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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 January 15, 2008 07:10 PM
Comments
It might be worth adding that not all users will be familiar with using Remote Desktop Connection to connect to the Homeserver. The HP mediasmart server specifically discourages this and they provide no instructions on how to do it. Remote Desktop Connection is available in all versions of XP and is located under Programs, accessories, communidcations. You have to know the IP address of the homserver to put this in to connect to, or perhaps use the network name. The log on instructions, for the HP mediasmart server at least, are "administrator" as the user name, and the password is the same password you use to connect via the Homeserver console.
Posted by: Jeremy Honeybun at January 22, 2008 02:35 PM
Doesn't copying files directly into the D:\shares\ area break DiskExtender in WHS?
Should one be copying the files into the network shares, or to the Server's Desktop for installation?
Posted by: HobbesPDX at January 25, 2008 07:49 PM
Those of us using an HP MediaSmart Server need the .msi installation method. At this point I'd gladly install the software but unfortunately HP makes it extremely difficult to install using .exe files.
Posted by: Equally at January 26, 2008 05:35 AM
Hi,
You are both correct about the install process and point well taken on it's current complexity. We're looking to improve this by delivery .msi files in a future release.
Posted by: michael at January 30, 2008 10:25 PM
I have been unable to install Diskeeper 2008 for Windows Home Server. I have downloaded the executable file to the (TranquilPC) server (D:/Shares/Software), but each time I try to execute the file I receive an error telling me that "Windows cannot access the specified device path or file. You may not have the appropriate permissions to access the item.". The file's properties show that I have "full access". I have also tried running the executable from the server's desktop and other share folders with the same result. I do not have the same issues with other executables that must also be run from the desktop (e.g. Slimserver_V6.5.4.exe).
Any thoughts?
Posted by: Dave D at February 17, 2008 12:22 PM
SOLVED IT!
Downloaded it directly on to server (naughty!) and installed without a hitch.
Posted by: Dave D at February 17, 2008 12:53 PM
I downloaded the (trial version) install file (Diskeeper2008-HomeServer.exe) directly to the \\Hpserver\Software folder on my HP MediaSmart Server.
When I try to run the exe (using Remote Desktop) I get an error stating "Windows cannot access the specified device, path, or file. You may not have the appropriate permissions to access the item."
I logged into server using the Administrator account.
Is this a known problem? I've got to believe that the HP server is the most popular hardware platform for Windows Home Server. I was surprised the install didn't work properly.
Posted by: Jim Askew at February 23, 2008 10:48 PM
I found a solution for installing Diskeeper 2007 for Windows Home Server on an HP MediaSmart Server at http://homeserverblogger.com/2007/11/23/review-%E2%80%93-diskeeper-2008-for-windows-home-server/.
See the post by "Dion, on December 28th, 2007 at 9:08 am"
--Jim
Posted by: Jim Askew at February 23, 2008 10:58 PM
Hi Jim,
Thanks for the link. We're planning to get a MediaSmart server for our test lab. I'm also in contact with the HP MediaSmart PM - so I'll see what we may be able to work out along those back channels.
Posted by: Michael at February 26, 2008 11:07 PM