Welcome to this Quick Lesson on HP's newest innovation, the MediaSmart Server. The MediaSmart Server is a breakthrough in access, sharing, and storage for the home user. The MediaSmart Server utilizes Microsoft's Windows Home Server software, which provides a simple interface for a set of powerful features. The software easily manages tasks like automated backup of home computers, centralized storage of all your digital music, and dedicated streaming of movies, music, and pictures to anywhere in your home. And, with remote access, you can access these features from almost anywhere.

What's a server, and why would you need one at home?

If your home is like most, you've probably got one or more computers being used by everyone in the family in a variety of different ways. For some, the PC is a music player; for others, it's a homework tool or the final resting place of several vacations' worth of photos. These days the PC may be your financial center, too, storing tax documents, important e-mails, and online shopping receipts. You know it would be better if all your media was consolidated and backed up for safety's sake, but you may lack the time and know-how. You're not alone -- data storage and organization is a challenge for most modern households. That's where servers come in.

In a nutshell, a server is a central repository for any type of computer data, acting like a mini-computer with very specific functions. Servers make up the backbone of the entire Internet and are used by more and more brick-and-mortar businesses, which means they have to be quick and reliable. Until now, unless you had an engineering degree or an IT whiz at home, servers were only found in business applications. That's all changed with the HP MediaSmart Server. What makes this a truly groundbreaking product is that it brings the power of a business-class server to the home with a new point-and-click interface that anyone can use. Figure 1 shows the MediaSmart Server's custom control center.

The MediaSmart Server is optimized for Windows XP and Vista PCs. Most features will require these operating systems in order to function.

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This course will introduce some common uses for a home MediaSmart Server and explain why the need for this device grows exponentially, as media continues to migrate to an Internet-based medium. Here are some of the topics that will be covered in this lesson:

• Find out how this tiny unit works at home, using your home network to deliver movies, music, and more to every corner of the house.
• Learn how to use a MediaSmart Server to access all of your digital content remotely, from anywhere you can get on the Internet.
• Compare MediaSmart Server to other storage solutions, such as recordable CDs and DVDs or external hard drives, and see how it separates itself from the pack.
• Walk through the setup process of the MediaSmart Server in a typical home environment.

Next up

As more of your lifestyle enters the digital age, it gets harder to stay organized and keep track. See what the future holds in terms of more digital media in the home and why, in many ways, the future has already arrived.

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