Windows Home Server 2011 or Windows 7

[Art_X]

I have a spare PC and am thinking of using it for back ups and streaming media to the PS3, I have a spare Windows 7 licence and an OEM licence for Windows Home Server 2011, which would people use? As stated PC will mainly be used for storing backups of the other PC's, torrents, some movie conversions and streaming to PS3.

Have read that the backup feature in WHS2011 is slow as hell so I would use another program I have to back up things

[remixedcat]

Windows Server 2012

[Brandon H Supervisor]

I agree with remixed, either windows server 2008 r2 or windows server 2012

the home server iterations were always lacking and didn't run well in certain situations (like backups which you mentioned)

you could get what you need out of Windows 7 but some of the things wouldn't be as easy to set up as on windows server

[spaceelf]

I have a spare PC and am thinking of using it for back ups and streaming media to the PS3, I have a spare Windows 7 licence and an OEM licence for Windows Home Server 2011, which would people use? As stated PC will mainly be used for storing backups of the other PC's, torrents, some movie conversions and streaming to PS3.

Have read that the backup feature in WHS2011 is slow as hell so I would use another program I have to back up things

It is? WHS2011 has been fantastic for me. Perhaps whoever told you that needs to stop pretending Atoms are worthwhile processors.

[remixedcat]

They got rid of DRIVE EXTENDER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[AnotherITguy]

omg there are aftermarket versions of DRIVE EXTENDER

[PGHammer]

I agree with remixed, either windows server 2008 r2 or windows server 2012

the home server iterations were always lacking and didn't run well in certain situations (like backups which you mentioned)

you could get what you need out of Windows 7 but some of the things wouldn't be as easy to set up as on windows server

Agreed - Windows Server 2012 (which actually replaces WHS) makes WAY too much sense, even (if not especially) for a home server.

I dual-boot Windows 8 and Server 2012 today, with a mind to actually build a separate server once I upgrade my desktop - the advantage that Server 2012 has it that it can run on the same hardware that supports 7 (or 8, of course) with no changes whatever - how many *server* OSes can say that?

[Art_X]

Server 2012 is a little out my price range atm, not to mention I would have to get AV for it as well......will need to think on this

[Brandon H Supervisor]

Server 2012 is a little out my price range atm, not to mention I would have to get AV for it as well......will need to think on this

no you don't, both Windows 8 and Server 2012 have an anti-virus built in

[xendrome]

He can just use Windows 7 or Windows 8 for what he wants to do, there is NO reason for anyone to recommend Windows Server 2012... :/

[+BudMan MVC]

$500 for a copy of 2012 "essentials" is a bit over the top for a home budget.

The lic he has for whs 2011 would work just fine for his needs - and yes there are a few replacements for drive extender, I use drive pool from stablebits, and its rock solid and only $20

And never had any issues with backups - are you trying to do them over wireless B or G while your running torrents over the same wireless network or something and running folding on your PC your trying to backup?

[Art_X]

no you don't, both Windows 8 and Server 2012 have an anti-virus built in

Should have said effective AV ;)

$500 for a copy of 2012 "essentials" is a bit over the top for a home budget.

The lic he has for whs 2011 would work just fine for his needs - and yes there are a few replacements for drive extender, I use drive pool from stablebits, and its rock solid and only $20

And never had any issues with backups - are you trying to do them over wireless B or G while your running torrents over the same wireless network or something and running folding on your PC your trying to backup?

So with that I wouldnt need to use raid10 or is it better to use raid if I can?

$500 is a bit steep to say the least for a whole OS just for home, only thing I don't like about WHS2011 is that is wants to take 60GB just for itself

[Pygmy_Hippo]

I upgraded from WHS v1 to Windows 8 - If all you are using it for is basic stuff then you should be alright, so far Storage Spaces seems to be a good replacement for Drive Extender. Not sure about backing up all of your other pc's, however with the money you would save buying something like Windows Server 2012 Essentials you could buy a third-party program that should cover your needs.

At the moment you can upgrade your Windows 7 license to Windows 8 for ?25, runs out at the end of January though.

[+BudMan MVC]

"wants to take 60GB just for itself"

And where did you come up with that? That is min install size if I recall, not what it uses.

With what you wouldn't need to use raid 10? why would you need to use raid 10 in a home setup for ever?? That is OVERKILL for storing anything in your home.. You do understand that RAID is not a backup!

What could you possible have in home network that could not survive an outage for restore from backup? If you are running raid 10 in the home - your wasting money IMHO! I just don't see how to justify it.

Drive pooling/extender is not a raid. Its a way to access all the space of the disks under a share. So I access //storage/media and I have access to all 3 drives in the pool. I don't really care which one a specific file gets written too, is stored on. I can add to this storage by just buying the best sized disk, be it 1TB, 2, or 3 or even 4TB and just add it to the pool. Does not have to be the same speed either, etc.

If I have files that I want to survive a disk loss so that I don't have to restore from my backup, then you can set directories to have copies on more than 1 disk, etc. There are plenty of advantages to this method, and yes windows 8 spaces is along the same lines.

I can use different size disks, I don't waste space on parity when what I am storing does not require it. Sorry but my media files don't need parity - I can just rerip them if drive fails. I have them on digital storage because its easier to access that way.

Now my critical files like home video/pictures are BACKED UP!! In multiple locations on multiple disks and media. So copy on my computer, copy on the storage box (2 different disks in the pool) in the cloud on my webhost space, on dvd on my shelf in my home - and another dvd copy at my sons house in case my house its taken to OZ in the next big storm, etc.

[Art_X]

"wants to take 60GB just for itself"

And where did you come up with that? That is min install size if I recall, not what it uses.

