Thing 22 – Post about my Home Server.

A technology i use now at home and hardly think of is a derived version of Windows Server 2003 small business edition, it has the name Windows Home Server and as the name suggests it is aimed at the home.  The job of this small 10 client NOS is to handle Network Storage, IIS (web) server, Backup imaging server.  I heard about this through the MSDN junk emails they send out and thought id sign up for the beta almost 2 years ago now, it comes with a free domain name with some restrictions. The main job WHS performs for me on a daily basis is described below.  During the day Network storage provides access to Photos, Music, Downloads, Documents, Movies and Software this is available on any PC connected to the network in the house, It also attaches these folders to a password protected web site so not only are all your files only a few mouse clicks away but it is also a great way to share Photos,Videos and files with family members interstate and oversees. I have found a program that also allows for a shared folder on the server to be the main source for a dynamic Photo gallery site, this means family members as mentioned before can drop photos into a folder and have then displayed on a central private gallery webpage. Then over night the WHS connects to all computers on the home network and takes a backup image of the files each night if a problem ever arises on a network machine the server can produce a boot-DVD to restore the pc over the network.  I have not lost any data in a long time now thanks to this server.  It also performs a technology called file duplication, it does this when it has more then one physical HDD installed when turned on in a folder it will take a copy of files on one HDD and place them on the other drive, while this takes up some space it means if a HDD fails or is removed for any reason all duplicated files are still available. The list of the plusses on this NOS are endless but it really does allow for a smooth home network in a house of 99% computer novices. For information on WHS check out Introducing Windows Home Server

Don't forget the OS is available with out any hardware so you can run it on any good spec PC/boot-camp Mac.