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47 Comments
- ahhell, on 10/11/2007, -5/+35Don't like it, don't use it.
Do us all a favour and STFU. - chris9902, on 10/11/2007, -7/+31your the same sort of person who says Vista is just a new UI.
- imacashew, on 10/11/2007, -4/+23I hate you....
I see you spouting this kind of nonsense on so many threads I can't keep up. Microsoft is not SHOVING jack crap down anyone's throat. It's called a solution. You can choose the Microsoft solution or you can choose your open source solution. You're either a power Linux user, or you are willing to pay the money to make it easier. And the reason you think the xbox360/MCE solution has been "met with a collective 'meh'" is either because you are in ms-hater denial or you only choose to talk to Linux lovers. - TKardinal, on 10/11/2007, -2/+20Three of the most important features that is often overlooked:
1) There is data redundancy on every bit stored on Home Server; no matter what kind of disparate hard drives are there, it will store your data in multiple places so that if any drive fails, you have the storage elsewhere (assuming more than one drive)
2) Single instance storage means you save space, since the same file is never stored more than once.
3) You can add storage in any connection you like, and it is automatically added to the pool; you can tack on a Firewire, UBS 2.0, SATA, SCSI, PATA...doesn't matter...hard drive, and it just makes the space available.
AND it's all managable without any need for a keyboard, video, mouse, or Remote Desktop connection. All web managed. Fabulous solution, and fundamentally different from any other product Microsoft makes (or anyone else, to my knowledge). - pistolgeek, on 10/11/2007, -2/+15I am currently a beta tester for WHS and I am impressed with it, very easy to use and setup. In addition the end product is not going to be "just a central file server" note the additional "add on" software planned for this product
Diskeeper Corp.’s Diskeeper 2007 software will support Windows Home Server to enhance system speed and reliability.
Embedded Automation Inc.’s mControl software will integrate with Windows Home Server to help consumers manage home lighting systems, security cameras, climate control, and audio and visual components.
F-Secure Corp. software will interoperate with Windows Home Server to help protect consumers against computer viruses and other threats from the Internet and mobile networks.
Iron Mountain will integrate its data protection services with Windows Home Server.
Lagotek Corp.’s Home Intelligence Platform for home automation will support Windows Home Server.
PacketVideo Corp.’s PacketVideo Connect will enable DLNA 1.0-certified, DLNA 1.5-compliant and universal plug-and-play media streaming from Windows Home Server to a variety of entertainment devices in the home.
Riptopia CD loading service for Windows Home Server will convert and load a customer’s entire CD collection for storage and protection on Windows Home Server.
SageTV media server software for Windows Home Server provides a complete, “always on” digital entertainment experience for the enjoyment of personal media and online content on any TV or PC screen, at home or away, with SageTV Placeshifter software.
In addition, HP has developed software to run on Windows Home Server within the HP MediaSmart Server, including an enhanced Windows Home Server console, Web photo sharing and media sharing. - cawpin, on 10/11/2007, -2/+15This title and description is completely inaccurate. It was decided several months ago that it was going to be available as software, not only hardware.
- ManHammer, on 10/11/2007, -1/+12For the power user I would agree, but for Joe Blow computer user out there the backup feature is something MS has needed for a long time. My experience with it has been relatively positive.
- strictnein, on 10/11/2007, -3/+13How is this being "forced" down our throats? What's stopping you from, say, buying a Mac, a PS3, and a Linux based NAT product?
- pfferreira, on 10/11/2007, -1/+11Very different than XP -- it's got some nice features for media storage. One feature is an image-based automated backup (full and delta) of all PCs on your network (eg, via schedule), from which you can copy back individual files from previous backups using a windows explorer-like interface. Even better, if you backup more than one PCs, the images are compressed together so if a dll exists on more than one pc, it only takes up one "slot" in the backup for all pcs.
Other features include the ability to add new hard drives to increase the storage pool (WHS takes care of the rest -- no drive letters!), and to run the thing completely "head-less". - MioTheGreat, on 10/11/2007, -2/+11To be fair, WHS is a lot nicer than most people here have made it out to be. I mean, it automatically backs up all the computers on your network, and allows you to view things like firewall/antivirus status from a single computer. It's a "set it up and forget it until something goes wrong and you need to restore a backup" system.
