Openfire only works when a user has logged on.  So we need to set it as a service.

If you do not have Windows Resource Tools Kit then you would have to download it.  It is free and available from http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=9D467A69-57FF-4AE7-96EE-B18C4790CFFD&displaylang=en and AnyServiceInstaller by Marceln from

 Now log into your Administrator account of your WHS either via Remote Desktop Connection, Advantage Admin Console Add-in or directly (Mouse, Keyboard and Monitor).  And install the Windows Resource Tools Kit. Read the rest of this entry »

After you installed the Openfire server, and you started it you cant either click on the “Launch Admin”

Or you can either on the WHS go to http://localhost:9090 or http://127.0.0.1:9090 but make sure that you have either disabled the advance security on Internet Explorer or have another browser installed such as Firefox.  If you are using any computer on the network go to http://whs:9090 or the IP assigned to the WHS in you network for example http://192.168.1.2:9090.

When you go to the above address the setup will start and you would have to select you language, then click the Continue button. Read the rest of this entry »

Having a chat or instant messaging (IM) server running on a Home or Small business network is some what a good idea, even if you are at work or school and other of your family is at home or even around the world.

The Chat server that I choose to install and run on my Windows Home Server has plug-ins that allow your clients/users to sign in using their mainstream accounts such as Yahoo, AOL and Windows Live (MSN).

The Chat/Instant Messaging Server/software that I choose is the Openfire from ignite realtime – Jive Software.  They also have a desktop (Windows, Mac, Linux) and a Web-based client to allow users to login and chat.

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As we all now load our computers full of memories such as those once in a lifetime photos and videos, or love ones that are no longer with us.  All we need is to loss them when an hard drive goes.

Like most geeks I tell everyone else to backup, but sometimes forget to backup myself and that has led to memories being lost until I was able to recover most of the files from the dead hard drive via recovery software.

If you backup to the Windows Home Server, then are you not putting all your eggs into one basket.  With Power Pack 1 – Microsoft has allowed users to add a Hard drive as a Server backup, it is better to have this hard drive not in the system but as an external drive, meaning that you can move that hard drive to someone offsite in case of fire/flood.

In our past post Tekzilla Windows Home Server Challenge we told you that Revision3 show Tekzilla with Patrick Norton will be looking into the Windows Home Server, they have look at self build high spec server, and a low power server.   The WHS Challenge part 2 starts at 15 minutes 8 seconds, you can find it at http://revision3.com/tekzilla/giphone/(Episode 75) or watch the video below. Read the rest of this entry »

Today when I logged into my Windows Live Hotmail account I noticed the Messenger buddies and text, this I noticed on all of my accounts (personal and business).

To start using the Messenger feature in Read the rest of this entry »

This post will show you how to get an Windows Live ID that is not for your country, for example if you live in the UK but want a @live.com Windows Live ID, and since when you sign up using a UK IP address you will just be shown @live.co.uk and @hotmail.co.uk.

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If you are using your WHS as a backup and share of all your files then you MUST backup your WHS, don’t put your trust on the Hard drive that is in your WHS or any of your computers (Windows/Mac/Linux) or even a Network Attached Storage.

There is a saying you have not backed up a file unless there is three (or more) copies of it.

It is easy to backup your WHS, for this example I will be just be

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To allow Ventrilo server to allow outgoing and incoming connections to the WHS, you need to add the Ventrilo Server to Windows Firewall allow list, this will allow connections within your network.  To allow connections from outside you network, for example you have a game clan and prefer to host your own chat server, you need to open the said ports on your router/gateway.

To open the ports on your router/gateway you will need to go to the router/gateway admin site, in the table below is the addresses for the popular brands.

Enter the router/gateway admin address and log in using your username and password then go to “Port Forwarding” or “IP Forwarding” or “Service and Firewall Rules”, on this page you enter the IP address of you WHS that is running the Ventrilo Server as it is bad security for your computers and your network to open ports.

Say that your WHS has an IP address of 192.168.1.100 so enter that and then enter the port 3784 and have the type as TCP and UDP.

On some routers/gateways  you will need to add the 3784 as a Service with the Name and type.  Then add it in the Firewall Rules.  And to make sure that both inbound and outboard traffic is not restricted, select both TCP and UDP.

Over the next few weeks the Revision3 show Tekzilla with Patrick Norton will be looking into the Windows Home Server, this will be the Windows Home Server Challenge the first episode with WHS on Tekzilla is about your options and the OEM HP MediaSmart Server.  You can find it at http://revision3.com/tekzilla/homeserver (Episode 74) or watch the video below.  The Windows Home Server part starts at 13 minutes 30 seconds.  They will be doing two self builds one being low power server using a Eeebox and a High Spec/power Server using a Core 2 Duo motherboard.

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