Entered CNET Catalog: 11/02/2007
SKU: 0883585222643
Manufacturer: HP
Manufacturer description
The sleek, quiet HP MediaSmart Server EX475 provides remote access to files on the server, automatic backup of all networked PCs, media streaming across your home network, a photo sharing Web site, and virtually limitless storage expandability (1TB plus two empty expansion bays). This home server is ideal if you have multiple PCs on a home network, or want the flexibility to enjoy your digital experiences from anywhere over the Internet. It is based on Microsoft's Windows Home Server operating system and supports 10/100/1000 Gigabit Ethernet and both wired and wireless networking (requires wireless router). AMD Live! 64-bit processing power supplies fast file access and timely backups.Product summary
The good: Small enclosure is easily stashed out-of-sight, straightforward hardware and software setup; powerful server software lets you take complete control of the systems on your network as well as the files on them; easy to add storage as needed; expanded features via coming third-party software.
The bad: $749 isn't cheap; potentially cumbersome account management with the various other systems on your network.
The bottom line: Microsoft's Windows Home Server is the best, easiest-to-use answer to backing up and corralling all of the disparate media files in a networked home. And delivered in this petite, relatively affordable MediaSmart Server ex745 from HP, you get plenty of storage in a well-designed hardware package. We recommend this system all the way to anyone looking to take full control of their data.
Editors' review
- Editors' Choice: No
- Reviewed on: 11/05/2007
We've been tracking HP's MediaSmart Server and the Microsoft Windows Home Server software that powers it ever since they were both announced back in January. We got to play with an early version of the software this summer. Now we get to take a look at the complete product, by way of the HP MediaSmart Server ex475, a 1-terabyte home server that will cost you $749. In addition to the raw storage space, what you also get for that money is powerful software that's easier to use than anything else of its kind on the market. It lets you automate networkwide system backups, centralize all of your digital media files, stream them out to other devices in your home, and access them from any Windows-based, Web-enabled computer in the world. This HP MediaSmart Server also appears to be the best deal on a 1TB-equipped Home Server product, at least compared to its handful of competitors. We're sure to see other Home Server systems hit the market over the next few months, but for now, if you want to take better control of your data, this is the best solution we've seen.
Just a little thing
The actual hardware of the HP MediaSmart Server is very straightforward. It looks like a very small PC (9.75 inches high, 5.5 inches wide, and 10 inches high, to be exact), and in addition to the hard drives, it also has a processor and memory. But there's nowhere to connect a monitor, and it comes with no mouse or keyboard. Instead, the back-panel simply has a power cable input, a networking jack, and a handful of other ports for expanding your storage capacity with external drives. Once you've plugged in the power and network cables and the system has been recognized by your network, you don't really need to touch it. The vast majority of your interaction with the server will take place via the Windows Home Server software that you need to install on another Windows Vista or Windows XP-based computer on the same network. This hands-off approach gives you the freedom to put the MediaSmart Server completely out of sight in a closet or some other out-of-the-way location, eliminating visual clutter in your house.
With the physical setup out of the way, you then go to any other computer on your network and install the Windows Home Server Console software. The time from the start of the software install to the end of the initial configuration took us roughly 15 minutes. Installation is really no more complicated than a typical software install, with a license agreement and a few "Next" buttons to click. The only additional step is creating a password for the Home Server Console. Once you're in the console software, a setup help utility walks you through a six-step process of configuring your various settings.
This walkthrough is one of the tweaks that HP has made to Windows Home Server to distinguish it from the competition. Anyone familiar with the ins and outs of setting user permissions and establishing a domain name won't rely on the walkthrough too much, but for the rest of us, this kind of tweaking helps this system better embrace its target customer, the mainstream computer user.
Despite the tweaks to ease of use, the basic features of Windows Home Server remain the same since we previewed it earlier this summer. From the Home Server Console, you get a window with a series of tabs, each dealing with different capabilities.
