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HP (Hewlett-Packard) EX475 MediaSmart Server

EX475 MediaSmart Server
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HP (Hewlett-Packard) EX475 MediaSmart Server

  • Reviewed by: thehortons

    07-10-08

    Duration of ownership: 6 Days

    Strengths: Simple, easy to set up and configureSuper small and sweet

    Weaknesses:Blew up my backups for no explained reasoned so it is still a new product

    Overall Evaluation: I just finished setting this great new little server up for my home network and things were going great. Installation was a snap and easy and as you install software on each new machine on the network it adds them to the automatic backup routine. That is where it blew up today after working great four days. I had six systems in our household set up over the last few days and as promised the server automatically was backing them up at night. Love it.... until today a big red warning popped up saying Network Health Critical and the Backup Server Was Not Running. I clicked on the link to how to fix and went through the steps and it did not fix it so I called HP Support. Here I learned the only fix was to click on the DELETE ALL backups button in backup settings and reset the backup server process. I said what???? There is no reason this just popped up on my screen it stopped working and the only resolution is to wipe out all my backups of the six computers. I was shocked and said that it is impossible to rely on this product then as my backup system and that is a major feature of the server. He acknowledged I was right and said he understands an upcoming update of the software will make it more reliable..... Great so don't buy this and think it will give you a reliable backup. Keep your existing backup routine until at least the first update in software after July 10th! Otherwise, I love this thing. Having a simple photo webserver and internet access to my files is super. Of course you have to sign up for a web address for an extra $10 a year and then be the manager and set up access accounts for all you want to be able to get to your files or photos or photo albums. Oh year, if you want to get directly to your computer my docs files you must be running Vista Ultimate or Business or XP Pro which I never new until I bought the machine. That?s Ok because I set up a filed folder on the server for my user account and called it My Documents and think keep in synced with the My Docs folder on my computer. I can access that folder from the internet when travelling. So this is a great new tool for us with home or small business networks, but it is new and still has a bug in the backup area so that feature is not reliable yet. Otherwise, having one terabyte of data available to everyone in the house and over the net when I want it is fantastic. So not a five star yet but I would buy it again even without the automatic system backup feature that blew up today for no apparent reason.

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