Considering converting a PC into an home server


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yeah thats more than enough power to run it.. I run it on a old

System Manufacturer: Compaq

System Model: Evo D500

Processor(s): 1 Processor(s) Installed.

[01]: x86 Family 15 Model 1 Stepping 2 GenuineIntel ~1695 Mhz

BIOS Version: Compaq 686Y2 v3.04, 7/29/2002

Total Physical Memory: 255 MB

And it works just fine -- I just use it for backup to be honest.. It brings nothing else to the table that can not be done with linux better ;)

But as a backup solution for window machines on your network - its great.. And sure you could use it as a file server.. But I have another server for that, etc. But it backups my kids laptops, my main windows pc, my kids pc and my wifes laptop, etc.. Works great - set it and forget..

I'm using 32bit WHS with a 64bit Windows 7 Ultimate. Supposedly there were a few issues towards the release date of 7 that were causing problems but I can't say that I encountered any. Music and AVI video streaming are fine on the 360, although you may have to download the Optional Media Update (4mb file) if you already have downloaded it and it doesn't work try again - I needed to update my version to get it working.

I'm using WHS on an Atom 330 with a couple of WD green power drives (6TB) and it really is worth the money as it takes a lot of hassle out of things. Might be worth budgeting for a few programs that are WHS specific, such as Antivirus and Defrag, although they are not absolutely necessary. (Just easier to use through the Connector Software)

PS - WeGotServed and its forums is a good site with links to some excellent Add Ins

Are there any issues with 32/64 bit? i.e. if the server is 64 bit and some of the PCs on the network are 32 bit will there be any compatibility problems? Or is that just a really stupid question?

Why would WHS need to be 64-bit? If you meant the other way around, my client machine is Windows 7 x64 and my WHS is x86 with no issues making an image backup.

I'm using 32bit WHS with a 64bit Windows 7 Ultimate. Supposedly there were a few issues towards the release date of 7 that were causing problems but I can't say that I encountered any. Music and AVI video streaming are fine on the 360, although you may have to download the Optional Media Update (4mb file) if you already have downloaded it and it doesn't work try again - I needed to update my version to get it working.

I'm using WHS on an Atom 330 with a couple of WD green power drives (6TB) and it really is worth the money as it takes a lot of hassle out of things. Might be worth budgeting for a few programs that are WHS specific, such as Antivirus and Defrag, although they are not absolutely necessary. (Just easier to use through the Connector Software)

PS - WeGotServed and its forums is a good site with links to some excellent Add Ins

Anti-Virus and Defrag on Windows Server? OMG Really?

I've never used any form of Windows Server, I'm an Ubuntu Server kinda guy myself, but you actually have to perform maintenance like Defragmentation on Windows Servers? Damn, that's hilarious!

My Ubuntu server was setup in 2007 (still running Ubuntu 7.04) and I've not rebooted or SSHed into it since. Still does nightly backups, still does removal of older backups. No Defrag, No Anti-virus, and it steams to my PS3 and 360 perfectly.

Anti-Virus and Defrag on Windows Server? OMG Really?

While you might want an AV on a normal server, it would be overkill to install one on WHS (nothing should be executing, really). And I don't really see the point in defragging a WHS either. But OMG, I said it without sounding like a *nix Alicia Silverstone reading a Clueless script.

Yeah, they're definitely not an necessity. I do all my downloading straight to the server and just keep my htpc using Microsoft Security Essentials as it's nice and light.(just not sure that I fully trust it yet!) As for defragging - well it was cheap (?8ish IIRC) and it's just a bad OCD-style habit that I picked up along the way!:DD

Anti-Virus and Defrag on Windows Server? OMG Really?

I've never used any form of Windows Server, I'm an Ubuntu Server kinda guy myself, but you actually have to perform maintenance like Defragmentation on Windows Servers? Damn, that's hilarious!

My Ubuntu server was setup in 2007 (still running Ubuntu 7.04) and I've not rebooted or SSHed into it since. Still does nightly backups, still does removal of older backups. No Defrag, No Anti-virus, and it steams to my PS3 and 360 perfectly.

Just because your server is still running without having been defragmented doesn't mean it wouldn't still profit from it. Defragmenting isn't vital but it does help. See how much faster your server runs if you reboot it and do a defrag. The fact that it's linux doesn't mean that these things don't help.

^ you clearly do not understand how linux filesystems work if you think they need to be defragged.

Here this is layman terms

http://www.whylinuxisbetter.net/items/defr...index.php?lang=

here is another

http://geekblog.oneandoneis2.org/index.php...d_defragmenting

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