This blog is devoted to getting the most out of your Windows Home Server (WHS). As a Microsoft MVP for Windows Live Development, I'm a little out of my "zone", but I picked up an HP EX470 MediaSmart Server when it first came out and was hooked!
In future articles, we will deal issues related to both WHS in general and some that deal specifically with the HP EX470 MediaSmart Server as well as DIY machines.
For those of you who are not aware, Microsoft created Windows Home Server, which is an operating system that is built on Windows 2003 Server (a very stable OS). You can get a "home server" by either:
- Building a machine yourself and purchasing the OS (NewEgg sells Microsoft Windows Home Server OEM Edition for $169)
- Buying a complete system (hardware with the OS pre-installed). Currently the EX470 MediaSmart Home Server from HP is the most popular system available and it's reasonably priced at just $599 $577 $599 from Amazon.com.
BTW, the HP EX475 is exactly the same as the EX470 except that it comes pre-installed with an extra 500 GB hard drive (for a total of 1TB). You can save $50 by purchasing the EX470 and dropping in your own Western Digital 500GB Hard Drive ($104 from NewEgg).
I may also, from time to time, go off on certain things that piss me off about WHS (like not being able to back a PC that has a failing hard drive or example). But for the most part, I'm here to figure out how to squeeze the most out of this little gem.
Enjoy.
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9 comments:
Nice, Donovan.
I look forward to reading this blog moving forward. Great idea!
It was reported on 23 Nov 07 by Terry Walsh at We Got Served in his review of teh HP EX475;
"That’s not to say that the build hasn’t been tweaked slightly compared to the standard RTM build. From working with the server for a short while, it looks like HP have tightened up some of the security policies on the home server to ensure that executable files can’t be run by any user (including the Administrator) on the server via remote desktop. Even zip files are blocked by the MediaSmart’s security settings. Whilst this may frustrate the more knowledgeable enthusiast, given the user HP and Microsoft are targeting with this system, I think it’s a wise move."
I think this is a terrible move! Any work arounds??
Thanks,
Rich
Does anyone even know if you can run your own programs on this hardware/software combo? I mean, like... SQL Server Express, and a program on which it relies. I represent a non-profit organization who could benefit from such tight integration of hot-swappable drives, mega storage, and headless design, and we have an app that should have it's own dedicated machine.
I don't want to extend another XP License for another computer. This all-in-one for hardware, software, and licensing is great.
Anyhoo... I'm subscribed to the RSS, so I hope to see some stuff soon :) I did see screenshots of CPU-Z running, which is promising, but was that due to a plug-in, or did it just run?
@James, WHS is based on Windows 2003 and you most certainly CAN remote desktop into the machine where you get a standard desktop interface. In other words, YES you can run programs on Windows Home Server. If you do this, then you should definately upgrade the memory of the EX470 to 2GBs.
Yes, but what is this about HP's implementation 'locking down' the execution of programs that are not run as "Add-On's?" Is there any viability to this claim? Any way to circumvent this?
I have already installed Zinio Reader and Adobe Acrobat 8 in WHS. I even changed "My Documents" folder from drive C to drive D because of the size of Zinio magazines. But I can read the from virtually every computer in the world through Terminar Server without licenses glitches. I use Adobe Acrobat to download part of sites from the internet and read them offline. I intend to install much more softwares, as soon as I get more acquainted with Windows Home Server.
I read in a paper I downloaded from Microsoft that you shoudn't tweak with Disk management, user accounts and Shared Folders because you can destroy your system and lose your data. In these scenarios, you must use the Windows Home Server Console.
Now that avast launched an antivirus for WHS, I intend to install software like e-mule and other download managers.
500GB is pretty weak as a base drive. how they claim this machine is able to hold 6TB with only four drive trays available. My question is, how do you upgrade the measly first drive to a proper full terabyte drive?
Now NewEgg sells Microsoft Windows Home Server OEM Edition for $149)
How about someone who really knows developing procedures or add-ins that allow a Mac running the latest Mac OS to be backed up automatically and restored if necessary?
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