What do you guys thinkn of the HP Mediasmart home server?
Gumby
Mediasmart so I can cetralize all my backup files etc. for my three PC's.
Is it worth the $599.99 CAD price for the version that comes with one 500GB
HDD? Here's a review of it.
Arno Wagner
> http://www.winsupersite.com/reviews/whs_hp.asp
Seems reasonable. Usual caveat: If you are going to to
operate a server, you should be competent enough to do
your own storage server with Linux, which will be cheaper
and better.
Arno
Gumby
news:68odjgF...@mid.individual.net:
> Seems reasonable. Usual caveat: If you are going to to
> operate a server, you should be competent enough to do
> your own storage server with Linux, which will be cheaper
> and better.
>
> Arno
>
Yea, I was thinking of building my own and have even downloaded free server
software but I like the look and idea of this small box with Windows Home
Server software. I can go and buy it today and be up and running half an
hour later. If I build my own I have to source all the parts and go learn
how to set it all up. I can do that but I also like convenience and am
willing to pay for it if it is good. Why would Linux server software be
better for a home server? I had planned to only make the files available to
the internal network and not over the internet. The Microsft/HP software
also comes with a couple of progs for automated backup too.
Arno Wagner
You do know that Windows Home Server is a pice of trash, that,
e.g., generates un-restorable backups and has other serious
problems?
Arno
Eric Gisin
> Arno FuckUP <m...@privacy.net> wrote in
> news:68odjgF...@mid.individual.net:
>
>> Seems reasonable. Usual caveat: If you are going to to
>> operate a server, you should be competent enough to do
>> your own storage server with Linux, which will be cheaper
>> and better.
>>
It will take weeks to master Lunix at the same level you know Windows.
>
> Yea, I was thinking of building my own and have even downloaded free server
> software but I like the look and idea of this small box with Windows Home
> Server software. I can go and buy it today and be up and running half an
> hour later. If I build my own I have to source all the parts and go learn
> how to set it all up. I can do that but I also like convenience and am
> willing to pay for it if it is good. Why would Linux server software be
> better for a home server? I had planned to only make the files available to
> the internal network and not over the internet. The Microsft/HP software
> also comes with a couple of progs for automated backup too.
Ignore Arnie, the Penguin Cult has turning him into a raving loon.
Gumby
> You do know that Windows Home Server is a pice of trash, that,
> e.g., generates un-restorable backups and has other serious
> problems?
>
> Arno
>
Why would I know that if I have never used it? The review I pointed to says
HP have enhanced the software and said it is not bad at all. Anyway, went
and checked it out in the store and decided not to buy it for now as I
already have 5 USB external HDD's for backup so don't really need it. I
have a 1TB external HDD for just my mp3's. :)
Gumby
news:Z-CdnVF7E7WVp7rV...@posted.uniservecommunications:
> Ignore Arnie, the Penguin Cult has turning him into a raving loon.
>
I think you are probably right. I've read numerous reviews of the HP
MediaSmart server box and they have been all quite positive.
Arno Wagner
1TB mp3's? Lets see, at 320kbit/sec, that is about 290 days (and
nights) of music. Should be enopugh for a while ;-)
Arno
Gumby
@mid.individual.net:
> 1TB mp3's? Lets see, at 320kbit/sec, that is about 290 days (and
> nights) of music. Should be enopugh for a while ;-)
>
> Arno
I rip at 256kb/s but I only have about 150GB of mp3's so far. And of course
a 1TB HDD is actually only about 920GB when formatted and you must leave
about 20% free if you ever want to be able to defrag it. Still, it is going
to take me quite a while to fill it up with mp3s.
Arno Wagner
FYI: Eric Gisin is one of the resident trolls.
As to the subject matter, I maintain that you cannot reliably
operate such a server, unless you could also have built, installed
and configured it yourself. And when you can do that, MS hime
server is a poor choice. That was not a comment on the hardware.
In addition, many reviewers are not available of non-MS alternatives
and have a rather limited understanding of hwat such a server
could do in terms of reliability and versatility, a state
of affairs that MS tries keep intact.
