MSeng
Premium,Ex-Mod 2001-08
join:2000-07-13
Ork
clubs:
 ·AT&T U-Verse
 ·AT&T Midwest
|  [WHS] Try Windows Home Server for 120 days
You've heard about, maybe read about it online somewhere. Now, you can give it a test drive -- Windows Home Server. If you have an old box laying around that meets the system requirements then you might want to give this new "server for the home" a ride around the block.
Although the software is primarily going to be offered on packaged hardware like the HP MediaSmart Server ( retailing at $599) you can also find the software at places like newegg.com for a reasonable $179.00.
I've never been a fanboy of Microsoft  but I really like this latest offering.
--
Microsoft MVP (Windows Shell/User), 2004-2007 |
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SoonerAl
Old Enough To Know Better
Premium,MVM
join:2002-07-23
Norman, OK
| I just converted my old desktop into a WHS box this last Thursday. It really is a quite impressive, IMHO, piece of software. My WHS is a Pentium 4 1.8 Ghz box, 512 Meg RAM with a 160 Gig and a 20 Gig hard drive.
The WHS backups my wife's XP Pro machine and my Vista Ultimate laptop automatically on a daily basis, something I never had in the past. I also setup a remote access account and privileges for my brother (who lives in Florida) and myself. My brother has access to shared folders/files while I have access to shared folders/files and my own specifically owned folder. He also has a WHS running and I have similar privileges on his machine, ie. access to shared folders/files only. My wife only has access to shared folders/files and her specificlly owned folder on the WHS. She does not have remote access privileges.
Remote Desktop access is easy and fast to my wife's XP Pro machine if I need it.
All access to my WHS and shared folders/files or Remote Desktop to access my wife's XP Pro machine is via a web based interface that requires two ports to be opened on any firewall/router the WHS is behind, ie. TCP Port 443 and TCP Port 4125.
--
"When all else fails, read the instructions..."
MS-MVP Windows Networking 2003-2007 |
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Kanebrake
JJ - Hendrick 48 Car
Premium
join:2002-03-12
| reply to MSeng
3x ... I have been running this since the first beta. I quit using Acronis and started using WHS. I have done restores on xP home & pro and Vista b.e. and all works as advertised. I have ripped 215 dvd's and over 200 cd's and all works great.
--
Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: |
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DocLarge
Premium
join:2004-09-08 | reply to SoonerAl
Nice!
I may give this a playaround before I pack my stuff up and head back to the states in January...
Got a job at a network operations center....
Jay |
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Kabanos
Premium
join:2001-06-29
1 edit |  reply to MSeng
Windows Home Server Drive Extender
WHS Related:
quote:
Windows Home Server Drive Extender
...
Brief Description
This Technical Brief provides an in-depth look at the features and functionality of Windows Home Server Drive Extender.
...
Overview
This Technical Brief provides an in-depth look at the features and functionality of Windows Home Server Drive Extender. Learn about configuring your home server’s storage and adding / removing hard drives.
...
Quick Details
File Name: Windows_Home_Server_Drive_Extender.pdf
Version: 1.0
Date Published: 11/7/2007
Language: English
Download Size: 676 KB
Estimated Download Time: 2 min 56K
...
»www.microsoft.com/downloads/deta···yLang=en
--
non nova, sed nove |
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MSeng
Premium,Ex-Mod 2001-08
join:2000-07-13
Ork
clubs:
·AT&T U-Verse
·AT&T Midwest
1 edit | Also WHS related: We Got Served, a site dedicated to the new OS, has compiled a one-stop list of add-ins available for WHS.
Windows Home Server Add-ins
I'm running a web site off the server utilizing some of the tools.
--
Microsoft MVP (Windows Shell/User), 2004-2007 |
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SoonerAl
Old Enough To Know Better
Premium,MVM
join:2002-07-23
Norman, OK | The WHS How-To's are also informative...
»www.wegotserved.co.uk/whs-how-to/ |
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La Luna
Surviving Ashraful
Premium
join:2001-07-12
Warwick, NY
clubs: | reply to MSeng
Re: [WHS] Try Windows Home Server for 120 days
Wow, wish I had a spare box to run this on, looks really nice. |
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markopoleo
join:2003-04-02
Bonne Terre, MO | reply to MSeng
This is a great product at the right time. So many households have lots of digital media and files that just need to be backed up. But they lack the willpower or knowledge.
Im setting one up for myself and parents business. |
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MSeng
Premium,Ex-Mod 2001-08
join:2000-07-13
Ork
clubs: | reply to SoonerAl
I've been beta testing an AV program for WHS also -- »[BETA] avast! Windows Home Server Edition
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Microsoft MVP (Windows Shell/User), 2004-2007 |
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Anon007
@tele.dk | reply to MSeng
said by MSeng  :I've never been a fanboy of Microsoft... LOL |
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SoonerAl
Old Enough To Know Better
Premium,MVM
join:2002-07-23
Norman, OK
1 edit |  reply to MSeng
Some additional WHS resources from MS
Release Documentation...
