Comments on: Maybe It’s Time to Look at Windows Home Server http://jkontherun.com/2009/05/21/maybe-its-time-to-look-at-windows-home-server/ Using mobile devices since they weighed 30 lbs. Sun, 22 Nov 2009 08:55:53 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: cr0ft http://jkontherun.com/2009/05/21/maybe-its-time-to-look-at-windows-home-server/#comment-59017 cr0ft Fri, 22 May 2009 16:06:51 +0000 http://jkontherun.com/?p=36080#comment-59017 It is just a shame that it takes so much extra work to get the server to the point where it can act as a media server etc as well with (Open)Solaris. That will keep adoption levels down since not everyone is willing to climb that learning curve. I would personally not run anything but OpenSolaris on my server for many reasons starting with near complete virus-proofness and ZFS, but unlike WHS it's not an "everyman" type solution. It is just a shame that it takes so much extra work to get the server to the point where it can act as a media server etc as well with (Open)Solaris. That will keep adoption levels down since not everyone is willing to climb that learning curve.

I would personally not run anything but OpenSolaris on my server for many reasons starting with near complete virus-proofness and ZFS, but unlike WHS it’s not an “everyman” type solution.

]]> By: Kevin C. Tofel http://jkontherun.com/2009/05/21/maybe-its-time-to-look-at-windows-home-server/#comment-59011 Kevin C. Tofel Fri, 22 May 2009 16:01:36 +0000 http://jkontherun.com/?p=36080#comment-59011 How's free? At least for 120 days. MS offers a free trial of the software here: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/winfamily/windowshomeserver/eval.mspx How’s free? At least for 120 days. MS offers a free trial of the software here: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/winfamily/windowshomeserver/eval.mspx

]]> By: Ron P. http://jkontherun.com/2009/05/21/maybe-its-time-to-look-at-windows-home-server/#comment-59004 Ron P. Fri, 22 May 2009 15:49:10 +0000 http://jkontherun.com/?p=36080#comment-59004 Another JKOTR article thats going to get me motivated. If anyone has a good location to obtain an economical copy of WHS I would love to hear where. Another JKOTR article thats going to get me motivated. If anyone has a good location to obtain an economical copy of WHS I would love to hear where.

]]> By: Decade http://jkontherun.com/2009/05/21/maybe-its-time-to-look-at-windows-home-server/#comment-58964 Decade Fri, 22 May 2009 10:23:24 +0000 http://jkontherun.com/?p=36080#comment-58964 I don’t trust Microsoft in general, but I was astonished when I heard about the WHS file corruption bug that Microsoft fixed last fall. Weren’t file transfer and and file storage supposed to be problems that were solved a long time ago? As much as it sucks to build everything yourself with Unix or Unix-like systems, you just can’t beat the reliability that is possible. And ZFS makes file storage a lot easier. I don’t trust Microsoft in general, but I was astonished when I heard about the WHS file corruption bug that Microsoft fixed last fall. Weren’t file transfer and and file storage supposed to be problems that were solved a long time ago?

As much as it sucks to build everything yourself with Unix or Unix-like systems, you just can’t beat the reliability that is possible. And ZFS makes file storage a lot easier.

]]> By: JHall http://jkontherun.com/2009/05/21/maybe-its-time-to-look-at-windows-home-server/#comment-58936 JHall Fri, 22 May 2009 00:49:47 +0000 http://jkontherun.com/?p=36080#comment-58936 Personal cloud for true mobility. Sounds like Kevins cup of tea. Personal cloud for true mobility. Sounds like Kevins cup of tea.

]]> By: Gaber http://jkontherun.com/2009/05/21/maybe-its-time-to-look-at-windows-home-server/#comment-58923 Gaber Thu, 21 May 2009 23:01:14 +0000 http://jkontherun.com/?p=36080#comment-58923 I got an HP EX485 when they came out this February, and it is one of the best $500 I have ever spent. It offers software mirroring for only the data you WANT mirrored (photos, documents,etc.), but it's not all or nothing! You can mix drive sizes and still make full use of their capacity! Plus, HP has some EXCELLENT add-ins, such as streaming services to PCs, Macs, and even iPhone/iPod touches! I back up my critical stuff to yet another hard disk and take it off site, but if you want, it also lets you back up stuff online. It is truly a great product, and I very much recommend it. It does a ton more than what I even mention here. I got an HP EX485 when they came out this February, and it is one of the best $500 I have ever spent. It offers software mirroring for only the data you WANT mirrored (photos, documents,etc.), but it’s not all or nothing! You can mix drive sizes and still make full use of their capacity! Plus, HP has some EXCELLENT add-ins, such as streaming services to PCs, Macs, and even iPhone/iPod touches! I back up my critical stuff to yet another hard disk and take it off site, but if you want, it also lets you back up stuff online. It is truly a great product, and I very much recommend it. It does a ton more than what I even mention here.