Computers and backup
The Computers & Backup section gives you basic information about all of the systems on your home network. Here you can control the antivirus, firewall, and Windows update status for each system, and also schedule data back-up to the server. This is actually one of the more powerful tools Windows Home Server offers. Rather than create multiple redundant backup copies of files your various systems might have in common, Home Server instead keeps one master image, and then only writes new data for whatever files on a particular system have changed. In other words, you won't waste storage space with five full versions of Windows Vista backed up. Instead you'll have one master version, and then various updated individual files saved for each particular system. You can also turn this feature off for greater redundancy in case a server drive should fail. This is also a powerful tool because you can not only use it to create restore points for every system on your network, you can also apply that restore point from the Home Server Console software itself.
User accounts
From the User Accounts tab, you determine which users on your network have access to the various shared folders. You can get bogged down at this step, as it encourages you to use the user names and passwords that match those on the client PCs, which assumes you use them to begin with. If your household is less access-controlled, you can simply stick with a Guest account, which grants open access to all of the shared folders on your home network.
Shared folders
The Shared Folders tab is where you manage and create the central location for your media files, or whatever other data you want to access remotely. In addition to the basic dedicated Music, Photos, Videos, etc., each user can also create a personal folder for general storage. You can set permissions granting or restricting different kinds of access per user to each different folder. These folders can also stream content to other media devices on your home network, such as an Xbox 360. You can also access them remotely over the Web. This is another stand-out feature of Windows Home Server, as it essentially lets you get at all of your media and other data from any connected computer in the world. The major drawback is that it requires Internet Explorer, which excludes Firefox users, Macs, and any other non-Microsoft systems from using the remote access capabilities.
Server storage
The Server Storage tab shows you the amount of space on the various hard drives you have connected to your Home Server. Via the HP MediaSmart Server ex475's USB ports or its single eSATA port, you can expand your storage pool with various kinds of drives, and they'll pop up onscreen. HP also lets you hot-swap the internal hard drives, via an easy-open front panel door. Inside you'll find the same hard-drive sleds that came with the HP Blackbird 002 gaming PC. They require no screws or cables, and pop in and out of the system easily. Each new drive or storage device you connect to the system become part of a single drive partition. The Home Server software will format drives as necessary, and it all works on the fly.
Those four tabs make up the basics of Windows Home Server that should be common to every system that uses the software. But Microsoft is also encouraging third-party software developers to expand on Home Server's capabilities. HP has taken advantage of this out of the gate with a photo sharing application and a small program that organizes and grants access to your iTunes library across the various systems on your network. We're sure anyone who purchases the MediaSmart Server will appreciate those tweaks. Microsoft has also announced other extensions to Home Server, including a media streaming app from SageTV, a blog tool, and video conferencing software, among others. It's similar in concept to Apple's Widgets and Microsoft's own Vista Gadgets, although we don't expect that all of the Home Server programs will be free.
As far as this particular MediaSmart Server ex475, HP gives you two 500GB, 7,200rpm hard drives, for 1TB total. It also offers the 500GB MediaSmart Server ex470, for $599. With four internal slots overall, you can extend the internal storage on either of these systems to 4TB with the current drives on the market. You can also add external drives via the aforementioned USB and eSATA ports. As these are servers and mostly just shuttling data around, they don't need a fast processor or gobs of system memory. The ex475 comes with a lowly 1.8GHz AMD Sempron processor and 512MB of system RAM. Velocity Micro is promising higher-end specs in its Home Server systems, and we'll keep an open mind, but we didn't have any particular performance gripes with the HP. You can also find the
The warranty coverage for the MediaSmart Server ex475 is about the same you'd find in a desktop of this price. You get a year of parts and labor coverage, plus 24-7 phone support. There is no standalone support application with this system like you can find on HP's Pavilion desktops, but there are so many links in the Home Server software itself explaining what does what, that you should be well taken care of. The paper manual also provides 192 pages of useful information. You also get server restore disks in case the server software itself become corrupt.
User opinions
Select a User Opinion to view: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38out of 38 user reviews
Good at backing up. The rest seems to have bugs
Pros: Have used mine over two years. HP support is great: I needed them 3 or 4 times. It does back up 5 computers in my home seemlessly. I was able to add a hard drive with great ease when I needed more space. Great when you get a new computer.
Cons: Some of the stuff did not work: shared media streaming was unpredictable. The preinstalled antivirus software is difficult to manage. Could never manage to get the remote access to work - my ISP did not permit PtP access.
out of 38 user reviews
Buyer Beware!!!
