Moving Home (Servers…)

By on December 15, 2007 in Hardware, Windows Home Server

Today, I’m finally moving home servers. This year, my main “production” home server has been a self-build model, based on the Asus Pundit PH3 barebones. It’s served me well this year, and will become my main test home server for, well, anything that needs testing for the site! It will sit on my home network, but won’t be backing up my home computers on a day to day basis.

My main home server will be a HP MediaSmart EX475 – Microsoft sent long-term loaner units out to Windows Home Server MVPs last month, and with its expandability options and great add-ins, I’m hoping it’ll do a great job for me. But we’ll see!


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About Terry Walsh

Terry Walsh is the founding editor and owner of We Got Served. Since February 2007, the site has provided detailed coverage and analysis of the emerging home server category, and has subsequently grown into a trusted outlet for digital home news and reviews.
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  • Rich Warner

    Let us know how you did the migration. I’m sure many like myself will be moving from one box to another as the new hardware is released and would like to not have to ‘redo’ the set-up and adding etc.

    Thanks for a great sight,
    Rich

  • Terry Walsh

    Hi Rich

    Ah, well, I don’t really do migration – I much prefer a clean start, so I chucked all of my files over to an external HD and then started afresh with the MediaSmart. Having spent a few years beta testing various bits of MS software, I’m very used to regularly blowing away machines and starting again!

    All the best
    Terry

  • Daniel

    How is the MediaSmart Server working for you? I am interested in the product but first I have a few questions for you. First, I read something online that the “Previous Versions” function is not enabled on the HP server. Can you comment on this? Second, in your review you state that executables may not be run via remote desktop sessions. I was interested in putting windows sharepoint services on my WHS. I am assuming that this will not be an option for the HP server as I need to install the executable.

    Thanks,

    D

  • Terry Walsh

    Hi Daniel

    It’s working out very well – following the review I discovered that executables can sometime be blocked from installation when you copy over from another computer. You can sort this out by right clicking the file, going into Properties and selecting Unblock. If the file doesn’t run directly on the server from the shared folders icon, navigate to it through Explorer, and it should run ok. You should be fine installing WSS. Previous Versions is indeed missing.

    Terry

  • Daniel

    Ok, the blocked executables is a function of Server 2003 R2. I have run into the same senario on one of our machines at work. It appears to only happen for files placed on the machine over the network. Anything downloaded on the server should run just fine.

    The lack of Volume Shadow Copy is disappointing. It would be a great option to recover a corrupt file stored on the server. If you have HP’s ear then it might be worth mentioning.

    D

  • Terry Walsh

    I’m hopefully meeting with HP soon – will ensure it’s discussed.

    Terry

  • karel tap

    Does anyone have some experience with 64 bit equipment already? I still cannot use mine Vista 64 bit system on my home server.

  • Terry Walsh

    The Windows Home Server Connector is not currently compatible with 64-bit systems – look out for an announcement in January.

    Terry

  • Tim Lang

    I can’t believe HP disabled the Volume Shadow Copies / Previous Versions function…that is, for me, an absolutely critical feature which I use at work all the time (mostly when our users inadvertently delete some important file and realize it 3 days later). I was just about set to go with the HP MSS for myself at home, but unfortunately missing feature is a deal breaker. I will either stick with my w2k3 server, or else build up a custom WHS server. It is a shame, because by the time you factor in a 4 bay hot swap SATA drive enclosure, the HP is a pretty decent hardware value.