Kentdome LLC today announced the release of Grid Junction 1.5 for Windows Home Server platforms,  a Windows Home Server add-in for managing an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) via the Windows Home Server Console. Grid Junction integrates seamlessly to issue power alerts and help protect Windows Home Server from power problems such as brownouts, or blackouts by safely powering down the Windows Home Server when battery levels reach a set threshold.

Developed following feedback from the community, 1.5 further enhances Grid Junction by offering additional hardware support, performance and feature enhancements.

What's new in Grid Junction 1.5

• Various UPS device support improvement and fixes (see supported list)
• Improved existing communication protocols
• New expert feature to sleep/hibernate or standby the server instead of shutdown
• New expert debug mode toggle
• User interface enhancements and fixes
• Improved update checking and product feedback based on Add-in Central technologies

We at MediaSmartHome.com are conducting a quick survey on behalf of Grid-Junction creator Kentdome LLC. The survey will help them better understand their audience and highlight the areas they need to focus on. Kentdome asks that Grid-Junction users please consider beta testing future versions of Grid Junction for Windows Home Server, Vail, and Windows Server Aurora.

Though you wouldn't know it looking at the ASoft site, they're now serving up Beta 3 of the killer AutoExit for Windows Home Server Add-in. AutoExit give you the ability to shut down, reboot, hibernate and wake computers in your home network from within the Windows Home Server  console. 

According to the Asoft site, Beta 2 and Beta 3 aren't exactly friendly with eachother, so make sure you uninstall and remove any previous versions from the add-in folder.

Here's a little more about what's happening in Beta 3:

New features in this beta:
- WOL Server from client is now possible. So waking up the server can now be done from every client.
- Gives a notification the first time the addin starts up with a small instruction set.

Changes:
- The guideline is now a PDF instead of XPS.
- The guideline now has more info, is more clear, uptodate,...

HAI says they are now shipping its WL3 product, a new software add-on that works with Windows Home Server to provide access to your HAI home control system from any web browser. That means you can peek in on your property, turn on lights and air conditioning from a computer, PDA, Blackberry, iPhone, or other web-enabled device.

The company first announced the product earlier this summer.

Read more at Electronic House

Asoft, makers of the popular "AutoExit 2008 for Windows Home Server" add-in, the next iteration of the software. AutoExit 2008 R2 provides many convenient home network management features to home server users, like the ability to start up, reboot, or shut down computers remotely from the admin console, as well as other handy features.

New features in R2:

• Much easier to set up, minimal configuring needed.
• Support Hibernation mode
• Support Sleep mode
• Logging of a user.
• Locking the machine.
• Client software to install on each client machine to support more features.
• Diagnostics module in the client that checks if hibernation & sleep is supported and if Remote Desktop is supported. It gives a set of instructions when one of these aren't configured.
• Cancel a shutdown from the client.
• Checks for new versions, when you logging into the console or manually.
• The help is extended by a guideline document which is placed on the server so that it is easily accessible from the whole network, that contains the whole help on how to do the install, setup, troubleshooting completely with screenshots on how to do it in the different versions of Windows.

Asoft, makers of the popular "AutoExit 2008 for Windows Home Server" add-in, is looking for a limited number of beta testers to try out the next iteration of the software. AutoExit 2008 provides many convenient home network management features to home server users, like the ability to start up, reboot, or shut down computers remotely from the admin console, as well as other handy features. Try out the current version of AutoExit 2008 by downloading it from the MediaSmart Home Add-Ins area.

To be considered for the beta, simply send the following information to Asoft via e-mail or private message (details on where to send below):

• Type of Home Server (custom built/MediaCenter/...)
• # of client machines + operating system. (e.g 1 Windows Vista Home Premium 32bit English)
• How often do you use AutoExit? (every day to shut down my machines)
• Give your ideas where AutoExit can be improved, or feature requests.