What Do You Want to See in Windows Home Server v2?

By on January 19, 2010 in WHS v2

Whilst stressing that we heard nothing from Microsoft at CES on the prospect of seeing Windows Home Server v2 (“Vail”) this year, there’s a cracking thread over at WGS Forums (now 48 posts and counting) where WGS readers are sharing their thoughts on what they’d like to see in Vail.

A few selected thoughts from the thread…

Built in server backup to external hdd, website, other computer

Add-ins for your provided domain/website like ajax chat room/addon or gallery/forum software

Support for a mailserver with Activesync (for people that have 2/more pc’s, but want 1 universal copy of their email)

Windows Media Center
Since we are FINALLY going to get some good cable cards(4 streams) it would be nice to be able use this box as a DVR to record and stream digital cable to extenders(xbox360).

To be able to remote backup another machine over the internet to your WHS box. ie: mom and dads computer in Florida can be backed up on your server in New York (since I would manage their computers anyway) for easy restores of their computer. (for example)

All great suggestions – but what would you like to see in Vail? Check out the thread and make sure you add your thoughts to the debate…

More Info: WGS Forums


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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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  • Chris

    Right now I use my server mainly for media storage and streaming to the Xbox. Remote access is really a void since portable storage is large and cheap. I would love to see the following:

    Offsite backup: Parents computers, web servers, etc.

    Mail/Exchange Server/Calendar

    64bit

    Integration with project Natal for entire home use

    That is what I would love to see, but right now WHS + win7 is the best house hold computer duo!

    Chris

  • David

    the 2 biggest things have to do with media content… which is what they advertise "Media Smart" Server….

    Native Media Center Extender Support…. no crappy DNLA, full on Media Center support for xbox360s complete with tuner card support…

    media browser with Cable Card tuners all native on my WHS would be awesome.

    Then: We need the ability to have 1 EPG for all Media Center Computers and a tuner pool. WHS is the perfect way to implement it….. have WHS do all the background work and then Media Center PCs all share the WHS EPG

  • http://twitter.com/welchwerks @welchwerks

    second esate support and usb 3.0 support__drag and drop files during remote access__recorded tv storage and commercial removal __pc backup__server c: drive imaging__media steaming__better WMC integration__server os system resore ____o.k. my hands are tired

  • David

    Move away from Windows Server 2003 and to Server 2008 architecture.

  • Phil

    Native Mac Backup.

    Support for larger filespace online backup provided by MS – perhaps a larger skydrive quota or expanded thru pay-for service (competitive pricing of course)

    The idea for a home server/media server is fantastic, but easy, no-brainer data security is even better…

  • Brandon

    Yep…i'm just wanting my whs to allow it to at least act as a media center DVR.

    I still can't decide if it is a good idea to have it actually BE a Media Center PC….i think it is….it would be great to have WHS turn into a Home Server+ Media Center, in one box

  • Aaron

    True media center support…. thats really all it needs.

  • http://twitter.com/clexman @clexman

    I would like to be able to update my current WHS to this new version without too much pain.

  • http://intensedebate.com/people/urmaster urmaster

    Over 2TB drives in the storage pool.
    USB 3.0
    Windows Server 2008 x64
    Media Centre built in
    A real DLNA certified media streamer
    Scheduled external backups
    Backup mounts for external backups
    Smoother operation of the console on lower end machines.

  • JohnCz

    Windows Live SkyDrive – extend storage to WHS folders.

  • Mark

    -Easy upgrade
    -Tuner cards in WHS and media center/EPG support
    -I would like to hook up my Tv to the WHS, but I guess that takes away the headless design a bit…
    -back-up to network attached drive, so I could place my backup disk in the garage, being save when the house burns down and my WHS gets stolen
    -Scheduled back-up, no manual things which I forget to do frequently enough
    -some sort of centralized agenda/task list would be great with reminders etc send to correct client pc's. But maybe this is covered by the WGS add-in contest (awfully quite on that front by the way…)
    -And most important some news on when and what… It has been too quiet too long!

  • Jon123

    It would be good to see WHS include better integration with Windows Update. So if I have 3 machines all with Win 7 on them, I only have to download the updates once to the server then the updates are installed by WHS.

    I know you can install WSUS on WHS to do something similar but it would be good to have this support built in.

