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January 31, 2008
Computer Outlook Interview on Windows Home Server
John Iasiuolo, host of Computer Outlook, interviewed Joel Sider, a Senior Product Manager, this past Monday (1/28/08) about the new Windows Home Server (WHS) system.
The interview discusses the basic purpose of Home Server, who it was built for, computer-heterogeneous support (i.e. Mac's), some of the Add-In applications available (both free and commercial), such as tools that help you publish your own websites, to hosting your own blog, to performance apps like Diskeeper.
Joel wraps up the interview with info on where he expects to see the Home Server ecosystem evolve in the future.
If you are new to what Windows Home Server is all about or simply curious (and have an hour to kill) this podcast can give you a good overview of what this technology can offer. Listen to it here.
The podcast can be downloaded from here.
Posted by Michael at 07:24 PM | Comments (0)
January 30, 2008
New Software Release Now Available
We've just released a new version of Disk Performance Analyzer for Networks (DPAN) for use by corporate IT professionals. It's a free tool that can be installed on any supported Windows OS connected to a network (Windows-based Domain is highly recommended). From that single point you can select other networked systems and scan them for fragmentation and disk performance statistics. It provides specific details on each system as well as a high-level aggregation of systems into performance ranges. While this functionality is already available in Diskeeper 2008 Administrator, it is now available in a free product.
Here's a list of just some of the additions in the new DPAN:
Create custom groups for easy management
Select systems to scan through the Active Directory or IP Addresses
Run scheduled reports and have the results automatically e-mailed to you
Export performance reports to a portable and sort-able format (CSV)
MSSQL database storage
Go to the downloads page to get it.
Posted by Michael at 06:42 PM | Comments (2)
January 27, 2008
Diskeeper's new CEO
Diskeeper Corporation announced Lisa Terrenzi as its new Chief Executive Officer. She was promoted by Founder and Chairman, Craig Jensen.
"Lisa has been indispensable to the success of Diskeeper Corporation," notes Mr. Jensen. "Under her leadership in 2007, the company achieved the highest-ever sales in its 26 year history. She is a competent executive who more than earned the promotion."
A 17-year company veteran, Ms. Terrenzi began in accounts receivable as a customer accounts manager. Known for her zeal and enthusiasm for people, she rapidly rose up the organization's ranks to oversee its R&D division, later developed its strategic alliances area and eventually became Deputy CEO and a member of the Board of Directors.
Mr. Jensen will continue to oversee the company's strategic focus as the Chairman of the Board of Directors while overseeing expansion operations into the Asian Pacific region.
Posted by Michael at 11:12 PM | Comments (0)
January 15, 2008
Installing Diskeeper HomeServer on Windows Home Server (WHS)
As several customers have reported, our current instructions for Windows Home Server installation is quite sparse (actually it's not even there). Our apologies on any confusion this may have caused. I'm posting the instructions here for existing customers. New customers (starting in the next couple of days) will get this delivered with the software. We're also looking to streamline the install process in a future release.
Here they are:
The Microsoft Windows Home Server (WHS) operating system is primarily intended to run on a "headless system", meaning it typically has no keyboard or monitor. Instead, most Windows Home Server system management is done via the Windows Remote Desktop Connection feature from a separate Windows XP or Windows Vista computer. These instructions follow this model, and assume that you are familiar with connecting remotely to your Windows Home Server system.
Follow these steps to install Diskeeper HomeServer on your Windows Home Server system and add it to the Windows Home Server Console:
1. If you have not done so already, copy the Diskeeper HomeServer installation file into a shared folder that is accessible to the Windows Home Server system (e.g. D:\shares\Software) .
2. Connect to your Windows Home Server system via the Windows Remote Desktop Connection.
3. Open My Computer on the Windows Home Server system and navigate to the Diskeeper HomeServer installation file. Double-click the file to start the installation.
4. Follow the prompts displayed as the Installation Wizard guides you through the installation. You are given the opportunity to enable Automatic Defragmentation of all the volumes on your Windows Home Server system. Enabling Automatic Defragmentation allows Diskeeper with InvisiTasking to keep the performance and reliability of your Windows Home Server disk volumes at their peak levels, in a truly invisible, Set It and Forget It manner.
If you are installing the full version of Diskeeper HomeServer, you are also given the option to allow Diskeeper to be activated silently, with no intervention from you. Lastly, you can specify the destination folder for the Diskeeper installation. By default, Diskeeper will be installed at C:\Program Files\Diskeeper Corporation\Diskeeper\. When the installation is complete, click Finish to close the Installation Wizard.
After Diskeeper has been installed, it is necessary to add it to the Windows Home Server Console. Follow these steps:
1. Open the Windows Home Server Console by double-clicking the appropriate shortcut on your Windows Home Server desktop. This will open the Windows Home Server Console.
2. Click Settings to open the Windows Home Server Settings Console.
3. Click Add-ins in the task pane on the left side of the Windows Home Server Settings Console, then click the Available tab in the Available Add-ins area. You will see the Diskeeper HomeServer Console listed as an available Add-in.
4. Click Install to install the Diskeeper HomeServer Console Add-in. After the installation is complete, it is necessary to close the Windows Home Server Console.
5. When you restart the Windows Home Server Console, you will see a new toolbar icon for Diskeeper. Click this icon to open Diskeeper HomeServer within the console.
After opening Diskeeper, you can change any of the settings as described in the Diskeeper Help and User's Manual. Of course if you enabled Automatic Defragmentation during the installation, there is no need to make any changes. Your file fragmentation will be handled automatically and invisibly by Diskeeper using the InvisiTasking advanced background processing technology.
Posted by Michael at 07:10 PM | Comments (9)
January 14, 2008
Computer Outlook interviews from Storage Visions and CES
The Computer Outlook radio show was tabbed as the premier press group to cover the Storage Visions show the weekend before CES. Almost one for one, vendors exhibiting at this show also had a floor presence at CES.
And, as if working full days on the weekend weren't enough, the Computer Outlook crew moved over to the Las Vegas convention center for CES so they could continue their crazy high-paced interview schedule through Thursday.
To listen in to their interviews at these two trade shows visit their site.
The interviews range from the Senior Product Manager of HP's Home Server group to Seagate to Microsoft Sync (the voice technology in some of the new Ford/Lincoln/Mercury vehicles).
We also did an interview at CES with Dave Graveline of Into Tomorrow.
We also did a quick video interview with Keith Shaw of NetworkWorld. As cool as defrag is (yeah right), we just couldn't compare with our nieghbor the "real" air guitar - I have to get one of these!
The Diskeeper contingency wrapped up our Vegas stay at the PC Mag 25th anniversary event (our thanks to PC Mag for the invite). When people are dancing on tables you know you are at the right party!
Lastly, our thanks to John Iasiuolo for inviting us to take part with production of the show. It was great meeting the rest of the Computer Outlook team.
Posted by Michael at 10:19 PM | Comments (0)