Recreating Win Home Server on Win7 Enterprise OR Win Server 2k3/8

[Audigex]

Hey

I'm looking to implement myself a little Windows Home Server setup to backup my uni work, however I don't want to buy WHS itself.

Why? Because I can get Windows 7 (Premium/Enterprise) or Windows Server 2k3/2k8 absolutely free from the MSDNAA.

So basically, I'm looking to implement WHS features such as
+ Centralised backup (single-instance) - ie keeping a copy of files on my PC/laptops on the server, syncing between at least two and the server
+ Health monitoring of the rest of the PCs on the network
+ Printer sharing
+ Media streaming (to xbox and media centre)
+ Server backup (ie backing up the media on the server to a second either internal or external)

Now, I know I'm not going to get quite the same ease-of-use as WHS, but that's the price I'm willing to pay to save the cash. As such, I'd appreciate any links on the setting up of the above services, or the setting up of a secure server based on Win7 or WS2k3/8.

Anyone had any experience of similar setups? How easily can I set up the above?

Any advice appreciated, of course Thanks muchly

 

[Audigex]

That sounds excellent - and I only use AVI, MPG and AAC and MP3 for the most part (I started my collections with these formats and I don't really want the hassle of changing it all over)

Can I get the backing up to be automatic? I'd really like a fire-and-forget style system, where I can set it up once on each PC and then leave them for months at a time, I know my family won't run anything regularly enough to be useful. That's the main thing which has attracted me to Win Home Server.

Does the Cisco network wizard have another name? I can't find anything that seems to be related under that name after a quick google.

 

[Audigex]

That's not a lot of use

I'd want to backup one win7 box and two each of vista and XP. Is there any way to recreate almost the same system as home server? ie the server grabs the files off the 7/vista/xp machines without any client-side interaction?

I suppose I could use a batch script to copy whole folders to the networked drive, but that doesn't quite have the same effect.

Ah I wish home server was on the MSDN - presumably MS don't consider it useful for academic purposes though.