Arno
Rod Speed
> Arno Wagner <m...@privacy.net> wrote
>> 1TB mp3's? Lets see, at 320kbit/sec, that is about 290 days
>> (and nights) of music. Should be enopugh for a while ;-)
> I rip at 256kb/s but I only have about 150GB of mp3's so far. And of
> course a 1TB HDD is actually only about 920GB when formatted and
> you must leave about 20% free if you ever want to be able to defrag it.
> Still, it is going to take me quite a while to fill it up with mp3s.
And there is no point in worrying about fragmention with mp3s anyway.
Doug White
I considered it, and decided against it. The 1st drive is difficult to
remove, and if it dies (even if you have a second mirror drive), you are
screwed because the primary drive is not completely mirrored. I think it
has configuration data on it that is unique to that drive. I queried HP
about what happens when Drive 1 fails, and you can't just pop in a new
one and expect it to work.
I just bought a READYNAS Duo. Both drives are in removeable trays, and
the mirroring will protect you if EITHER drive fails. They can even be
hot swapped. The thermally controlled fan is very quiet, the software
seems to be solid, and it's cheaper. They have an active support forum,
and seem to be very responsive.
I can't speak for the media server stuff on it, I haven't had time to set
that up. It certainly seems flexible. It also avoids putting more money
in Microsoft's pocket.
Doug White
Michael Cecil
>Keywords:
>In article <4DCVj.260599$pM4.120287@pd7urf1no>, Gumby <gu...@is.cool> wrote:
>>I already have 5 external HDD's but was thinking of getting the HP
>>Mediasmart so I can cetralize all my backup files etc. for my three PC's.
>>Is it worth the $599.99 CAD price for the version that comes with one 500GB
>>HDD? Here's a review of it.
>>
>>http://www.winsupersite.com/reviews/whs_hp.asp
>
>I considered it, and decided against it. The 1st drive is difficult to
>remove, and if it dies (even if you have a second mirror drive), you are
>screwed because the primary drive is not completely mirrored. I think it
>has configuration data on it that is unique to that drive. I queried HP
>about what happens when Drive 1 fails, and you can't just pop in a new
>one and expect it to work.
Being able to backup the system disk was announced as a feature of power
pack 1 but I guess they have problems with it and now say it won't be
included. I don't know if there will be a power pack 2 for WHS, but since
they're already working on WHS 2.0 (or whatever they decide to call it)
hopefully it will be included then.
Seems like a non-issue to me since I have the install media and know how
to do backups manually on my home-brew WHS machine.
--
Michael Cecil
http://macecil.googlepages.com/index.htm
http://macecil.googlepages.com/safehex.htm
http://macecil.googlepages.com/hackingvista.htm
** Posted from http://www.teranews.com **
CJT
--
The e-mail address in our reply-to line is reversed in an attempt to
minimize spam. Our true address is of the form che...@prodigy.net.
Michael Cecil
>Gumby wrote:
>> Arno Wagner <m...@privacy.net> wrote in news:68pgrkF2totu8U1
>> @mid.individual.net:
>>
>>
>>>1TB mp3's? Lets see, at 320kbit/sec, that is about 290 days (and
>>>nights) of music. Should be enopugh for a while ;-)
>>>
>>>Arno
>>
>>
>> I rip at 256kb/s but I only have about 150GB of mp3's so far. And of course
>> a 1TB HDD is actually only about 920GB when formatted and you must leave
>> about 20% free if you ever want to be able to defrag it. Still, it is going
>> to take me quite a while to fill it up with mp3s.
>>
>You wouldn't be able to defrag if you were Linux based.
Fixed that for you. You're welcome.
CJT
> On Mon, 12 May 2008 20:53:54 -0500, CJT <abuj...@prodigy.net> wrote:
>
>
>>Gumby wrote:
>>
>>>Arno Wagner <m...@privacy.net> wrote in news:68pgrkF2totu8U1
>>>@mid.individual.net:
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>>1TB mp3's? Lets see, at 320kbit/sec, that is about 290 days (and
>>>>nights) of music. Should be enopugh for a while ;-)
>>>>
>>>>Arno
>>>
>>>
>>>I rip at 256kb/s but I only have about 150GB of mp3's so far. And of course
>>>a 1TB HDD is actually only about 920GB when formatted and you must leave
>>>about 20% free if you ever want to be able to defrag it. Still, it is going
>>>to take me quite a while to fill it up with mp3s.
