Windows Home Server on Intel SS4200

[dmw16]

I bought an intel ss4200 when NewEgg had it on ShellShocker deal and I had heard it may be possible to install WHS on it.

Anyone know how this may be possible?

Thanks

 

[JackMDS]

http://www.intel.com/support/motherboards/server/ss4200ehw/sb/CS-028981.htm

 

[dmw16]

Thanks, I found that shortly after I posted. The only hurdles now are:

1. Find a PCIe 1x to 16x riser
2. Make an install device boot (either a USB drive or USB DVD Drive)
3. Buy 4 2TB drives 🙂

 

[JackMDS]

As far as RAID goes, http://www.ezlan.net/WHS.html

WHS does not need RAID for redundancy, it does its own redundancy.

You can start with one or two drives, and add drives as needed.

WHS is built for drive additions, and it is simple fe clicks to add drives.

If you have 4 drives capacity you can start with 1.5TB and then add more when iot gets close to full.

With to day price you get easly to 4 x 1.5TN that would provide 6TB storing.

 

[dmw16]

So with 6TB of hard drives I get 6TB of storage and there is still redundancy in the event of any single drive failure?

 

[d4a2n0k]

There is a folder duplication option that lets you save multiple copies of a folder. WHS automatically sets it so that particular folder is backed up on at least two drives. That way if one drive goes, there is a backup on another drive. You can set your entire computer like this or just individual folders.

 

[RebateMonger]

So with 6TB of hard drives I get 6TB of storage and there is still redundancy in the event of any single drive failure?

You get 6 TB of storage space, including both original and redudant copies. Any Redundant Folders that you enable will reduce the unique storage by the size of the Redundant Folders. If you have 1 TB set for Redudnancy, then an additional 1 TB of space will be used to perform the redundancy. The Redundant data will be stored on different disks than the original data and WHS' Disk Extender software will keep automatically track of where all the originals and duplicates are are located.

 

[LikeLinus]

You get 6 TB of storage space, including both original and redudant copies. Any Redundant Folders that you enable will reduce the unique storage by the size of the Redundant Folders. If you have 1 TB set for Redudnancy, then an additional 1 TB of space will be used to perform the redundancy. The Redundant data will be stored on different disks than the original data and WHS' Disk Extender software will keep automatically track of where all the originals and duplicates are are located.

Is the redundant data visible only on the computer itself? I'm assuming you do not see the duplicated data on the network drive version.

Which leads me to another question - WHS shows all of the storage as one drive on the network, correct? But when you are logged into the machine, does each individual drive still show up as a separate drive letter?

I do not have WHS and I've never used it, but I have one of these units on the way and I'm going to be installing WHS.

Also, did I read right that WHS also allows for web admin control via the internet? You get a url from something like homeserver.com? Does this page also allow you access to actual content on the server, or is it only an admin tool?

 

[JackMDS]

1. The \\WHS\ inclusive Network Drive is a nice touch to make it easy for every one. Depends how you log, you can see individual Drives too but you have to be careful in any manipulation in order Not to go against some of the self configs that the OS does on its own..

2. homeserver.com is actually Microsoft own Dynamic DNS service to provide DNS to personal Dynamic Internet connection (like DynDNS etc.).

It actually meant more fore Real Serving rather than remote admin.

In addition you can also set WHS to any other Dynamic DNS service of your choice.

 

[LikeLinus]

1. The \\WHS\ inclusive Network Drive is a nice touch to make it easy for every one. Depends how you log, you can see individual Drives too but you have to be careful in any manipulation in order Not to go against some of the self configs that the OS does on its own..

2. homeserver.com is actually Microsoft own Dynamic DNS service to provide DNS to personal Dynamic Internet connection (like DynDNS etc.).

It actually meant more fore Real Serving rather than remote admin.

In addition you can also set WHS to any other Dynamic DNS service of your choice.

Gotcha. My primary concern was wanting to connect an eSata drive and create a backup of my data (regardless if WHS has redundancy) and remove it without causing any problems to WHS drive setup. Sounds like that is possible.

I'll be very interested to try/check it out when my NAS gets here. I've basically ignored WHS on my action pack account, but guess it's time to finally try it out!

 

[JackMDS]

Yap, you can connect an additional drive (extrenal or internal) without joining it to the Storage pool. WHS will leave it alone and you can do with it what ever you want with explorer/sync type of program.

I have one WHS that is configured this way. It is also connected to my aux. KVM so I can log directly to the server.

I have second Monitor, Kbd. Mouse that is connected via aux KVM to few computers on the side that perform variety of None Workstation Jobs.