    • http://intensedebate.com/people/tezzer Terry Walsh

      We'll have some news on the competition hopefully next week…..

  • Jaap

    MUST HAVE:
    Scheduled backup to external drives (USB and network) INCLUDING Database.
    Crucial for small business. DDBD great but not scheduled.
    Remote location backup.(family members & ftp sites)
    WOULD BE NICE:
    Mailserver – Home calendar – DVR capabilities – Mediacentre
    ???
    What happened to the Add-in competition?

  • Johannes

    Would like an interface for home automation and the KNX standard and off course as many before had said: PVR feature to being able to record tv-programmes centrally and then watch on any terminal.

  • Guest

    Must have
    - Media Center fully built-in
    - Support for tuners (AnySee DVB-C)
    - Media collector / scraper (like HP MediaServer)
    - Upgrade from Windows Home Server v1

    Should
    - Home Calender

  • rick

    off the top of my head:

    Built in WHS OS/config backup to disk/usb/etc., schedulable
    Tuner card support
    Auto backup of more devices (psp, ps3, linux)
    Usb3 support
    Single site push backup (my folks who live in another state)
    Built in sftp
    Hdmi out to tv as input (as a media center)
    Better WMP/itunes integration (although I may just be doing it wrong)
    Better built-in defragmenter
    Integration with WSUS windows update (staging update files, I have 4XP machines, 1 Win7, 2 Vista machines on LAN)
    Better support (partnership?) for webcam/home automation/home security cam devices
    Calendaring/Email staging for home

  • Tom

    *Move away from Windows Server 2003 to 2008 X64 Bit
    *Integrated support as standard for iTunes, iPhones etc with the OEM software
    *Also Microsoft could create its own app for the iPhone to access your server, similar to HP's effort? (These 3rd party app’s you can buy are C**P)

    Basically it would be great if Microsoft takes all the good stuff HP have done and rolled it all into their OEM
    I did not buy the HP machine because I decided to build my own and is much much quicker and to my own liking.

  • Bryan

    Built in media center
    Tuner card support
    Silverlight support
    Media streaming support (ie to phone, remote computers)
    phone support
    Zune integration

  • Greg

    1. Ability to include remote computers (parents and kids, etc) in back-ups.

    2. Support for tape drive to back-up server.

    3. WebFolders funtionality built in as opposed to an add-in.

    4. Built-in streaming of media directly from server (WebGuide) as opposed to add-in.

    5. Built-in ability to customize remote access interface.

  • whatsinaname

    encryption

  • Torann

    The ability to select which directory gets backed up, instead of having to exclude all directories on a drive except for the one I want backed up.

  • mcavity

    More fault tolerance. I would love to see the ability of root drive mirroring and a parity drive for the storage pool.
    Better multimedia support. MKV with subtitles anyone?
    Better printer / fax shareing

  • Peter Strebjer

    1. Mount DVD iso. or img. support for streaming and viewing in xbox360.
    2. srt or sub support for streaming and viewing xvid, divx with subtitles in Xbox360.
    3. All above for every other mediaplayer who have the ability to stream with upnp support.

  • http://intensedebate.com/people/dorana dorana

    The things I would like to see are:
    off site backup of PC's – i.e. no matter where you are as long as you are connected to the internet your PC is backed up.
    Archiving of old PC's – I have a situation where I have a number of old PC listed on my back up list which I don't want to remove has quite off access information from these images.

  • Guest

    Awareness that there are external hard drives on client machines and respect the fact that they are not always on and an option to exclude the external hard drives from the backup pool.

  • pablo_paul

    server 2008 based 64bit

    tuner and extender support

    Not much to ask Really!

  • Matt

    Host multiple personal website rather than having to pay a web hosting service – so therefore would also need mail server etc

  • tyler

    Live Mesh Support
    MCE/Tuner Support
    Remote Backup Support
    Silverlight/Mesh Interface
    SKyDrive Integration
    Roving User support (hold profile info on WHS,log in from any machine)
    Home Calendar/Notes support

  • Chuck

    I have two major roles I'd like to see expanded on:

    "The Home Organizer"
    - Mail/calender synchronization – with the proliferation of smartphones, this seems like a no-brainer. Let us have 10 people on a simple exchange server setup. Combine multiple accounts into a "family calender" view, maybe on a web page
    - Improved simple website – the generic website should have calender, photo album, etc w/o having to use additional add-ons; simple plug & play
    - Improved backup routines, as previously mentioned including remote backups
    - Improved data redundancy – need improved redundancy in case of sys drive failure
    - Include Microsoft security essentials, so I don't need to go buy an A/V program!

