Windows Home Server

[Fineghal]

So I've heard a few vague things about this, what are its features supposed to be? How would it compare to running a Linux file server say?

Does anyone know anything at this point?

 

[Brazen]

Google does!

 

[timswim78]

I am running it. It's quite nice. Here are the main benefits to me:
- It automatically backups connected computers. The backup system backs up sectors or clusters (I'm not sure which), not files, which can save tons of space.
- It easily shares folders between users (I mean this thing is really easy to setup).
- It makes networking printers a breeze.
- You don't have to worry about setting up RAID if you have multiple drives, because WHS seamlessly sets up drive duplication.
- You can set it up so that you can log in and view any of your files from the Web.
- You can easily run a Web server from it.

 

[InlineFive]

I have a few questions regarding Home Server:

1. Does it offer a DHCP server?
2. Does it offer a firewall similiar to the updated version in Vista and Longhorn?
3. Does it offer DNS caching and WINS name resolution services?
4. Does it offer L2TP endpoint functionality?
5. Could I install Windows Server Update Services on it?

Thanks!

 

[timswim78]

Originally posted by: InlineFive
I have a few questions regarding Home Server:

1. Does it offer a DHCP server?
2. Does it offer a firewall similiar to the updated version in Vista and Longhorn?
3. Does it offer DNS caching and WINS name resolution services?
4. Does it offer L2TP endpoint functionality?
5. Could I install Windows Server Update Services on it?

Thanks!

These guys have all of the answers. http://forums.microsoft.com/windowshomeserver/default.aspx?siteid=50
I don't know what that stuff is.

 

[loup garou]

Originally posted by: InlineFive
I have a few questions regarding Home Server:

1. Does it offer a DHCP server?
2. Does it offer a firewall similiar to the updated version in Vista and Longhorn?
3. Does it offer DNS caching and WINS name resolution services?
4. Does it offer L2TP endpoint functionality?
5. Could I install Windows Server Update Services on it?

Thanks!

Its underpinnings are Server 2003, so I'd imagine you could do 1,3,4,5 (as of the current beta). However, by doing so, you may break WHS functionality. MS may very well lock it down way hard/strip out other services/programs for RTM, also.

 

[jim1931]

Originally posted by: timswim78
I am running it. It's quite nice. Here are the main benefits to me:
- It automatically backups connected computers. The backup system backs up sectors or clusters (I'm not sure which), not files, which can save tons of space.
- It easily shares folders between users (I mean this thing is really easy to setup).
- It makes networking printers a breeze.
- You don't have to worry about setting up RAID if you have multiple drives, because WHS seamlessly sets up drive duplication.
- You can set it up so that you can log in and view any of your files from the Web.
- You can easily run a Web server from it.

About your comment on networking printers.
When I first installed WHS about a month ago, I attempted to install my HP 2100 "all-in-one" printer driver but the system said the software was not compatible with WHS.

What printer & driver are you using? Your comments please.

Jim

 

[BD2003]

Originally posted by: InlineFive
I have a few questions regarding Home Server:

1. Does it offer a DHCP server?
2. Does it offer a firewall similiar to the updated version in Vista and Longhorn?
3. Does it offer DNS caching and WINS name resolution services?
4. Does it offer L2TP endpoint functionality?
5. Could I install Windows Server Update Services on it?

Thanks!

Its meant to be a server, not a router. But at the end of the day, its Windows Server 2003 underneath it all, so whatever you can do with Win2003, you can do with WHS2003.

I liked it as a beta but theres a few issues that kept me from using it when the final came out.

First is that the drive migrator system is incompatible with bitorrent. You need a separate drive thats outside of the WHS storage stack in order to DL stuff via BT.

Second is that there is no x64 client, so it wont be able to backup x64 systems, and that was a dealbreaker for me.

 

[stash]

Holy old thread, Batman!

 

[masteraleph]

Originally posted by: stash
Holy old thread, Batman!

I've always preferred: "Holy thread necromancy, Batman!"

 

[EQTitan]

I am loving the WHS so far it has been working like a champ, has a few instances where I'd still prefer using freeNAS over WHS.

Very easy to setup.

Minimum requirements are:
1Ghz cpu or faster
65Gb of space or more (I was like Woah really!!)
256mb ram

My system:
2Ghz Celeron
512mb DDR400 x1
160Gb IDE

 

[ViRGE]

Originally posted by: BD2003

Originally posted by: InlineFive
I have a few questions regarding Home Server:

1. Does it offer a DHCP server?
2. Does it offer a firewall similiar to the updated version in Vista and Longhorn?
3. Does it offer DNS caching and WINS name resolution services?
4. Does it offer L2TP endpoint functionality?
5. Could I install Windows Server Update Services on it?

Thanks!

Its meant to be a server, not a router. But at the end of the day, its Windows Server 2003 underneath it all, so whatever you can do with Win2003, you can do with WHS2003.

I liked it as a beta but theres a few issues that kept me from using it when the final came out.

First is that the drive migrator system is incompatible with bitorrent. You need a separate drive thats outside of the WHS storage stack in order to DL stuff via BT.

Second is that there is no x64 client, so it wont be able to backup x64 systems, and that was a dealbreaker for me.

I seem to recall someone releasing a version of uTorrent as a WHS add-on. So apparently they've solved the problem.

 

[loup garou]

Originally posted by: ViRGE

Originally posted by: BD2003

Originally posted by: InlineFive
I have a few questions regarding Home Server:

1. Does it offer a DHCP server?
2. Does it offer a firewall similiar to the updated version in Vista and Longhorn?
3. Does it offer DNS caching and WINS name resolution services?
4. Does it offer L2TP endpoint functionality?
5. Could I install Windows Server Update Services on it?

Thanks!

