HP MediaSmart Servers Gain Mac Compatibility

[VideoFreek]

After looking briefly, it doesn't seem like it supports the raid 5... or does it?

It only supports the folder duplication....

Is that about right?

If this is correct, it also means that it doesn't support raid expansion and etc, right?

Hope I am wrong as this is the primary reason why I am considering this particular NAS.

That's about right. Some have reported success in getting this to run on RAID systems, but Microsoft recommends against it. If you were to set up WHS on a RAID 5 system, for example, you would need to turn off folder duplication, as the array would look like one (giant) disk to the OS. However, there is really no reason to do this as folder duplication accomplishes redundancy via mirroring.

Expansion IS supported however. If adding a disk, you simply tell WHS to add it to the storage pool, and the additional space is added and managed completely transparently. If you wish to replace a disk with a larger one, you must first remove it from the storage pool (WHS will automatically copy all files on that disk to other disks in the pool), and then physically change out the hard disk and then add the new disk back to the pool.

 

[diamond.g]

That's about right. Some have reported success in getting this to run on RAID systems, but Microsoft recommends against it. If you were to set up WHS on a RAID 5 system, for example, you would need to turn off folder duplication, as the array would look like one (giant) disk to the OS. However, there is really no reason to do this as folder duplication accomplishes redundancy via mirroring.

Expansion IS supported however. If adding a disk, you simply tell WHS to add it to the storage pool, and the additional space is added and managed completely transparently. If you wish to replace a disk with a larger one, you must first remove it from the storage pool (WHS will automatically copy all files on that disk to other disks in the pool), and then physically change out the hard disk and then add the new disk back to the pool.

Does WHS not have support for software RAID through Disk Manager like Windows Server 2003 does?

 

[AidenShaw]

Don't do it...

That's about right. Some have reported success in getting this to run on RAID systems, but Microsoft recommends against it. If you were to set up WHS on a RAID 5 system, for example, you would need to turn off folder duplication, as the array would look like one (giant) disk to the OS. However, there is really no reason to do this as folder duplication accomplishes redundancy via mirroring.

Expansion IS supported however. If adding a disk, you simply tell WHS to add it to the storage pool, and the additional space is added and managed completely transparently. If you wish to replace a disk with a larger one, you must first remove it from the storage pool (WHS will automatically copy all files on that disk to other disks in the pool), and then physically change out the hard disk and then add the new disk back to the pool.

If you want RAID-5, get an external eSATA RAID controller like on this page - http://www.satasite.com/sata-raid-enclosures.htm . Only $249 for a 5-bay enclosure (w/o disks).

Connect that to the eSATA port on the WHS, and add it to the pool.

My advice is not to muck around with the MediaSmart. You run the risk of breaking it, perhaps by changing something that makes an update go bad.

Treat it as a black box. If you're a good Windows Server administrator, roll your own system - perhaps with WHS, perhaps with Window Server 2008.

 

[VideoFreek]

Does WHS not have support for software RAID through Disk Manager like Windows Server 2003 does?

No, mucking around in disk manager can break WHS, and you definitely wouldn't want to attempt to set up software RAID (I'm not certain it would even allow you to do this). Remember, MS introduced a whole new storage management technology called Drive Extender for WHS. They've consciously decided to not support RAID, probably to keep things simple.

 

[lokipower]

I use a 1TB Time Capsule today as a complete iTunes media server and, of course, for Time Machine backup. Just set your iTunes database location as the time Capsule disk (set in iTunes preferences) and copy your iTunes folder to that location. Set all your macs to have iTunes use the library located in the folder. This works well with a caveat... if you are doing a Apple TV wireless sync you may have some playback issues if you are simultaneously trying to stream video to the Apple TV. A workaround is to connect a ethernet cable to the mac connected to Apple TV.

I connect a second HD to a USB hub connected to the Time Capsule to regularly back up data on the TC server. This solution is also hundreds of dollars cheaper than the HP server, has a much smaller footprint, work on a Mac without having to use Windows first and looks a hell of a lot better than this HP thing.

Well I have the old HP Server and works fine with Mac with a few tweaks. I am not sure about the hundreds of dollars less, but I did want to thank you for the idea about your use of the Time Machine, my sister needs this setup, and it perfect as she has 2 iMacs and 1 MacBook as well, and wants to have a central music source. So, thanks...

 

[diamond.g]

No, mucking around in disk manager can break WHS, and you definitely wouldn't want to attempt to set up software RAID (I'm not certain it would even allow you to do this). Remember, MS introduced a whole new storage management technology called Drive Extender for WHS. They've consciously decided to not support RAID, probably to keep things simple.

