Top 10 reasons to use Windows Home Server

Posted by:
Nicole Berett
12:18 PM Wednesday
Sep 09, 2009
45 Comments

You may have been hearing a lot about Windows Home Server recently, so now you are asking, why should I buy one, and what benefits will I get out of it? Well, to help you answer those important questions, the Windows Home Server team has come up with the Top 10 reasons to use this product! In this post, you can read a brief overview of each item, but check back soon because we will be taking a closer look at each point, along with how Windows Home Server has already helped thousands of people.

1. Image-based backup

Rest easy and know that your irreplaceable videos and pictures are always safe since Windows Home Server automatically backs up your entire computer on a daily basis.

2. Restore

If catastrophe strikes, Windows Home Server has simple and fast data recovery with a restore feature for single files or entire hard drives that have failed.

3. Monitor

Windows Home Server will monitor the health status of your home network and immediately alert you if there is a problem.

4. Centralize

Windows Home Server stores your digital memories in a central location so you can access what you want from any computer on the network and save time by having all your things in one place.

5. Storage

With Windows Home Server, storage space grows as your needs grow. You are able to add internal or external hard drives of any size so that you can have an unlimited amount of storage space for HD movies, or your home videos.

6. User accounts

Windows Home Server allows you to create up to 10 user accounts. To increase protection, you can change the Shared Folders that users have access to, and enable remote access for each user.

7. Remote Access

When you are out of your home or office, Windows Home Server has remote access capabilities that make it possible for you to view, find files, and even use applications.

8. Stream media

Windows Home Server enables you to view, listen, and watch your videos, movies, and picture slideshows through playback devices such as Xbox 360.

9. Fully Expandable

Windows Home Server add-in programs can enhance and extend your home server's capabilities. There are already over 100 add-ins available for download.

10. Easy to use

An uncomplicated, self-explanatory installation process for Window Home Server will have you up and running with minimum time and effort.

Hopefully, you are now ready to buy your very own Windows Home Server and start organizing, protecting, and sharing all of your digital experiences!

-Nicole

Tags: Windows Home Server, Protect, Organize, File Sharing, Home Server, Remote Access, Backup, Backup software, Data recovery, Storage, Streaming

Comments

Quarem

Posted on: September 10, 2009 at 2:47AM
I have been following Windows Home Server before the product launched, and am convinced it would be a valuable addition to my home network. However, the prices on the servers are rather steep for a centralized backup solution. The Acer EasyStore is approaching a reasonable price-point, but it would more competition in the space is needed to push the prices down further.
7flavor

Posted on: September 10, 2009 at 11:50AM
The biggest problem is still the price compared to quick and easy external HDD or NAS RAID solution. Addition of wireless (802.11n) complete with wake-on-wireless LAN or other networking technologies (HPNA), full-fledged software routing replacing a router, super-aggressive power management, support for streaming a much more number of media formats and some Active Directory functions would be solid enhancements for the future, just in case the WHS team is listening to product suggestions.
DrShocker.com

Posted on: September 10, 2009 at 6:33PM
I love my HP MediaSmart WHS .. If i wanted to replace the Drive that the OS is on .. how can i do that without losing anything ? I have all 1 and 2 TB drives .. but the OS is on a 500GB drive that i would like to upgrade
Comp1962

Posted on: September 13, 2009 at 3:13PM
The WHS will be the best investment you will ever make for your home or small business. If you have ever done a system recovery you know the time it takes. Imagine performing a recovery in 30-60 mins for a single drive system, longer if you perform a format of the drive your recovering.

Backups are automated and virtually problem free. You can perform manual backups and indicate the reason so you can track software or some other system upgrade.

The first time I used the recovery function it only took about 40 mins to recover my primary desktop. Maybe your hard drive is on the way out and you want to change it. You can simply change it and run the WHS Recovery Disc and soon your system is back where it was.

This is only the backup and recovery function and yet there is so much more the WHS can do for you. Is it worth the investment? I say a home without one is like not having Health of Life Insurance.

Whats also important is backing up your Windows Home Server because hard drives do not last forever and it has options to do that too.

If cost is an option then you can also build your own. I own an HP EX470 which is a great unit but I am planning on building my own using components from units I no longer use so I am recycling you might say and my only real cost would be for the WHS Software $99 and Hard Drives. So you can also build your own WHS if cost is an issue or maybe if you want more performance then whats commercially available.
Nicole Berett

Posted on: September 16, 2009 at 12:04PM
7flavor, thanks for your feedback! For product suggestions, please go to Microsoft's Connect (http://connect.microsoft.com/) where your ideas will be reviewed.

Regarding your comments on Windows Home Server vs. a NAS device, you can read our Home Server checklist. (blogs.technet.com/.../home-server-checklist.aspx). It should help you understand the difference between Windows Home Server and a NAS device.
Nicole Berett

Posted on: September 16, 2009 at 12:15PM
DrShocker.com, since it is always better to be safe than sorry, I reccommend backing everything up before re-installation. Second, I would follow the "home computer backup and restore" technical brief (www.microsoft.com/.../support.mspx), and copy your home computer backup database to an external drive. Make sure duplication is turned on for all Shared Folders. The instructions are in the technical brief.

After you have all of your content copied to a safe place, pull the OS drive out and replace it with your larger drive. Then follow HP's instructions to do a server re-installation (came with your home server).
Toadtorrent

Posted on: October 05, 2009 at 11:43AM
Does anybody have any experience with backing up very large files using the WHS backup software? I'm using an Acer Easystore H340 unit with PP2 and consistently have problems backing up very large files (e.g. Outlook *.pst >700Mb compacted and 2Gb unmanaged, DVD home movie vob files, iso images, etc).

When these folders containing the large files are excluded, the backup proceeds without problems.

I have seen other mentions of this as a potential issue on other forum sites but have not received confirmation on it as a known issue.

The performance of the unit otherwise, is excellent and the software is well thought out and usable.
Nicole Berett

Posted on: October 20, 2009 at 3:59PM
Toadtorrent - I don't have personal experience with backing up really large files, but i would receommend you ask your question to community forums such as Windows Home Server Community Forums and HP MediaSmart Community.

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