Pros: It looks like it can do a lot.
Cons: As a media server, after hours and hours and...hours working on my own and with HP tech support it didn't do what it was fundamentally supposed to do.
Here are some issues I?ve been struggling with interminably:
- Fundamentally, the HP MediaSmart Server is supposed to find music files on various computers and save new content, automatically, to the server, but that works intermittently at best.
- The HP MediaSmart Server does stream media, but, for example it streams songs in duplicate and triplicate making playback via stereo excruciatingly painful for various reasons.
- The McAfee software that comes preloaded ?causes problems? (HP MediaSmart Server tech support speak) and doesn?t work the way it?s supposed to.
- The HP MediaSmart Server is supposed allow you to access content remote via the internet. That worked for a few months, but no longer does. Searching online it seems based on one site or another that feature is no longer supported by HP.
- I?ve recently encountered another problem that just came out of nowhere ? when the Server Console opens it is all black. One big blacked out screen, so the entire system ? computer, console and server itself, must all be rebooted.
- Won?t back up a second computer in the house. HP MediaSmart Server tech support said that computer?s hard disk was going bad and that I?d have to replace it. I did that, at MY cost, only to be told by another HP MediaSmart Server tech support guy later, ?Dude, you didn?t need to do that?You should insist at a minimum on a longer warranty period to compensate you for the time and cost??
I could go on and on, but you get the point. Several others such as Western Digital make ?media servers.? I?d look elsewhere unless you enjoy and have the time to spend hours on the phone with HP MediaSmart Server tech support people. Generally, none of them have been able to help anyway. Caveat Emptor!
out of 38 user reviews
Great Server Big Problems if you have to Repair
Pros: This was an very easy and quick server to set up
Cons: Big Problem if this system breaks, HP will not sell the parts separately so you have to service this system through HP. $65 diagnostic charge, $45 for power supply, $150 for motherboard. I will buy a computer based server this time
out of 38 user reviews
Slow performance, and at times unreliable
Pros: All-in one package offering great features such as:
- gigabit networking
- external web access
- photosharing
- automatic backup for networked computers
- "promise" of easy-to-use interface
Cons: SLOW performance, seems unstable (often had file conflict errors that would never go away); hardware not easily upgradeable
Also, it appeared that the auto backup feature was causing file conflicts with certain directories. So, I had to shut it off. Eventually, I found that backup was "corrupted" and I cannot get it started again. I had to reboot every week or so to fix some corruption issue. There were other urksome issues as well.
I believe that this could be a good machine for backup (notwithstanding the errors I am now having with backup), but I would not make it my "prime time" server for performance reasons.
I am pretty fed up with the machine, now. I am looking for a suitable replacement, most likely not running the Windows Home Server software.
out of 38 user reviews
Quality construction, keeps SATA drives cool.
Pros: Smooth user interface. Four trays that can support 1 TB HD each and a few USB ports to expand storage capacity in the future. Quiet fan and server telemetry from the unit keeps you informed on vital temperatures within the unit.
Cons: Can be difficult to setup after upgrading the server software. This unit does not like operate from bridges like the D-link DAP-1522. This version does not support Apple's Time MAchine interace like the current releases EX485/487 models.
Now there is little I can add to what has already been written on this HP Server. So let me share with you some personal notes that I have collected in the first week of ownership. If it helps one of you out there it will have been worth the time and effort.
During the first days, I could not get the HP unit to work with a D-Link Bridge DAP-1522. The PC's and iMac could see it but it could not see the computers. The server required a PC to be hardwired connected to the bridge in order to work, which was worry some for me, since I did not want a PC to have to be directly connected ot the server in order for it to operate.
The solution was to hook the HP unit directly to the wireless router port. Maybe I had a firewall problem with the DAP-1522 or some other software problem, I don't know, all I know is it did not play with the bridge without a PC also hooked into the bridge Ethernet port.
Under lessons learned, titled "Damm firewalls":
I recommend that during any server software installation turn off all firewalls. Especailly those found in third party anti-virus programs. They can cause more headaches than anything else. After the installation you can turn them back on. Beware that running more than one firewall at a time this can be a source of problems for any PC software installation and operation situation.
Second lesson learned titled, "Shooting yourself in the foot".