Interesting, I personally don't think Disk Manager is hard to get. But I guess I can see why MS did what they did. They kinda allow you to RAID your folders and files directly versus whole volumes (drive letters). Does WHS do Previous Versions (Windows version of Time Machine)?

 

[lokipower]

You just add content to iTunes like you do normally and, depending on your iTunes preferences, it copies the content to the Time Capsule location and updates your iTunes library file (which also must be stored on the Time Capsule).

Sorry to belabor this point, but you are on to something I am interested in. When copying your iTunes folder to theTime Capsule, is there anything else you did? Or is copying this folder over and changing the location in iTunes enough? Will the library file copy automatically? What if you download music outside of iTunes, and copy into the Time Capsule in the directories that exist already, how then would THAT music or video or whatever be added? That has been a problem I have run into, it constantly duplicates things. What is the best way to get music, NOT on a CD or NOT downloaded from iTunes into the personal iTunes library?

 

[lokipower]

The 1.5Tb version consists of 2 x 750Gb drives so I assume that would have the drive pool which would mirror the data but granted, the single drive version, the 750Gb version wouldn't have this.

Again, I sound like a bit of a fanboy here but what is easier, following the relatively simple steps to slot a new hard drive in to the box, add it to the drive pool through the software and let the server do the rest or try and set up a home brew solution?

I appreciate the Drobo can be shipped populated but, (and I've never really looked at them in great detail because of the cost) but doesn't a Drobo connect to a computer, rather than in to the network?

I think one of the previous posters hit the nail on the head - if you feel this product meets your needs then get it. It isn't going to suit everyone!

- D

Gotta give it to you on this one, last line.... I second that point...

 

[lokipower]

BootCamp not support doesn't mean it won't work

If setting up the server on the new server is anything like the old, (even with reloading everything from scratch) then YES, Bootcamp works fine. I did not have a PC at the time to reload mine several months ago. Since there was a lot of restarting, I simply told my iMac to load to Windows until I was finished, and worked fine.

 

[lokipower]

It is if it doesn't have an Apple logo.

When the time comes for me to decide, I will pick the one thing that does the most of what I need to do at the best price and in the least amount of parts.

This HP box so far is at the top of the list.

Ya know, I love the comments of this person, because they seem to be right on point. I am new to posting on these types of forums, other than asking questions, but for once I actually have a chance to speak out on something I know a little about, having had the server since it first came out, and then converted most of my house to Mac over the last few months.

Look, the HP server is NOT for advanced techno people who like to build their own solutions, nor is it for Wal-Mart shoppers who want to find the cheapest way out on everything. It is for people who want to have decent functionality for a reasonable cost and most of all SIMPLICITY. It is but ONE option... No solution is perfect. Sorry to the poster who talked about hooking up drives to a Time Capsule and running the automator... Sorry but my father could not nor would not do that. He would however be able to run the HP Server as his solution.

To ask this thing to have video out or act as a Mac, or dance and sing is not fair. There is PLENTY I wish my Mac's did that PC's do, and vice versa, but I do not need to complain about it, or waste time dogging Mac's or PCs. It is not for everyone, granted...Why insult those who have it or belittle those looking into it? For me, and apparently many others since HP spent a lot of R&D putting it out there, there is an interest, and something is gowing right, or they would not be selling a second gen server.

Stepping off the podium now.

I will add, looking at it from this point of view, some of the comments make me laugh in a healthy way.

 

[VideoFreek]

Interesting, I personally don't think Disk Manager is hard to get. But I guess I can see why MS did what they did. They kinda allow you to RAID your folders and files directly versus whole volumes (drive letters). Does WHS do Previous Versions (Windows version of Time Machine)?

Yes, Previous Versions is supported on the server, which means previous versions of files stored in shared folders are retained. As with Vista, they are accessed via the Properties dialog box, and can be accessed from a client PC by the user. Tres cool.


The other very cool thing is the backup system built into WHS for Windows clients. When the connector software is installed on a client PC, it is set to automatically backup the entire machine (time windows for backup can be configured). It will even wake up clients from sleep to run the backup. Backup is done at the cluster level, which means that only changed clusters are stored, not necessarily an entire modified file; they also incorporate single instance technology, which means that if it finds a file in multiple places or even on different machines (think Windows system files), it only physically stores one instance of the file in backup to save space. They provide a restore CD that can be used to restore an entire machine in the event of hard drive failure, or if you hose up your system really badly and just want to start over. All in all, it makes backup and restore completely brainless, which is how it should be.