Though, part of me wishes it was based on Server 2008, not Server 2003....If just for the remote indexing. - Cbeck527, on 10/11/2007, -13/+22Can't wait for the torrent! :D
- conna, on 10/11/2007, -2/+11As an oem builder, I plan to sell a bunch of these.
- cwilson, on 10/11/2007, -0/+8I've been using WHS at home for a few months now through MS's connect program. I would have to agree with pfferreira's comments; it is not XP with file shares. Its very clean and easy to use. The backup and restore feature works great and it has some decent (albeit basic) reporting features to determine where disk space is going. I love the ability to just add a hard drive and increase storage for users in the home. It is a completely seamless process that is handled by the server. If users eat up all the disk space, just add a HDD (internal or USB) and it will add the space to the pool.
It still has a way to go before release (weird bugs that are common in beta builds), but I really like the product and will probably pick up a copy upon release.
- MioTheGreat, on 10/11/2007, -2/+9I think 99% of the people that use Server '03 (Read: Every Active Directory, IIS Server, etc. in existance) would disagree with you.
- bilbus, on 10/11/2007, -3/+7home server wont have a 10 connection limit like xp i bet.
- daborg, on 10/11/2007, -2/+6"I mean, it automatically backs up all the computers on your network"
That sounds pretty cool actually. Will it back up my Mac and Ubuntu box in addition to my wife's XP box? - MioTheGreat, on 10/11/2007, -2/+5I'm sure you could write software that does it. It seems pretty extendable.
- Sparticuz, on 10/11/2007, -1/+4[quote]...and the entire system is supposed to be fully compatible with Mac OS X and Linux systems.[/quote]
Why don't they do this for regular servers???!!! For SBS 2003, you have to turn off security features for them to connect. - mobbo, on 10/11/2007, -1/+4I beta tested it. It's a fun little OS full of non-power-user friendly stuff. I think my mom and dad could even use it without calling me on the phone every 10 minutes with a question! I might use it to back up all my BitTorrent downloads easier. It's a better/prettier way of getting data from my BT server to my media center PC.
- inactive, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2Cool, just so long as ***** symantec keeps its bloated crap off WHS it should be damn good!
- kevyn, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2i think this sounds like a really good idea. hell most people i know have more than one PC in the house, and I have about 5...
if i can have a central server thats not total overkill for the home (server2003) - thats great. although will it do anything exciting that free NAS cant? - jrsims, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2Ok, question to the digg community:
Is there a Linux program that will emulate Windows Media Connect so I can watch movies from my Debian server on my Xbox 360? - kevyn, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1f**k you...
- sam991, on 10/11/2007, -2/+3"the backup feature is something MS has needed for a long time"
@manhammer: Are you saying that XP doesn't have a backup feature? Because it does, ntbackup. You can install it from the XP cd. - greenmountain, on 10/11/2007, -1/+2 I agree, this sounds pretty good, the reviews have piqued my interest. I have an older unused machine, and three others up, and not the first clue about how to set up a server, so this would be a good toy for me. I like how you can hot swap any combination of HDD's in there and get redundancy.
Also, the 360 works off of it... - bentman78, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1I am looking at becoming an OEM builder (not for this product, for something else). Where did you start? How did you get into this? I have some ideas I want to marker as appliances.
- MioTheGreat, on 10/11/2007, -1/+2I'm sure you could write an addon for WHS tailored just for that.....
- tkowalski, on 10/11/2007, -2/+2Im sure youll still be stuck paying extra for more CAL's if you go over 10 connections or whatever comes with it.....then again who the hell has that many clients connecting to a HOME network
Anyone know what the cost will be? - HairyPoter, on 10/11/2007, -1/+1as vista is getting dust on the shelves, one should do anything to sell, at least a copy.
- topnotchnet, on 10/11/2007, -0/+0this plus slingcatcher is gonna be lovely
- heydigital, on 10/11/2007, -2/+2Actually, it has been this way since the beginning. As a beta tester, all the documents point to this.
- colinm, on 10/11/2007, -0/+0One of Windows Home Server's supposed unique selling points is keeping one copy of a file if several instances exist across multiple machines.
