Microsoft® Windows Home Server DSP CD - 32-Bit OS

[bdt]

Personally i would not give M$ a dime more than I have to so take a look at these great install-and-forget alternatives (free):
www.openfiler.com
freenas.org

Yes there are free alternates out there. But lovely as FreeNAS is (and don't get me wrong, I've had one before and it VERY definitely has its place!) not even a 1.0 product ..hell, it's not even a PRODUCT, it's a project.

As for Openfiler, the less said about LDAP ("light"weight??! HA!) the better ..and I agree 100% with you, this is a seriously capable system/appliance. That does and CAN only do storage; albeit storage with enterprise-level options ..which pretty much don't matter in the (typical) SOHO space; it's about horses for courses.

Also if you want to be more creative take the plunge and install ubuntu server, even the desktop version if you are a complete nubie (free). I have one that I installed and last touched October 2007 (software raid, no disc issues even with plenty power outages, no viruses, no problems)

OK, have you had cause to upgrade the available storage? And, if so, what was involved with making the drive(s) added to the server available to the network?

 

[Gimli_]

OK, have you had cause to upgrade the available storage? And, if so, what was involved with making the drive(s) added to the server available to the network?

Yes, as I said in 2007, when 250Gig drives were reasonably priced and 1TB was very big. I originally had 5 disks in the array, one spare. So I included the spare in my array when I needed more space using command line (mdadm --can't remember the command line). But could just as well have used my webmin admin tool. Ok so technically I did touch it since I set it up. Anyway the point is there are many free linux alternatives out there that you can choose from. Your skill level and requirement will dictate which one you use.

 

[bdt]

Your skill level and requirement will dictate which one you use.

Yes and yes ..and, in the specific case I have above, I apparently HAVE to have a 'doze box giving up the network share as the accounting app will not allow multi-access to the company file on anything not Windows-based.

 

[Other Pineapple Smurf]

@bdt: I've never tried WHS (would love to) but my comment on requreing some server knowledge was not aimed at someone just requiring an out of box install. More for users that want to get the most out of the product.

I do agree on the lack of marketing as WHS is a great idea as not everybody wants a LINUX box for their server

 

[trancehead]

We use a WHS server at the office and it was ready to go in about an hour. Basically you just install it on a pc, install the connector software and you have daily backups happening automatically. I tried Amahi at home and it was a disaster, no common interface or login details, setting up was a pain (it wants to be your DNS server) and no automatic backups.

 

[MartyMarts]

Thanks for the feedback guys (especially bdt ) much appreciated...

So, I downloaded me an evaluation copy of WHS which is busy installing on my home 'server' as I type. Seems like the install does everything on it's own - keeps rebooting and logging itself in and doing 'stuff' :erm:

If I'm happy with the evaluation copy, where/how can I actually obtain a 'proper' copy? I know the eval copy can't be upgraded to the real thing and I'd have to do a fresh install but that's fine - for now I'm just trying it out. I'm also aware of the 'Vail' version thats still a work in progress - should I rather wait for that?

Thanks

 

[kingrob]

Not sure why you would choose a WHS over a Western Digital My Book World Edition storage solution (cos you still need to buy a new computer + hard drives to run it on), but if you have cash to burn, go for it.

IMHO it just add another layer on top of something that should be as easy as pie....and actually is with the WD solution.

http://www.wdc.com/en/products/products.asp?driveid=587

 

[bdt]

So, I downloaded me an evaluation copy of WHS which is busy installing on my home 'server' as I type. Seems like the install does everything on it's own - keeps rebooting and logging itself in and doing 'stuff' :erm:

Yeeeaaaaa, it goes NUTS that way; just let it play with itself, it completes in due course. Thing is, before you can use it (and SPECIALLY if you have Win7 boxen) you mustmustMUST get your PowerPacks (the WHS version of Service Packs) up to date.

If I'm happy with the evaluation copy, where/how can I actually obtain a 'proper' copy? I know the eval copy can't be upgraded to the real thing and I'd have to do a fresh install but that's fine - for now I'm just trying it out.

Read the licencing/whatever terms closely, are you sure it won't be possible? And as far as getting real/actual product goes: here ya go

I'm also aware of the 'Vail' version thats still a work in progress - should I rather wait for that?

Well, at this stage no-one knows WHEN WHS2/'Vail' goes gold/retail. Personally I give it no less than 6 months before it's readily available - AND there has been sufficient commentary as to whether it's worth jumping in ...YMMV

 

[MartyMarts]

Yeeeaaaaa, it goes NUTS that way; just let it play with itself, it completes in due course. Thing is, before you can use it (and SPECIALLY if you have Win7 boxen) you mustmustMUST get your PowerPacks (the WHS version of Service Packs) up to date.