Unfortunately, Mac clients cannot avail themselves of some of these features. What would be really nice is a Mac OS X version of the connector software, to bring the full functionality to Mac clients. The support for Time Machine in the upcoming MediaSmart servers is a step in the right direction.

 

[AidenShaw]

Some people have asked for more drives - VIA makes a WHS system with 8 bays...

http://www.via.com.tw/en/products/embedded/nsd7800/

 

[Razeus]

I don't understand how this would support Time Machine. Will it let me format a dedicated drive just for time machine? Since it sees all drives that I add to it, how would you partition a drive strictly for Time Machine? Will I need to format the rest of the drives for FAT32 to store and stream my media so that the Mac can read it? I would imagine that WHS can't read or see an HFS formatted drive. This sounds like great solution, but can't imagine how I would set this up for use on my Mac.

 

[archer75]

Interesting, I personally don't think Disk Manager is hard to get. But I guess I can see why MS did what they did. They kinda allow you to RAID your folders and files directly versus whole volumes (drive letters). Does WHS do Previous Versions (Windows version of Time Machine)?

Yes, you can RAID WHS. Many people do it. It's not supported but it can be done. You just don't set WHS to duplicate anything as the raid will take care of redundency.

Yes, WHS does do previous versions.

 

[archer75]

I don't understand how this would support Time Machine. Will it let me format a dedicated drive just for time machine? Since it sees all drives that I add to it, how would you partition a drive strictly for Time Machine? Will I need to format the rest of the drives for FAT32 to store and stream my media so that the Mac can read it? I would imagine that WHS can't read or see an HFS formatted drive. This sounds like great solution, but can't imagine how I would set this up for use on my Mac.

I can't say for sure but I bet it tells time machine that your drive size is whatever you set, so it doesn't eat up the entire storage pool. This also exists for the drobo.

The file system doesn't matter as you are using it across the network. My WHS is NTFS and I can read and write to it from OSX, access all my data and stream movies. The file system doesn't matter.

 

[OllyW]

If you want RAID-5, get an external eSATA RAID controller like on this page - http://www.satasite.com/sata-raid-enclosures.htm . Only $249 for a 5-bay enclosure (w/o disks).

Connect that to the eSATA port on the WHS, and add it to the pool.

The MediaSmart doesn't support port replication on the eSATA connection.

Wouldn't this mean you are limited to a single eSATA drive?

 

[AidenShaw]

The MediaSmart doesn't support port replication on the eSATA connection.

Wouldn't this mean you are limited to a single eSATA drive?

It would mean that you couldn't connect a 5 disk JBOD enclosure.

JBOD means "Just a Bunch Of Disks" - a port replicator enclosure is essentially a SATA hub - allows you to connect 5 disks to one SATA port. Not all SATA controllers allow port replicators to be attached to their ports (and the claim here is that the MediaSmart doesn't allow it).​

A RAID controller could look like a single SATA (big) drive to the WHS, so there would be no problem.

Because the RAID controller creates a "virtual" disk (usually called a LUN) from a number of physical disks, a single LUN could be exposed to the host without appearing like a port replicator. More expensive RAID controllers allow the virtual disk to be "carved" into several LUNs, or multiple virtual disks to be created. It would have to appear like a port replicator for the host to see more than one LUN.​

(Other than only being able to present one LUN to the host, that is. You couldn't put 4 drives in a RAID-5 and then present the fifth as a single disk.)

 

[OllyW]

It would mean that you couldn't connect a 5 disk JBOD enclosure.

A RAID controller could look like a single SATA (big) drive to the WHS, so there would be no problem.

(Other than only being able to present one LUN to the host, that is. You couldn't put 4 drives in a RAID-5 and then present the fifth as a single disk.)

Thanks for clearing that up. I thought you would have the answer.

 

[liketom]

i have the media vault 2120 and am looking to see if the Mac DMG software to connect to the ex487 works with my medaivault.

been trying to locate it from hp to no success

anyone help ?

 

[digiphantom]

I'm considering getting one of these HP mediavaults. Now my household has 5 windows machines and 1 mac. I'm not too interested in hosting Time Machine on the server because I have an external hard drive.

However, does the mac have write access in order to allow me to write files from the mac onto the server? Or is my mac only limited to only read permissions?

edit: nvm, I was able to share and write files to my XP machine.