Windows Home Server = Functional PC ???

[21stHermit]

Considering building a WHS to act as a file server, but I'd like it to load programs and be a functional PC most of the time.

Can I?

 

[JackMDS]

Window home Server (WHS) is a subset of SBS 2003.

Many program that run on SBS 2003 and Windows XP would run on WHS too.

However it is not a very good idea in general to use a server as a workstation especially if it is uses to do Backups of other computers.

WHS uses a special way to deal with storage on the hard Drive to allow seamless operation with added storage (adding hard drives) and has native RAID type software for redundancy.

Be careful with utilities, do not use any of the utilities that deal with the Hard Disk Drive on WHS since it is designs to work in a different manner than a work stations.

Some application might run but if they use any none conforming access to save and manipulate their info they may end up messing up the storage on the server.

Exchange Mail server does not work on WHS.

I do not know about Office 2003 or 2007 applications since I never tried.

 

[Madwand1]

Originally posted by: 21stHermit
Considering building a WHS to act as a file server, but I'd like it to load programs and be a functional PC most of the time.

Can I?

While it can be used in this way at times when needed, I wouldn't recommend this OS if that's what you want to do on a regular basis -- it's just not meant to be used in that way, and has had some quirks (I recall it resetting the desktop on occasion, but I don't recall the details nor have the OS around any more).

You can share files easily with a desktop or standard server OS, and these are more reliable when used as workstations IMO. Vista / 2008 can also out-perform WHS for Windows file server usage with Vista clients.

 

[RebateMonger]

I don't recommend running non-server applications on WHS, nor on any other server. WHS does a great job doing what it's designed for (backups, file serving, remote access, and web serving), but it uses a unique method of file and backup management. I wouldn't want to risk having those storage systems corrupted by a crash or a drive-by web attack.