Windows Home Server - Will consumers bite?

February 21, 2008 · Filed Under Technology · Comment 

What Is Windows Home Server?

Once again the creative team at Microsoft sees a need and moves to fill it.  The Windows Home Server system is the newest product in Microsoft’s attempt to further saturate the consumer market. Windows Home Server is a customized OS (built on the Windows 2003 Server Base) which runs on as a standalone (and headless) server.  

The WHS system is marketed towards the non-technical user as a one stop solution to consumer needs such as nightly backups, file sharing and remote access. WHS was created to run autonomously and with very little end-user configuration.  Install and go.  The headless comment above refers to the fact that WHS does not require any keyboard or mouse input.  All system management is done via a web browser to the pre-installed management console. It allows you to connect all of your home’s computers to one single computer functions as the main server for gathering data, virus checks, and backup duties. 

Microsoft hopes to bring many of the functions of a small business or datacenter into the consumer home, with no knowledge or effort required.  Microsoft has tried (with some success) to get into the consumers living room and out of their computer desk in the past (remember the WebPC) and of course the Xbox.  Most of the big technology firms forecast large market share developing in home networked ‘appliances’ (sounds fancier then PC right?).  Most see WHS as Microsoft’s latest attempt at winning a chunk of that market. 

We’ll see if the consumers bite.

Who Can Benefit From It?

Anyone who has multiple PC’s in the home can benefit from Windows Home Server.  Trying to share files, back files up or monitor virus activity across 4 or 5 different computers can be a chore if they don’t share the same network.   WHS runs automatically and without user intervention.  End-User Friendly (at least that is what we’re are told).

What Are It’s Features?

* File Sharing - now you can move files effortlessly throughout your home from computer to computer without using E-mail or some other clunky way of doing it.

* BackUp Files/Programs - Backing up files is a snap now because the Windows Home Server takes a ’snapshot’ of each connected computer’s hard drive and stores it; if that data is subsequently lost it can be quickly restored.  Since this feature is automatic, you do not have to constantly back up your files manually. This is one of the main selling points of the WHS system. 

* Recovery of mistakenly erased files/media via the Volume Shadow Copy Service - if you’ve ever mistakenly  erased something and then wanted it back, you can recover it quickly with Windows Home Server.

* Remote Access from Inside the Home Or Outside - Not only can you access any computer on the network that is inside the home, you can access all the computers on the network from outside the home as well.  Windows Home Server offers a SSL based interface that functions like a web browser.  Just like logging onto a webpage on the world wide web, you can access your home’s computers from anywhere and download or upload data.

* Security Awareness - Windows Home Server can track the health of all the PC’s on the network, monitoring each PC’s virus status and the functionality of the firewall.  It will alert you of any virus threat on any of the computers, or any attempts to compromise the firewalls.

* Centralized Printing/Fax/E-Mail services - With Windows Home Server, fitting files on a disk in one part of the house to take it to another part of the house to the PC connected to the printer/fax machine is a thing of the past.  Now every PC in the house can send and receive printing jobs, faxes, and email all to one central location.

How Much Does It Cost?

That depends on if you want to buy just the Windows Home Server software, or buy it already loaded onto a central hub computer.  Buying just the program on CD-Rom will cost you from $150 to $200 (depending on which retailer of course).  When you go to Microsoft’s homepage regarding Windows Home Server and look to purchase it, they take you to this page:

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/winfamily/windowshomeserver/buy.mspx

There, they give you a list of 8 retailers who are mostly selling computers (ie. Appliances) to function as the central server with the Windows Home Server software already loaded onto it.  You can buy the program separately, but you have to hunt for it.  Microsoft seems to prefer you buy it already loaded onto a computer from one of their partner retailers.

Do I Have To Update/Upgrade All My Home’s Computer’s To Use Windows Home Server?

Nope.  It’s built on the same codebase as Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 2.  It will run on both Windows XP and Windows Vista OS’s.  Windows Home Server requires no extra upgrades or purchases to run on your PC as long as you have a current XP or Vista installation.

What Are The Requirements To Run Windows Home Server?

You need to have the following minimum specifications to run the program:

    * 1.0 GHz Intel Pentium 3 (or equivalent) processor
* 512 MB RAM
* 80 GB internal hard drive as primary drive
* 100 Mbit/s wired Ethernet

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