Questions about Windows Home Server

Simon_89

Simon_89

Simon_89

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Joined
30 May 2012
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207
Location
Northallerton, N Yorks
Hi guys,

Think I'm going to use my old of as server/central storage point.

I've seen you can buy Windows Home Server, with this installed onto a machine will it enable to central point to store files? So with my daily pc all I'd need is a HDD (or SSD) to have the OS installed on and then remotely work from the server?

If that is the case is there any way you can access the server from other locations? I.e if I was studying at uni could I access the files there as long as the server is running?

Thanks :)
 
Also with the software do you install the OS onto the server and then the 'client licenses' are for running on pc's?
 
The "client licenses" relate to the Windows Home Server connector, which must be installed on each client PC (if you want to do backups).

You don't need WHS if you just want to store files in one location. Pretty much any version of Windows will let you do that.

The main advantage of WHS is the client backup, which works very well. The other advantage was Drive Extender, but that's been removed from WHS 2011.

Tell us what you actually want to achieve and we can then suggest the appropriate OS and software.
 
Essientially i want to achieve a central location where files can be stored, at least over wi-fi. This then stops me having to use USB sticks to transfer files from my laptop to my PC.

Ideally i'd like to be able to access those files remotely so i can work on them say whilst at work or uni.
 
How many GB (or MB?) of data are you talking about?

It sounds like a cloud storage service like Dropbox is probably most appropriate.
 
Things such as music, photos, coursework and even private work documents. Being able to back devices up would be a bonus too.
 
Dropbox acts as a backup for your data, although you can't use it to completely restore a PC (like you can with WHS).

How many GB of music, photos, coursework etc. do you have?
 
Ah ok, with that quantity of data you'd have to pay for a cloud service.

You could try Windows Live Mesh: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-GB/windows-live/essentials-other-programs

If you have two or more computers with Windows Live Mesh installed, you can sync folders between them (peer-to-peer). When you sync folders between computers, any changes you make on one computer will be made on the other whenever the computers are online at the same time. The contents of the synced folders are saved on all of the computers, so you can still work on them even when you're not connected to the Internet.
Click to expand...

I haven't tried it myself, but the concept is certainly the one you should be looking for. If you set up your own server you have all the hassle of connecting remote clients plus the hassle of the synchronisation process.
 
Thanks, I will look into that this evening. I wouldn't say it's hassle as I'm wanting to learn more about pc's and what they can do. Getting it over the Internet isn't essential but having the central location is my main goal.

Is there a way of doing it over the wireless network?
 
Windows Live Mesh will work over a wireless network.

It's pretty easy to transfer files when both computers are on the same network - try Googling some basic guides on setting up network shares. If you are using Windows 7 on both computers you might want to look at "Homegroups", which is supposed to make it even easier.
 
Hope you don't mind me asking a question in here about WHS as I already have it....

But was wondering can we install WHS to a USB stick so it boots up from it? Thanks.
 
If your wanting to learn more about computing etc; then go buy yourself a HP Microserver N40L for £160. You can then install VMWare ESXI (An operating system that will allow you to then install multiple virtual operating systems such as Windows XP, 7, Windows Home server etc. You can then learn and see what you want to do - takes seconds to add or remove operating systems etc.

Windows Home Server is great for what i use it for (centralised store for all my music, photo's, documents etc. Any pc in the house can access the music etc. It also backs up all my pc's so im really happy.)

After reading your post again - you wanted to access files from outside your network. Yes this is very easily done. You can access your Windows Home Server web interface by using your ip address. On the web interface you can download, upload and even watch your movies or play music from the web interface!.

There are a few parts behind the scenes you have to do with your router - but these are very simple and require minimal steps. I can help when needed.
 
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Gave up on WHS2011 a couple of months back due to issues with win7 clients and the connector.

Didn't need the dashboard all I wanted was the backup piece, rebuilt it with w2k8R2 instead and using a third party backup application to manage the backups.
 
I have WHS2011 installed as a hyper-v terminal on my HP ProLiant Microserver. Its used for pc/laptop backup, files storage and media server to my DLNA bluray player via an add-in called Servio.
You can access all your files etc securely from the web, with other add-ins you can also control the client pc's that are on your network too.

It works fine for me, even though there are plenty of haters for 2011.
 
Engram said:
You need an install partition of at least 60GB (or maybe 80GB?)

So it might work on a 128GB USB stick?
Click to expand...

jamesfreddie said:
It will not run from a pen drive.
Click to expand...

OK thanks....

I do have the HP N40l Proliant server and was thinking of a cheaper way to remove the HD it comes with as I now have a spare 3TB drive to put in. May just go the ssd route and put it on there.... Might just wait for a really cheap 30-60gb ssd offer to come along.
 
twe said:
OK thanks....

I do have the HP N40l Proliant server and was thinking of a cheaper way to remove the HD it comes with as I now have a spare 3TB drive to put in. May just go the ssd route and put it on there.... Might just wait for a really cheap 30-60gb ssd offer to come along.
Click to expand...

What OS do you have?
 
olibb said:
After reading your post again - you wanted to access files from outside your network. Yes this is very easily done. You can access your Windows Home Server web interface by using your ip address. On the web interface you can download, upload and even watch your movies or play music from the web interface!
Click to expand...

Although that's all true, I don't think it's the best solution.
 
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