WHS: How to find the best add-ins?

[mmx]

I've found many sites, and many add-ins but where can I find a list of the top 20-30 add-ins so I know which are the best?

 

[Aberforth]

There is no point in extending the functionality of an incomplete application. Look for the ones that has built-in functionality of what you need.

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Some applications are not intended to be all encompassing. They allow for enhancements.

You post does not assist the user in anyway. The follow on post of yours, acts a s Mod cal lout.
Nowhere did RebateMonger have anything stated w/ respect to being a Moderator


However, I am stating this as my position as a Moderator
And you can come back with a softer attitude in 3 days.

Senior Anandtech Moderator
Common Courtesy

 

[BlueWeasel]

I think the best collection of add-ins can be found at We Got Served.

They have a top 10 page, but it's outdated. The best thing would be to browse the individual categories and look for ratings or number of downloads.

WGS Add-in Listing

 

[RebateMonger]

Originally posted by: Aberforth
There is no point in extending the functionality of an incomplete application. Look for the ones that has built-in functionality of what you need.

Out trolling today?

 

[Aberforth]

Originally posted by: RebateMonger

Originally posted by: Aberforth
There is no point in extending the functionality of an incomplete application. Look for the ones that has built-in functionality of what you need.

Out trolling today?

Having a mod tag doesn't make you any different from what you think I am. It's users like you who forcefully induce trolling. My response doesn't come under trolling, I gave a valid answer- you've got a problem with that? Feel free to ban me.

 

[loup garou]

WGS is easily the busiest WHS site and also has a nice list of add-ins as mentioned. Home Server Land doesn't really have a lot of content, but is the home for GridJunction's (an excellent WHS UPS add-in) developer's beta program.

Originally posted by: Aberforth

Originally posted by: RebateMonger

Originally posted by: Aberforth
There is no point in extending the functionality of an incomplete application. Look for the ones that has built-in functionality of what you need.

Out trolling today?

Having a mod tag doesn't make you any different from what you think I am. It's users like you who forcefully induce trolling. My response doesn't come under trolling, I gave a valid answer- you've got a problem with that? Feel free to ban me.

Uh...nice mod callout. You're gonna get what you asked for...

Anyways, WTF was your original post supposed to mean? Why would you want a product locked down to its out of the box functionality vs a product that offers the same functionality plus the option of additional extensibility? Because that's the false dilemma you've presented...oh wait, false dilemma, one of the hallmark indicators of trolling.

 

[RebateMonger]

WeGotServed is, I believe, the largest and most active WHS site. Phillip Churchhill's site, http://mswhs.com, also has some worthwhile content.

While it doesn't normally cover add-ins, Microsoft's Windows Home Server Forum provides some "official" input.

=================================

WHS really saved my behind this morning. Late last night, I downloaded and installed JMicron eSATA drivers for my motherboard. The driver install TOTALLY trashed my primary desktop PC. Even after removing the driver, the machine had Windows Firewall disabled, had my AV disabled, all my previous System Restore Points were gone, and I was getting system warnings right and left.

I don't know if it was just an incorrect driver install or malware incorporated into the JMicron drivers. I got them directly from JMicron's FTP site and scanned them (with Avast!) for malware before installing them. Device Manager indicated that the JMicron device drivers had installed correctly and the device was functional.

Anyway, I pulled the trashed hard drive and replaced it with an empty one. Then I booted to the WHS PC Restore CD and restored the entire 200 GB system. Two hours later (the time it took to move the 200 GB of files across the network), I had an exact clone of my system from 20 hours earlier.

I'll scan the "old" system disk with an offline scanner when I get a minute and see if it caught something from the driver package.

 

[bsobel]

Originally posted by: Aberforth

Originally posted by: RebateMonger

Originally posted by: Aberforth
There is no point in extending the functionality of an incomplete application. Look for the ones that has built-in functionality of what you need.

Out trolling today?

Having a mod tag doesn't make you any different from what you think I am. It's users like you who forcefully induce trolling. My response doesn't come under trolling, I gave a valid answer- you've got a problem with that? Feel free to ban me.

Your response was a 100% troll. The question was where to find addins and you came in and attacked the product and added nothing to the thread. So yes, that is trolling (which is what you generally do)

 

[Aberforth]

Originally posted by: loup garou
Uh...nice mod callout. You're gonna get what you asked for...

Anyways, WTF was your original post supposed to mean? Why would you want a product locked down to its out of the box functionality vs a product that offers the same functionality plus the option of additional extensibility? Because that's the false dilemma you've presented...oh wait, false dilemma, one of the hallmark indicators of trolling.

lol...I'm not concerned about getting banned, I'm doing this forum a favor at the cost of my free time.

btw I was not talking about 'locked functionality'. Home Server is an incomplete product, so the subsequent updates should contain more features, when you go looking for addons it means the original product is dysfunctional so you'd do better if you replace it. I have a friend who works in MS Bangalore and he agreed with me when I talked to him about home server. For example: When you install firefox you most likely install a bunch of crappy addons to extend it's features @ the cost of performance. Remember the data corruption bug in WHS? That's when I ebayed my HS.

