Emulating something like the "HP MediaSmart Server"?

I just ran across this MediaSmart Server and realized it may just what I need. I have my Desktop at home and my laptop and alot of times I am copying files from one to the other, So I have the same movie on both machines, alot of the same pictures/music ect and I am just waisting space.

This server from HP has the right idea, I guess from this little ad about it:
http://www.hp.com/united-states/psg...reSEM/computing&tafcjnef=fy08&ppc=DSp92986327
that it does streaming in your house, and then works as an over the internet server to access files anywhere on the go.

However 600$ for 500gb.... not my piece of pie when I am sure you can do almost all of this on your home PC with the right software.

So thats my question for those of you with more experience and knowledge than me on networking and remote servers. What would I do to make it so I can watch a movie off my desktop computer while I am at work on the wi-fi, or show pictures to friends ect?

In the past I would use a program like PCanywhere and just do a remote log-in but that seems old fashioned and there has to be a more server like way to do it, plus it was not perfect like when I had my own shoutcast server id have to update my IP every month or so due to my ISP assigning a new IP to me. (shoutcast is a free dj plugin for winamp that lets you broadcast music to to internet, was a cool way for me to setup music at home and tune in to it at work, and it takes care of alot of the hard work for you)


edit update:
looks like it uses windows home server to run it, i found more information about how it runs and what it does. according to this link here (and this link even features the hp mediasmart server as the expample hardware) they will only be offering windows home server to OEM's and it will be built into hardware.

part of the faq

Strange tho is on another page I found here: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/winfamily/windowshomeserver/eval.mspx

looks like you can download a free 120 day evaluation for the software and thus makes the previous statment a lie, I think I will download it and try it out. See what its all about, im thinking it will not run inside windows but rather use the pc as a dedicated server and so I wont have a use for it because I cant donate my PC at home just to be a server, but I could still build a PC to be a dedicated server for less than 600$ and beat out the MediaSmart server if I can find a way to get the software.

 

You can basically build a home server out of an old desktop (which you can buy off eBay for about $50 to $100 if you don't already have one) using free open-source software (such as Apache), which will let you build a home server that runs lean without all of the bloat MS has stuffed into MS Home Server (it's ludicrous that a basic home server should require 1GB of RAM as a minimum) - the biggest headache will be the learning curve if you want to build it yourself (I'm still in the beginning stage myself), although if you do some judicious googling, you should be able to find a freeware home server solution that some else has already developed and given to the world.

 

I managed to obtain the full OEM version of home server, I am guessing since its targeted for home use and most people do not have a ISP that gives them a static IP that it must work around that. It makes you install the server software on the sever, then the connection software to your computers you wish to use it on I guess kind of like some sort of VPN? and the software must communicate with each other and side step the IP issue. I'll turn my old desktop into a server when I get a new one, but I just wanted to start learning about it now.

Im still looking for more resources, and I may do a review of sorts of MS Home Server and let you know how good I think it is.

 

When i demoed the beta i liked it. I may end up purchasing it after directv releases the hdpc-20 usb tuner. Installed on a sff pc with some usb hd's hooked up... definite possibilities

 

There're simpler ways to deal with a non-static IP. The most straightforward are the dynamic DNS solutions from companies like DynDNS. The basic service is free, and consists of a small client app you install on your home system, which then monitors the IP address assigned to you by your IP, and regularly sends an update to DynDNS's servers, which in turn keep your assigned IP linked to the alphanumeric URL you chose when you signed up for the service. That way, if the IP address changes, it gets updated on DynDNS's servers (which provide internet name resolution services), and anyone who tries to find you using your named URL will, without too much fuss or unresolvable name problems, get pointed to the correct IP.

For having a basic internet-accessible webserver, unless you've got sensitive info you haven't segregated from the webserver (in which case you should do that first), anything more - like a VPN - is too much - too much overhead and too much resource-demand.

 

Good info, I think thats the same service I was going to use in the past just I dont remember it being free (so maybe its a different one or they changed the policy)

 

I think it's like all "free" things - they use a gelded loss leader to get you in the store, but you then have to pay a pretty penny to get the really good stuff.

 

Just FYI, but Windows Home Server has some SERIOUS file corruption issues. Until they are fixed (and MS hasn't fixed it in months), your data will be in serious jeopardy.

 

Yeah I read into it and how it happens, I should never re-create the situation where it can happen also I am sure by the time I get a server it will be fixed.

Thanks for looking out tho.