If you haven't already heard, the We Got Served blog is one of the best places to find Windows Homer Server news and tips. So, when I saw that they were offering a discount to their readers towards a purchase of a Fujitsu-Siemens Scaleo Home Server, I had to pass the info along. It looks like the discount is only applicable to UK visitors, since the URL is to a .co.uk site, but for you guys, you can receive an exclusive deal on both the Scaleo 1900 and 1500 models.

To activate the discount, visit the Fujitsu-Siemens online shop via this URL:

www.fujitsu-siemens-shop.co.uk/privilege
username: home
password: server

Today, the guys at PerfectDisk announced on their blog that a new build of PerfectDisk 2008 for Windows Home Server is now available. This new version includes full integration with the Windows Home Server console, where PerfectDisk 2008 will now have its own tab.

The PerfectDisk software defrags and optimizes disks which leads to better performance and reliability. Their "Space Restoration Technology" also helps create a large piece of contiguous free space so there is less fragmentation in the future while also improving write file access, whereas typical defragmenters only focus on read file access.

If you already have PerfectDisk installed on your WHS, you'll need to remove that first before installing the latest version. Installation instructions are here. The software for WHS is only $39.99, or you can purchase a Home Site License and get 10 licenses for your network for $99.99.

One of the best things about Windows Home Server is the ability to extend its "out-of-the-box" functionality by the use of add-ins, just like you can with you with your web browser.

The Advanced Admin Console Add-In is a cool one for WHS Admins to have. With this, you can quickly jump to Administrative areas from within the Home Server Console including the Control Panel, Printers & Faxes, Administrative Tools, Start Menu, My Computer, My Network Places, Workgroup, and Network Connections.

Additionally, this add-in lets you launch a Command Prompt, PowerShell, Task Manager, and the Registry Editor.

This is great add-in for IT Professionals who are already familiar with running Windows Server 2003, as it gives you access to more advanced functions. Because the extra functionality provides was not something intended, there are a few little oddities you should be aware of if you try to use this add-in, but they aren't anything an IT guy or gal like you can't handle. Just read up on them first.

When you're ready to kick it into high gear, download the Advanced Admin Console from here.

A popular Windows Home Server website, "We Got Served," recently posted a list of the top ten recommend routers for Windows Home Server, specifically, the HP MediaSmart server. The guys on HP's MediaSmart team had been working on a series of tests for a range of popular routers and had developed a “Top 10″ list of routers that they’ve found to auto-configure consistently well with WHS. If you're thinking of building your own WHS-based network, these are the ten best routers to use:

1. D-Link DGL-4100 GamerLounge Broadband Gigabit
2. D-Link DGL-4300 GamerLounge Broadband Gigabit
3. D-Link DIR-655 Wireless Xtreme N Gigabit
4. D-Link EBR-2310 Ethernet Broadband
5. D-Link WBR-1310 Wireless-G
6. Linksys WRT150N Wireless N Broadband
7. Linksys WRT54G3G-ST Wireless G for Mobile Broadband
8. Linksys WRT54GC Compact Wireless-G Broadband
9. Netgear WPN824NA RangeMax Wireless Router
10. Trendnet TEW-631BRP Wireless N Draft

I have just returned from a weekend in the Barossa Valley, South Australia. Being a family gathering over two days, many digital photographs were taken. And mostly not by me.

And I gave my camera to my 5 year old neice and sent her outside to take photos. Soon, the camera returned full of photos and no battery charge.

Returning to Sydney: how do I share the 220 photos? An avid Flickr.com user; I could upload them all there. By using Flickr family/privacy settings and ensuring the extended family could all see without sharing to the world. That would require some administration, and I just loath paperwork.

Solution: Use the Windows Home Server! After reviewing add-ins, I decided on Andrew Grant's Whiist.

Here is the install process:

Step 1: download the .msi from Andrew's web site. Simply drag this into your Windows Home Server's Software\Add-Ins directory

Step 2: Go the Windows Home Server Console for Windows Home Server Settings, Add-ins. Whiist is listed as an add-in that can be Installed. Install it.

Step 4: Manage Websites now appears next to Server storage. Click on this, and then Add a web site

Step 5: Adding a simple photo album to share pictures, so the second option is the best choice.

Step 5: Setting the URL, and the shared folder on the server (path)

And here we have the photo gallery. Beauty is, I can now share the many private family photos to a limited audience.

Result: send email to a very happy Mum. Windows Home Server. Keeping Mum's happy since 2007.