I bought an HP MediaSmart server some time ago but frankly was disappointed because it simply couldn't do many things I expected should be a no brainer - such as automatic syncing of folders, media serving and some other stuff.

Anyway, when Windows home server power pack 1 came out, I upgraded the server and gave it another try.

Frankly, after the update, this product has gotten worse. The number of bugs and problem I have encountered in several days of use is astounding.

Here are four bugs that I have discovered that are extremely frustrating and frankly don't allow me to undertake even the most basic tasks that should be in the wheelhouse of this server.


When in the console, I am trying to configure backups. The configuration wizard analyzes your computer and then allows you to choose the volume you wish to back up then you get to "choose folders to exclude from Backup" by clicking on add. Since PP1 cannot select folders to exclude. Tried on both XP and Vista machines. This problem makes the ability to perform routine backups impossible.
I enabled iTunes server and updated settings in and the connector software on each computer as per HP MediaSmart server instructions. It simply does not work. Another prime reason for the HP MediaSmart Server gone.
Installed TwonkyVision media server (ie. PVConnect). The PS3 recognized the server but most music files came up as data unsupported. Back to using TVersity on my PC which is far superior and does the transcoding that PVConnect claims it does.
I have tried to Setup User Accounts but cannot access even when the user on the computer was the same with same password. The Home servers Help says that if you don't have the same username and password it should prompt you - it doesn't!


I generally have been very pleased with HP and Microsoft products over the years but this product clearly has a lot of issues and I'm actually quite angry that I wasted the cash.

FWIW, I have done a lot of googling over these issues and the truth is I can find little information on this product beyond some rudimentary stuff that I can find in Help and the brochures.

Signed,
Disappointed in Toronto

You could try Synctoy (http://www.microsoft.com/DownLoads/details.aspx?familyid=C26EFA36-98E0-4EE9-A7C5-98D0592D8C52&displaylang=en) for syncing folders. Can't help with the other issues. As a company, HP lost it's way many years ago and I haven't been impressed by any of its products in recent years. As for MS Server, it's basically a solution looking for a problem. (Or maybe it's just a solution the the MS revenue problem.) There are lot's of good small server and backup products available. But then I don't need to tell you that. ;) I opted for Linux on an old PC. It's not perfect either but at least it's basically free. The biggest costs were the disk drives and SATA cards. Software RAID5 gives me the needed redundancy while providing efficient use of disk space.

Admitedly i did not upgrade to HSPP1 but am using PVconnect and streaming to my PS3 is seemless and rock-solid.

concerning back-ups, i have not seen the issue of folder exclusion so i'm stumped on what your issue could be.

User accounts was a bit of an issue until i synchronised passwords and now can safely say no pop-ups, issues and problems.

One thing i did do is upgrade the MSS memory to 2 gig, probably the best $35 bucks investment this server can use.

for what its worth.

Senoufo, thanks for your input.

Regarding user accounts. I have cheecked and to my knowledge the username and password are the same but, even if they are not, the documentation says that if you are not synchronized then a pop up box should appear and will allow you gain access. The only way I could get access to the users folder was to log in through a web interface using the remote access feature!

Regarding PVConnect. I can stream no problem from my computer to the PS3 using TVersity so I know all the connections are there. When I bring it up on the PS3, the files all appear using PVConnect but when you try to play the files, you get file unsupported. These are WMA files.

I suspect memory may be an issue. What I have read suggests that with the Antivirus add-in and PVConnect, the computer simply chugs. Not sure how easy or costly it is to add memory to the HP smartserver.

here's a link for upgrade of memory, 15 minutes and a jeweler's set of Philips screwdrivers is the way to go, my upgrade went very well and found a snappy performance increase.

http://www.myhomeserver.com/?p=12

actually this link is clearer and discusses changes to be made in VM:
http://www.homeserverhacks.com/2007/12/upgrade-memory-in-your-hp-ex470.html

I've used tversity as well ( i'm streaming Wav so not sure what the issue is with PVConnect and WMA).

i have not bothered adding the antivirus ( and not sure i will ) so it sits in the add-ins available on the MSS, i've ticked off the "ignore this issue" tab so i dont get bothered with warnings.

cheers Hugh!

Thanks again. Found another page too on upgrading memory. At this point, I am not interested in spending money on memory if the server is simply not working. I have calls into HP and will see if they bother to respond to me on these issues.

Also used remote access to poke around in the control panel etc. Interesting but fruitless in my efforts to resolve problems!

Regarding user accounts. I have cheecked and to my knowledge the username and password are the same but, even if they are not, the documentation says that if you are not synchronized then a pop up box should appear and will allow you gain access.