Wise words of wisdom is taken as trolling these days, it's really sad I often have to put up with lower intellectuals

 

[BD2003]

I've tried many an addin, and really only stuck with a few. The vast majority are just gimmicks that youll never actually use.

"Disk Management" and "Lights out" are the only ones I still have installed.

 

[RebateMonger]

Originally posted by: BD2003
I've tried many an addin, and really only stuck with a few. The vast majority are just gimmicks that youll never actually use.

"Disk Management" and "Lights out" are the only ones I still have installed.

Those are probably the most useful general-purpose add-ins. But, unlike earlier, I now only have a single hard drive on my WHS servers (they are only used to do PC backups/restores). So Disk Management doesn't do much for me.

And all but one of my WHS servers are either 30 Watts or are virtualized, so going "Lights Out" doesn't do much for me, either.

 

[loup garou]

Originally posted by: Aberforth

lol...I'm not concerned about getting banned, I'm doing this forum a favor at the cost of my free time.

Actually, you'd be doing us a favor if you just left. You really don't bring anything worthwhile to this forum.

btw I was not talking about 'locked functionality'. Home Server is an incomplete product, so the subsequent updates should contain more features

Updates? We're not talking about updates, but since you mentioned them, take a look at the Power Packs, what did they add besides fixes? Oh yeah MORE FEATURES.

, when you go looking for addons it means the original product is dysfunctional so you'd do better if you replace it.

Add-ins are just...software. Everytime you install UPS software, or an email application, torrent software, or a third party power managment utility, it means your OS is dysfunctional? Shit, you'd better go back to an abacus and a pad and paper then. Seriously, MS constantly gets ragged on for including mediocre applications in their OSes and now you're saying by creating a framework for 3rd party developers to extend the functionality of their OS with easy to integrate applications, their OS sucks?

I have a friend who works in MS Bangalore and he agreed with me when I talked to him about home server.

Hey look, a textbook appeal to authority! Another troll tactic. Nice, 2/2 so far, let's see if you can hit every logical fallacy in one thread.

For example: When you install firefox you most likely install a bunch of crappy addons to extend it's features @ the cost of performance.

Except most add-ins don't affect the performance of WHS. Honestly, I can't think of one that does...I won't say that none do, I'm sure there's some poorly coded ones out there, but that's true of any software.

Remember the data corruption bug in WHS? That's when I ebayed my HS.

Yeah, I remember it, it affected a very small percentage of WHS users and was fixed long ago. What the hell does it have to do with the discussion at hand?

Wise words of wisdom is taken as trolling these days, it's really sad I often have to put up with lower intellectuals

:laugh:

Originally posted by: BD2003
I've tried many an addin, and really only stuck with a few. The vast majority are just gimmicks that youll never actually use.

This is true. Most are pretty lame. GridJunction, Advanced Admin Console, uTorrent and the File Manger add-in are the only add-ins I have loaded, and I do make use of them heavily.

Originally posted by: RebateMonger

Originally posted by: BD2003
I've tried many an addin, and really only stuck with a few. The vast majority are just gimmicks that youll never actually use.

"Disk Management" and "Lights out" are the only ones I still have installed.

Those are probably the most useful general-purpose add-ins. But, unlike earlier, I now only have a single hard drive on my WHS servers (they are only used to do PC backups/restores). So Disk Management doesn't do much for me.

And all but one of my WHS servers are either 30 Watts or are virtualized, so going "Lights Out" doesn't do much for me, either.

Have you seen this new HP MSS? It looks like the perfect device for a backup/restore only WHS, assuming they price it reasonably.

 

[Aberforth]

Originally posted by: loup garou

Originally posted by: Aberforth

lol...I'm not concerned about getting banned, I'm doing this forum a favor at the cost of my free time.

Actually, you'd be doing us a favor if you just left. You really don't bring anything worthwhile to this forum.

Better than discussing beer preferences, it'd be worthwhile for all of us if you quit drinking.

 

[loup garou]

Originally posted by: Aberforth

Originally posted by: loup garou

Originally posted by: Aberforth

lol...I'm not concerned about getting banned, I'm doing this forum a favor at the cost of my free time.

Actually, you'd be doing us a favor if you just left. You really don't bring anything worthwhile to this forum.

Better than discussing beer preferences, it'd be worthwhile for all of us if you quit drinking.

Ad hominem! 3/3!

 

[random betrayal]

Lights out is a must. Some decent media streaming ones as well. The recent update for media center PC's was nice.

 

[coolVariable]

Originally posted by: Aberforth

Originally posted by: RebateMonger

Originally posted by: Aberforth
There is no point in extending the functionality of an incomplete application. Look for the ones that has built-in functionality of what you need.

Out trolling today?

Having a mod tag doesn't make you any different from what you think I am. It's users like you who forcefully induce trolling. My response doesn't come under trolling, I gave a valid answer- you've got a problem with that? Feel free to ban me.

Mmmh. Can we get a ban here please?

Back to topic: wegotserved.com is great!