]]> By: TateJ http://jkontherun.com/2009/05/21/maybe-its-time-to-look-at-windows-home-server/#comment-58910 TateJ Thu, 21 May 2009 19:50:16 +0000 http://jkontherun.com/?p=36080#comment-58910 Good luck on this one Kevin. My HP WHS has been working flawlessly. MY only wish is that it had come with more ram. I'm gonna have to open it up and install 2gb of ram. I have't opened it up for remote access yet so I'll be looking forward to your experiences with using a WHS as part of your personal cloud. I'm worried about the security issues with remote access via the web. Tonido looks very interesting as well. Good luck on this one Kevin. My HP WHS has been working flawlessly. MY only wish is that it had come with more ram. I’m gonna have to open it up and install 2gb of ram.

I have’t opened it up for remote access yet so I’ll be looking forward to your experiences with using a WHS as part of your personal cloud. I’m worried about the security issues with remote access via the web.

Tonido looks very interesting as well.

]]> By: Steve http://jkontherun.com/2009/05/21/maybe-its-time-to-look-at-windows-home-server/#comment-58907 Steve Thu, 21 May 2009 19:29:16 +0000 http://jkontherun.com/?p=36080#comment-58907 WHS is a great solution, especially with some of the new Windows + Mac options that have been enabled on the newer HP MediaSmart models. Plus, you can find some of the older EX47x for a real steal. I've recently picked up a couple (we use them a lot on client sites as backup servers) for as little as $429 CAD. I know it's not fashionable to say MS is doing a good job but it's been truly a no fuss, no muss product and is getting better all the time. WHS is a great solution, especially with some of the new Windows + Mac options that have been enabled on the newer HP MediaSmart models.

Plus, you can find some of the older EX47x for a real steal. I’ve recently picked up a couple (we use them a lot on client sites as backup servers) for as little as $429 CAD.

I know it’s not fashionable to say MS is doing a good job but it’s been truly a no fuss, no muss product and is getting better all the time.

]]> By: Greg http://jkontherun.com/2009/05/21/maybe-its-time-to-look-at-windows-home-server/#comment-58905 Greg Thu, 21 May 2009 18:58:07 +0000 http://jkontherun.com/?p=36080#comment-58905 I have a homemade WHS and it works great. I have used the backup/restore and it works great. I use mine as a central sync point so I can have all my data on the server and then sync it to my computers with synctoy or windows live sync. Just make sure when you install to install on a big drive as your system disk. You can't change that later. If you put it on a small disk you may have issues later with copying large amounts of data. I put mine on a 40gb system drive the first time and if I tried to copy a large folder larger than what the system drive had free it would say it was out of space. Since the server copies to the system drive then moves the data to the other disks in the pool when it does its balancing thing. You really need twice as much storage as you want since it duplicates everything as its ways of backup. Other than that the server is great. I have had no problems with mine it just runs and takes care of itself. Kinda weird to say about a windows product, lol. I have a homemade WHS and it works great. I have used the backup/restore and it works great. I use mine as a central sync point so I can have all my data on the server and then sync it to my computers with synctoy or windows live sync. Just make sure when you install to install on a big drive as your system disk. You can’t change that later. If you put it on a small disk you may have issues later with copying large amounts of data. I put mine on a 40gb system drive the first time and if I tried to copy a large folder larger than what the system drive had free it would say it was out of space. Since the server copies to the system drive then moves the data to the other disks in the pool when it does its balancing thing. You really need twice as much storage as you want since it duplicates everything as its ways of backup.

Other than that the server is great. I have had no problems with mine it just runs and takes care of itself. Kinda weird to say about a windows product, lol.

