I haven't used Add-In's yet, but I like the sound of the Sage TV place-shifting add-in. The software sounds like it gives you similar media accessibility features that a standalone placeshifter, like a Slingbox, provides. Very slick.

Well, I have 17 Add-Ins installed and feel this ability is key to my acceptance of Windows Home Server (WHS) and the HP MediaSmart Server (MSS). But to list a favorite? That's a tough challenge!

Since my primary use of the MSS is to provide backups I guess that Backup Database Backup has to be at the top with MSS Fan Control right in there to keep the MSS temperatures down.

Disk Management is visited frequently to monitor the usage and health of my disk drives. (But even that is infrequent as I have gained faith in a stable system!)

I share some photos with Whiist. While I generally don't list that as my top Add-In, I do know that folks in my family and a couple groups I work with would undoubtedly list that at the top for me as they find it provides easy access to photos.

I have added WebCam to my home security "suite" and, as that runs on the desktop, I find the Advanced Admin Console valuable for accessing it to adjust settings. Program Launcher is a new addition that appears to be an alternative way to do the same thing.

F-Secure, PerfectDisk, Remote Notification, Grid Junction, Remote Alert all just sit there doing their thing in an invisible way. They only make the top of the list when they are needed -- but with the stability of the MSS that's not very often!

Event Viewer, WHS Toolkit, MSS Drive Labeler, DupeCleaner, Duplication Info, Tab Reorder, WHS IO Monitor, & Program Launcher round out my current list, all sitting there ready to be used if needed.

While I do share music and photos on my home LAN, I do not use iTunes, PVConnect or any other software to enhance this experience (yet).

But that is dodging the question. My vote is for the Backup Database Backup Add-In as it (1) allows automatic duplication of the backup database and (2) gives me a very easy way to move backups of multiple clients off-site.

...JohnBick

I have not tried an add in yet, but love the uTorent idea. This one is pretty cool and I would love it.

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If I had the MediaSmart Server, I would get the Advanced Admin Console and the Grid Junction.

The primary addin i currently use is program launcher, so I can launch programs that otherwise don't integrate with the WHS console. I also use my WHS for running MagicJack, which gives me a local phone number and standard phone jack for $20/year.

I'd like to see an easy to configure otpion for pulling data from other networked computers. Specificailly I am ripping DVDs (with another box) and need to move the resulting 5+GB files to the mecdia vault. Even with a gigbait net this is a couple of minutes. I'd like to schedule a proces to happen at night to move these big fiels around when it won't bog down the network or my computers.

Sadly, I only have a MV1 so the Windows add-ins dn't help me. There are some available for Linux and I could program my own, but who has time for everything...

Jim

The add ins I would find useful are the Sage TV for WHS and Media Connect Controller and Advanced Admin Console

I don't have a server or an add-in. If I did have a server, I would add-in the Sage TV for WHS.

the Advanced Admin Console and the Grid Junction

I like the Disk Management add in also. Lets me see which external drives are plugged in an running, the size, size used, free space. I use the external drives for backups of my client pc backup database.

I do have multiple PC's and laptops in the house, and definitely need a
Home Server. Some of the add-ons look interesting to try. Especially Disk Management and Media Management.

I haven't tried WHS yet. I'd like a plugin that makes it easy to backup/restore from offsite storage (S3, etc.).