HP MediaSmart EX470 Server - GG795AA#ABA
HP EX470 Hewlett Packard MediaSmart Server 500GB Windows Home Server

This is a good little home server, the only complaint was the ram size, so I upgraded to 2 gigs on memory for like 30 bucks and life is good.
 
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The MediaSmart Server is perfect data warehouse for your photos, videos etc. We've been struggling maintaining the volume of photos we take, making sure they are backed up etc., and still enabling others to view them. Great buy!
 
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Excellent product. VERY simple set up. Can back up multiple computers without repeating data so 3 computer each with 500MB to backup ends up being only a 750MB backup, simply awesome given the process is automatic. Remote connection is as fast as your internet upload speed so those with a bargin ADSL internet service will have a slow remote experience. Currenly using as an iTunes server and also a DVD server using the My Movies interface. I get nothing but jaw dropping compliments and envey from all of my friends who see how easily I can watch all of my movies and music from my front room.
 
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After using this server for a couple of weeks, I only have one complaint. I have had to reboot the server twice due to non-responsiveness. Other than the non-responsiveness issue it has worked as advertised. I've consolidated all our MP3 files, pictures, and videos on the server and it has worked great.
 
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Solid product, easy to set up. Has a few drawbacks. Would be nice if you could plug in a drive with data on it, and not have to reformat. Basically, you have to install a blank drive, then transfer over your files. So, moving 3.5 TB of data, my collection, is a bit lengthy (currently 30 hours in and less than 20% finished). Which leads to the next point, a 10/100 connection is no longer sufficient, with todays digital data (specifically, movies). A gigabit connection would have been much more efficient, for a small increase in cost. Basically, you're paying 175 for the OS, 100 for the included HD, and 275 for HP's box and setup. Also, data corruption bug in the OS appears fixed.
 
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Great product if you want to take automatic backups of your pc and for media sharing. I use this for these two purposes, media sharing is great with my Xbox 360. Additionally the WHS is built on top of Windows Server 2003, although it is not recommended to directly log into Windows Server 2003, but it is helpful if you want to do some advanced tasks such as printer sharing, additional websites, etc. With the WHS we also get a free domain, [alias].homeserver.com... for accessing from the web (media, login to your connected machines, etc). All in all a great product. A star is dropped in the rating due to the data corruption bug, which I hope a fix will be available shortly
 
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Can't complain a bit. So far, I've set up the server and two computers, working on the third. I'm putting some older computers to work so I'm reinstalling XP on them as I go, backup up any data then putting it on the server. I have to say, setup went without a hitch and the only thing that's been a little confusing is setting up the home page on the server. Just need to read up on it a little. Backups went fine and I can access everything remotely just like using Small Biz Server's remote access feature, which is a big reason I bought it. I love the size and affordability and just wish it'd been available a long time ago. I don't give anything a "5" in case you're wondering, but so far this purchase comes closest.
 
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So far I love this product. It has a nice, easily accessible case, and is quiet. The installation on my PCs is painless and I've been able to setup remote access so I can login to my PCs from work (requires certain OSes for this). If you want to store data on the server and want to make sure it's protected against hard drive failure you'll want to buy either the EX475 instead or an extra 500GB SATA HD for this one since duplication only works with at least 2 drives. I assumed the 500GB version would come with 2x250GB - it doesn't. It's still a great product and the fact that they only used 1 of 4 slots means I can expand internal storage to 2TB.
 
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I'm a fairly tough case to get a super enthusiastic review from-----especially tech stuff.... Heard too many promises and advertisements that never panned out.....yada---yada---yada.... "Plug n Play" didn't.... "Easy" wasn't.... "Solid Performance" couldn't.... "Inexpensive"......never..... But I simply must tell you that I think WHS in the HP MediaSmart is just superb!!! I've had my MediaSmart EX 470 for 7 days now and..... It's probably the ONLY piece of fairly sophisticated tech I have ever purchased that actually worked----right out of the box----and delivered on it's promises. A dumb old ex-paratrooper like me now has a functioning network where I can: Automatically back up each machine, Share files with all----and these files are backed up on another disk, Central, shared location for all our media (mostly iTunes, photos and videos), Remote access to the shared folders, Remote access to the Server, Remote access to the desktop of the one machine I have Vista Ultimate on....I did this from a Starbucks the other day and was shocked at how FAST it was----just like sitting in front of my home machine----no lag at all!, A shared Web Photo site (HP provides this with the Mediasmart), Tremendously easy storage expansion. It was just plain easy to set up and the hardest part has been "organizing" all our "stuff" on 7 different PCs in the house. And passwords......my family doesn't want them----but trying to run things normally and easily without them is "problematic" at best......Bite the bullet, set up "strong" passwords on each machine/account----force your family to use them and you'll be fine. Safer and more secure anyway..... Overall----I just have to say: "MS and HP----ya done good!!!"
 