With what you wouldn't need to use raid 10? why would you need to use raid 10 in a home setup for ever?? That is OVERKILL for storing anything in your home.. You do understand that RAID is not a backup!

What could you possible have in home network that could not survive an outage for restore from backup? If you are running raid 10 in the home - your wasting money IMHO! I just don't see how to justify it.

The fact that when I used WHS2011 that is how it set up the drive 60GB for C:\ the rest of the drive was left for me to do what I liked, ahve looked at that drive pool app, looks good, so I may change from raid to that, seeing as it will do much the same thing :)

I am aware raid is not a back up that is why I have backups of backups and seeing as this pc came with 4 500gb hard drives it wasnt a waste, as it was in with the price, that is why I am posting here, to ask for advice on what people think based on the needs I have put up, if raid is overkill then I can change it, but unless I ask the questions how am I to get the answers ;)

What about encryption, do people think that is overkill for a home environment?

[+BudMan MVC]

So your pc came with 4x500GB drives and then you setup up for raid 10 and got 500GB of usable space -- and you don't think that was a waste? When you could of had multiple different setups for better use. Shoot you could of done 500GB for your OS drive, and then put the other 3 in raid 5 and still had parity and gotten 1TB of space on your array with 500GB to use for your OS and installed programs, copy of files you didn't want to have to restore from backup in case you lost a drive in array, etc..

As to encryption - encryption of what? Who has physical access to the storage? Does the device with private information on it leave the home? Are you worried about theft of the device from someone breaking into your home? Do you plan on encrypting your backups that are also in your home - kind of pointless to encrypt your stuff and then have clear copy on external drive or optical media on the shelf, etc.

If someone stole your PC, does it matter that got copies of your home videos?

Comes down to what your trying to mitigate risk of?? Encryption is really only warranted when you don't have physical control of the device. Ie I wouldn't walk around with your thumbdrive with all your passwords in clear text for example - that could get lost or you could get mugged very easy. Now if they are sitting on your PC that does not leave your home, and your not worried about your house mates looking at them, etc. Then encryption might not be warranted??

Encryption is a great way to lower the risk of loss of your information in your files - it is also a great way to lock you out of your own data if you don't pay attention and understand what that AES 256 encryption your picking actually means.. Sorry there is not a back door, sorry but no your not going to be able to just run a crack on it and get your files in a few days. Your out of luck if you don't backup your keys and you use EFS, and then reinstall your OS overwriting your keys, etc..

Now me personally the only thing I have that really warrants encryption is my passwords. If someone broke into my home and stole my PC - this is the only thing I would be worried about them accessing. The passwords to my online accounts. So this is the only thing that I have encrypted using lastpass and keepass as my storage of such things. Now I don't have my browser storing passwords, etc.

[Art_X]

Thanks for the advise budman - I use robo form for my online passwords and they have a password on them, so the only fear I have is people breaking in to the house, I guess it is unwarrented, although I do have the laptop encrypted as that has business info on, I bought the program you advised, looking forward to using it, looks extremely helpful :)

[PGHammer]

Server 2012 is a little out my price range atm, not to mention I would have to get AV for it as well......will need to think on this

If you qualify for Website Spark (depressingly easy to do), you can get Server 2012 Standard for $0USD (except download time).

[Art_X]

If you qualify for Website Spark (depressingly easy to do), you can get Server 2012 Standard for $0USD (except download time).

Thanks!! Did as you suggested and as you say they let anyone in :) downloading en_windows_server_2012_x64_dvd_915478.iso now and at 7meg/sec download not a lot of time to wait :)

[Mannlich]

no you don't, both Windows 8 and Server 2012 have an anti-virus built in

Thought this was important to point out, since it looks as though OP is downloading Server 2012: Server 2012 does not include Windows Defender (anti-virus). Windows 8 does, but server does not.

[elangab]

I'm using WHS 2011 for over a year now, and it's very good. After initial setup it was one of the few "set it and forget it" installations that actually worked.

I'm checking once in while to see if all is good, and indeed all is good.

- I restored a PC that had a bad hard drive, and it went great. Also, I restored a single file from the backup, and it worked great.

- I'm streaming music to my windows phone, which is nice

- I can stream Blu-Ray rips without any problems

- XBOX streams MP4 video files

- I can remote access it from the web, and upload files - which is handy.

The only thing to uncheck is the MP3 tags feature, that "fix" your MP3 tags...

It's also super cheap... 49$....

[Art_X]

Last time I tried the backup function of Windows Home server 2011 - on a Gbit network I was getting 4meg a second, when I did it manually using another program I was getting 70meg/sec to and from it, also I got Windows Server 2012 Standard for $0 - you cant get cheaper than that :p

I will try it out and see what happens, I have it Imaged so shouldn't be too much of an issue

[+BudMan MVC]

If you qualify for Website Spark (depressingly easy to do), you can get Server 2012 Standard for $0USD (except download time).

Yeah that great -- but clearly doing what he wants with it is in violation of the EULA

"You may not use this software to: ? Develop or maintain Your own administrative or IT system"

Might as well have told him to warez it -- that is a FREE option as well.

[Art_X]

guess its lucky I haven't burnt it to disc yet then.....

[jpcahn]

I hate so suggest something else but I use Unraid for my server. It is free to have two storage drives and one backup drive. The beauty of Unraid is that it runs off a USB stick and you can backup several drives with only one backup drive. For example you could have 5 3TB drives full of videos and back them up with only one 3TB drive. The thing to keep in mind is that this only is effective if any one drive goes out. If two go out at the same time then you have a problem. There are people using it for twenty drives. It streams video very well for me.

Here is a link to it

http://lime-technology.com/technology