After months of beta testing, the Power Pack 1 update to Microsoft Windows Home Server has been released. This is awesome as it fixes the data corruption bug and finally introduces support for Windows Vista x64. You can download the update (build 1800) from here.
I’ve personally been very interested in Windows Home Server ever since I saw bits of it at the MVP Summit early in the year. What I find really cool about it is the ability to easily do centralised backups for up to 10 PCs. The server only stores one copy of each unique file thus making backups of multiple Windows machines running similar software configurations a pleasure when it comes to the disk space required. Add to that its a headless server by design and provides centralised folder shares and media sharing.
I’ll soon be posting my own how to guide on building and installing your own Windows Home Server. In the meantime, here is the write-up on Power Pack 1 from the Windows Home Server Team:
The team is pleased to announce that Windows Home Server Power Pack 1 has been released to manufacturing (RTM) and is now available on the Microsoft Download Center!
The English version is available now and German, Spanish and French versions will be available on the Download Center soon. Windows Home Server customers who don’t download it on their own will receive Power Pack 1 via Windows Update in August, and the new Chinese and Japanese versions will RTM in August, too.
As many know, Power Pack 1 provides a range of new enhancements, including support for home computers running Windows Vista x64 editions, backup of home server Shared Folders, improvements to remote access, more efficient power consumption and improved performance. And, of course, it delivers a fix for the data corruption bug. Documentation for Power Pack 1 (Build #1800, to those who have been part of the beta testing) is available here.
Our OEM partners will be updating their systems with Power Pack 1 and HP will release a software update for the HP MediaSmart Server, delivering enhanced media streaming capabilities from PacketVideo, server-side anti-virus from McAfee and compatibility with 64-bit home PCs.
Windows Home Server can now be purchased in 50 countries worldwide. And a growing ecosystem of third-party software developers have released or announced approximately 60 Add-in programs extending Windows Home Server’s capabilities. The Windows Home Server SDK has been updated for Power Pack 1, too, including new support for the client PC side, i.e. notifications to/from home computers.
We continue to hear fantastic feedback from our customers about how Home Server is helping them protect their digital media, share it with friends and family, and access it from outside of the home. Thank you to our beta testers and partners for helping us ship Power Pack 1, and to the Home Server community as a whole for its ongoing support and enthusiasm.