Can this be done in Linux too using hard links? - when a duplicate is detected, instead of creating a separate copy create a link to the first instead (using the "ln" command). - inactive, on 10/11/2007, -2/+2@Sparticuz
There actually is a reason for this. Microsoft KNOWS that they still own a very large portion of business machines due to the reliance on proprietary software that is windows based that most companies still have. That said, its easier to make life difficult for non-windows based pcs to encourage administrators to keep an all windows shop.
They KNOW that they do not have that same market at home, and as such they are smart to make it talk to each serious contender on the market to ensure that people will purchase and use it without worry of compatibility. This is probably the smartest move Microsoft has made in 5 years. Its not a can't beat them then join them mentality, its a can't beat them, then find a way to provide value and worth to the customer no matter what hardware they are using. By adding extra functionality like media centers, backups, etcetc, they guarantee that users will find a use and purpose to add this to their existing network, without having to change anything. As such, even if they cannot beat the other OSs out there on the desktop at home, now they have a backup plan to continue to produce revenue. Lets just hope they see the benefit in this and start to open up all their proprietary technologies like Direct X and wmv. Yes, it will make it easier for people to move to macs and linux, but at the same time it will allow them setup other revenue models to continue to maintain their handhold on the areas that Microsoft is still the best choice. What will they do if someone comes out with a better rendering engine than Direct X because they refused to share? They just lose. - crossers, on 05/14/2008, -0/+0great, may be it will help to work faster
- mydave, on 07/31/2008, -0/+0"Digital devices and digital media are now an essential part of so many aspects of our lives, and their importance continues to grow," said Microsoft chairman Bill Gates at WINHEC.
http://chasr.org
http://wmpowered.com/default,date,2005-01-10.aspx
http://www.procleaner.net - Sparticuz, on 10/11/2007, -2/+1I wonder if uTorrent will work on it with the web interface.
- harry8227, on 10/11/2007, -2/+0Hey, a good defense is a good offense, maybe a class action against Microsoft for fraud?
- inactive, on 10/11/2007, -3/+1yes and i think most people are fake now
- generalloy, on 10/11/2007, -4/+1Use a Linux server instead. Backs up files from Windows/Mac/GNU/LInux and you can install it on any old computer in your basement, just an apt-get away.
Sorry to say that I'm quite fed up with Microsoft at this point
http://www.howtoforge.com/linux_backuppc - motang, on 10/11/2007, -5/+1This isn't really needed as a person can pickup a network access storage and it would the same way. They wouldn't have to spend a lot of money on something like this. But I guess it does cater to the mass and easy to use. I still think it's a waste of money and can be done for way cheaper price.
- m3t00, on 10/11/2007, -5/+1I have always hated the arbitrary 10 connection limit. It usually works out to 4 or 5 actual machines because multiple connections from the same machine on different ports all add to the total. Very annoying in a small department office that just wants to share some files and a printer. No serious load issues. Just the arbitrary 10 limit which means you are screwed and must buy the $500 server version for the exact same hardware. Or work around it.
Terminal server (RDP) on XP is also arbitrarily limited to ONE user. You can not remote into a machine that has someone sitting in front of it without forcing them to stop what they are doing and log off while you fix whatever crap you are there for. As if multiuser was a crime.
Arbitrary limitations that reach out and slap you in the face are a constant reminder of Microsoft's greed. - iRoy, on 10/11/2007, -13/+3This was on the front page yesterday...
Are we running out of articles or something? - Langford, on 10/11/2007, -12/+2This change of heart may have been caused by the increased presence of Linux in peoples homes. When hobbyists build their own servers, Microsoft doesn't want to be left out of it.
- inactive, on 10/11/2007, -15/+2So they still cant make server products.
hell ubuntu is about twice the product windows ever thought about being. - sicapitan, on 10/11/2007, -17/+3Thats why they changed their mind
- meshman, on 10/11/2007, -26/+7I really don't see the point. What's the difference between this 'home server' and say, an XP box as a central file server? Sure there's a few added toys in here but nothing that's turning my head.
- Spuy767, on 10/11/2007, -29/+5This is all part of MS's big plan to force the MS networked home down our throats with a 360 and a windows machine or two. There are open source solutions that do about the same thing, and cost nothing. If anything, Mirosoft is simply trying to make a version for the masses, which they will likely fail at since their endeavors in usability are usually met with a collective, "meh." Who's to say that when MS controls our toaster, that it won't eat our hand?
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