MediaSmart Home - The HP Insider

Setting Up Router Port Forwarding

Cindy W — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 22:34:06 GMT

On your MediaSmart Server, you can allow remote access (incoming requests from the Internet) by configuring three open ports on the Windows Home Server firewall. Port 80 will accept Web requests. Port 443 is for SSL requests. Port 4125 is for remote desktop proxy requests. To begin the configuration, open the Windows Home Server Console, and click Settings. Click on Remote Access and select Turn on Web Connectivity. Your Server will then perform tests to see if it can automatically configure your router using UPnP (Universal Plug and Play) architecture. If Windows Home Server determines that your router is not configured for remote access, click the Configure Router button to configure it using UPnP. For many routers, this step proceeds quickly and easily. However, depending upon the router you are using, you may experience some challenges getting port forwarding configured. If you or a friend is having trouble setting up port forwarding on your router for remote access to a home server, take a look at www.portforward.com . This site offers detailed walkthroughs on how to set up port forwarding, FAQs, and other helpful tips for routers and firewalls. Thanks to the folks at PortForward!

HP Announces Policy Change Regarding MediaSmart Server Memory Upgrades

Cindy W — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 15:19:18 GMT

Based on customer feedback, HP will now offer a path for consumers to upgrade the memory on the HP MediaSmart Server without voiding the hardware warranty. HP customer feedback and research shows that some customers are installing multiple add-ins and/or additional software to the MediaSmart Server, which can lead to a need for additional memory. Upgrading the memory, in and of itself, will not void the warranty on the MediaSmart Server. Damage to any part of the MediaSmart Server during the upgrade may violate the warranty, however, leaving the cost for repairs the responsibility of the customer. Customers should perform a backup to an external device before adding additional memory. HP is only providing information on a customer memory upgrade path at this time, and customers will not be able to send their MediaSmart Server to HP to perform the upgrade. Customers may be able to find technical assistance for the memory upgrade, however HP is not recommending or training authorized resellers to conduct the memory upgrade on a MediaSmart Server. HP has not qualified any particular DIMMs, but compatible memory includes 1GB or 2GB - DDR2 667 MHz DIMMs. Customers should not upgrade beyond 2 GB of memory. Other...

HP Insider News Coming Thursday, Sept 25

Cindy W — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 21:14:05 GMT

If you haven't done so already, you will want to sign up for the MediaSmart Home Newsletter on this site. You just might find some good news in Tuesday's Thursday's edition - our first site Newsletter. If you are registered on this site, but not signed up for the Newsletter, you can sign up here . If you aren't a part of the community yet, you can register here . Stay tuned for Thursday's news!

Legally copying protected DVDs to your MediaSmart Server

Cindy W — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 17:34:23 GMT

Real Networks has just announced RealDVD, a program that lets you legally save the contents of protected DVDs to a PC hard drive. Once you've saved the DVD to disk, you apparently can't copy that file to another drive. But, if you save it orginally to the Server, you will be able to stream it to your other devices, such as your TVs or other PCs. The software is in pre-release. Larry Magid has an article on the software . Has anyone tried to copy DVD movies to their MediaSmart Server using this new software?

Would you like to get the inside scoop on future products?

Cindy W — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 17:25:00 GMT

Would you be interested in signing up to be a potential future MediaSmart insider? From time to time, HP needs help testing upcoming products and getting feedback on product usability, features, and roadmap plans. Your input and insights are very important to us, and can help us design and build better future products. If so, please send me a private message, indicating your name and contact information (phone number, email address, mailing address). Thanks!

Yikes! Ike Causes MSS Repair Center Evacuation; Support Lines are Unaffected

Cindy W — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 17:01:47 GMT

If you've been watching the news today, you've probably heard that hurricane Ike, now expected to make landfall as a Category 4 storm, is headed toward the Houston, Texas area. Support Agents for MediaSmart Servers are not located in the Guf Coast area, so Support lines will be operational as usual. However, HP's US hardware service and repair center for MediaSmart products is located in Houston. This facility will be evacuating mid-day today (Thursday). As a result, US customers who have recently sent in their MediaSmart Servers for repair MAY see a delay in their orders being fulfilled starting on any new orders set up Thursday and continue through the weekend. HP will try and process all of Wednesday's orders before they evacuate. Orders created on Thursday will be delayed. Orders created on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday would normally be sent on Monday but they may be delayed due to the storm. Fed Ex is also delaying inbound and outbound shipments out of Houston at the same time. Houston highways have been put on contraflow, meaning all lanes of traffic are set to flow outbound from Houston so no units sent back to our repair facility will be received until...