Based on a tweet from a colleague I decided to keep track of which Windows Home Server Add-Ins I installed, any issues and general comments/feedback with each.

The two primary websites for Add-Ins that I could easily find are:

Home Server Plus
Microsoft - Most popular Windows Home Server Add-ins

I base my comments on the follow criteria:
    1. After a quick review of the purpose of the add-in I still think it would be of use
    2. It has to work
    3. It has to not kill the CPU or any other resource on the machine

Here is the list (keepers at the top, losers at the bottom):

KEEPERS

Advanced Admin

Purpose: It allows you access to items like your Control Panel, Printers and Faxes, Admin Tools, Command line, Network Places, etc..
Bottom Line: Its a great add-in when you dont want to RDP into your machine directly.
Installed: YES.  And its going to stay there.

WHS Mobile

    Purpose: "It allows for simple remote management of your Home Server while on the go"
    Bottom Line: Probably the best Add-In so far, with lots of room to grow.
    Installed: YES, including the Windows Mobile Client on my HTC Touch Pro.

LightsOut

    Purpose: "...that allows you to place your home server in sleep or hibernation mode at scheduled times."
    Bottom Line: Definitely can see a use for this, especially for vacations, or even night/weekends.
    Installed: YES - It actually came preinstalled on my device.  I'll leave it.

WHS Customizer

    Purpose: WHS Customizer gives you control over your home server's remote webpage.
    Bottom Line: This one has some potential.  Right now it only allows you to change the default image.  The tool to import an image doesn't feel right.  I attempted to import an image which it wouldn't let me resize, just crop at a weird size.  I then used MSPaint to get it into the correct dimensions which still failed miserably.  I think they need to add some sort of description on the perfect image to use. 
    Installed: YES

AutoExit

   Purpose: It can be used to shut down and reboot machines in your home network from within the console.
    Bottom Line: This looks quite useful, especially the Wake On Lan features.  You need to install their system tray application for each client, for communication.  This part I don't like.
    Installed: YES.  I will try it for now…

WHS Disk Management

    Purpose: "This add-in is designed for users who need more detail about their server's storage status than what the standard Windows Home Server Storage interface provides."
    Bottom Line: I actually like the 3D representation of the disk usage.  Just eye candy?
    Installed: YES

Router Control

    Purpose: “The Router Control add-in for Windows Home Server enables the user to get more control over his/her UPnP internet gateway (e.g. see and modify dynamic port forwarding).”
    Bottom Line: I installed this one with the hope that it would work with my router.  I have one of those linksys WRT54G devices (old, yes), which runs Tomato.  And it seems that that add-in and Tomato just wont play well with each other.
    Installed: YES, but I will uninstall until Router Control supports Tomato.

LOSERS

My Movies for Windows Home Server

    Purpose: My Movies provides automated disc copying of cd's and movies from attached USB drives...
    Bottom Line:  I will just use RDP for this.  I dont find it of much use (as an "Expert" user)
    Installed: NO

Remote Alert

    Purpose: Allows admin's to monitor remote access attempts to their Windows Home Server
    Bottom Line: I have never really been a fan of Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS), nor would I know what to really do with the fact that some hax0r kid from some random IP address was trying to get at my box.  Skipped.
    Installed: NO

avast! Antivirus

    Purpose: Antivirus Solution
    Bottom Line:  I have my own AV solution in place, and I wouldn't use avast! either way (past bad experience).  NOTE:  My WHS install came pre-installed with MacAfee, which I immediately uninstalled.  MacAfee and I have had a long and not so friendly past with each other that I would rather not get into right now...
    Installed: NO

Diskeeper

    Purpose: "...elevates system performance, debugging fragmentation-based problems as they occur..."
    Bottom Line: Based on the screen shot and description it looks actually extremely useful, that is probably why it costs $99.  I had to skip it due to the lack of funds in my piggy bank.
    Installed: NO

F-Secure Home Server Security 2009

    Purpose: See comments above regarding avast!
    Bottom Line: See comments above regarding avast!
    Installed: NO

KeepVault

    Purpose: "...provides real-time, automatic, and continuous synchronization, backup and sharing for your most important digital files via local or online storage."
    Bottom Line: I found this Add-In was mostly gear towards KeepVaults sales.  At first glance they provide the online storage and this Add-In is geared towards pushing your data up onto their server.  Its hard for me to justify 40GB @ $48 per year when I just spent so much money on WHS.
    Installed: NO

mControl

    Purpose: "mControl is software for your digital home. From your Media Center PC..."
    Bottom Line: At first glance it appears that someone has did the integration with WHS and Home Automation (like X10 Devices).  This rocks.  I put this one in the "Install Later" bin because of the really high cost. ($200+ ??)
    Installed: NO

PerfectDisk 10 for WHS

    Purpose: Disk defragmentation...
    Bottom Line: Until someone can recommend that this defrag is better than the one provided by the OS, skip!
    Installed: NO

Recorded TV Manager Add-in for WHS

    Purpose: "...integrates your Microsoft Media Center computers with your WHS..."
    Bottom Line: I personally use XBMC and not WMC.  Skip!
    Installed: NO

WebGuide for WHS

    Purpose: "WebGuide for WHS lets you access your home entertainment on the go."
    Bottom Line: I have little need to stream media remotely.  My WHS is strictly for storage and streaming via SMB to my LAN.
    Installed: NO

uTorrent

    Purpose: Adds uTorrent management to the WHS Console.
    Bottom Line: I don't use the Torrent network to download files, not to mention the fact that I couldn't even find the installer.
    Installed: NO

Duplication Info for WHS

    Purpose: "...shows you which files have been duplicated to a second hard drive."
    Bottom Line: I'm not too sure how often I would actually check up on file duplication, for some reason I just want to trust and rely on the underlying infrastructure to just work.
    Installed: NO

Grid Junction UPS Add-in

    Purpose: Adds UPS monitoring to WHS.
    Bottom Line: I added this to my "Review Later" list
    Installed:  NO

1 Comment

• Alexander Kent said Tuesday, October 6, 2009 5:49:15 PM

  Ha, I think you may have gotten the wrong idea about what Remote Alert, not really an IDS but gives remote access history, real time remote access status but let’s hope Grid Junction makes your list ;)