WGS Reader Poll: What Do You Think of Windows Home Server Vail Preview?

By on May 27, 2010 in News, Windows Home Server, Windows Home Server Vail

You’ve had access to the new Windows Home Server Vail Preview now for over a month. In that time, you’ve downloaded it, installed it, and had a good look around.Whilst it’s an early beta, and who knows what’s to come, it’s time for the WGS Community to decide – is it hot or not?

Let us know the reasons for your selection in our comments. Interested parties are sure to be reading!


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

    Maybe a "like" should be added. :)

    If they add WMC to WHS Vail then I will definitely love it!

    • dancingbear

      I go for the addition of 'like'. Right now Love is too strong, hate is out and undecided well I am passed that but not at the love stage. Very pleased so far, but waiting to see what beta2 will add/fix.
      Simon (Dancingbear)

  • Jazzy Fizzle

    Vail offers nothing new over WHS1 PP3. Therefore I dont see anybody actually being able to justify paying for the upgrade. I bet a majority of those who do install vail, obtain it illegally.

    Give me WMC Server, Sling Player like support, Exchange, IIS and SQL, then Microsoft, you can take a little bit more of my money.

    • Lokkers

      You do of course realise that IIS is already in Vail and SQL can be installed (SQL Express)? They're hardly likely to bundle Exchange and SQL Server with it, as these are enterprise features (if you want that, I suggest you spend the money and get SBS).

    • John

      I'm thinking that most people will actually buy it preinstalled with new hardware. At least that's what I'm planning to do :D

  • Mike

    Yeah, the poll should have had if they had WMC, 95% would choose that!!

  • shaunvis

    What is the benefit of WMC vs. DLNA? I see a lot of people complaining about lack of WMC, but it's not in WHS1 is it?

    I'm trying to understand the difference because right now with WHS1 I can stream just about anything to all my devices. There's a few video formats that don't work on my xbox, but I was under the impression they WOULD work using DLNA. Am I wrong? Can someone please explain?

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

      I think people are looking for TV Tuner support in particular, although the WMC interface provides a great user experience for searching and browsing content.

    • http://intensedebate.com/profiles/dbone1026 Damian

      TV Tuner support is one reason,. RIght now you have to leave a second PC on to record with WMC. Since WHS is an "always on" device you now have two devices on unnecessarily. Same goes for using Xbox as a Media Extender, you need to have a PC running WMC on to do this. SageTV got it right with Media Center integration while MS is asleep at the wheel

      • http://gcoupe.spaces.live.com Geoff Coupe

        +1
        Exactly.

      • bsquare

        Exactly right. Not to mention that the new Add-in format means that Sage WHS plugin can't be easily installed into VAIL, so it makes VAIL double-worthless at this time. Can't do the MediaCenter functions users have been begging for and can't install the Add-In that makes it able to. Although once the Sage7 beta is out of the way, hopefully the Sage people will fix that 2nd issue soon.

  • Nathan

    I wouldn't mind trying it, but don't have a spare system laying around and don't feel like trying convert my existing 12TB system to a Beta build of anything. To be perfectly honest, if Vail doesn't offer a stable upgrade path for the DIY'ers (self built WHS machines) I don't see those guys upgrading anytime soon.

  • Owl Saver

    I too would like to see WMC, Tuner Support, and an Upgrade path built in. I have an HP EX475 and it works great. But, by the time new HP's with Vail come out, it will be a little old. So, I can see buying one of them. HP or Microsft should offer an upgrade path for people me.

  • Mike Lowrey

    The only thing i really miss is a build in ability to share adressbook, calendar etc.
    But that’s not sooo important cause i will definitly install Sharepoint Foundation on it – but this one integrated in the dashboard would be great.

  • Michael

    I will not touch it till tuner support is built in. end of story.

  • Rychek

    I'm not at the "love it" point yet, but probably will be once it's RTM. For me, media center is of little to no importance as I don't currently use it (nor do I record/watch TV). I'm completely undecided on what to replace my current XBOX/XBMC setup with when I go HD for watching movies, but WMC is not required for that useage.

    One thing I do like is the lack of stuttering on my movies like I've had with v1. The transcoding/streaming via the Vail website is nice (though far from perfect).

  • Lars

    Running windows Server 2003 makes me a bit nervous. everything else being equal, WS2008R2 x64 is a big step forward. Jury is still out on the new storage system, of course.

  • http://intensedebate.com/profiles/falconfour falconfour

    Vail gives me Aero on the console, and a really freaking kickass new remote access site.

    Vail takes away backup status & configuration, one remote session, all add-ons, support for low-end hardware (64-bit only), the ability to manipulate Drive Extender, support for a hell of a lot of hardware & drivers, a heck of a lot of status information, a heck of a lot of ease of use, and, perhaps most irritatingly, a refined user interface.