If you buy and install the HP unit eventually you will update the server software, by running the HP updater software. Right idea but it comes with some problems if you are not careful.
Now that your server is updated, the PCs may no longer be able to get a connection to the server. The reason is the server is now operating with a newer version of code. If you reinstall the connection software from the HP CD-ROM to your PC, it willl not be able to communicate to the HP server either. When you attempt to run the connection software it will come back with an error message claiming the server is not powered up or some other excuse, but it will not tell you what to do to correct the problem.
To fix this problem I had to access the server for the latest connection software, which was part of the software update! (That is what the error message should have mentioned in the first place.)
With the firewalls turned off. Use your web browser, enter your "<servername>:55000", where the <servername> is your HP server name that you have given it, or just HPserver if you have not changed it. This should bring you to the server software download page where you must download the connection software to each PC connected to the server.
You can also downlink the server toolbox software from there as well or the HP support web site. The toolbox software can diagnose the connection problems between your PC and the HP sever and provide you with hints as to how to solve the problems.
The other problem I have with this HP server is getting the server web site to work. I have not solved that problem yet, without it I cannot remotely access the server, which was one of it's many selling features (hence minus one star from my rating).
The other problem is the interface to the iMac. While this is a PC product and no expectations should be made concerning the interfacing to the iMac, it was another selling feaure with this unit. Yes, the Mac can see the network drive but it will not appear on the desktop. Yes, you can share files from the mac to the Server but you cannoot with this version of the server use the HP Server as a Time machine storage device, like you can with the 2009 models (EX485/487).
Comparing the server hardware specs (old vs. new), I am sure the only difference is software, such that an update to the server and providing the connection software to the Mac and everything would work fine. But I cannot locate any information on just how to update the Current server to that configuration.
Venting: You would think there should have been an upgrade path offered to owners of the previous generation of HP Servers.
Last lesson learned. One of the things I should not have loaded on to the server was McAfee software. It was one of those so-called recommended downloads the HP server updater came up with, that once installed it reduced the server performance significantly. You have to ask yourself do you really need it on your server? In hind sight I say no. My problem now is how to get rid of it without screwing up the "working" arrangement? My gut feeling is let it be for now and let it expire in a year at which point it should drop out of the "loop".
Best of luck to you.
ddfarra
out of 38 user reviews
Simple setup, great hardware an afforable.
Pros: Great hardware, simple setup, affordable and expandable. Takes care of all my needs.
Cons: None so far.
Having a purposely built server suited my needs. I don't think you can build a PC and get MS Server for much cheaper that this unit so it makes sense.
No regrets.
Thanks
out of 38 user reviews
64 bit operating system setup was clunky.
Pros: Everything is where you would want it to be. Software is intuitive. Works effortlessly once set up. No more data loss wories. Failed PCs can be restored easily.
Cons: I have a network of 2 Vista 64 bit OS machines. I had to set up the WHS by firing up an old XP machine. Directions to do this had to be found from HP/Nicrosoft.
out of 38 user reviews
Want to love it but can't
Pros: It is a functional back-up,
Cons: crashes frequently, no software update for some time. Windows only. Not time machine.
out of 38 user reviews
Happy that I own it
Pros: This little box holds ALL my music, videos, and other assorted stuff in one easy to access location. I have a HP Deskjet 932C printer plugged into one of the USB ports, so with my laptop I can listen to music, surf the net and print anything I want.
Cons: Server does not come with software that convinces the wife to bring to me the stuff that I printed while I'm in the backyard having coffee.
out of 38 user reviews
One year experience
Pros: Good back up. Easy set up with compatible routers. Most Dlink and Linsys work well. A list is available from HP. I switched from a Belkin to Dlink extreme n and aworld of difference. Sets up automatically. Computer BU works well.
Cons: Setting up guest users is not intuitive.
out of 38 user reviews
HP Disabled Administrator Account
Pros: The server is easy to install and start up.
Cons: HP has disabled the abilty for owners to install software that is not provided by HP.
Performance with the limited 512Mb of member is poor and HP does not support upgrading the memory.
Pricey for the limited configuration.
