seen the upgrades people have been doing (more memory, more processor)? Are you guys in the cheering section or feel as if these people are potentially setting themselves up for (hardware) failure?
4) Is the warranty voided if you do these installs and have problems, even if the installs have nothing to do with the problem? For example, I upgraded the memory but now the NIC dies.
Thank you,
Dusty Craine
Burton, MI USA
March 28th, 2008 at 7:41 pm
Since HP MediaSmart Server is troubled by Microsoft’s WHS Server bug, and therefore is de facto useless not being a reliable server at this time (and also not for several next months), I would appretiate if HP team would offer a Linux OS server alternative or full Windows 2003/2008 server for this platform for the time being for existing HP MS owners. I feel this is really needed.
Otherwise, the situation has similarities to Ford SUV with Firestone tires. Nice car with hazardous tires making a unsafe driving.
Please replace tires. Change operating system for safer one.
My questions:
1) What the HP team does to remedy the situation when their customers cannot use their server as a server, as HP advertised
2) Could the HP team offer Linux OS server instalation alternative and when ?
3) Could the HP team offer Windows Server OS 2003/2008 instalation alternative and when ?
Othervise, I like the the HP MS server. But sadly, I cannot use it as a server.
Thank you
Peter Hasal
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
March 29th, 2008 at 1:26 am
Is Windows Home Server usable with TrueCrypt version 5.1? This version of truecrypt allows for the encryption of the entire system, and would provide data protection in case of theft.
Thank you.