Updated 3/21/2010 to version 1.0.0.9THIS ADD-IN ONLY WORKS ON THE EX470 and EX475 MediaSmart ServersThe .zip file containing the .msi installer and Readme is available here:
http://www.mediasmartserver.net/add-ins/And here's the full Readme:
Title: MSS Fan Control
Version: 1.0.0.9
Date: 3/21/2010
Author: Alex "Big Al" Kuretz
http://www.mediasmartserver.netCopyright (c) 2010 Alex Kuretz
WHAT IS MSS Fan Control
=======================
MSS Fan Control is an Add-In for the Microsoft Windows Home Server
Operating System. It is designed to work exclusively with the HP
MediaSmart Server EX47x models, and will not work with any other WHS systems.
MSS Fan Control allows the user to easily control the speed of the
upper and lower exhaust fans of the MediaSmart Server. It also allows
the user to configure the speed and temperature thresholds that determine
how the fan speed should increase as the CPU temperature rises.
MSS Fan Control was born from a discussion on the MediaSmartServer.net forums,
which can be found at:
viewtopic.php?t=1236DISCLAIMER - PLEASE ACTUALLY READ THIS!
==========
It is possible for you to set the fan speeds too low and potentially cause
damage to your MediaSmart Server by overheating.
I have tried to prevent this by adding in a safeguard mechanism that
should force the fans to spin at full speed if the CPU reaches a dangerous
temperature.
When making changes using MSS Fan Control, you should monitor your system
temperatures before setting and forgetting it.
Please, don't abuse your server.
CREDITS AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
============================
First, I have to thank all the users at MediaSmartServer.net for their
enthusiasm, ingenuity, and friendly helpfulness.
Special thanks to ymboc for documenting the registry keys used by MSS
Fan Control.
Thanks to Cougar, JohnBick, and JRock, for advice, feedback, and testing.
Thanks to erail, ymboc, and cavediver for additional feedback and testing.
Thanks to Mall Ninja for making the world a safer place.
Thanks to the Flying Spaghetti Monster for making all this possible!
LICENSE
=======
MSS Fan Control is protected by copyright law.
MSS Fan Control is free for personal use but may not be redistributed
without written permission from the author. Commercial users, distributors,
or manufacturers should contact me for a license.
This software is provided "as is" with no implied or expressed warranties.
INSTALLATION
============
Install MSS Fan Control by copying the MSSFanControl.msi file to the
Software\Addins share of your Windows Home Server.
Start the Windows Home Server Console, select Settings, then Add-Ins. Select
MSS Fan Control from the Available tab, and click "Install".
UPGRADING
==========
To upgrade from a previous version of MSS Fan Control, please uninstall
the previous version via the Add-Ins settings tab of the WHS Console, then
follow the normal Installation instructions.
Your settings will have been saved in the registry, simply review that they
are accurate, then apply your changes.
CONFIGURATION
=============
To use MSS Fan Control, simply move the sliders or select the button
appropriate to accomplishing your desired fan behavior, and then click
"Apply". The WHS Console will freeze for a few seconds, and the MSS
LED indicators will blink. You should observe the changes in fan speed
within a few seconds.
Optimized is a great place to start for increased cooling with a minimal
increase in fan noise.
FEATURES
========
MSS Fan Control provides two main configuration modes which are mutually
exclusive. The first mode allows the user to hard-code the upper and lower
fan speeds to a specific percentage of max speed via the Constant Fan Speed
slider. The second (aka Advanced) mode is activated via the Advanced checkbox
and allows the user to individually change the speed and temperature thresholds
of the system via the Fan Speed Adjustment and Threshold Temp Adjustment
sliders.
There are 9 Fan Speed levels and 8 Threshold Temperatures defined in the MSS.
This means that for a given temperature, the fan will operate at a
specified speed. The Fan Speed Adjustment slider adjusts the Fan Speed levels
by the configured amount, so that instead of spinning at 1200rpm when the CPU
is 50C, the User can configure the fans to spin at 1400rpm by increasing
the Fan Speed slider to +200. By adjusting the Threshold Temp slider, the
user can configure the system to move from Fan State 0 to Fan State 1 when
the CPU is 31C instead of 51C by setting the slider to -20C. This is exactly
what the Optimize button does.
MSS Fan Control also provides buttons for two default configurations -
Factory and Optimized. Factory Defaults reverts the system to the
configuration that the MSS shipped with from HP. Optimized is a good
compromise between increased fan speed for better cooling while keeping
the system quiet, and is achieved by setting the Threshold Temp to -20
degrees C.
MSS Fan Control consists of a WHS Settings tab for configuration and this
README file. Any errors are written to the Application Event Log
on the Server; you'll need to use Remote Desktop to view these entries.
The following are some items that might be of interest about how MSS Fan
Control works.
* All changes are made by registry keys accessed by the MSS management driver.
* Limits have been hard-coded for safety. The top two Fan Speeds and top Temp
threshold cannot be overridden by the user, ensuring that should the system
get extremely hot the fan speeds will increase sufficiently to cool the system.
In short, I don't want you blaming me if you cook your server!
* All controls are the default WHS controls, thank you .Net for providing
visibility!
KNOWN ISSUES
============
* WHS Console freezes while applying changes. This should not last longer than
about 10 seconds or so.
* English is currently the only supported language, though MSS Fan Control
should install and work correctly on non-English versions of WHS.
CHANGELOG
=========
1.0.0.9
- Updated to work with the HP 3.0 Software Update on the EX47x
- Added a "Busy" dialog, displays while settings changes are applied.
1.0.0.8
- Resolve issue where advanced controls lost their settings when the
server was rebooted or Server Console reset (Thanks cavediver!)
1.0.0.7
- Initial release
FUTURE PLANS
============
* Unsure, perhaps include some more configuration of the options available
in the system registry after we figure out what they do.