I am running PP1 and all my PC are non passworded. When I access the shares, it askes me for the password.

When in the console, I am trying to configure backups. The configuration wizard analyzes your computer and then allows you to choose the volume you wish to back up then you get to "choose folders to exclude from Backup" by clicking on add. Since PP1 cannot select folders to exclude. Tried on both XP and Vista machines. This problem makes the ability to perform routine backups impossible.

I just went thru the backup config on my wife's PC and it allowed me to exclude folders.

I have plenty of CPU power(intel 2160)/memory(2g)/and HD space(6TB). I was running two ripped BluRay movies from the server to 2 separate computer last weekend. No studder at all. (Note: my movies are on a share that is not included in the WHS pool)

I am running PP1 and all my PC are non passworded. When I access the shares, it askes me for the password.

Which is the described behaviour by the Help files. I thought the behaviour might have been an issue with Vista UAC but I installed the Connector software on two XP computers and have the same problem. In one case the Password on XP matches the HOme server but I get a access denied error and no dialog box for entering a password.

I suspect that this may be unique to the HP implementation.


I just went thru the backup config on my wife's PC and it allowed me to exclude folders.

Interesting. I rebooted the server and I could exclude directories but then I added the Windows Connect software to another Vista computer and the problem re-appeared. Added it to an XP computer and it worked. I can't establish a rhyme or reason

All my computers are Vista 32bit machines.

I suspect much of the problems lie with authentications and the Windows Connect Software in PP1 and not near enough testing. I still have not got the iTunes stuff working either which is another major selling point of this product.

IMO, the lack of any troubleshooting guidance beyond some very simple stuff, the various bugs that I am encountering and the lack of the abilty to sync folders in the Vista Home editions make this product one that is definitely not "home" friendly.

This product seems to be something that is still very much in the "geek" realm for users that are prepared to deal with problems and willing to have problems go unresolved until the next patch.

This is far from being a plug and play device that "home" users can connect to their network and have hassle free computing.

My advice to all the most adventuresome is to buy a NAS device (with backup software) and download SyncToy. THis combination would be much cheaper. You'd lose some features but the stress and headache factor would be dramatically lower.

I haven't installed PP1 yet but I have been running WHS since it was in beta 1.5 years ago and have loved it. I built my own server using existing hardware rather than buying the HP system but the client backups (I have 4 PCs in the house) are something that are quite good and have saved my bacon once. The central file repository is something that can be done without any special software but having the remote access infrastructure built in is quite nice. I will report back after installing PP1.

Plenty of reports claiming McAfee virusscan on the HP Homeserver /w SP1 models causes all the problems. Unloading McAfee made things better.

Just bought one today. Replaced the system drive with a 1TB I had, did a system reset/restore. Installed the latest HP update and then PP1. Upgraded the NIC driver. Installed the client on all my machines, one 32 bit and one 64 bit. Configured updates, enabled media sharing and remote access. Everything is working perfectly so far, no quirks whatsoever.

Moved my photos and videos on to it and my Media Center PC sees it fine. My 360 is working with it fine as well. Configured my backups, with a bunch of excludes so tonight we'll see what happens.

Well I've been running it for a week now, and I have to say this thing has been flawless. Remote web interface is handy as all heck from work. Backups are happening nightly without issue.

Home Server with PP1 is a great product!

I have the remote access working and my backups work nightly but despite much effort I simply cannot get a dialog box to log into Users folders. As I noted before, I think this is a Windows authentication problem but documentation is non-existent.

My iTunes problem was resolved. The problem was the HP setup guide was wrong so if you followed their steps, it doesn't work. Having got it all set up though, I turned it off because I prefer TVersity with my NAS box for serving up stuff. TwonkyVision did not work with many file formats unsupported so it was turned off. The promise of a the Smart Server as a centralized media server is not delivered with PVConnect or Itunes server.

Interestingly, The Mcafee virus software included in the latest update simply slowed the machine down. IMO, HP needs to add a lot more memory if the smartserver is going to run additional apps and virus scanning.

As a device for automated nightly backups to a central device, the SmartServer does its job but in my opinion, it still has buggy software, is underpowered and fails to deliver on key selling features such as a media server.

Personally, I would recommend anyone who really wants a central home backup and file server consider using a NAS device with 3rd party backup software. If you really want a Windows Home Server, I would avoid the HP version and build one yourself and include considerably more RAM.

If you don't mind me asking what is the loginid that you are using? Not the display name or full name the login.

$30 can buy you a 2GB stick of kingston ddr 5300 memory for it. 10 minutes I had it installed.