    "The media center"
    - Improve and integrate video distribution to the home -> let it organize and be the central connecting point for tv streams, which can get pushed out to an MCE
    - Integrate ability to act as a DVD/Blu-ray disc carriage, again to MCE's

  • Darius

    Ability to remove main hard drive (i.e. select remove and all the files and os moved to another drive).

    I'd also like to be able to plug in a drive via USB and be able to transfer files to it from the WHS console (as it always wants to add to server storage – or am I doing something wrong?)

  • EJN

    I would like Backups dependent on uptime as apposed to days without backups.

  • DRC

    Some apps, like Zoombrowser and iTunes can't find files on a WHS – that makes it hard to use WHS as a server, rather than just as a back-up, for photos and music if someone in your household uses one of those. So a way to let those apps use files on the WHS would be nice.

  • Robert Dammers

    Undelete! Please, Undelete! It doesn't need to be too sophisticated, just the ability to undo after finger trouble.

  • GreedyGoat

    SATA 3 hard drive support, Wireless dual "N", Move to Server 2008 64-bit

    • http://intensedebate.com/people/urmaster urmaster

      Those will be included naturally as part of the controller drivers, windows will not need to support this.

  • http://intensedebate.com/people/urmaster urmaster

    NDA?

    If not please add some information.

  • http://intensedebate.com/people/urmaster urmaster

    I see your name on many torrents lol

  • Igneous

    At the moment it would be great if Microsoft Security Essentials could check my server as well as my pc's. Thanks

  • Guest

    More user license support. 10 just isn't enough.

  • Leooo

    for the moment, i just want to see the release date :D

  • Jaap

    I second that, a release date (or some target date) would be nice, seems VERY QUIET on all the blogs as well as MS.
    Would be nice to have a place were features are listed and we could VOTE!
    All of the above suggestions are great but prioritisation would be interesting.

  • Frank

    Ability to either be a domain controler or connect to a domain.

  • SickPuP

    1. Windows Server 2008 x64 (must)
    2. Remote Backup (must)
    3. Skydrive Integration
    4. Built-in Streaming Media Front-end (NOT Twonky)
    5. TV Tuner Integration (not likely since it is built on WS2008x64)
    6. IP Monitoring Plug-in
    7. Themes on the Packaged Webpages (Remote, MediaStreamer, etc.)
    8. Built-in SQL Server Express 2008
    9. The ability to specify a specific domain for remote access. If I already purchase a domain http://www.something.com and want to use it I should. Currently I found a way around but it is a pain and I had to manually generate an OpenSSL.

    ** For thos who still use windows media center you should change apps because that is one of the worst applications ever. Microsoft still doesn’t know how to write a good media application. wmp12 is much better than 11 but still a failure on organization and UI.

  • lucas

    has anyone seen this?

    [EDIT - Please do not post links to torrents on the site]

  • Theo

    PC Backup archiving:
    With WHS V1 the purpose of client backups is targeted at restoring the client in its original state in case of failure. Would be nice if in V2 this functionality could be extended to archiving client backups. Like being abled to "export" a single cient backup to an external disk, even in the case this backup was deleted (or lost) from the WHS backup database.

  • Michel

    Just to say that something like Drasha did with the X/Files Windows Home Server Edition is a good step for Windows Home Server V2.

    Of course built on 2008 would be better but not sure about the hardware requirement price.

  • joit

    HDMI out qould be awesome. You could have media center and homeserver in one box.

  • james W

    Gotta have Native DVD/BD archive capability….

    Drop disc in wait a minute, replace with next disc. view on HTPC, XBOX360, PS3 etc

    i don't need to take the movies off of the WHS, i have the actuall DVDs to take on trips with me. I just want a legitimate and easy back up of DVDs I actually own (and that the kids scratch up all the time), adding Netflix down(rent)load would be a plus!

  • mike de groot

    Raid ,Ajax , and free contact customer support .

  • Pingback: Windows Home Server ‘Vail’: A web based media center? « Raiden Splash

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