]]> By: Hans http://jkontherun.com/2009/05/21/maybe-its-time-to-look-at-windows-home-server/#comment-58904 Hans Thu, 21 May 2009 18:55:15 +0000 http://jkontherun.com/?p=36080#comment-58904 I've been running a WL700G for a couple of years now, and have been very pleased with it. Its a wifi and wired router with a built in hard drive, and usb ports to install back up drives (RAID mirroring) and printers. It also has a web server built in, and some other various stuff. You can attach a web cam apparently (I haven't done this) and it also has an Itunes music server built in. Its like a Linux Home Server. I think asus has other similar products. Hans I’ve been running a WL700G for a couple of years now, and have been very pleased with it. Its a wifi and wired router with a built in hard drive, and usb ports to install back up drives (RAID mirroring) and printers. It also has a web server built in, and some other various stuff. You can attach a web cam apparently (I haven’t done this) and it also has an Itunes music server built in. Its like a Linux Home Server. I think asus has other similar products.

Hans

]]> By: Bcreekski http://jkontherun.com/2009/05/21/maybe-its-time-to-look-at-windows-home-server/#comment-58893 Bcreekski Thu, 21 May 2009 17:17:43 +0000 http://jkontherun.com/?p=36080#comment-58893 Would you list sites for cloud backup that are known to be good? Would you list sites for cloud backup that are known to be good?

]]> By: Gordon http://jkontherun.com/2009/05/21/maybe-its-time-to-look-at-windows-home-server/#comment-58892 Gordon Thu, 21 May 2009 17:04:21 +0000 http://jkontherun.com/?p=36080#comment-58892 I've been using WHS since the betas, and it's a great "turn it on and forget it" solution. The single instance storage makes for small backups, but they can't easily be read in another machine. There is a great community at http://www.wegotserved.co.uk/ and add-ons for (almost) every purpose at http://www.whsplus.com/ . The biggest risk is that it's still just one machine, and vunerable to fire / theft / whatever, but you can always backup the backups! I’ve been using WHS since the betas, and it’s a great “turn it on and forget it” solution. The single instance storage makes for small backups, but they can’t easily be read in another machine.
There is a great community at http://www.wegotserved.co.uk/ and add-ons for (almost) every purpose at http://www.whsplus.com/ . The biggest risk is that it’s still just one machine, and vunerable to fire / theft / whatever, but you can always backup the backups!

]]> By: Gordon http://jkontherun.com/2009/05/21/maybe-its-time-to-look-at-windows-home-server/#comment-58890 Gordon Thu, 21 May 2009 16:51:21 +0000 http://jkontherun.com/?p=36080#comment-58890 It's not officially supported, but it can be done http://mswhs.com/2007/11/03/how-to-install-sharepoint-services-on-windows-home-server/ It’s not officially supported, but it can be done http://mswhs.com/2007/11/03/how-to-install-sharepoint-services-on-windows-home-server/

]]> By: Pam T. http://jkontherun.com/2009/05/21/maybe-its-time-to-look-at-windows-home-server/#comment-58887 Pam T. Thu, 21 May 2009 16:40:16 +0000 http://jkontherun.com/?p=36080#comment-58887 I'm probably going to follow you down the home server path, Kevin. I'm trying to manage five computers at home and would like to have better access to my "stuff" internally. Lots of media to organize, too. I'm not against cloud data, and in fact have really pushed it to many author friends. But sometimes, it's just not the right solution. And there's a old desktop computer that needs a job... I’m probably going to follow you down the home server path, Kevin. I’m trying to manage five computers at home and would like to have better access to my “stuff” internally. Lots of media to organize, too.

I’m not against cloud data, and in fact have really pushed it to many author friends. But sometimes, it’s just not the right solution.

And there’s a old desktop computer that needs a job…

]]> By: Kevin C. Tofel http://jkontherun.com/2009/05/21/maybe-its-time-to-look-at-windows-home-server/#comment-58886 Kevin C. Tofel Thu, 21 May 2009 16:32:08 +0000 http://jkontherun.com/?p=36080#comment-58886 According to <a href="http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc288751.aspx" rel="nofollow">Microsoft's TechNet page for SharePoint Services system requirements</a>, no. :( According to Microsoft’s TechNet page for SharePoint Services system requirements, no. :(

]]> By: Frick http://jkontherun.com/2009/05/21/maybe-its-time-to-look-at-windows-home-server/#comment-58884 Frick Thu, 21 May 2009 16:27:42 +0000 http://jkontherun.com/?p=36080#comment-58884 Does anyone know if WHS allows for Windows Sharepoint Services to be installed? Does anyone know if WHS allows for Windows Sharepoint Services to be installed?

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