Microsoft Windows Home Server

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Anthony Fiti
Bethany
Microsoft
Nov. 16, 2007

Specifications

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Conclusion

Is Windows Home Server worth the spare parts, possibly new hard drives, and $185? The answer is probably yes, especially if you are in a multi-PC household with multiple users, and with devices and media that can take advantage of Windows Media Connect (like an Xbox 360).

Even for someone like me who is contemplating a complete switch to Macs, Windows Home Server would still be a good way to compliment the computers in the house. Mac OS X Leopard will be able to make use of the SMB-based network storage. However, it is unfortunate that Time Machine can only store its data to AFP file shares, rendering the network storage for Time Machine useless with WHS. I'll still have Windows Media Connect to share video with my Xbox 360, and the server to share my media within the house. Since WHS plug-ins can be web-based, being on a Windows platform doesn't matter any more as long as the plug-in's webpage properly supports Firefox or Safari.

Overall, I've been pleased with Microsoft's Windows Home Server product. Which is surprising because it usually takes three versions of a Microsoft product before it's refined and ready for widespread public usage. That's not the case this time; Windows Home Server is ready to go now. Microsoft built a solid 1.0 product, and while there is a list of features as long as my arm that aren't supported yet, I have confidence that they can start to deliver on that list.

Pros

Simple to administer for non-geeks
Great centralized storage for media and documents
Remote access to computers and files over Secure HTTP

Cons

Can't stream all media types to capable Windows Media Connect hardware (no H264 to an Xbox 360 that can play it back)
Backup agent slows PC down during backup

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Page 9 of 9

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Page 1: Introduction & Hardware Configuration
Page 2: Installation of Windows Home Server & Client Software
Page 3: Client Console and Restore CD
Page 4: File Serving
Page 5: Backup
Page 6: Windows Media Connect
Page 7: Remote Access
Page 8: Plug-ins
Page 9: Conclusion

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