Step 4: Add User(s) For Remote Access

You'll want to add yourself and any others you would like to have remote access to the user roster in your MediaSmart Server.

Click on the "User Accounts" tab in the Windows Home Server Console as shown above.  Then, click the "+Add" button to add a new user.

You'll see the set of options shown above.  As you can see, it's pretty simple to add new users.  Make sure you click the "Enable Remote Access" button and assign the user a good, strong password.

Step 5: Enjoy Accessing Your Server Remotely

Ah... the moment of truth!  Hop onto a computer connected to the Internet that is outside of your own network.  Note that if you try to navigate to your custom dynamic web address from inside your network, it will have problems connecting.

Also note that it may take a few minutes for your dynamic web address to get set up properly, whether through Windows Live Custom Domains or through TZO, so if it doesn't work the first time, all is not lost.

So, why don't you go ahead and type in your custom domain name and see what happens?

If all is well, you'll see a website like the one pictured above.  You can see that you can not only stream your media over the web, but browse files and view photos as well.  Go ahead and click on the "Web Media Streamer" option.

You'll be met with a very iTunes-like interface from which you can play your music.  You can sort by album, artist, and folder as well as create custom playlists.  You can also view your photos!

I have found that this media browser is quite slick and works efficiently, even on low to medium bandwidth broadband connections (such as my Sprint EVDO card).  Note that the player is built in Flash, so it shoud be supported by virtually any web browser compatible with Flash - making this remote media player friendly to all operating systems!

Page « Previous 1 2 3 4 5 Next »