MicroServer OS and software help

2013

2013

2013

Soldato
Joined
29 Dec 2012
Posts
4,315
Hi all I don't know much about micro servers, So I would be glad if you could help me a little, I'm am looking around forums to get ideas but its not sinking in yet.

I need some help setting up my MicroServer, I dont know everything I will be using it for till I get a understanding of what's possible and available. For now I want to lay the ground work for the future.

What I know I will be using it for at some point, for now.
1. I want to be able to access it from anywhere. like a personal cloud.
2. Stream movie's, music, images, ext from anywhere, like netflix
3. Keep backups of all my data, movie's music photos, docs ext, and upload/download files from anywhere similar to dropbox.
4. I want to be able to use it as a windows pc because I will be windows apps to do some of my office work, this will run all the time, till I stop it. uploading data.
5. downloading so I dont need to on my pc.

Both the os and desktop software,

Ive been suggested XPEnology and a lot of people use it, but im not sure its for me.
 
2013 said:
Hi all I don't know much about micro servers, So I would be glad if you could help me a little, I'm am looking around forums to get ideas but its not sinking in yet.

I need some help setting up my MicroServer, I dont know everything I will be using it for till I get a understanding of what's possible and available. For now I want to lay the ground work for the future.

What I know I will be using it for at some point, for now.
1. I want to be able to access it from anywhere. like a personal cloud.
2. Stream movie's, music, images, ext from anywhere, like netflix
3. Keep backups of all my data, movie's music photos, docs ext, and upload/download files from anywhere similar to dropbox.
4. I want to be able to use it as a windows pc because I will be windows apps to do some of my office work, this will run all the time, till I stop it. uploading data.
5. downloading so I dont need to on my pc.

Both the os and desktop software,

Ive been suggested XPEnology and a lot of people use it, but im not sure its for me.
Click to expand...

1. if you can set up owncloud on it then yes (might be able to do it with xpeneology) i personally run windows home server on my N54L

2. install plex and you can do this (not netflix though but just use netflix app on your phone etc) - i use plex so as long as i have a signal of some description wherever i am in the world i can access all my media.

3. you can install dropbox on them (os dependant im sure) but it can be used as a backup for your documents from various pcs. (i use robocopy *or something like that) so whenever my pc boots it copies and changed/new files from my pc to my server.

i have plex premium so any photos i take on my phone are uploaded straight to my server.

4. you wouldnt normally want to use it for a pc (servers generally run headless somewhere out the way) - i can remotely log in using windows when i need to though.

but you can install standard windows on it if you want too.

5. you can install or you torrent/newsgroup stuff on it and it can download independant to your pc (obviously OS dependant)


i personally went with the windows home server route as xpeneology wasnt around when i got my server (or at least no one was installing it on the HP's)

i would recommend one to anyone who is looking for a NAS as an alternative, theyre not just plug and play like a NAS but they are simple to set up and they are much more flexible.
 
1. if you can set up owncloud on it then yes (might be able to do it with xpeneology) i personally run windows home server on my N54L

>> Im thinking of using windows but I need to make sure I can do all i need,
1. streaming
2. backups
3. personal cloud
4. run windows app (will run all the time)
5. downloading/torrants


2. install plex and you can do this (not netflix though but just use netflix app on your phone etc) - i use plex so as long as i have a signal of some description wherever i am in the world i can access all my media.
>> I know it wont me netflix but you get the idea
ive also come across http://emby.media and I know of kodi, are these also the same

3. you can install dropbox on them (os dependant im sure) but it can be used as a backup for your documents from various pcs. (i use robocopy *or something like that) so whenever my pc boots it copies and changed/new files from my pc to my server.
>> I dont ant dropbox but a way to have a personal cloud similar to dropbox

i have plex premium so any photos i take on my phone are uploaded straight to my server.
>> can this not be done without plex premium

4. you wouldnt normally want to use it for a pc (servers generally run headless somewhere out the way) - i can remotely log in using windows when i need to though.
but you can install standard windows on it if you want too.

>>I wont use it as a pc but run a bit of windows software off it all the time.
>> can I not do the same with windows 7/8 as windows server can ?

5. you can install or you torrent/newsgroup stuff on it and it can download independant to your pc (obviously OS dependant)
>>

i personally went with the windows home server route as xpeneology wasnt around when i got my server (or at least no one was installing it on the HP's)

i would recommend one to anyone who is looking for a NAS as an alternative, theyre not just plug and play like a NAS but they are simple to set up and they are much more flexible.
 
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2013 you are aware that you can quote a post rather than your confusing way of doing it!

but to confirm, Running Windows in any form will be fine. You just then need to find the applications eg Plex, Owncloud and so on that will be the best for you.

Kodi/XBMC is good but for your needs I would say Plex. I also haven't used or even heard of emby but I dont see what it does that Plex can't so I would just stick with the tried and trusted Plex.
 
whats the best software to use ?

windows 7/8 for the base ?
plex for streaming ?
what about for the backups and cloud ??
 
For your needs, yep either is fine! Windows Server would be even better

Plex is fantastic software, install the media server bit on your microserver and then Plex client software on your laptops etc and everything 'will just work'.
You can even if you dont want to install software on your other devices just login to the plex website and you can play all your movies etc straight in the browser.

To backup there is plenty of software out there but you can do it as simply as sharing a particular drive/partition on the network. Go into Windows backup utility on any of the other devices you want to backup and tell it to do a backup to that particular drive in the Microserver. Of if there is something more specific you want to do then there is a lot of software out there you can try!