>>>
>>
>>You wouldn't be able to defrag if you were Linux based.
>
>
> Fixed that for you. You're welcome.
You "fixed" it wrong, though. You _can_ defrag, but it isn't necessary.
Michael Cecil
>Michael Cecil wrote:
>
>> On Mon, 12 May 2008 20:53:54 -0500, CJT <abuj...@prodigy.net> wrote:
>>
>>
>>>Gumby wrote:
>>>
>>>>Arno Wagner <m...@privacy.net> wrote in news:68pgrkF2totu8U1
>>>>@mid.individual.net:
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>1TB mp3's? Lets see, at 320kbit/sec, that is about 290 days (and
>>>>>nights) of music. Should be enopugh for a while ;-)
>>>>>
>>>>>Arno
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>I rip at 256kb/s but I only have about 150GB of mp3's so far. And of course
>>>>a 1TB HDD is actually only about 920GB when formatted and you must leave
>>>>about 20% free if you ever want to be able to defrag it. Still, it is going
>>>>to take me quite a while to fill it up with mp3s.
>>>>
>>>
>>>You wouldn't be able to defrag if you were Linux based.
>>
>>
>> Fixed that for you. You're welcome.
>
>You "fixed" it wrong, though. You _can_ defrag, but it isn't necessary.
Hehe, I remember when they said that about NTFS back before they figured
out how to do it for that file system. Maybe one day when Linux grows up
it will be popular enough for some company to figure out how to defrag its
file systems. Don't worry. You can dream. :)
Arno Wagner
> Keywords:
> In article <4DCVj.260599$pM4.120287@pd7urf1no>, Gumby <gu...@is.cool> wrote:
>>I already have 5 external HDD's but was thinking of getting the HP
>>Mediasmart so I can cetralize all my backup files etc. for my three PC's.
>>Is it worth the $599.99 CAD price for the version that comes with one 500GB
>>HDD? Here's a review of it.
>>
>>http://www.winsupersite.com/reviews/whs_hp.asp
> I considered it, and decided against it. The 1st drive is difficult to
> remove, and if it dies (even if you have a second mirror drive), you are
> screwed because the primary drive is not completely mirrored. I think it
> has configuration data on it that is unique to that drive. I queried HP
> about what happens when Drive 1 fails, and you can't just pop in a new
> one and expect it to work.
Urgh. I would call this a major design flaw and completely unacceptable
in a storage server. Also interesting that none of all the "good
reviews" out there seem to have picked up on thos. Shows the quality
level of these reviews.
> I just bought a READYNAS Duo. Both drives are in removeable trays, and
> the mirroring will protect you if EITHER drive fails. They can even be
> hot swapped. The thermally controlled fan is very quiet, the software
> seems to be solid, and it's cheaper. They have an active support forum,
> and seem to be very responsive.
> I can't speak for the media server stuff on it, I haven't had time to set
> that up. It certainly seems flexible. It also avoids putting more money
> in Microsoft's pocket.
Always good.
Arno
Arno Wagner
> On Mon, 12 May 2008 22:23:08 GMT, gwh...@alum.mit.edu (Doug White) wrote:
>>Keywords:
>>In article <4DCVj.260599$pM4.120287@pd7urf1no>, Gumby <gu...@is.cool> wrote:
>>>I already have 5 external HDD's but was thinking of getting the HP
>>>Mediasmart so I can cetralize all my backup files etc. for my three PC's.
>>>Is it worth the $599.99 CAD price for the version that comes with one 500GB
>>>HDD? Here's a review of it.
>>>
>>>http://www.winsupersite.com/reviews/whs_hp.asp
>>
>>I considered it, and decided against it. The 1st drive is difficult to
>>remove, and if it dies (even if you have a second mirror drive), you are
>>screwed because the primary drive is not completely mirrored. I think it
>>has configuration data on it that is unique to that drive. I queried HP
>>about what happens when Drive 1 fails, and you can't just pop in a new
>>one and expect it to work.
> Being able to backup the system disk was announced as a feature of power
> pack 1 but I guess they have problems with it and now say it won't be
> included.
