Another WHS thread

[Dr Zoidberg]

I have read through most of the threads i have seen on WHS in here, but have a few questions i don't think i have seen, and clarification on a few points.

First up i have the trial software from Microsoft, if i install and use this and like it, what happens when i get close to the end of the 120 day trial?
Can i buy a full version and turn the trial into the full version? or will i have to start again with a clean install?

Do any of you use virus software on it? is it recommended? or do you not bother?

And a few on the hard drive set up.
A nice big drive for the main system drive so you get a good size landing zone, that's fine.
After that the way to go is adding extra drives to the 'pool', that's fine.
But can you add drives with out adding them to the pool?
I currently have a load of drives with a lot of stuff on that i want to move to the server and into the pool, the server will want to format them to ad them to the pool, so can i add them one at a time as a 'non pooled drive' move the stuff to the pool, then add the drive to the pool,
Or
would it be best to get a drive in the pool, add these drives to a different system to move the data, then add them to the WHS system?

I understand the 'pool' has some sort of safety on it so if a drive goes down it can be replaced and it will rebuild with out loss of data, is that correct?
can you replace a dead drive with any drive as long as it has at least as much space on it?
and if this works i suppose you can use that method if you just want to replace that drive with a bigger one?

And WHS is ok for running other programs from that are not standard to it? for example a small game server?

Thanks

 

[PhillyDee]

Do any of you use virus software on it? is it recommended? or do you not bother?

It only supports specific anti-virus. I would recommend it.

And a few on the hard drive set up.
A nice big drive for the main system drive so you get a good size landing zone, that's fine.
After that the way to go is adding extra drives to the 'pool', that's fine.
But can you add drives with out adding them to the pool?

Yes.

I currently have a load of drives with a lot of stuff on that i want to move to the server and into the pool, the server will want to format them to ad them to the pool, so can i add them one at a time as a 'non pooled drive' move the stuff to the pool, then add the drive to the pool,
Or
would it be best to get a drive in the pool, add these drives to a different system to move the data, then add them to the WHS system?

I understand the 'pool' has some sort of safety on it so if a drive goes down it can be replaced and it will rebuild with out loss of data, is that correct?
can you replace a dead drive with any drive as long as it has at least as much space on it?
and if this works i suppose you can use that method if you just want to replace that drive with a bigger one?

Just add the drives as non-pooled, but I would copy them to a different machine, as Ive never done it before. It may not work, and I dont want to be responsible for loss of files . . .

The pool only duplicated data if you turn it on for that folder. Otherwise if it looses a drive that doesnt have duplicated files, then good bye data. Otherwise it then copies the data to make sure it balances it out with the duplicated data. Assuming you have enough hard drives and space to have 2 copies.

You can clag in a bigger disk. WHS doesnt mind what size they are.

And WHS is ok for running other programs from that are not standard to it? for example a small game server?

Thanks

I run Twonkymedia on mine, and have used it for folding@home. I see no reason why not tbh.

 

[Dr Zoidberg]

Thanks
That clears a few things up, now to just find out what happens at the end of the 120 day trial. dont want to set it all up then have to start again when the trial runs out.

 

[Dr Zoidberg]

After a search on google....

To go from the trial to full version you have to do a reinstall, which leaves the pool in tact but formats the C drive and reinstalls the server, so any extra programs added will need to be reinstalled after, and all passwords/accounts need to be set up again

 

[cokecan]

regarding the trial, i seem to remember reading that you can purchase a licence and just use that on your current install without the need to format (it may have been server 2003 i read it on actually?)