As for cloud, do you just want access to your files from your laptops and so on? if so you can do it again as simply as just map the drive in my computer and you have access to all the files, can save things there and delete and everything else.

As you get more into it you can start setting up particular folders for certain people with different permissions and so forth.
 
Biz.Kid09 said:
For your needs, yep either is fine! Windows Server would be even better

Plex is fantastic software, install the media server bit on your microserver and then Plex client software on your laptops etc and everything 'will just work'.
You can even if you dont want to install software on your other devices just login to the plex website and you can play all your movies etc straight in the browser.

To backup there is plenty of software out there but you can do it as simply as sharing a particular drive/partition on the network. Go into Windows backup utility on any of the other devices you want to backup and tell it to do a backup to that particular drive in the Microserver. Of if there is something more specific you want to do then there is a lot of software out there you can try!

As for cloud, do you just want access to your files from your laptops and so on? if so you can do it again as simply as just map the drive in my computer and you have access to all the files, can save things there and delete and everything else.

As you get more into it you can start setting up particular folders for certain people with different permissions and so forth.
Click to expand...

Doing it this way can I stiil get it to work like XPEnology or better ?

How much is Windows Server ? will I get much more out of it ?

Plex is this the only software you know of and is it free ?

Backups im not 100% sure how i want this because ive been doing it the basic desktop way. but I assume similar synology would be best.

For for the personal cloud I want it to work similar to dropbox.
upload files from any pc, tablet, mobile phone with app or just login, I would
like the feature of backing up my mobile device photos ext
 
Also I need to correct myself, I wont be running it as a pc, I will just be running a bit of custom software (only compatible with windows) which will run all the time, it will be uploading some files on auto so i need to be able to access it remotely
 
2013 said:
Doing it this way can I stiil get it to work like XPEnology or better ?

How much is Windows Server ? will I get much more out of it ?

Plex is this the only software you know of and is it free ?

Backups im not 100% sure how i want this because ive been doing it the basic desktop way. but I assume similar synology would be best.

For for the personal cloud I want it to work similar to dropbox.
upload files from any pc, tablet, mobile phone with app or just login, I would
like the feature of backing up my mobile device photos ext
Click to expand...
Why do you need XPenology as well?

I don't mean to sound rude but have you done any research yourself? there are plenty of sites out there that sell it and will also tell you what advantages you will get!

It isn't the only software but it is very good and yes it is free, you can buy a premium account which gives you extra features if you need too.

Ok, so yeah you can setup mapped network drives or as I say there is software out there that can do what you need!

and as for what software to use to download, what do you want to download? uTorrent, qTorrent, Vuze and many many more may do what you need.
 
Why do you need XPenology as well?
Click to expand...
I don't I was just wondering, doing it with windows will give me the same results as using XPenology


I don't mean to sound rude but have you done any research yourself? there are plenty of sites out there that sell it and will also tell you what advantages you will get!
Click to expand...
Yes the prices ive seen are £275 for essential but there loads of the 2008, 2011, 2012, so just wanted to get a idea of what you got and the price.

Ok, so yeah you can setup mapped network drives or as I say there is software out there that can do what you need!
Click to expand...
recommendations

and as for what software to use to download, what do you want to download? uTorrent, qTorrent, Vuze and many many more may do what you need.
Click to expand...

Haha, I forgot it will be windows.

any recommendations for cloud software ?
 
I use WHS 11 on mine, paid around £30

You ask what software to use for downloading. What are you downloading? Torrents then use a torrent programming, newsgroup stuff then sabnzb. You say windows for downloading (internet explorer/chrome)

Owncloud for cloud software but its not really install and your done, there is a degree of setup involved.

Mapped network drives is built into windows. No need for additional software.

From reading your post and your questions I feel as if something like a synology nas (or similar) would be better for your needs, you appear to have done no research into this yourself and are asking for recommendations on simple things like "what programming to use for downloading" you've used windows before right??

I don't mean to come across as rud

Plex for streaming
Owncloud for cloud storage

You mention a custom piece of software for uploading, what is said programming? What is its use?
 
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You mention a custom piece of software for uploading, what is said programming? What is its use?
Click to expand...

Uploading and updating products on auto per set setting.

From reading your post and your questions I feel as if something like a synology nas (or similar) would be better for your needs, you appear to have done no research into this yourself and are asking for recommendations on simple things like "what programming to use for downloading" you've used windows before right??

I don't mean to come across as rud
Click to expand...

No A few people have said the same, I dont mind.
I have done some research, but most use freenas so I though it would be best to ask, members who have a idea of what the best options would be.
If I get the idea of what I should do, I can carry on with research.
I have used windows but never windows server so was not sure how it would be, I dont feal like spending money on a os that will be be no good.
 
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Have a watch of some Youtube videos on WHS, there are thousands.

It looks exactly the same as normal windows except you have different applications with regards to the server side.

The best option is for you to buy a Microserver, install windows in some form, put all your media/documents/whatever on it, install plex to serve media, map server on laptops and your done.

What do you want to download? We can't recommend something that we don't know what you want it for!
As for cloud software, as already been mentioned OwnCloud is very good or you can do it a manual way where you just map the folders on any pc's/phones or whatever.
 
Well an SSD will mean your OS etc runs quicker so it depends. You have mentioned your going to be running software on it for work, will this see the benefits of an SSD?
 
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