They have trouble implementing backup of the system disk????
That sounds incredibly incompetent to me and as it is the first
thing you would want to backup. A system that has this limitation
cannot in any sensible way call itself a "server system".
Arno
Gumby
@mid.individual.net:
>
> And there is no point in worrying about fragmention with mp3s anyway.
>
True. That means I should be able to fill the HDD at least 95% full then.
Arno Wagner
>>Gumby wrote:
>>> Arno Wagner <m...@privacy.net> wrote in news:68pgrkF2totu8U1
>>> @mid.individual.net:
>>>
>>>
>>>>1TB mp3's? Lets see, at 320kbit/sec, that is about 290 days (and
>>>>nights) of music. Should be enopugh for a while ;-)
>>>>
>>>>Arno
>>>
>>>
>>> I rip at 256kb/s but I only have about 150GB of mp3's so far. And of course
>>> a 1TB HDD is actually only about 920GB when formatted and you must leave
>>> about 20% free if you ever want to be able to defrag it. Still, it is going
>>> to take me quite a while to fill it up with mp3s.
>>>
>>You wouldn't be able to defrag if you were Linux based.
> Fixed that for you. You're welcome.
And that happens to be wrong. Nice job claiming things without
researching them first.
The ext2 defragger exits, it is just so obscure almost nobody knows
about it, since it is as good as never needed. XFS has a filesystem
optimizer that is run periodically to bring the fragmentation down a
bit. Typically if brings a below 1% fragmentation down to an even
lower value. Same for JFS.
Oh, and BTW, the regular automatic filesystem checks do show the
amount of fragmentation to the user, so people would know about any
relevant fragmentation.
Arno
Gumby
> You wouldn't have to defrag if you were Linux based.
>
Yea, but if I was Linux based I couldn't use Foobar, MediaMonkey or WinAmp.
I've used Linux in the past and I don't like any of the media players much
that are available for it.
Gumby
news:390i24p1pcs0l9j77...@4ax.com:
> Fixed that for you. You're welcome.
There is a 3rd party defragger availalbe for Linux but is command line only
and they say it isn't needed on Linux anyway.
Gumby
@mid.individual.net:
> As to the subject matter, I maintain that you cannot reliably
> operate such a server, unless you could also have built, installed
> and configured it yourself. And when you can do that, MS hime
> server is a poor choice. That was not a comment on the hardware.
> In addition, many reviewers are not available of non-MS alternatives
> and have a rather limited understanding of hwat such a server
> could do in terms of reliability and versatility, a state
> of affairs that MS tries keep intact.
>
> Arno
>
As I already said. I did look into building my own and have a link to some
free server software but I have decided to stick wityh just my external USB
HDDs anyway and forget about setting up a server for now.
Arno Wagner
> On Mon, 12 May 2008 22:34:40 -0500, CJT <abuj...@prodigy.net> wrote:
>>Michael Cecil wrote:
>>
>>> On Mon, 12 May 2008 20:53:54 -0500, CJT <abuj...@prodigy.net> wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>>Gumby wrote:
>>>>
>>>>>Arno Wagner <m...@privacy.net> wrote in news:68pgrkF2totu8U1
>>>>>@mid.individual.net:
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>>1TB mp3's? Lets see, at 320kbit/sec, that is about 290 days (and
>>>>>>nights) of music. Should be enopugh for a while ;-)
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Arno
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>I rip at 256kb/s but I only have about 150GB of mp3's so far. And of course
>>>>>a 1TB HDD is actually only about 920GB when formatted and you must leave
>>>>>about 20% free if you ever want to be able to defrag it. Still, it is going
>>>>>to take me quite a while to fill it up with mp3s.
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>You wouldn't be able to defrag if you were Linux based.
>>>
>>>
>>> Fixed that for you. You're welcome.
>>
>>You "fixed" it wrong, though. You _can_ defrag, but it isn't necessary.
> Hehe, I remember when they said that about NTFS back before they figured
> out how to do it for that file system. Maybe one day when Linux grows up
> it will be popular enough for some company to figure out how to defrag its
> file systems. Don't worry. You can dream. :)
You can, you get the fragmentation statistics deisplayed to you
on every filesystem check, and you just see that it is not
necessary for ext2. XFS and JFS recommend doing it from time to
time in the bachground, as they are both enterprise class
filesystems. For a standard desktop or small server you don't
need it there either.
