Home Server Add-Ins. What Is a Home Server Add-In? First, those new to the MediaSmart Server and the Windows Home Server OS may not know what an Add-In is. Add-ins are programs and applications that can be installed to add new functionality to your server. Add-ins are written specifically for home servers, and because the home server is.
Microsoft made it easy for developers to install new applications on your Windows Home Server server — as long as you know the server’s password. If you find a new Windows Home Server add-in that you really want, then install it. If you discover another add-in that’s better, uninstall the unwanted app (bye-bye!) and then add the new one.
Download and install an add-in with these simple steps:
- Go to any home or office computer on your network and download the application’s installation file.Every application designed to be installed with Windows Home Server comes in a specific kind of file called an .msi file.
- Double-click the icon on the desktop marked Shared Folders on Server, then double-click the Software folder, and then double-click the folder called Add-Ins.
- Copy the installation file (the .msi file) into the Add-Ins folder, and then X-button out of Windows Explorer.
- Double-click the Windows Home Server icon in the notification area, near the time.
- When the Windows Home Server logon dialog box appears, type your server’s password and click the right-pointing arrow.
- When the Windows Home Server Console appears, at the upper right, click the Settings icon.Windows Home Server Console shows you the Settings dialog box.
- On the left, click Add-Ins. Then click the Available tab.You see a list of available add-ins. Not surprisingly, the list of available add-ins corresponds one-to-one with the .msi files in the Add-Ins folder. Rocket science.
- Find the add-in you want to install, and click its Install button.Windows Home Server installs the program by running the .msi file. When it’s done, you see the Installation Succeeded message.
- Click OK.Windows Home Server advises that the computer has lost its connection to the server, and the Windows Home Server logon dialog box appears again.
- Type the server’s password and click the right-arrow.The Windows Home Server Console appears again. If the add-in put a new tab on the Console, you can see the new tab. Your new add-in is running. Take it for a spin.
Finding the right add-ins can be a daunting task. If you ever change your mind about a particular add-in, uninstalling it couldn’t be simpler, if you know the server’s password.
Uninstall an add-in with these simple steps (don’t worry, its feelings won’t be hurt):
- Log on to any computer on your network, and double-click the Windows Home Server icon in the notification area, near the time.When the Windows Home Server logon dialog box appears, type your server’s password and click the right-arrow.
- When the Windows Home Server Console appears, on the upper right, click the Settings icon.Windows Home Server shows you the Settings dialog box.
- On the left, click Add-Ins.The Installed tab shows you a list of all the Add-ins installed on your server.
- Pick the Add-in you want to axe, and click its Uninstall button.You see a message that says the add-in was uninstalled.
- Click OK.The connection with the server is broken. If you want to log back in to the Windows Home Server Console to verify that the add-in isn’t running anymore, by all means do so.
Microsoft made it easy for developers to install new applications on your Windows Home Server server — as long as you know the server’s password. If you find a new Windows Home Server add-in that you really want, then install it. If you discover another add-in that’s better, uninstall the unwanted app (bye-bye!) and then add the new one.
Download and install an add-in with these simple steps:
- Go to any home or office computer on your network and download the application’s installation file.Every application designed to be installed with Windows Home Server comes in a specific kind of file called an .msi file.
- Double-click the icon on the desktop marked Shared Folders on Server, then double-click the Software folder, and then double-click the folder called Add-Ins.
- Copy the installation file (the .msi file) into the Add-Ins folder, and then X-button out of Windows Explorer.
- Double-click the Windows Home Server icon in the notification area, near the time.
- When the Windows Home Server logon dialog box appears, type your server’s password and click the right-pointing arrow.
- When the Windows Home Server Console appears, at the upper right, click the Settings icon.Windows Home Server Console shows you the Settings dialog box.
- On the left, click Add-Ins. Then click the Available tab.You see a list of available add-ins. Not surprisingly, the list of available add-ins corresponds one-to-one with the .msi files in the Add-Ins folder. Rocket science.
- Find the add-in you want to install, and click its Install button.Windows Home Server installs the program by running the .msi file. When it’s done, you see the Installation Succeeded message.
- Click OK.Windows Home Server advises that the computer has lost its connection to the server, and the Windows Home Server logon dialog box appears again.
- Type the server’s password and click the right-arrow.The Windows Home Server Console appears again. If the add-in put a new tab on the Console, you can see the new tab. Your new add-in is running. Take it for a spin.
Finding the right add-ins can be a daunting task. If you ever change your mind about a particular add-in, uninstalling it couldn’t be simpler, if you know the server’s password.
Uninstall an add-in with these simple steps (don’t worry, its feelings won’t be hurt):
- Log on to any computer on your network, and double-click the Windows Home Server icon in the notification area, near the time.When the Windows Home Server logon dialog box appears, type your server’s password and click the right-arrow.
- When the Windows Home Server Console appears, on the upper right, click the Settings icon.Windows Home Server shows you the Settings dialog box.
- On the left, click Add-Ins.The Installed tab shows you a list of all the Add-ins installed on your server.
- Pick the Add-in you want to axe, and click its Uninstall button.You see a message that says the add-in was uninstalled.
- Click OK.The connection with the server is broken. If you want to log back in to the Windows Home Server Console to verify that the add-in isn’t running anymore, by all means do so.