How to run HP Upline inside your Windows Home Server Console

HP’s Upline service was not designed to run in Windows Home Server.  The console has an application that sits on the desktop and it’s impossible to get to via the Windows Home Server Console.  That’s what I first thought anyway.  After a bit of tinkering I have managed to run Upline inside of the WHS console.  It’s pretty simple and not real groundbreaking but here it is anyway.

Go to www.upline.com to get the installer.  There is a Free Trial button so you can test it out for 30 days.  You will get unlimited storage for those 30 days.  It can be used on up to 3 PC’s. 

You have to register with HP before you can download the files so enjoy this part of it.  When you have completed the registration you will be able to download uplineInstaller.exe.  Transport this file to the Desktop of your Windows Home Server.

The Windows Home Server Console is going to need help from a very handy Add-In called Advanced Admin Console.  Go to the downloads section of this site, http://home-server-addins.com/ to find AAC.

Copy this download to your Software\Add-Ins folder on your WHS.

Do a remote desktop into your Windows Home Server.

Install Upline from the desktop.  There will be several configuration screens.

 

Launch the Configuration Wizard.

Go through all the settings for your specific situation. I recommend turning local backup OFF.

Sign in and click the “Sign in Automatically” check box.

I named mine exactly the name of the WHS.

Click Finish to launch the software on your desktop.

It’s in this screen where you remove what Upline has chosen to backup and insert what you want it to backup.  You also have the option to tell Upline how often you want it to check for new files.  You can see here that it defaults to 15 minutes.

You will have to use UNC slashes to enter your WHS shares into upline.  Configure and run a test backup.  Do something small at first so you don’t have to wait around!  We have more work to do.

Exit Upline.

The application starts every time your WHS starts up so I took it out with MSConfig

Here is where it’s tricky.  Just remember that upline will be available on the desktop of the username that launches it.  If you autolaunch it with the administrator login it will not be available to your regular WHS console users. 

This app is somewhat a “set it and forget it” application as well but I’m sure there are other ways of getting the application started and have it be accessible to the login name that you choose.  I didn’t try starting it as a service or anything fancy link an auto-login utility.  Still more to do so keep reading.

Did you install Advanced Admin Console yet?  Launch the WHS console, click Settings, click Add-Ins, and Available.  Install and restart the console.

You will now have a new icon waiting for you in the console.

Click the drop-down arrow in the bottom right of AAC.

Click Customize, Custom Shortcuts. 

*(see notes below) Create a new shortcut to your desktop.  I got the shortcut by going to the desktop of the server, right click the show desktop icon in the quick launch bar, make a shortcut.  Now drag the newly created “shortcut to the desktop shortcut” to your desktop.  You might have to read that twice.

Right click it to get the properties.  It will read like this:

"C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\Application Data\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\Show Desktop.scf"

Back to AAC, Click Customize, Custom Shortcuts.  Click Add Shortcut.

Here are my shortcuts.  I have a URL shortcut to my router’s admin page.  I also have one to Upline.

If you have removed the automatic starting of upline you should be able to reboot the WHS and login with your WHS console and use AAC to start upline.  You will get to Upline by using the show desktop shortcut.

Notice it here running inside WHS Console.  Enjoy.

 

Notes and Disclaimers

I did this on a test server.  Use at your own risk.

*I just noticed on the AAC Add-In there is a minimize link on the bottom right.  Click and there is your desktop!  There is another way to add the desktop but it adds it as whatever username is logged in and that gets messy as well.  My way works and the Minimize link works.

If you find yourself in the mess of logging in and you can’t get to Upline, start task manager and see if another user is logged in.  Perhaps upline was started via another user.  Logoff that user, and start Upline.

I’m sure some enterprising WHS hackers out there can improve on this so there it is.

Tags: Upline

Category: Windows Home Server