Windows Home Server 411

Hey guys,

First, my TNT training is going great. I just finished running 6.32 miles in 1h 8m, a new distance and time record for me! If you haven't donated yet or would like more info, then please visit HERE. Thanks to all of my supporters!

Now to the business of the post, Windows Home Server (aka WHS). I have a friend interested in purchasing a home server to store all of his media centralized on his home network as well as computer backups. He asked if I could provide info regarding what I have at home and all the info I can regarding the HP Mediasmart home server line, I'd like to share with my faithful audience what I delivered to him.

Here is a list of resources for the HP mediasmart server and a wireless network:

Start here: What's a MediaSmart Server and why do I need one?

1) HP MediaSmart EX485

a) Newegg link

b) additional 750gb hard drive from newegg

c) $629.98 if you order the 2 together and insert the 2nd hard drive yourself

2) HP MediaSmart EX487 (same as above, but with a pre configured 2nd hard drive)

a) Newegg link

b) $699.99 if you order the pre-config 1.5 TB solution

3) HP MediaSmart EX470 (what I have)

a) Amazon link ($475.72)

b) my personal upgrade of CPU and RAM on 11/08
Patriot 2GB 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 667 (PC2 5300) Desktop Memory Model PSD22G6672 - Retail Item #: N82E16820220231

AMD Athlon 64 LE-1640 Orleans 2.6GHz Socket AM2 45W Single-Core Processor Model ADH1640DHBOX - Retail Item #: N82E16819103239

Order Total $57.98

c) Additional 1tb hard drive
$99 (often on sale for 90 or so)

d) total for everything = $633.70

e) better processor, more hard drive space

f) cons: manual labor to upgrade, voids the 1 year manufacturer's warranty (that's why I waited until mine expired to upgrade)

g) how to upgrade CPU and RAM if you choose the manual upgrade route

h) I followed the instructions above to the 'T' and they were dead on, super easy to do

4) My favorite sites for news and info regarding WHS (some are not specific to the HP products)

a) We Got Served

b) official Microsoft forums

c) MediaSmart Server dot net

d) MSWHS

5) Software that I use on my server:

a) Avast! antivirus

b) Perfect Disk 2008 disk defragmentation: (new version)

6) WHS white papers:

a) http://216digits.com/WHS/

7) Recommendations

a) I say go for the EX485 and then add a 1TB drive

b) stay away from the 1.5TB drive, I've read lots of data corruption and failure problem reviews

c) you don't need the items listed in #5 right away, just something to think about

d) the benefit of having antivirus on the server is that it will protect your server files from getting infected

8) Reviews:

a) lots of review links in one place

b) the 475

c) one really good review

9) Network

a) wireless router WRT54G

b) Tomato, a 3rd party firmware update for the router

If you've found this article, please leave a comment and let me know what you think!! Also, please share what you have or what you plan on getting in the future with me!

Best,
216Digits

HAPPY 2-16

Hi everyone!

I hope you all have a HAPPY and SAFE 216!!!

Quick update on my TNT training: I ran 5.5 miles yesterday!! Wow, it was the first time I went that far at a full running pace without any walking breaks! It was hard, but I did it...

Thanks to all of the folks who donated and are cheering me on!

216

What? Where?

Hey guys,

You're probably wondering where the heck that wicked cool guy 'Kevin' has gone and what the heck has he been up to??

We'll I've been training to run a 1/2 marathon, that's 13.1 miles!!!! I've never ran further than a 5k (about 3.1 miles) before in my life. I'm training with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's 'Team in Training'. Part of the training includes raising funds for folks that have blood cancers, research for treatments, and hopefully a cure!

You can visit my info page here.

This is something that is making me feel very proud of myself. I'm able to help others as I accomplish something spectacular.

Please visit my training log too- click here.

One thing is for certain, it sure is cold running in the winter!!

Thanks all,
Kevin

ohGr: Live in Boston

Saw Keivn Ogilvie, aka Nivek Ogre, the frontman of Skinny Puppy last night in his side project band ohGr. It was an awesome show. I was about 6 feet away from him all night. The sound at the Paradise was great, one of the best sounding Orge vocal mixes I've heard live.

The performance was very entertaining, from multiple masks, tons of chicken feathers thrown/blown into the audience, and great music.

I don't have tons of photos, like I usually take, because I was too busy enjoying the show. For those of you who couldn't make it or are just interested, enjoy the few shots that I did take below:




I also was able to shoot some video with my Sony point and shoot (DSC-T9). I have the vids posted on YouTube. Here are a few samples along with the link the them all:





Here's the link to them all: LINK


Please let me know how you like the shots and vids!!! Did you go to the show? What did you think? Do you have pictures or video to share??

~216Digits

Go Go Godzilla- Day 3

Today was go go live for the client! What an awesome day. Super Mega Kudos to everyone for their positive attitudes during the transition from a whiteboard to a digital system for their schedule management!!!

It was a wicked busy day today, but I did take some time to snap a few pictures...



The main entrance @ 7am. Sorry for the blur, but all I had was my tiny Sony cam without a tripod.


The great gift of the day!!!!


The Touch Schedule up and running! Look at everyone smiling ;-)


Shock & Awe


Where I started my evening adventures and where I ended up eating dinner...mmmm chicken parm


Just a cool colonial building


There are 4 large churches of various faiths on top of each other, talk about competition to get into heaven!


Another church


Pretty neat building


I'm happy to report that Fredericksburg has quality street signs, this thing looked almost brand new


An intersection at sunset


Behind yet another church's fence


One of the previous churches with the orange sunset cast upon it


City Hall


Neat wand of Hermes (aka caduceus) upon City Hall


Yet another shot of my pimpin' wheels


I was thinking about photoshoping the 2400 to read 216 and diner as dinners, nothing like "Let's Eat 216 Dinners" LOL

Day 2 in VA

Today was the second day in VA. It was a long day, but pretty exciting. I helped a site replace their whiteboard with a digital Touch Schedule. Good stuff!



My super sweet ride, a 2008 Toyota Yaris. Nothing like having the gray hairs pass you...


Their old fashioned whiteboard


Whiteboard removal


WOOT a 60" Plasma with the HI-IQ schedule


I ended up at Hard Times to have a chicken sandwich with the hottest hot sauce they got, Atomic. Bah, I laugh at your weak insolence.

Until next time.
Kevin

Fredericksburg, VA 22407: Mary Washington Hospital Onsite Training

Hey gang! Greetings from Virginia. I'm here for work. Training some folks on our HI-IQ software. So far, so good! The people here are wicked cool ;-)

Here are some pics from today. Enjoy!!

Mary Washington Hospital's (MWH) main entrance

60" HI-IQ Touch Schedule (mounted on the floor??)

A beautiful interventional radiology room!!!

MWH at sunset

Another view of the hospital (my favorite shot)

A view looking out of the parking lot. I liked the framing of the trees and the orange sunset on the buildings

Stay tuned, more to come tomorrow!!!