    Sometimes I wonder if I can hold out until the next Vail beta. Practically no new features in Vail – in fact, with the new Drive Extender platform, a lot of useful features are scrapped. Basically just the same as WHS v1, reinvented for a new platform. And the only thing the MS guys seem to be paying attention to on the Connect site, are bugs or suggestions that apply to fixing or refining features that are already present in WHS v1 but missing/broken in Vail. The only thing Vail got that v1 doesn't have is some really awesome remote media streaming capabilities (over the internet via the new Silverlight player). That's pretty cool, if just a little… eh… rather, a lot, slow.

  • sisniper

    restoring a system backup using boot from network would be nice – how easy would that be !

    certainly looks ok inhttp://www.amahi.org/

    in fact MS , take a look here for a decent set of ideas

    sorry for mentioning linux guys

    • Lanstrom

      I dont see why you should be sorry for mentioning Amahi. A friend of mine has just bought WHS v1 and has given in installing it after 3 days of trying. I suggested that he tried Amahi and its worked first time and he is loving all the free apps and stability of it. Personally I am not a linux person but I would be willing to try Amahi out.

      I would like to see a full on comparisison done on this site between Vail and Amahi :)

  • joit

    for those of you begging for tuner support, please vote for the corresponding suggestions on connect! https://connect.microsoft.com/WindowsHomeServer/F…
    right now MC is on third place.

  • Guest

    I'm not terribly excited about having to test the 64 bit version at the expense of my 32 bit version. I'd like to be able to run both 32 bit and 64 bit side by side without having to buy extra nic cards and dns for my dhcp setup. Am I missing something here?

  • The Kitty

    PCIe tuner support is #1

  • mmaestro

    Like, not love. See the potential. I'm guessing that I'm one of the few who's not had a WHS v1 (built one, tried the 30 day trial, and while I was running that Vail came out so just installed that). For backup, it's outstanding, media streaming works well, I think it fulfils the needs that I have. Does feel rough around the edges, though. That's inevitable with a beta, though. I think I'll be pleased with the final version, and more so once we have some add-ins.

  • PBXguy

    Sorry, but I don't see the need or usefulness of a tuner in an Atom powered box. While I'm excited about the coming Ceton tuner, I can't imagine it (with a Quad turner cable card) on less than a quad core machine with Windows 7. And why on earth leave the computer with the tuner on all the time? Anyone ever heard of sleep mode?

    On the other hand, I am experimenting with a PBX on WHS Vail, built on a D570 with 4GB.

    • falconfour

      I don't see how someone could NOT see the need or usefulness of a tuner in an Atom powered box. Maybe we're not thinking of the same thing.

      Here's the thing. Windows Media Center is installed on every Vista and W7 PC already – well, at least, every "decent" version (Home Premium or better). It's completely useless, though – with almost no PCs having a tuner, and even those with tuners rarely being put to use. And if WMC is to be put to appropriate use, it should be left on all the time so it can be there to record the shows. As for standby? Give me a break, that's hardly a solution – come on to record a scheduled show (if the wake timers are working right, also a rare occurrence), then never goes back to sleep. Smooth.

      Tuner support in WHS is such a popular request because it fills a serious gap. People want a server, but don't want a box that does nothing but serves occasional requests. And, people also want a Media Center tuner box that can dump TV shows onto their WHS box… but again, don't really want a box that does nothing but waits for a show to be recorded. Having Media Center recording capabilities in WHS would mean that people could schedule recordings for the WHS box from any PC, then play them from the same whenever they want. MS could even be so nice and give us live TV streaming as well. I don't see why not.

      Also lol at your ridiculously overblown specs for a tuner-equipped PC. Perhaps you don't have a working understanding of how modern tuners (with hardware encoders) work. Tuner card does all the work, PC just has to mux it and drop it on disk. And an Atom is a plenty capable CPU for that task (being an Atom & tuner owner myself). My Atom can stream ATSC HD off the tuner over the network without any trouble at all (it was actually the network that was having trouble). Playing it locally in realtime, though, it had a little trouble with. But that's not what consumer Home Server boxes will be doing. They'll be recording and storing (or sending it over the network), that's it.

      I want my tuner support!

  • http://twitter.com/smadge1 smadge1

    I don't love it or hate it, I am decided however. I think, as far as the user experience is concerned, it's simply a much needed upgrade to the original v1 product.

    I like the streaming in the browser, and yes, TV in the browser would make it 10 to 100 times better!

  • Random Internet guy

    With windows embeded runing wmc on devices like your tv – your traditional htpc setup will be a thing of the past. Your embeded device will directly record to your home server. Extenders will become old school. The game is changing move on. Eventually your LG fridge will play media from your home server.

  • Mirekmal

    Do not understand that WMC whoa :-( Isn't just DLNA is enough to stream all of your libraries to whole house? Also TV tuner stuff…
    Video streaming currently does not support subtitles, so useless.
    I'd love to have HYPER-V retained in Vail, so can eliminate another (pretty strong and dedicated to) machine and migrate all existing features of my current setup to Vail.
    I like changes in web page layout and ability to reconfigure it to my preferences.
    I dislike:
    - lack of add-ins, which makes Vail unusable for me in several areas.
    - lack of migration path from V1
    - inability to read from drive removed from storage pool.That might mean lots of troubles with future migrations/upgrades.