Also, HP will not openly support upgrading the limited memory. As you add add-ins (even the ones HP offers) performance of the server is negatively impacted. The server really needs at least 2Gb of memory, which is the absolute maximum that the machine will support (assuming you figure out how to upgrade the memory).
out of 38 user reviews
Great for your Home Network
Pros: Lots of storage space + expandable. Automated nightly backups. Storage for each user in my family. Streaming to any PC or notebook in the house (video, music). SIMPLICITY!
Cons: Dumb review software forces me to type something in "Cons" - even though I don't really have any Cons to complain about.
out of 38 user reviews
This thing is GREAT!!!
Pros: Easy to use. Microsoft Software makes it extremely user friendly.The 4 Drive bays and external Drive Options make backing up better than ever.
Cons: Expensive but when you see what it does for you and how it makes life easy for you, it will become a worthwhile investment
out of 38 user reviews
No network printer support
Pros: Easy to use for multimedia and backups
Cons: Only supports USB printers
If Microsoft would throw in a network print server feature this would be a no brainer. They only allow USB printers. Without that you have to use a dedicated computer to share out networked printers...bummer.
out of 38 user reviews
Great Device
Pros: Great design, smooth operation, total automation
Cons: Should have maybe a few more esata ports and they should integrate a print server in it, because I had to manually make it a print server for my printer.
I use it mostly for streaming media (movies) to my xbox360 and my laptop. I have 9 terabytes on it currently and about 3/4 of that is full!! lol. Overall this is a great addon to any home network.
out of 38 user reviews
Warning to those in Video Business
Pros: Great machine
Cons: NONE to report
out of 38 user reviews
I (mostly) love it!
Pros: Easy to set up, easy to configure, easy to upgrade
Cons: A little slow, user passwords
I've now had the 500GB model (ex 470) for 2 months so I can give an honest user opinion. In a word, I (mostly) love it.
Set up was easy. Plug it in, plug in the network cable, turn it on. After that, you have to install the client on each PC that is allowed to connect, but its a small file that requires less than 8MB memory for both the connector and the system tray applet.
What you get is automated backups, shared media, public and private file storage, remote access to your files AND (best of all!) remote access to all PCs connected to the WHS regardless whether they are running a Home version or a Pro version of any Windows OS. I was initially worried about my back-ups. Like I said, I purchased the 500G model so even though I had backups, I didn't have redundancy. Soon after I purchased my system I bought a 2nd 500G hard drive at a bargain price ($90 after rebates) so I now have 1TB. The drives aren't mirrored, but you can specify which folders get duplicated across drives so if you have a failure, your chosen (not all) files are safe and recoverable. And, installing the 2nd hard drive was a snap.
The downside is the server is running a low-power CPU. The AMD Sempron is okay if you're running a bargain PC, but with the demands of a server OS, it is slow to respond to system inputs. Luckily, since you can't attach a monitor or keyboard directly to the HP ex47x series, you won't run into this unless you need to do something directly on the server. (I log in daily to check the status of my back-ups, but that's about it.)
So, for $600-$800, what do you get? Peace of mind (automated back-ups). Shared media files (MP3, video and others). Shared storage, private storage and remote access.
What you don't get is the fastest quad-core server CPU with gobs of memory. But, this is a file server, so...who needs it?
Gary
out of 38 user reviews
Not ready for prime time
Pros: The HP hardware is very good
Cons: The WHS software should NOT have been released
1 -- The data-corruption bug is a show stopper, and MS announced today, March 11, that they'll probably not have a fix for it before June. It's true that it does not happen on one-drive servers, but without at least one more drive, data duplication cannot be enabled, defeating the purpose of such a device. MS originally stated that only files being opened from the server could be corrupted, but it's been shown that even read-only files can be corrupted.
2 -- The backup system is simply buggy. There are many reports of users not being able to restore failed computers and therefore losing lots of data.
3 -- Many users are frequently seeing "Health Notifications" that the SYS drive in the MediaSmart is failing. This means that it must be "Repaired," a WHS function that supposedly repairs corruption of backup indexes or something. It usually works, but could anyone be inspired by seeing a message that his WHS drives are "failing" all the time??
