windows server...

xirokx · 30 May 2011 at 01:13

hi there

I have a few desktops and laptops around the house

Today I thought why not just make a server but I have no idea where to start

Do you think its worth it?
Would the server need to be on 24/7?
Which version of windows server would you recommend?
Do I need to purchase more robust components if the server will be on 24/7?

I have quite a bit of kit and components that I could use to make 1 overall good quality machine, install windows server onto that and see where I go, that was my initial idea anyway..

Any help and advice would be appreciated

Thanks in advance..

PhillyDee · 30 May 2011 at 01:21

I have a WHS v1 server, it was on a B Grade AM2 mobo, but the grpahics card exploded and killed the mobo.

Its now on an I3 with integrated video and an 80% PSU (Antec). It has 6 hard drives in it for 7Tb of storage. It is well worth it when using more than 1 PC. Keeps all pcs backed up, all your files are centralized, and accessible from the net.

I would go for V1 of WHS personally, no need for vail (v2) as it is just pointless.

Best purchase I ever made tbh! Mine is always on, as it is meant to be.

asim18 · 30 May 2011 at 01:26

What do you want the server to do?

Roaming profiles? Media? Web? TS?

You cant simply bang a server OS on it (well you can lol), you need to know what you want to accomplish?

Servers are typically left on 24/7, because if it's off then it won't be doing its job.

theheyes · 30 May 2011 at 07:23

I'd think more about whether you really need one or not, rather than build one and then try to justify it. Home servers work for some people but you have to be careful you don't end up with something just sat idle 99% of the time wasting electricity.

hawker1986 · 30 May 2011 at 08:11

I have a WHS and I dont have it on all the time, I use a program called smartpower to hibernate it on a schedule, so it switches off overnight and when the Mrs and I are out during the day. Its clever enough so that you can tell it to stay on if one of the other PCs on the network is on, or if network transfer is greater than a certain amount during a download. awesome program works really well and is no doubt saving me a bundle on electricity.

Hawker

xirokx · 31 May 2011 at 19:19

thanks guys appreciate the input

its main aim would be to store everything on i.e. movies, music, photos

however it would be pointless to keep it on 24/7 really

I am beginning to wonder whether I need it at all..

That said it would also act as a playground for me to learn windows server

memyselfandi · 1 Jun 2011 at 07:45

If you want a playground for learning a server flavour of Windows then you probably don't want to run WHS, but instead a full server OS.

But I would would question if it is a good idea to store your data on the same system you are using as a "playground" ... sounds like a disaster waiting to happen to me.

If you just want to store your media somewhere centrally then get a NAS or build a small low powered server which you can then leave alone and ignore most of the time. If you want to play around with a server OS then either do it on a separate machine to your data or use some sort of virtualisation software on your PC, e.g. virtualbox, and install it under that.

tronath · 1 Jun 2011 at 12:41

If you start using it as a file server, it'll become annoying to keep turning it on and off. If you were going to try learning windows server, try 2008 R2 - its easier to set up roles/services than the previous versions