  • Michael

    I've got a great stable setup with WHS v1. not only does it do the standard media serving and backup, but it also has Sagetv and Magicjack. What I was really hoping for from vail was built in tuner support so that I could let go of sagetv. I was hoping that they would include a media center server/client version that would do the tv tuning and recording and use the media center pc's as clients for streaming and recording instructions. I think that they need to make a whole house plan and stick with it. I'll put it here and just ask for a little kickback if they run with it. see below

  • Michael

    call it "windows home suite"
    you build it in layers so that people can purchase what they want as they can afford it.
    it starts with level 1 being a home server that does ALL your media handling including cablecard DVR. also as an addin you can include Home automation/security such as x10, insteon, upb, or zwave. And some kind of family calendar/contacts database should be included with a SIMPLE to use interface. see below

  • Michael

    level two would include selling Media center as a standalone software that you can add to xp or 7 if it didn't come with the version you bought, as well as SIMPLE home server linking with xboxes. see below

  • Michael

    Level three would be linking up with the windows mobile phones. being able to recieve alerts from the home server, send print jobs from your phone to your home, remotely view home security cameras, and using your phone as a home remote control for tv's, home automation, and even schedule recordings from it. you should even be able to set up a telephone number on the home server and have it forward to the appropriate place based on where you tell it you are (ala google voice) see below

  • Michael

    level four would be accessories such as tablets (like the ipad) for portable viewing (tv, webcams, security, etc.) and neat toys (sky is the limit at this point)

    that would be the focus that I would lean toward, slowly take over the home of everyone in the world…

  • Deke

    Just converted 14TB WHSv1 to Vail preview…
    - Web streaming is flaky. Sometimes works sometimes doesn't. Sometimes just completely stops responding.
    - Various other web issues. – Icons sometimes show and other times don't.
    - Overall response is slooow. Slower than V1 with my specs. Feels like it could lock up at any minute
    - Still doesn't support the majority of my video codecs (mkv, 1080 mov, iso, etc)
    - Too little control over the libraries on the remote web site (shows everything in your music folder without you being able to selectively control what is visible and what isnt)
    - remote web access requires a new version of the RDP active-x control which breaks some older versions of RDP you may need to use
    - no WMC server / TV tuner support
    - migration from V1 was tremendously painful
    - love the smartphone-sized mobile version of the remote access web site but no streaming
    - dashboard just doesn't feel polished., rough and weak and slow

  • Deke

    - Remote web site will not display properly in any versions of Internet Explorer older than 7
    - Feature lost – "user personal folders"
    - Launchpad feels like a cheap add-on and doesn't feel "integrated" into the OS like the old
    - No DLNA server
    - Media Streaming has a grand total of 1 option (on or off). Where's the controls to select sub-fodlers, media types, permissions, etc. Just way, way, too crude for a true media streamer
    - No transcoding (well it does for the remote access website but it doesnt through the upnp media streamer)
    - 64 bit only (although I'm fine with that)
    - No add-ins (i know it's a preview…)

  • Deke

    (continued from posts above)…

    I'm one to always jump on the newest version of everything and usually I'm happy with being a beta player. But I'm sad about this one. I wish I could go back. Count me as one of the votes for "hate it".

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

    Hmmm its very nice under the hood, but lacks additional fucntionality. I'll likley upgrade if I see the return of user folders. Out of curiosity who uses HomeGroups here?

    • GrantD

      I'm using homegroups and it's working fantastically. It integrates really well with my windows machine. It adds folders to the video, pictures, and music shortcuts on the left hand side of the window, making a folder tree out of it. I'm sure it does other things too but overall i'm really fond of what I'm seeing in vail. I don't think the version I'm looking at has been out real long.

      BTW running on a atom d510 machine with 2gb's of ram and it runs pretty well.

  • hvakrg

    There really isn't any reason to make WMC a part of Vail, what they should do though is to create a server-part of WMC that can run on Vail, they should look to programs such as Mediaportal TV-server and the WMC-plugin MyMovies for inspiration.

  • FlyGuyAZ

    First lame number, 12%. That’s overhead for duplication but whatever, extra data protection could be worth it. Second lame number, 1GB. Any file over 1GB will be ‘chunked’ across multiple drives regardless of duplication. This introduces the possibility of losing more than just a single drive’s worth of data if a single drive were to fail. Probability is irrelevant, ANY probability is unacceptable. I’m putting together a post for the official WHS Vail forum detailing my experiences with a 2 drive system and a non-duplicated share. Hint, I lost more than just a single drive’s data!

    WHS Vail, rhymes with FAIL!

    • scoob101

      You put critical data on a BETA OS, and you lost it? Sounds like YOU failed!

  • Robert

    I'm undecided. The system seems much more stable than WHS v1 but there are no add-ins yet. It's like test driving a car without an engine. It looks pretty but what's the 0-60 time. It was very easy to install and connect to remotely. I'm not sure I'd be willing to pay much more than the WHS price because there are no new features really.