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This server is a no-brainer to set up, for the most part. I added 2 500gb hard drives to boost it to 1.5 tb and that took all of 5 minutes to do. The box is well built and the software seems solid. The only problem with the software for automatic log in from your various computers involve what name you originally named that computer when you first set it up after purchase. For example, if you put your first and last name as the registered name on a laptop in your home when you first purchased and set-up that laptop, that name MUST be the log in name for this server for automatic connection. If you also have a desktop registered with the same first and last name, you CANNOT automatically connect the computers for some of the server purposes and the names CANNOT be changed. The server will not allow duplicate computer names, so must work around this. This is not a fault with the HP Server or the Windows Server software, so this device is still a must buy. You can set it up as a print server by using remote access and installing your printer drivers into the software folder. I also found that my PS3 will connect with it through our wireless N network, but the PS3 supports only some of the video types on the server. Still, it does work with the PS3 for photos, music and MPEG videos. AVI and WMV are a no go. The Apple iTunes server software seems a bit weak and does not combine all of the stored itunes files from various computers around the house as I thought it would. I had hoped that if you purchased a song on one computer in the house, that the itunes song would appear or be updated for use in other networked computers. Didn't happen, but not being a big fan of itunes anyway, it really doesn't detract from the server itself as far as I am concerned. Windows Media Player works fine with this server and does share the music, album covers, etc. to any computer that you set to share it. This part works great! Overall, I strongly recommend this device to anyone.
 
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An update on prior review of this important product-- The first look reviews such as mine have tended to emphasize the negatives and with good reason. But this product will have many iterations and competitors are just around the corner. As a backup machine for your home PCs, this is a winner and operates flawlessly creating smart backups that do not duplicate files from different machines, saving much space. Each authorized machine can then backup a file off the server onto their own PC almost instantly by file or folder---very neat and automatic!!! I backed up 6 machines totally onto only 130gigs on the server--magnificent!!!!Adding a new drive is 1 minute and all configuration is done--no cabling and this is hot swappable--no need to reboot/turn off etc. and a first for the home user. ITUNES server works and found most songs but there is no control or visibility whatsoever of these files--except through the itunes interface, which is built for Apple, not us users; but it does work. Streaming only seems to work with HP media stuff so to me it is worthless and I have Slingbox so do not care. The remote access is glacial, but some tweaking has improved it. Still it uses XP Professional for access, not so common to the target home user who has XP Home, which will not work. The hardware is beautiful and is silent with controllable LEDs. It really is user friendly despite Microsofts horror operating system. No mention is made of how to look at files from Windows Explorer so it is repeated here---"\\YOURSERVERNAME\\YOURFOLDER etc". You must know this to use the server intelligently but it is not even mentioned. Microsoft has warned against using any files on the server directly using GASP Microsoft software like Outlook etc. This prohibition includes Quicken and Quickbooks whose files will be corrupted if used on the server interactively. Quickbooks access is actually why I bought the server, so this MSbulletin shocked me. This must be fixed Microsoft!!! How did they not know this before release??? But I lived through this and continue to use local files for multiuser QB and backup on the server automatically every night thanks to the server. Summary---this is worth the money if you need to backup your PCs. A long needed product with many features to work themselves out. Microsoft is the bad guy here--HP has designed a nice box without their usual crapware. Hint that you should try to do---Before installation, assign the same username and password to the installing PC and to the server after installation. If you have more than one user name, be sure that the right one is used for the installation. JUST DO IT!. It should work perfectly then.
 
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I received the server, plugged it in and installed Windows Home Server software on my first desktop. Everything seemed to be working as easy as reviewers said it would. Could this be?? A product from Microsoft that is actually easy to install and use and works as advertised?? Well, the product hung up when it tried to set up my remote access connection. The whole damn thing was a total mess. After uninstalling, reinstalling, doing this and that for several hours, and getting the most help from SBC, my Internet provider, the server is "hard coded(?)" to only work with DHCP, but it kept getting a bridge network address from SBC. I had to "force" it to accept a DHCP address. Then, as recommended, I set up a non-administrator user account but then could not access any files from that user name, not even when I was logged in as an administrator (previously my only user account because I install stuff and do so many other things that require admiistrator access; besides adding another limited user account for me to log onto to do "normal" computer tasks has NEVER worked well for me, so I only work on my desktop as an administrator-yes I know it is not a recommended procedure relative to doing any online activity). I could not access my user files on the server when I logged in as a non-administrator user account. So I deleted the user on my desktop and on the server. Then I could not access the server because my administrator password was NOT the same as my HP server password. That was not disclosed or hinted at in any of the documentation. My only way around this was to turn off the server for several hours, reboot my desktop, and turn it on after a reboot (this trick worked a lot when I was trying to trouble shoot other things). Several times I was about to take an axe to the damn thing, but stepped back and tried again. One cannot change the administrator password and expect the server to recognize this. The HP Server software (which is brought up by clicking on the HP Server icon); this appears to be an “Options | Tools” kind of a setup / control program for the administrator. I tried changing the HP Server password to my administrator password and I still cannot log on to the server and have it connect and backup my “networked” home computers. I was spending WAY TOO MUCH time on this and turned the damn thing off over a week ago. When I get several more hours / days to dink around with this to get it working the way it is supposed to work. God only knows WHAT kind of surprises will arise. Of course, getting tech support from HP or MS is very difficult. When they tell me to reinstall Windows, I just hang up the phone and call back and hope to get a tech support person who actually knows what the heck they are doing. Bottom line: this DOES NOT work nor does it set up as easy as some reviewers and Microsoft would lead you to believe. This works alike nearly all Microsoft products: hold your nose and keep your fingers crossed when you install it. If you are lucky (10-25% chance), it will work as it is “supposed” to work. But typically you can expect to spend several hours to days to get this to work, unless you are one of the unlucky 10% who never do get it to work. The HP Server is, ostensibly, a brilliantly designed and deceptively simple piece of hardware. Literally, it is just a box with a hard drive (with room for three more) and a fan and a power supply. I really wish it would have worked as simply and installed as easily as advertised. Rag7@aol.com
 
