13 replies to this topic

[no-control]

AMD Hondo, iHomeserver, D-Link DAP-1522, Vertex 3 Max IOPS 240GB, and Raspberry Pie?

AMD readies Hondo
AMD Readies Hondo, a 4.5W APU slated for Windows 8 Tablet later this year.

iTunes for WHS with i Homeserver
Manage iTunes from your central library using iHomeserver for iTunes add-in

Extend your WiFi coverage
The D-Link DAP-1522 is a great little access point to help extend your coverage or just to bridge the connection to remote wired connections. The GigE switch is a nice touch as well.

Same speed, but bigger
Mike adds in another Vertex 3 Max IOPS SSD to increase his speedy storage space, but this time springs for the 240GB model.

Mmmmm….Pie whaaa?

Check out the cool little RaspberryPI computer. Starting at $25 and boasting HD playback capabilities. Any technology n00b can afford to tinker with. With a recent port of XBMC for it….velcro HTPC anyone?

Edited by no-control, 04 February 2012 - 08:26 PM.

[Joe_Miner]

Just finished helping rebuilding my son's home network -- he had upgraded from DSL to Cable internet -- moved the Cable Modem to his family room then used 3 1522's -- one 1522 as a N speed access point, and the other 2 1522's as N bridges in different parts of the house. The walls are all refinished so it's tough running CAT6 cable (my prefered choice) so the 1522's make for a nice alternative.

Nice little units -- streaming HD with no problems. The manuals aren't that great --

[ikon]

Thanks for the tip about the DAP-1522. The coverage sounded great and I have an application where that would be useful. So I checked out the manual. They are nice units but, unfortunately, they lack 1 feature I need for my application. I only mention it in case anyone else is considering it.

I have a couple of work situations where we have desktop units that have to been networked wirelessly (can't run cable because of heritage building status). Although it is possible to get wireless NICs for desktop PCs, it is not my favoured methodology because it has some significant issues:

• Often, desktop chassis' are located under desks and other locations that make it difficult to propagate wireless signals. This can lead to less than optimal performance;
• Very often, a PC will boot into the operating system and try to establish network connections before the wireless link has been established. This can lead to network errors on the PC, which is frustrating to clients;
• It makes the workstations 'special' in that they have to be configured to handle wireless networking, whereas all the other desktops in the company do not.

I get around these issues by using multiple routers. I set 1 router up as a 'master' unit in AP mode. It is hardwired to the network. I then connect each desktop computer it's own dedicated router that I set up in client mode. The client mode routers connect to the master AP as if they were laptops or other client wireless devices. Each desktop connects to its router via normal Ethernet. This has several advantages:

• The client routers can be placed almost anywhere around the desktop PCs, which makes it possible to get the best signal available;
• The client routers stay connected to the master AP 24/7 so, when the PC boots up, there is never an issue with the wireless link not being ready;
• There is no need for wireless drivers or any special configuration of the client desktop computers, which makes it simpler for the Service Desk team to administer and replace them as needed.

Unfortunately, I could find no reference in the DAP-1522 manual to it having 'client mode' capability. Too bad. Anyway, I still very much enjoyed the podcast.

[Joe_Miner]

Re the 2 1522's we have set up in bridge mode -- once they're set up we place them for optimal signal wherever we want them (limited by the length of network cable we have plugged into it) -- plugging into the back ports is like plugging into a GB switch -- we don't have to do anything the Network is "there". We plug multiple devices into the back of the 1522 Bridge and it's like plugging into a wired network. Pretty simple.

Setting up the 1 1522 as an access point was pretty simple -- we could have tied the Bridges to the Router but we put in an Access Point to shorten the distance that the wireless had to go thru (basically one wall straight line) to attempt to maximize the signal for one of the 1522's configured as a Bridge (since we had an extra 1522 to play with).

[ikon]

Re the 2 1522's we have set up in bridge mode -- once they're set up we place them for optimal signal wherever we want them (limited by the length of network cable we have plugged into it) -- plugging into the back ports is like plugging into a GB switch -- we don't have to do anything the Network is "there". We plug multiple devices into the back of the 1522 Bridge and it's like plugging into a wired network. Pretty simple.

Setting up the 1 1522 as an access point was pretty simple -- we could have tied the Bridges to the Router but we put in an Access Point to shorten the distance that the wireless had to go thru (basically one wall straight line) to attempt to maximize the signal for one of the 1522's configured as a Bridge (since we had an extra 1522 to play with).

Sounds like a good fit for your situation.

[Jesse]

Hello Mike,

Would you mind giving the details of how you moved your itunes library to ihomeserver on your server box? It sounds like I have a similar situation. iTunes is installed on my primary workstation while all the actual media is stored on my WHS2011 box.

TIA

Jesse

[ImTheTypeOfGuy]

Re the 2 1522's we have set up in bridge mode -- once they're set up we place them for optimal signal wherever we want them (limited by the length of network cable we have plugged into it) -- plugging into the back ports is like plugging into a GB switch -- we don't have to do anything the Network is "there". We plug multiple devices into the back of the 1522 Bridge and it's like plugging into a wired network. Pretty simple.

