WindowsHomeServer
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Windows Home Server
SqueezeCenter will run on most if not all Windows Home Server (WHS) platforms. However, it is necessary to install it using the remote desktop connector not the console. Also when installed the WHS does not give any indication in the console that SqueezeCenter is running.
Getting Started
Start by using another computer to download the standard Windows SqueezeCenter software. It is not a good idea to use the WHS computer more than you need to for security reasons and it's configuration will also make it difficult. Once you have the software successfully downloaded copy it across into one of the shared folders that are available. Whilst it doesn't really matter which one I suggest you place it into the public folder rather than the software folder. The software folder is normally where applications that interact with the console are placed. Keeping things separate helps to avoid confusion.
Installing SqueezeCenter
To install SqueezeCenter you will need to access the console of the Windows Home Server. If you happen to have a keyboard, mouse and screen attached then you can use them, just log in as administrator. If you don't have anything connected, as this is the way it is intended to be used, then you will need to use the Remote Desktop Connector. This application can reside in a few different menu positions but is generally in the Start->All Programs->Accessories menu or one of the sub menus from this.
Running this software it will display a box asking for the computer name that you want to connect to. You should enter the name that you gave your server when configuring it. If you are not sure what it is called you can find out by double clicking the Shared Folder icon on your desktop. The server name appears in the title bar. The Remote Desktop Connection can do some interesting things like use a local CD drive as though it was connected to the server instead. These options can be accessed via the Options button. However you don't need anything other than the default settings to install SqueezeCenter. Simply click Connect.
You will then be presented with a Login box. The username is usually pre-filled but if not it should be something like: HomeServer\administrator where HomeServer is your server's name. Enter the password you provided when installing HomeServer or that was given to you when you bought it. Your desktop will, assuming a successful login, be replaced with the server's desktop and you will also see a warning about using the console. Close the browser window and you will see your server's desktop.
There will be a shared folders icon on this desktop, double click it and navigate to where you copied the SqueezeCenter installation file. Once located double click to execute the file. SqueezeCenter will now installed. It will ask where you would like to install it. Where it should be installed is a matter of debate but provided you are not installing lots of applications on your server or provided you don't have millions of albums then the default location should be acceptable.
Once the installation has completed the browser will open to configure SqueezeCenter. However, unless you have changed security settings it will be complaining about access to SqueezeCenter, most probably suggesting that you don't have Java or JavaScript enabled. Whilst you can resolve this it is better to configure SqueezeCenter using a different computer. At this stage just close down the browser.
Whilst SqueezeCenter is installed and running at this point it still requires one element of configuration to be done on the server. Otherwise when you log out SqueezeCenter will stop. In the Start->All Programs->SqueezeCenter menu you will find an item SqueezeCenter Startup Options select this. Since you don't normally log into the server console you will need to tell SqueezeCenter to run at system startup rather than on login. This is also a good idea because the server may restart itself if it automatically installs updates. When you run the startup options ensure that "Start SqueezeCenter automatically when the computer starts" is selected and if you wish you can enter the administrator username and password. Normally these can be left blank but some configurations of Windows Home Server may run SqueezeCenter more successfully if these are filled in. Then click "Next" and SqueezeCenter will be reconfigured. See SqueezeCenter As Windows Service for additional details.
You can now log out. It is important that you do this from the start menu and ensure you select Logout not Shutdown otherwise your server will stop and you will need to manually restart it.
Configuring SqueezeCenter for the first time
Using a computer other than your server start a browser and point it at a website on your server. There are various ways of doing this http://<your_server_name>:9000 or using the TCP/IP address for example http://192.168.1.200:9000 The first time you do this a 'wizard' will run that helps you to correctly configure your new SqueezeCenter. The element that is important for Windows Home Server is the location of your music files. There are two or three ways to specify this but the preferred method is to use a UNC. A UNC is similar to a URL in concept.
Assuming that you have stored your music files under the music shared folder then the UNC will be:
//<your server name>/music you can also point it to folders lower down the heirachy //<your server name>/music/flac Whilst this is highly recommended you can if necessary use a normal windows drive reference. In this case use D:\shares\music Microsoft note that they may change the location of the shared folders within the disk hierachy in the future and this would obviously break your configuration. Another advantage to using the UNC is that the path specified should be the same for all computers on your network. This allows any playlists you create to be used by both SqueezeCenter and other applications on the network.