Problem here is that just because MS is did not write a filesystem
that does not need defragmentation under normal operation, you seem to
assume everybody else has this issue. Wrong. This problem has been
solved a long time ago, MS just (again) choose to ignore (or did not
know) the state of the art.
Arno
Gumby
news:v8CdnZic7cbWXrXV...@rcn.net:
> I just bought a READYNAS Duo. Both drives are in removeable trays,
> and the mirroring will protect you if EITHER drive fails. They can
> even be hot swapped. The thermally controlled fan is very quiet, the
> software seems to be solid, and it's cheaper. They have an active
> support forum, and seem to be very responsive.
> Doug White
>
I see I can buy that one for $399.99 CAD but it only supports two HDDs and
not four.
http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=29870&vpn=RND2150%
2D100NAS&manufacture=Netgear
Gumby
> Seems like a non-issue to me since I have the install media and know
> how to do backups manually on my home-brew WHS machine.
Yea, I use Acronis True Image to backup so don't really care about the
backup freatures.
chrisv
>Arno Wagner <m...@privacy.net> wrote in
>news:68oi4rF...@mid.individual.net:
>
>> You do know that Windows Home Server is a pice of trash, that,
>> e.g., generates un-restorable backups and has other serious
>> problems?
>
>Why would I know that if I have never used it?
The same way someone might know that a Ferrari Enzo is fast, despite
never having used one. Reading things. Hearing things.
chrisv
>>You "fixed" it wrong, though. You _can_ defrag, but it isn't necessary.
>
>Hehe, I remember when they said that about NTFS back before they figured
>out how to do it for that file system. Maybe one day when Linux grows up
>it will be popular enough for some company to figure out how to defrag its
>file systems. Don't worry. You can dream. :)
Idiot.
Rod Speed
> Rod Speed <rod.sp...@gmail.com> wrote
>> And there is no point in worrying about fragmention with mp3s anyway.
> True. That means I should be able to fill the HDD at least 95% full then.
You can fill it completely if you want to.
Gumby
news:tlij24l38f7tua1j4...@4ax.com:
>
> The same way someone might know that a Ferrari Enzo is fast, despite
> never having used one. Reading things. Hearing things.
Well, this is my first time looking into such a device so I am learning
*now*.
Gumby
> You can fill it completely if you want to.
OK, it will take me years to fill it though. Took me about 2 years to
collect the 150GB of mp3s.
Doug White
If you want four drives, you need the ReadyNAS NV+. I thought the HP
was only 2 drives, but I looked at it so long ago that I may have been
looking at a different model. The NV+ can be bought in a range of
configurations, including diskless so you can add drives of your
choosing.
Doug White
Gumby
> If you want four drives, you need the ReadyNAS NV+. I thought the HP
> was only 2 drives, but I looked at it so long ago that I may have been
> looking at a different model. The NV+ can be bought in a range of
> configurations, including diskless so you can add drives of your
> choosing.
>
> Doug White
>
OK, if I do get a home server I will probably go with the Netgear solution.
HP Media Smart only has two versions and both have 4 drive bays. Only
difference that the version that costs $250.00 more has is a second 500GB
HDD. Anyone who buys that version is not thinking right because you can buy
a 500GB HDD for about $80.00 instead of the $250.00 HP is charging. I guess
$170.00 of it is the installation fee.
Arno Wagner
Actually installation is free. The HDD is "HP certified" (by
hand-waving), which makes it a superiour product, that of course
does cost more. Common practice with vendors that think their
name on anything must make it better and expensive....
Arno
Gumby
@mid.individual.net:
> Actually installation is free. The HDD is "HP certified" (by
> hand-waving), which makes it a superiour product, that of course
> does cost more. Common practice with vendors that think their
> name on anything must make it better and expensive....
>
> Arno
>
Yea, Apple is the biggest offender of thinking their name commands a higher
price. See what they charge to pre-install ram to a higher capacity from a
stock machine? I pity the people that actually pay those prices when DDR2
ram is so cheap now.