Its meant to be a server, not a router. But at the end of the day, its Windows Server 2003 underneath it all, so whatever you can do with Win2003, you can do with WHS2003.

I liked it as a beta but theres a few issues that kept me from using it when the final came out.

First is that the drive migrator system is incompatible with bitorrent. You need a separate drive thats outside of the WHS storage stack in order to DL stuff via BT.

Second is that there is no x64 client, so it wont be able to backup x64 systems, and that was a dealbreaker for me.

I seem to recall someone releasing a version of uTorrent as a WHS add-on. So apparently they've solved the problem.

That's what he's using, I believe. I haven't heard of anyone else having the problems he is...I am going to install uTorrent and the plugins (anyservice plugin too) on my WHS this afternoon and see if I can recreate.

BD, have you contacted the uTorrent add-in author regarding your problems? It only occurs if you duplicate your uTorrent download directory, right?

 

[BD2003]

Originally posted by: loup garou

Originally posted by: ViRGE

Originally posted by: BD2003

Originally posted by: InlineFive
I have a few questions regarding Home Server:

1. Does it offer a DHCP server?
2. Does it offer a firewall similiar to the updated version in Vista and Longhorn?
3. Does it offer DNS caching and WINS name resolution services?
4. Does it offer L2TP endpoint functionality?
5. Could I install Windows Server Update Services on it?

Thanks!

Its meant to be a server, not a router. But at the end of the day, its Windows Server 2003 underneath it all, so whatever you can do with Win2003, you can do with WHS2003.

I liked it as a beta but theres a few issues that kept me from using it when the final came out.

First is that the drive migrator system is incompatible with bitorrent. You need a separate drive thats outside of the WHS storage stack in order to DL stuff via BT.

Second is that there is no x64 client, so it wont be able to backup x64 systems, and that was a dealbreaker for me.

I seem to recall someone releasing a version of uTorrent as a WHS add-on. So apparently they've solved the problem.

That's what he's using, I believe. I haven't heard of anyone else having the problems he is...I am going to install uTorrent and the plugins (anyservice plugin too) on my WHS this afternoon and see if I can recreate.

BD, have you contacted the uTorrent add-in author regarding your problems? It only occurs if you duplicate your uTorrent download directory, right?

Nope, those are separate things. The utorrent addon is neat, it just adds the status to your UI, it doesnt actually add or install utorrent for you.

Its a problem if you use utorrent in the storage stack, period, even without duplication, although it might work in a single HD scenario. The way torrent files are written, basically randomly instead of sequentially, parts will have moved to other disks before its finished etc...it often leaves corrupted files. As long as you have a small drive that isnt part of the stack, it works just fine, and you can have utorrent move the files to the stack automatically afterwards.

 

[loup garou]

Originally posted by: BD2003

Originally posted by: loup garou

Originally posted by: ViRGE

Originally posted by: BD2003

Originally posted by: InlineFive
I have a few questions regarding Home Server:

1. Does it offer a DHCP server?
2. Does it offer a firewall similiar to the updated version in Vista and Longhorn?
3. Does it offer DNS caching and WINS name resolution services?
4. Does it offer L2TP endpoint functionality?
5. Could I install Windows Server Update Services on it?

Thanks!

Its meant to be a server, not a router. But at the end of the day, its Windows Server 2003 underneath it all, so whatever you can do with Win2003, you can do with WHS2003.

I liked it as a beta but theres a few issues that kept me from using it when the final came out.

First is that the drive migrator system is incompatible with bitorrent. You need a separate drive thats outside of the WHS storage stack in order to DL stuff via BT.

Second is that there is no x64 client, so it wont be able to backup x64 systems, and that was a dealbreaker for me.

I seem to recall someone releasing a version of uTorrent as a WHS add-on. So apparently they've solved the problem.

That's what he's using, I believe. I haven't heard of anyone else having the problems he is...I am going to install uTorrent and the plugins (anyservice plugin too) on my WHS this afternoon and see if I can recreate.

BD, have you contacted the uTorrent add-in author regarding your problems? It only occurs if you duplicate your uTorrent download directory, right?

Nope, those are separate things. The utorrent addon is neat, it just adds the status to your UI, it doesnt actually add or install utorrent for you.

Its a problem if you use utorrent in the storage stack, period, even without duplication, although it might work in a single HD scenario. The way torrent files are written, basically randomly instead of sequentially, parts will have moved to other disks before its finished etc...it often leaves corrupted files. As long as you have a small drive that isnt part of the stack, it works just fine, and you can have utorrent move the files to the stack automatically afterwards.

I understand you have to have uTorrent installed to use the addin. I can't say I've heard of anyone else with this problem, and there seem to be a lot of people out there who use uTorrent on WHS, take a look at the add-in forum @ MS. I'll see if I have time this afternoon to try it out...my WHS has 5 drives, different sizes, and is fairly low-end, so it should be a good testbed.

 

[loup garou]

Ok, I followed the instructions for installing uTorrent, running it as a service, and the WHS add-in. I am currently downloading some uh..test files. My DL is kinda crap, but in a couple hours, we'll see if they are corrupted in any way. I'm not seeing any weirdness as the files as downloading though...

 

[loup garou]

My DL speeds stepped up a bit and I've DL'd a 175MB avi and a 100MB rar of MP3s. Both came through fine, no corruption. I have a couple of larger files in the pipe as well, I'll see what happens with them.

 

[BD2003]

Originally posted by: loup garou
My DL speeds stepped up a bit and I've DL'd a 175MB avi and a 100MB rar of MP3s. Both came through fine, no corruption. I have a couple of larger files in the pipe as well, I'll see what happens with them.

It wasnt total corruption, every time. It was minor corruption, every now and then. Enough to destroy an entire archive maybe one out of every 10 times.