My Mac backs-up & works well with HP MediaSmart Server

My G5 iMac with Tiger works just fine as a NAS with the HP MediaSmart Server, I did a review of it in the hardware forum for those who would like to see it here’s the link , http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=205544 , as for it running Leopard Time Machine, I’m not sure yet as I’m about to pick up a new updated iMac soon and find out, as for the rest of it, running backups worked just fine, the Mac found the server and it was just a matter of doing a usual setup steps in osx, the only problem I encountered and it was my fault is I mistakenly named the backup the same name of the folder on the server and got an error, I changed the name of the backup and off it went, I exported photos from the Mac to the server and was able to serve or import to my windows machine, I exported video done in iMovie and was able to stream it back to the Mac with no problems, mapping the Mac to its own folders was easy and worked well, (the little gray 3d box with globe), if you are strictly a Mac user you won’t be able to use the hp server as it has to be setup with a windows machine, but I know there are alot of people that use both Mac’s and windows machines and this server may be of interest to them, the HP server is running Windows Home Server software which is a stripped down version of MS Server 2003 with some added features, it also has the Fire Fly iTunes server in it and I’m yet to get to that part and I know it going to take a bit of doing as there has been reports of problems and I’m not sure if its DRM related or not, I’m still doing allot of testing with this server and I have only just started with the Mac’s.

 

Hi Kurat Im new to the Apple family and I am looking for a server that will fit my wife and my needs for example she does alot of video scrap booking and I have alot of music stored on a hard drive and wanted to be able to access these files wirelessly, would you say this server will work for us or is their another one that you can recommend, I was looking also at the Drobo but the upload and download is slow because it's only USB.
Thanks

 

You are aware that if you want networked storage, all you have to do is either get a NAS box or a custom built PC and connect it to your router/switch. Those media servers just have additional functions such as having built in photo album software etc. (of course they are also more expensive)

 

Hey dude, your post is helping me out a lot, but i do have one Q-- is there a setting up the MediaSmart Server WITHOUT a PC? will i have to install Vista on my mac to do the initial setup?

Thx.

c.1980

 

Hi Kurat ... thanks for your post, I have recently purchased the HP MediaSmart server and have two issues I have been unable to resolve.
1. There are two mac computers in my home, and can't seem to figure out how to connect these to the mediasmart server and set-up regular backup. I note from your post that you have got backup running on mac, appreciate if you can provide details of the steps to set this up

2. I still can't get the remote access to the server to work. I have a Netgear router and have put a number of support calls to their technical support team, but still no luck. Any suggestions?

Kind Regards