Microsoft Windows Home Server

Windows Home Server
developer	Microsoft
License (s)	Microsoft EULA ( Closed Source )
Current version	5.2.4500 ( July 13, 2007 )
	www.microsoft.com

Windows Home Server is an operating system from Microsoft that was announced by Bill Gates on January 7, 2007 at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) . It was delivered to distributors and was also available as an OEM version. According to the manufacturer, the product should make advanced functions such as the exchange of files and automated data backups possible even for people with little technical experience. It should also ensure secure access to data from outside the home network. In early 2011, the successor version called Windows Home Server 2011 was published. Support ended on January 8, 2013.

Software basis

The Windows Home Server is based on the Windows Server 2003 -SP2 kernel , more precisely behind it is the Windows Small Business Server 2003 Service Pack 2. This makes it very stable, since the actual home server is only an attachment. An important difference to Server 2003 is the setup, which runs on Windows PE known from Windows Vista . The common basis also makes it possible to use the same drivers. Also Windows XP drivers can be used.

Hardware requirements

1000 MHz CPU (slower ones possible, but not recommended by Microsoft.)

512 MByte RAM (If less, the setup will refuse the installation.)

70 GB hard disk (If the hard disk is less than 65 GB, the setup will refuse the installation.)

100 Mbit network card ( WLAN possible, but not recommended by Microsoft.)

Functions

Centralized data backup - Data from up to 10 PCs can be backed up, with each file only being backed up once, even if it exists on multiple PCs.
Status display - The status of the PCs connected to the home server is monitored centrally, including the firewall and anti-virus software status.
Exchanging files - Network shares for shared and frequently used files such as audio files and videos are provided, which saves storage space through centralized storage.
Printer sharing - The print jobs of all users can be managed centrally.
Previous versions - Further development of the “Volume Shadow Copy Services”, older file versions can now be restored.
“Headless Device” - Neither a screen, graphics card nor keyboard are needed to operate the home server, as it can be remotely controlled via the so-called “home server console” either from a connected PC or from the Internet.
“Remote Access Gateway” - Enables external access to all PCs in the network.

Media Streaming - “Windows Media Connect” enables media files to be transmitted directly to devices that support Windows Media Connect (e.g. Xbox 360 ).
Data Security - Duplicating files on different hard drives is designed to reduce the likelihood of data loss. However, the driver that did this could cause data loss itself. The problem has been resolved with the “Home Server Power Pack 1” update.
Using a storage pool eliminates the need for drive letters, making Windows home server easier to use when adding hard drives.

Remote access

The system also offers an SSL -encrypted web interface that can be used over the Internet. A free web address is offered for this, which contains a freely selectable prefix, followed by a period and the suffix homeserver.com. Files can be uploaded and downloaded via the web interface and you can control the server and PCs in the home network via the web browser, provided that a remote desktop protocol server is running on the target system . Therefore, at least Windows XP Professional , Vista Business , 7 Professional or 8 Pro is required for remote control on the target system .

compatibility

The features of the Windows Home Server are integrated into Windows XP, Windows Vista and, since Power Pack 3, also into Windows 7 by installing software, the Windows Home Server Connector. The provision of the data in a Windows share enables access from almost any operating system.

Add-ins

Extensions to the Windows Home Server, so-called add-ins, can be developed and made available by other software manufacturers via an interface provided by Microsoft. In general, the client part, the Windows Home Server Console, is also expanded in that new functionality is made available there on a new tab, e.g. B. to run the others up or down from a PC or to have the event log of the server displayed.

successor

On March 29, 2011, the successor Microsoft Windows Home Server 2011 was completed. It is available from Technet and MSDN or as an OEM device in stores. The first version of Windows Homeserver as described above expired in January 2013. According to Microsoft, the home server will be discontinued with the server version 2012, the simplest version is now called “Essentials” but is priced far above the home server.

Windows Homeserver was not a great success overall, according to various sources, only 100,000 licenses of the first version were sold by 2009.

Official communities recommended by Microsoft

Web links

Individual evidence

↑ Dirk Makowski: Windows Home Server. Retrieved August 13, 2017 .

↑ ^a ^b ^c ^d Windows Home Server - Getting started. (PDF) (No longer available online.) Microsoft Corporation, archived from the original on September 6, 2012 ; Retrieved August 31, 2012 (American English). Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.

↑ Paul Thurrott: Windows Home Server Preview . Windows SuperSite. January 7, 2006. Retrieved January 8, 2007.

^ Nathan Weinberg: Windows Home Server In Detail . In: InsideMicrosoft . January 7, 2007. Retrieved April 28, 2007.

↑ Remote Access to Files and PCs . In: Windows Home Server Team Blog . February 28, 2007. Archived from the original on April 25, 2009. Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. Retrieved April 28, 2007. @1@ 2

↑ When certain programs are used to edit or transfer files that are stored on a Windows Home Server-based computer that has more than one hard drive, the files may become corrupted . Microsoft Corporation. December 21, 2007. Retrieved April 13, 2008.

↑ Description of the Windows Home Server Power Pack 1 update . Microsoft Corporation. July 21, 2008. Retrieved July 27, 2008.

↑ http://support.microsoft.com/kb/968349

↑ http://www.home-server-blog.de/add-ins/administration/auto-exit-2008-fur-windows-home-server/

↑ http://www.home-server-blog.de/add-ins/administration/event-viewer/

↑ - ( Memento of the original from September 29, 2007 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. English add-in overview at WeGotServed @1@ 2