Hmmm... ok. Windoze and their endless updates/service packs ...and now PowerPacks :wtf:
I've already connected via the console (which looks pretty funky) so I'm assuming I need to log into the box and do the PowerPack updates like normal updates? ..or do I need to download and install them manually?

Read the licencing/whatever terms closely, are you sure it won't be possible? And as far as getting real/actual product goes: here ya go

Thanks for the link, defintely will check it out. According to this I would need to do a complete reinstall of the software and not an in-place upgrade:

A move to the full retail version of the product requires a complete reinstall of the software and not an in-place upgrade. This means you will need to go through configuration and backup steps one more time. We suggest that you backup your files to an external hard drive before performing a complete reinstall. While we recognize that this may be inconvenient for customers, the technicalities of the current product prevent us from allowing an in-place upgrade.

...sucks, I know.

Well, at this stage no-one knows WHEN WHS2/'Vail' goes gold/retail. Personally I give it no less than 6 months before it's readily available - AND there has been sufficient commentary as to whether it's worth jumping in ...YMMV

Yeah, it's usually 'best practice' (imo) to let MS's latest and greatest products settle a little before relying on them. Windows ME/Vista anyone
I'm just wondering if spending R1000+ on software and then having the 'new' version available for purchase a few months later is feasible.

I know there's free 'alternatives' for WHS available but I prefer an easy 'Plug & Play' approach when it comes to my home setup (I leave the fiddling around on servers and laptops for work ). I'm gonna give the eval a month (well that's all I'm gonna be given anyway) and make an 'informed' decision thereafter.

 

[MartyMarts]

Noob question: How do I add a hard drive that is full of music, movies etc. to WHS? After placing the HDD in the server, WHS only gives me two options when adding the HDD - formatting it (which I do not want to do) and adding it to the 'pool' of HDDs or using it as a backup HDD. I basically want to add the files on the HDD to the folders in WHS (sounds rather simple but I couldn't see any options/settings to do this).

Hmmm... The more I use WHS, the less I want to use it.

 

[bdt]

Noob question: How do I add a hard drive that is full of music, movies etc. to WHS? After placing the HDD in the server, WHS only gives me two options when adding the HDD - formatting it (which I do not want to do) and adding it to the 'pool' of HDDs or using it as a backup HDD. I basically want to add the files on the HDD to the folders in WHS (sounds rather simple but I couldn't see any options/settings to do this).

OK, for a start, recognise that this is a v1 product from circa 2007 when MSFT had only really *started* with getting their shit together; point being, expect there to be ...quirks. So, with your expectations of a seamless UI/experience suitably dialed back: log in (via RDP) and do the necessary file-op work in the Server2003 explorer/shell. Hell, you got this thing to test anyhow so you may as well poke around all over the place, no? Then, once your incoming file-laden drive is clear, you're, well, clear to pull it into the pool, should you so desire.

Hmmm... The more I use WHS, the less I want to use it.

's the thing with trialling something, innit - you get to see if you DO want to get into bed with it in the long term (as it were)

 

[vinodh]

Just finished building my Windows Home Server. I used the older Server 2003 based version with Power Pack 3. Once it was installed, I unplugged tthe keyboard, mouse etc. and plugged it into a open LAN point. I then connected my Media Center and desktop to it using the connector software it comes with and that was basically that.

Things I learned:

1. Create usernames and passwords that are the same on both the server and clients. i.e If you logon to your desktop as "Osama" with a password of "911", then the username and password for that user on the server must created to match.
2. Backups should mainly be of the C:\ drive where Windows is installed and all other media from your client PC's could be placed into the pre-made "Music", "Recorded TV", etc. folders. However, if space is not a problem backup everything.
3. Research addins: I found a free one that allows me to wakeup, shutdown, restart and sleep all networked PC's, including the server. Locally and remotely.
4. Windows Update does not necessarily help Windows Home Server. One of the many, many updates killed the server's webpage for remote access.

I'm going to experiment with WHS V2 "Vail" soon. That issue about the removal of Drive Extender is going to be a problem...

 

[bdt]

I'm going to experiment with WHS V2 "Vail" soon. That issue about the removal of Drive Extender is going to be a problem...

Welcome to the maddened crowd ..and the end of WHS as a, you know, HOME (and pretty much SOHO) as, effectlvely *the* all-in-one solution that had so much promise in WHS v1. Dunno about you but it complicates my life in ways I really didn't want!

 

[bekdik]

I'd rather use a nas appliance for something like a home server. Netgear and Seagate both have products for home non techie networks.

 

[vinodh]

I might go down the FreeNAS route if Vail is a bust. I'm living in hope that Microsoft use a little bit of common sense and bring back drive extender. What would be even better is if they made Vail to be a Server and Media Center in one. A killer app that they probably will let Apple make...