Windows Home Server (WHS)

[mcaron1234]

Originally Posted by bcjenkins

robocopy

Thanks for the heads up, there is a gui for this too which makes it very easy to use.

[dflachbart]

I've got my WHS server now running smoothly for a few days, and am thinking about moving SageTV server over to this machine too. As I read earlier in the thread the Hauppauge XP drivers should work, but I would also need the Timmmore firewire drivers for channel changing on my STBs.

Does anyone know if they will work on Windows Server 2003 ?


Thanks,
Dirk

[dflachbart]

Ok, FYI: took the plunge and did a test installation om my WHS server: firewire card and drivers, PVR-150 with latest Hauppauge drivers, SageTV service - everything runs fine ! Can't wait to rebuild the machine this weekend...


Dirk

[Polypro]

Thanks for the report!

P

[Polypro]

Just set up a WHS server...pretty cool. Shared folders import into Sage fine. I ran CAT5e and streaming is perfect. I've got Hamachi on it and can remote in without opening any ports on the router.

P

[dflachbart]

FYI (full link here) :



Bill Gates Announces New Windows Home Server Hardware and Software Partners at WinHEC 2007




Windows Home Server Software Solutions for the Digital Home


As a software platform and an “always on” device in the home, Windows Home Server offers independent software vendors tremendous opportunities to build innovative products for the digital home, such as protection against viruses and malware, media sharing capabilities, home security, and home automation. Microsoft today announced several software vendors supporting Windows Home Server with their applications:


•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.

[Jesse]

Hi,

Anyone have any real info as to whether WHS will be available in a software only oe version?

Thanks

Jesse

[dflachbart]

Originally Posted by Jesse

Hi,

Anyone have any real info as to whether WHS will be available in a software only oe version?

Thanks

Jesse

Yes (same link):



Windows Home Server for System Builders


Microsoft also announced that Windows Home Server will be available to the system builder channel, further broadening the scope of the home server product category. Using this version of the software, system builders worldwide will have the resources and flexibility to provide customized, targeted Windows Home Server products to meet the needs of a wide array of customer segments.

[Jesse]

Hi,

After re-reading I caught that. I just hope that it means we can get the oe version from someplace like newegg.

I got the beta invite but have had some reservations about A) risking the stability of my sage system on a beta, and B) not being able to get a software only version if I really like the product.

Everything is working so smoothly now I hate to tempt fate.....

Thanks for the info.

Jesse

[samgreco]

I've been on the beta for a bit and I think it's funny that NO ONE on the WHS team seems to not want to put MCE stuff on the server side, but then MS announces this. I'm glad that Sage is on board and that there are Home Automation companies jumping in. I just find it funny thas MS won't do it.

This could be good

[rlvogel322]

I've also been on the beta for some time (2 months) and things are working great! It's connected to a projector and one MVP.

[bcjenkins]

BTW - Maybe this means we'll get official support for plain 2K3 as well.

B

[vvulture]

No one has actually asked this question, which in my books is the most important..

What kind of data redundancy does WHS offer ? and how does it work ?

thanks

[PGPfan]

As far as data redundancy, WHS only offers mirroring which isn't very efficient with hard disk space. It's strong suit is it's backup services, server architecture, remote desktop functionality, and the fact that Sage will work on it.

I wanted redundancy on my DVD rips and music, which is why I swear by my unRaid server. VERY efficient storage with a parity drive for redundancy/protection and a 'non-striped' raid array for quiet, cool storage.

I'm retooling my Sage server to use WHS only for the TV recording aspects - TV archiving, and all other media storage is on unRaid - played back through the Sage interface, however.

-PGPfan

[vvulture]

Originally Posted by PGPfan

As far as data redundancy, WHS only offers mirroring which isn't very efficient with hard disk space. It's strong suit is it's backup services, server architecture, remote desktop functionality, and the fact that Sage will work on it.

I wanted redundancy on my DVD rips and music, which is why I swear by my unRaid server. VERY efficient storage with a parity drive for redundancy/protection and a 'non-striped' raid array for quiet, cool storage.

I'm retooling my Sage server to use WHS only for the TV recording aspects - TV archiving, and all other media storage is on unRaid - played back through the Sage interface, however.

-PGPfan

Right i see... i read somewhere that the built-in redundancy is only good enough to recover if no more than one drives fails. Is this correct ?

Is it the standard mirroring type raid ? so if i have 6x 500gig HDD's i would in effect only have 3 available for storage ?

Also, off the topic, is it possible to put WHS into standby S3 ?

thanks

[PGPfan]

Originally Posted by vvulture

Right i see... i read somewhere that the built-in redundancy is only good enough to recover if no more than one drives fails. Is this correct ?

I'm not entirely sure how it behaves regarding recovery (never had to test it yet, but I believe essentially you are correct.

Originally Posted by vvulture

Is it the standard mirroring type raid ? so if i have 6x 500gig HDD's i would in effect only have 3 available for storage ?

Not really, it allows you to select which files/programs/directories you want to 'mirror' and it will store a copy on another seperate hard drive thereby lessening the chances of unrecoverable failure. I'm sure you could mirror the entire drive, but that is exponentially more wasteful of space than the selective mirroring they've implemented.

Originally Posted by vvulture

Also, off the topic, is it possible to put WHS into standby S3 ?

Not sure on that, I'll have to try it out.

-PGPfan

[vvulture]

Originally Posted by PGPfan

Not sure on that, I'll have to try it out.

-PGPfan

Thanks for the help. Can you get back to me on the S3 issue ?

thanks again

[Trepidati0n]

Please rememeber that RAID5 does not backup data. It only provides improvided data integrity and uptime at a more reasonable cost and mirrored drives. A blown power supply or a failed raid controller means you could easily lose everything.

The only way to really backup data IMO is to make an EXACT copy on a seperate media stored at a seperate location done at some reasonable frequency.

Windows home server takes care of 2 of the 3 above natively. The only thing it doesn't do keep the data at a seperate location. If you keep your critical data local to a PC and then keep a backup on WHS, the only thing that could cause a total loss of data would be a natural disaster or fire.

[PGPfan]

Not sure where 'RAID5' came from as neither WHS or unRaid use it due to its many deficiancies for use in the home environment. Many people view it as the holy grail of media storage and it is completely overkill in anything but an enterprise environment.

Both WHS and unRaid offer far more flexibility in hardware utilization than any RAID5 setup, and can (at least unRaid) offer similar/better data protection. Obviously its not as safe as having a hard copy of all your data stored in a remote fireproof bunker in a 24/7 guarded, climate controlled facility but we're only talking about media here, not national security stuff.

-PGPfan

[jvalj]

Does anyone know if SageTV on Windows Home Server works with the R5000-HD?