4 -- The backups cannot be validated, either manually or automatically, meaning that a backup can be corrupted and useless for months while the user is never notified. The user can find out about the corruption only by opening a backup. This means that if you want to rely on the WHS as a backup device, you have to try to open a backup almost every day. This is not a bug, just a show-stopping, deal-busting omission. I'd ask if anyone has EVER heard of ANY backup program that does not allow validation of its backups?
5 -- There is currently no way to backup the WHS, itself. Because of the Drive Extender technology, not even third-party programs can be used for this purpose. This is another show-stopping omission because if something happens to the C: drive in the WHS, the OS must be reinstalled. It preserves the data files, but it results in losing ALL the backups stored to that point. Many users have been forced to reinstall WHS: Bye-bye backups, start over. (This functionality may be added to WHS by the Power Pack due by July.)
The MediaSmart server is a very nice and reasonably-priced piece of hardware, but Microsoft's WHS software was released, IMHO at least 8 months too early. I'd advise that NO ONE buy any WHS software or hardware until MS proves that they've corrected the data-corruption bug -- i.e., not before mid-summer of 2008. Even then, it will probably be impossible to fully trust WHS backups, meaning that the MAIN REASON for the software's existence has not been met.
out of 38 user reviews
Best computer device I own
Pros: Does everything, and does it well
Cons: Frustrating tech support
I did have a bad hard drive in it that needed to be swapped out early on. HP tech support was friendly, but not as responsive as other companies I've worked with before. In the end, I got the replacement hard drive, but I had to speak to TOO many people to make it happen.
out of 38 user reviews
Good, but WILL format hard drive
Pros: small,nice looking, fast, silent
Cons: It will format any hard drive BEFORE you can use them
This is a good little server. You can upload/download files via a web interface. Use it as a iTunes server too. You can install different add-in like uTorrent. It's also possible to connect to the server from the internet and manage it from anywhere. I've not been able to do that. To be able to use the full option, the server must be use with IE.... with firefox, I was unable to control the server from the web.
You can use it as a backup server when installing the right software.
The server can also duplicate files on the server, if one drive fails, your files a not lost.
Fast server, use SATA drives with a 1Gigabit network, and it will be very fast
My others computers saw the shares on the drives as soon as I finished installing the server.
The cons :
When you add a hard drive, SATA or USB, or eSata, the wizard adds it to the 'main storage'. If you already have a 500Gig and adds another 500Gig, you won't have 2 drives of 500Gig, like D: E: as in any other GOOD OS, but ONE of 1Tera, D: The wizard informs you that the drive WILL BE FORMATED before you can use it. BE CAREFULL. Once you copy files to the server, let say you want to remove a SATA drive. You must tell the server you will do so, and will transfer the files from the hard drive you want to remove, to the others.... This could take a long time. And when you physically remove the drive, you have an **empty** drive. What's the point if I can remove the drive, but not the files ? I didn't try to shutdown the server and remove a drive, without 'telling' the server. What I think is that the files a partially on each drive.
Formating the drives before using them was the reason why I return this product.
out of 38 user reviews
I Don't Know How This Thing Performs Because I Can't Set It Up
Pros: don't know any yet
Cons: Horrible Tech Support
out of 38 user reviews
A server should Never Corrupt Data.
Pros: Good Hardware, Size, Expandibility.
Cons: Windows Home Server Data Corruption Bug!
out of 38 user reviews
Help! This box isn't RAID capable - why do I want it?
Pros: Reasonable price, decent curb appeal, seemingly easy set-up.
Cons: Not RAID capable - will loose you stuff just like any other PC.
out of 38 user reviews
Your Home Server has arrived!
Pros: Size, OS,expandability, looks
Cons: Heat, gets pretty hot
out of 38 user reviews
Great Unit
Pros: Very user friendly
Cons: Wish they offered 1T Drives from H.P. Wonder what happens when i need to upgrade drive 1 to a larger drive?
out of 38 user reviews
WHS: A product from Microsoft that works right
Pros: Much faster than my Buffalo Terastation
Cons: Not enough wigets yet.
out of 38 user reviews
Up and running in minutes, literally
Pros: Simple and easy
Cons: Can't think of one
My xBOX found it without any work on my part. The Tivo Add-IN is GREAT, so all my centralized content is now on my TIVOs.
