WHS Backs Up Windows Server 2008

Microsoft Small Business Specialist (SBS) John Pattison has confirmed that Windows Server 2008 can be backed up by Windows Home Server. He states in his post that the connector software installed fine and the backup feature works fine too.

Windows Server 2008 in WHS

The Home Server Show #17

The Home Server Show Podcast

With the latest listener problems via email and the weeks Windows Home Server news of which there is lots, in this episode #17 of The Home Server Show.

Catch it here.

WHS and VPN

Reader Bob Crook sent us the following, which I thought I would put out for discussion; over to Bob:

I have a branches-to-main office situation where all users/networks connect to each other by VPN. If you run the Connector Software from a branch computer despite there being a WHS at the main office, the computers at the branch cannot find the WHS.  Only simple networks work.  Anyone found a way round this?

NB:  VPNs rely on a different IP network at the branch sites, for example the main office is 192.168.0.#, but each of the branch networks is on a different network for the VPN to work.

Feel free to leave your comments to this question for Bob.

Tranquil PC T7-HSG with 2x Atom CPUs

Tranquil PC T7-HSG

The T7-HSAi from Tranquil PC now has a big brother, the T7-HSG comprising Gigabit Lan and 2x Atom CPUs on the one chip. The Atom 330 will show itself as 4x CPU graphs in Windows task manager. The T7-HSG is available with either 500GB (£351), 1TB (£451) 2x 250GB (£427) or 2x 320GB (£467) hard drives and off course it is expandable via  the 4x USB2.0 ports as well.

Atom 330

More information is available from here.

3TB Home Build

 Mikes COOLER MASTER Centurion 590

Reader Mike Johnson kindly sent us his Windows Home Server parts list with some pics. Mike’s rig now has 3TB of storage, totaling 2.73 TB of formatted space which he has built into a COOLER MASTER Centurion 590 case.

Mikes Part List

Mike’s Part List
Completed WHS Build with Pics
Home server Expansion

Add-In: WHS Outlook

WHS Outlook is now available for public release with the Beta 2 version 1.0.2.26 now available for download.

The add-in integrates Microsoft Outlook with the Windows Home Server Console which allows the following benefits:

  • Allows a single installation of Microsoft Outlook to be shared by up to 10 different client PC’s via the WHS Console.
  • By using the Remote Access features of WHS, you can even gain full access to all of your Microsoft Outlook e-mail, contacts, calendar, etc. from anywhere in the world that Internet access is available.
  • Works with Microsoft Outlook 2007, 2003 and 2002/XP

 WHS Outlook

The add-in is priced at $24.95 for a single server licence and a 21 day trial version is available for download.

More information is available from the WHS Outlook HomePage.

FTP Server on Windows Home Server

How about installing an FTP server on Windows Home Server? It has it’s advantages because the web interface limits how many people can upload and download files, where FTP doesn’t have this disadvantage and it also allows synchronization of files between off site computers and WHS as well.

FileZilla FTP Server

Joe DiFiglia, the guy who taught us how to install an email server the other day has also written a tutorial of installing the server version of FileZilla, a free FTP solution onto our Windows Home Server’s, which can be seen here with step by step instructions.

Create a Windows Home Server

UK magazine and online Personal Computer World has a hands on on how to create your own Windows Home Server. The 3 page article discusses getting hold of the software to installing the drivers and looking at the drive extender technology behind our favorite Home Server.

Read it here.

WHS could be better titled as "Windows' Really Small Business Server"

Legal website Law.com has a write up on why and how one legal technology consultancy installed Windows Home Server.

Capable network servers, equipped with Microsoft’s proven Windows Server 2003 or new 2008 Small Business Edition can be purchased for as little as $2,000 for a five-person practice. But even $2,000 for a basic server system can be a major budget dent for some small firms. Is there middle ground? Is there a viable lower-cost approach for installing a network operating system?

The article carries on to explain that there is a solution, and for many solo and small firm lawyers WHS may finally provide automated protection that is truly easy and cost-effective and a practical alternative to inadequate peer-to-peer network systems.

 Windows Home Server could be better titled as "Windows’ Really Small Business Server."

Read the full story here.

Windows Home Server in VMware Workstation

Over at TechRepublic, Steven Warren has written how to use Windows Home Server if you can’t afford the hardware by running it in the virtualization software VMWare Workstation. Steven takes you through the configuration and installation with lots of screen shots to help you on your way.

VMWare Worksation

Read it here.