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- All the best

Can’t Microsoft learn anything from Apple? One flavour for all is a much better measure. Think about it. More features on “Windows Home Server”, it gets buzz as a positive thing, people are excited about it, more positivity.

More SKUs = more confusion. Does anyone out there REALLY know the differnce between the different Vista flavours? Answer: YES, some IT specialists. Most people are confused tho.

KISS = Keep it simple, stupid. One awesome sku please.

Well enough of my rant

It would be lovely if Microsoft was able to provide everything you’ve asked for but on the one hand you want it to be simple and on the other you want email, and a webserver ontop of media streaming and simple backup.

My first point would be that configuring a domain name registered with any one of thousands of companies on the web pointing correct cnames and the MX records at the server or preferably mx backup server incase the family broadband goes down… you get my drift.

Second if you want a webserver and probably ftp for the extended family to upload stuff to you need a hardware firewall infront of it or it’s going to get hacked to death along with all your precious photo’s…

Your all in one box will always be over complex. I would love to see the next WHS able to backup my parents computers over the internet, confirm all their windows updates have been installed and if possible rebuild the PC from PXE boot with little configuration (WDS already provides this but can’t be run without AD and the Repair CD is already a fully customised WinPE 2 cd)

After that lets add an add-in that allows SoHo’s access to DHCP and DNS settings (these would be needed for PXE boot which is why the current CD restore system exists to keep it simple)

Printer’s, scanners and other devices on a second add-in (already happening in windows 7)

For eMail and web I’d say hotmail/office live mail but no doubt microsoft would get sued for anti-trust again on that score, gmail google apps is great too but really to make email simple it has to be hosted and with the providers creating add-ins. There are already loads of great hosts doing things with simple websites and with a little more knowledge and a cheep template CMS is getting good.

So WHS 2.0 and its underlying hardware is in effect and easy thing to envision. Ihope they go for it now that they have proven that there is a segment in the market.

Note: Family and very small business is the same segment so do not bother to make a distinction between them.

1 it needs access to external media, (internet, off-air TV and radio)
(perhaps a usb stick receiver)
2 it should provide storage and streaming media for the home
3 it should provide email for the whole family
4 it should provide connectivity for all media devices at home
5 it should provide a website for the family to present itself to the outside

Now it is up to Microsoft to provide in such a way that a least one person in the family can set up (user friendly)
and that it seamlessly integrates with the PCs and other devices in the home (not the case now)

Most of what you ask for can be done free with Sharepoint services, remember that there are many options already for advanced users who rdp or direct login to the server in instead of using the WHS Console. Sharepoint has almost all the features and more, shared calendars, events and with plugins and addins for that, well the sky is the limit. Also for all those who desperately want a mail server on their WHS, try SmarterMail – http://www.smartertools.com

It runs just fine on WHS, offers web access and it a nice little package.

I consider myself fairly knowledgeable about computers/networks etc., but sometimes this product confuses me.

It really needs to be made bulletproof. Everything up to and including restoring the server must be made easy enough and harmless enough that anyone regardless of technical knowledge can perform.

That means the backup database must be duplicated in the OS. I use BDBB to do that, but it should be built in.

Recovery must be made simple. You should be able to backup the server OS using PC backup. You should then be able to restore the server at any time by initiating it in the console. The machine could reboot and automatically boot into a mini OS that allows you to restore the server itself from any backups held in the pooled storage of the system. You should similarly have the first backup or image of the machine in factory fresh state (or clean install state) so that you can use it to restore to factory fresh state.

Yes the device should be simple enough that it knows to either accept an IP from the router or assign itself one automatically. It should come with a regularly updated set of scripts for popular routers that automatically changes the required port forwarding settings for the user. Sure it’s a lot of work, but that’s what needs to be done in order for it be as friendly as it needs to be to take off.

I mean it needs to be as simple as “Your router (picture of router) cannot “find me”(click to read actual technical explanation). Can I attempt to automatically change your router settings so that it can? (again click on the underlined word “change” to read the full technical explanation of what it is going to do).”

That is the level it needs to communicate with users. Simple explanations for most people and underlined words to let technical types read the full issue. That way we can feel in control while most people can also feel in control of their server.