»www.microsoft.com/downloads/deta···ylang=en
Remote Access...
»download.microsoft.com/download/···cess.pdf
Media sharing...
»download.microsoft.com/download/···ring.pdf
--
"When all else fails, read the instructions..."
MS-MVP Windows Networking 2003-2007 |
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SoonerAl
Old Enough To Know Better
Premium,MVM
join:2002-07-23
Norman, OK
| reply to MSeng
If your running WHS and keep getting the nagging certificate warning messages look at this page from Susan Bradley (MS-MVP SBS) for help installing the self signed root cert on your client.
»msmvps.com/blogs/bradley/archive···sta.aspx
You can then export the root cert and import that on other clients by following the advice in the second post by DocGuy (a WHS Team member) in this thread from the MS WHS forums...
»forums.microsoft.com/WindowsHome···iteID=50
FYI, I initially had an issue using the WHS self signed root cert on my Vista laptop client. I kept getting a cert warning message when I tried to access my WHS secure page from a remote location.
The problem was traced to my old domain name which I was using. I used a DynDNS domain name and had my router configured to sign on the DynDNS servers. So in this case the WHS machine had no knowledge of my domain name so the self signed cert was created without including the domain name.
To fix this issue I disabled DynDNS sign-on in my router and configured my WHS machine (via the WHS console) to use a MS supplied homeserver.com domain name. Subsequently this caused a new cert to be created. I could then install this new root cert and I can now access my WHS machine secure web page without getting the cert warning message.
My brother (in Florida) imported the .cer file I sent him and he can also access his account on my WHS machine with getting the cert waining message.
--
"When all else fails, read the instructions..."
MS-MVP Windows Networking 2003-2007 |
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OZO
Premium
join:2003-01-17
| reply to MSeng
In this web page there is requirement:
70 GB or larger ATA, SATA, or SCSI hard drive as the primary hard drive
Is it a missprint or something?
--
Keep it simple, it'll become complex by itself... |
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TODarling
U.S. Army Retired
Premium
join:2004-11-27
Fort Smith, AR
| said by OZO :In this web page there is requirement: 70 GB or larger ATA, SATA, or SCSI hard drive as the primary hard driveIs it a missprint or something? No it is not a misprint. I was a beta tester and since the release of RC1 that is a requirement. WHS uses 20 gig for the OS and the remainder of the drive is for backups and file sharing. |
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OZO
Premium
join:2003-01-17 | Thanks! |
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DOStradamus
MVM
join:2003-11-04
Santa Rosa, CA
| reply to MSeng
Windows Server 2008 RC0 (which I'm up on as I type this) is available as a free evaluation download via MSDN Downloads (you don't have to be a paying pubscriber to get it, either).
You have your choice of Standard, Enterprose, and Datacenter versions, and the only thing that you need to remember, is that it will "DIE" on April Fool's Day (IIRC), or upon the date the OS is finally released, whenever is later.
I *love* it -- it's all the Nice Things that Vista offers, it installs none of the "Carp" I hate about Vista (unless you install User Experience - BE WARNED!), and it has all the network tools and toys you only get with Windows "Server".
-NK |
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SoonerAl
Old Enough To Know Better
Premium,MVM
join:2002-07-23
Norman, OK
| reply to TODarling
WHS Server Storage | 
WHS Computer backup history |
said by TODarling :said by OZO :In this web page there is requirement: 70 GB or larger ATA, SATA, or SCSI hard drive as the primary hard driveIs it a missprint or something? No it is not a misprint. I was a beta tester and since the release of RC1 that is a requirement. WHS uses 20 gig for the OS and the remainder of the drive is for backups and file sharing. To add these screen shots are from my WHS. One shows the current disk usage on the server and the other the current backup history of my wife's XP Pro desktop. Her machine is connected to my LAN via an 802.11g wireless link by the way.
My Vista Ultimate laptop is normally sitting on my desk in hibernate overnight (it connects to my LAN via a 100 Mbps link) and is also automatically backed up in the middle of the night. That is really a nice feature, IMHO.
--
"When all else fails, read the instructions..."
MS-MVP Windows Networking 2003-2007 |
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Kanebrake
JJ - Hendrick 48 Car
Premium
join:2002-03-12
| reply to MSeng
Here are some more screenies showing a couple of addin's for WHS (Diskeeper 2008 & Avast for WHS). The yellow network health icon is showing because the RC version expires in 26 days.
--
Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: |
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Kabanos
Premium
join:2001-06-29
| reply to MSeng
quote:
Windows Home Server Technical Brief for Home Networking
Brief Description
This technical brief provides an in-depth look at home networking and how it applies to Windows® Home Server.
...
Quick Details
File Name: WHS Technical Brief - Home Networking.pdf
Version: 1
Date Published: 11/16/2007
Language: English
Download Size: 286 KB
...
»www.microsoft.com/downloads/deta···yLang=en
--
non nova, sed nove |
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