In the future I thought it would be cool to have Red Power on the server. Instead of needing a 3 block thick wall to hide redstone, you would be able to hide the wires in just a 1 block thick wall. It also makes it easier to setup more complicated circuits like door locks, LED displays, smaller music players with more variety, even automated minecart systems. You can run these wires around 256 blocks and not need a redstone repeater every 18 blocks.

http://www.minecraftforum.net/topic/...redstone-pipe/

It requires Flan's Unofficial ModLoaderMp and MinecraftForge Server V1.0.5 or later. I'm not sure if these would interfere with the server plugin you're using.
This mod isn't set up for 1.8 yet but I don't see why it won't be.