I recommend it.
out of 38 user reviews
BEST SERVER ON EARTH PERIOD
Pros: EASY EXPANSION, SOFTWARE, REMOTE USE, ETC
Cons: IT TOOK SOMEONE 2000 YEARS TO MAKE THIS
i normally tear the box up when i get new toys, but i was skeptical about this server. that was untill i set it up and noticed it took all of 30 min to set up 4 hp slimline pcs, laptop, 2 xbox 360, and a ps3. i had time to actually read the getting started booklet. i especially like the fact that i can use my hp ipaq hw6925 to stream my music anywhere i get att service. what mp3 player you know has a 6tb hard drive! this whs is a piece of mind.
i'm editing my posting for the user who found my previous posting unhelpful.
this server lets you do everything right out the box. functionality is very user friendly. i have'nt found any compatibility issues yet. printer serving would've been nice but you can add that on your own. i'm not a big fan of wireless streaming but you can add a router also. one last note. the server has four storage bays. all occupied bays should be equal in size example:
seagate 500gb is good with hitachi 500gb,
seagate 500gb isn't good with seagate 750gb.
however, the usb ports which i use for external 2tb and 1tb hard drives is not restricted this way. i hope this helped.
out of 38 user reviews
It is as simple as advertised
Pros: Easy, nearly automatic set up for basic features
Cons: Needs better documentation for advanced features
out of 38 user reviews
This is a "Dream" come true!!!
Pros: Everything you need for a Home Network.
Cons: NONE.....Just wish the extra hard drives were free.
Not only does it back-up all your PC's every night;it also has an easy "Restore" function in case one of your PC's hard drives crashes.
This is also a must for everyone that has tons of Digital Photos and Music stored on your computer that you would never want to lose.It is totally AWESOME!!!!
out of 38 user reviews
Awesome product
Pros: Great way to backup PCs, set up remote networks
Cons: Not an entry level product, only for serious users
out of 38 user reviews
Best Solution for Home Users
Pros: Easy, Fast, Expandable, Strong HP add-on Software
Cons: Can always be less expensive. Limited Mac support
PRO's: Setup was easy. 1TB is enough initial storage, with lots of expansion options. HP Support was great with my two questions. Warranty is good. Looks good, although I have it stored next to my router in the basement. HP add-on software really differentiates this solutions vs any other Microsoft Home Server solution.
CON's: $749 list price may be $100 too high, but not bad given the easy of use vs. competition. No support for automatic backup for my Macbook Pro. (Everything else is supported.)
I bought this to take advantage of all the key selling points, (backup, photo-sharing, file-sharing, iTunes centralization, etc.). However, one of the best side benefits has been the ability to leverage this with a new HP 47" 1080P LCD HDTV with MediaSmart. I can now access all our videos, photos, and music directly from the TV. Prior to having the server, I had to stream music or photos from specific PC's located throughout the house. This server eliminates that requirement and give me "wire speed" access to ALL media files. Very nice.
HP seems to be ahead of the field currently. Others are sure to ship solutions over the next few months, but this will win the holiday shoppers wallet for 2007.
Finally, the tweaks made to this software by Microsoft, with input from HP, were worth the extra 60 day wait. Microsoft may have actually provided a solid product right out of the gate.
out of 38 user reviews
How about a print server function
Pros: Great initial features
Cons: No print server
out of 38 user reviews
Vista 64 support soon
Pros: Plenty of power and ease of use for a home sever
Cons: small amount of add ons currently.
out of 38 user reviews
Mac Software VS PC Software
Pros: Hard Drive Size with upgrade ability
Cons: IE Exclusive Browser Support
out of 38 user reviews
All the storage you'll ever need - that's what they always tell us
Pros: Lots of storage
Cons: Built in obsolescence
out of 38 user reviews
not sure 1Tb is that much
Pros: looks really slick for adding harddrives
Cons: kind of an ugly case... I would hide it
I confess that 1Tb is not really that much, I have 750Gig back at mine with only 15% available... It is amazing how quick you can occupy space...
out of 38 user reviews
Vista x64 not supported
Pros: Great backup and shared file capabilities
Cons: The title says it all
Potential buyers should note that the client software will *not* run on 64-bit operating systems, including Vista.
Rumor has it MSFT is working on a 64-bit client but no release date has been set.