Setting up the 1 1522 as an access point was pretty simple -- we could have tied the Bridges to the Router but we put in an Access Point to shorten the distance that the wireless had to go thru (basically one wall straight line) to attempt to maximize the signal for one of the 1522's configured as a Bridge (since we had an extra 1522 to play with).

When you set them up as bridges or as access points, do they have a different SSID name?

Hello Mike,

Would you mind giving the details of how you moved your itunes library to ihomeserver on your server box? It sounds like I have a similar situation. iTunes is installed on my primary workstation while all the actual media is stored on my WHS2011 box.

TIA

Jesse

My setup is like yours. Reading Mikes post I couldn't figure out what is the benefit of the added complexity of ihomeserver. So good question.

[Joe_Miner]

When you set them up as bridges or as access points, do they have a different SSID name?
....

The AP has a SSID -- we gave it a different name from the Router but I know folks who gave their AP's the same SSID as the Router.

The Bridges wouldn't have a SSID -- once we had the Bridges set up (you can do a survey from within the Bridge and select the SSID you want to tie into) it's like a Gigabit switch -- you just plug into it.

We did give each box (AP or Bridge) a different IP -- maintenance is easier that way.

Edited by Joe_Miner, 09 February 2012 - 08:41 AM.

[no-control]

Good questions

no it uses the same SSID, but a different IP

Mike would be a person to answer, but I believe one of the benefits is that you can manipulate iTunes directly through the console.

ITTOG - WTF? you're using iTunes? Really? You do know its apple software, right?

When you set them up as bridges or as access points, do they have a different SSID name?



My setup is like yours. Reading Mikes post I couldn't figure out what is the benefit of the added complexity of ihomeserver. So good question.

[ikon]

Good questions

no it uses the same SSID, but a different IP

Mike would be a person to answer, but I believe one of the benefits is that you can manipulate iTunes directly through the console.

ITTOG - WTF? you're using iTunes? Really? You do know its apple software, right?

I think you're being generous by calling iTunes 'software'. At least on Windows, I consider it 'malware'

[Jesse]

I think you're being generous by calling iTunes 'software'. At least on Windows, I consider it 'malware'

Ain't that the truth. We love our iPhones and iPad, but we hate iTunes.

We have different libraries, but my wife has made most of her iTunes purchases using my iTunes account. Because of this, things work better if I share my library and have my machine running when she syncs on her machine. If I had my library running on the server it would make syncing much easier for her. In theory I could then easily manage the library through the console and use wifi to sync my phone.

My concerns are just those that Mike spoke about in the podcast: I have iTunes installed on my workstation and have it pointed at all the media stored on our WHS 2011 box. Will iTunes be able to access the media on the server shares, or will it be fubared since the media is now on the same local machine as iTunes? In short, will iTunes still be able to "find" the media?

Jesse

[pcdoc]

Thanks for the tip about the DAP-1522. The coverage sounded great and I have an application where that would be useful. So I checked out the manual. They are nice units but, unfortunately, they lack 1 feature I need for my application. I only mention it in case anyone else is considering it.

I have a couple of work situations where we have desktop units that have to been networked wirelessly (can't run cable because of heritage building status). Although it is possible to get wireless NICs for desktop PCs, it is not my favoured methodology because it has some significant issues:

• Often, desktop chassis' are located under desks and other locations that make it difficult to propagate wireless signals. This can lead to less than optimal performance;
• Very often, a PC will boot into the operating system and try to establish network connections before the wireless link has been established. This can lead to network errors on the PC, which is frustrating to clients;
• It makes the workstations 'special' in that they have to be configured to handle wireless networking, whereas all the other desktops in the company do not.

I get around these issues by using multiple routers. I set 1 router up as a 'master' unit in AP mode. It is hardwired to the network. I then connect each desktop computer it's own dedicated router that I set up in client mode. The client mode routers connect to the master AP as if they were laptops or other client wireless devices. Each desktop connects to its router via normal Ethernet. This has several advantages:

• The client routers can be placed almost anywhere around the desktop PCs, which makes it possible to get the best signal available;
• The client routers stay connected to the master AP 24/7 so, when the PC boots up, there is never an issue with the wireless link not being ready;
• There is no need for wireless drivers or any special configuration of the client desktop computers, which makes it simpler for the Service Desk team to administer and replace them as needed.

Unfortunately, I could find no reference in the DAP-1522 manual to it having 'client mode' capability. Too bad. Anyway, I still very much enjoyed the podcast.

The 1522 can be set to either an access mode, or Bridge (client mode) or left on auto.

[ikon]

The 1522 can be set to either an access mode, or Bridge (client mode) or left on auto.

Excellent. Thanks pcdoc. BTW, I just found out that the Buffalo wireless routers are now shipping pre-configured with DD-WRT. This is fantastic news IMHO.

[ImTheTypeOfGuy]

Good questions no it uses the same SSID, but a different IP Mike would be a person to answer, but I believe one of the benefits is that you can manipulate iTunes directly through the console. ITTOG - WTF? you're using iTunes? Really? You do know its apple software, right?

I new it wasn't MS because it sucks. Once I found out how bad it sucked, I knew it had to be apple. It is a long story but the quick version is that I had an old ipod that I used with musicmatch jukebox. Once that was bought by ______ I could no longer use it so I had to switch to itunes. It is a sad story, I know.