So if anyone is looking for a multi platform storage solution, then read on.
Last Friday, my HP Media Smart Server came in the mail. It was $499 from New Egg for the 750gb version. I’ve so far only used this with my Mac as we have yet to get internet setup at the house (because of a problem with Comcast). I have it plugged into a router in my room with my MBP plugged into the router as well.
I plugged everything up, turned the server on and booted the MBP into Vista (the server must be setup with a Windows OS). I put in the CD and did the auto run thing. It started the installation software, asked a few standard question you get when setting up a Windows OS for the first time, then installed the HP MSS console on the Vista partition. From there, I rebooted into OS X and used the same CD to install the HP MSS console on OS X.
The beauty is that the server was found and setup on both systems without having to fool with static IP’s or any thing like that. It was all done for me.
The MSS console on OS X is pretty barren. I’ve just been connecting to the server via finder and transferring files that way. I have it setup to use the server as the iTunes share. The MSS console on Windows contains everything else. There’s features I’ve read about but have yet to mess with due to the internet issue. It can stream files to other media devices in the house. One reviewer on some site or other was using it with his PS3. It also has remote desktop capabilities and access via the internet if you choose to set it up, so that you have your files from any internet connection.
There’s also supposed to be a fairly large library of add ons that expand the functionality of the device. Right now, it’s going to be serving it’s purpose of a back for my photos and other files.
When you add other drives, it adds them into the pool instead of having separate drives like C:\, D:\, etc… and adds the total space as storage. Also, with more than one drive you have back up folders, so if one drive dies, you don’t lose any data. I’m getting two more 1TB drives to add to it to expand storage and make it an actual back up.
HP has also made Windows Home Server compatible with Time Machine, so you can do OS X Time Machine backups to the server. It can also make images and backup of all computers hooked up to it so that if they crash, you can restore without losing any information.
This is honestly the best decision I think I could have made for a storage solution for my situation.