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This server does work but the remote access which is A PRIMARY REASON to own is slower than a snail in molasses. It relies on XP Professional ONLY since it is a Microsoft Server so it cannot be any good for this purpose. Instead get LogMeIn (not GoTo...). This is for Home users but it requires XP Professional, not XP Home, for remote access to computers---what a joke Microsoft!!!! No way to directly save files onto the server with a drive letter!!! So you cannot see this as a local drive!! You need to address as "\\YOURSERVERNAME\software\folder" This is for networks of course but is not even mentioned in the documentation--which is incredible for a home user!!!! So to the new user--your stuff is under network neighborhood and I just told you how to address your new Home Server. The manual is loaded with unhelpful information (4 straight questions give no info but refer to the online guide instead of stating the cure!!!) The manual even has its editors remarks left in (which refers to an unannounced update February08 pg70 and edit instructions not changed pg55--too many FUNNY mistakes) Server loaded with Microsoft foibles which are not needed and impair usage of this otherwise fine idea. Backups work well and automatically, but one of my drives which works perfectly and is an okay format is refused by the server on backup with no helping reason provided. Permissions work well (but you have to turn all computers OFF and reboot to see ANY ACCOUNT ADDITIONS--can you believe that??) Photo share is okay but brain dead with no features at all and glacial operation. Saving files is okay but since it has no drive letter it is not so easy. You can run programs from the server but no easy way to install programs to it without a drive letter. Did not test IPOD serving and it might be valuable?? Did not test streaming because I use Slingbox which is mobetta. This entire product is a great idea done poorly in software and in manual by Microsoft and by HP. The hardware is excellent including eSATA connector and hot swapping of drives but this HOME SERVER software by Microsoft is BRAIN DEAD in utility. If your primary need is backup, then this is a good long term server with its limitations. But if you want more than that, the performance and capabilities at the current stage are unworthy of the two big brands involved. Hopefully this rushed-out product will be improved in the February update!!!!! And HP--FIRE your manual writing team which seem to be engineers ignorant of the target audience or of the operation of this unit.
 
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FINALLY! Home servers simplified! This HP Home Server is very well designed, very quiet, and has a wonderful wife acceptance factor. You can set this up within 15 minutes, and have everyone in your family using this right away. At my home, we use it to backup photos and videos, view photos and videos on a TV media player, and eventually make a full webpage with all of our photos. Certainly a welcome addition to our family. :)
 
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Now I can backup all my home laptops and desktops, have a single place to access and share all the photos and music, I can tell when any computer is having issues with the antivirus, and I can access the files from the office!. The most important thing though, is to know that I have TWO copies of my pictures, as my wife would kill me if I lost 7 years of digital pictures. I added a hard drive I already had, so the Home Server has two hard drives and is "duplicating" the pictures and music folders. Backups just happen, quite simply, so for the first time I have up-to-date useful backups! This is exactly what I wanted, no less, and no more. The server is quite noiseless, and unobtrusive. I turned off all the blue led lighs (you can change their luminosity) and now it is an appliance that sits there and does its job.
 
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Setup was very easy. Just plug in and connect net work cable, then turn on. Then you run the setup on your client machines. Everything just worked. It backs up my client machines automatically, nightly. I added three additional drives to the MediaSmart Server (while it was still on) and that was easy as well. I like having all my files located centrally and selectively duplicated by folders. I like the small size. The server itself is very quiet but I can hear the 4 drives when they are doing file operations.
 
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Computers > Laptops & Desktops > Laptop Computers > HP Media Smart Server