That looks amazing. I'm almost convinced to buy another drive just use it now.
Another question - has anyone tried out Windows System Resource Manager on home server? It is only supported on server 2003, but since WHS is based on Server 2003, I'm hoping it'll work.
Something like that would make it much easier for me to manage it as both a server and a htpc, that way I can give the HTPC apps ultimate priority for resources and keep them in memory rather than having them pushed onto swap by torrents, which have a tendency to slow down your desktop to a crawl after they've been on a while. It'll take me like 30 seconds just to start a simple movie sometimes because of that.
Homerboy
Lifer
- Mar 1, 2000
- 30,890
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- 126
That looks amazing. I'm almost convinced to buy another drive just use it now.
Another question - has anyone tried out Windows System Resource Manager on home server? It is only supported on server 2003, but since WHS is based on Server 2003, I'm hoping it'll work.
Something like that would make it much easier for me to manage it as both a server and a htpc, that way I can give the HTPC apps ultimate priority for resources and keep them in memory rather than having them pushed onto swap by torrents, which have a tendency to slow down your desktop to a crawl after they've been on a while. It'll take me like 30 seconds just to start a simple movie sometimes because of that.
Yeah he wrote an IMPRESSIVE Add-on no question. Granted I hate Bit-torrent. Somebody needs to write a great newsgroups add-on for it. Then I'd be in hog heaven.
As far as WSRM, I'd imagine it would work perfectly fine. WHS is actually based of SBS2003 not Server2k3 (splitting hairs I know). Regardless, WSRM should work fine.
Originally posted by: Homerboy
That looks amazing. I'm almost convinced to buy another drive just use it now.
Another question - has anyone tried out Windows System Resource Manager on home server? It is only supported on server 2003, but since WHS is based on Server 2003, I'm hoping it'll work.
Something like that would make it much easier for me to manage it as both a server and a htpc, that way I can give the HTPC apps ultimate priority for resources and keep them in memory rather than having them pushed onto swap by torrents, which have a tendency to slow down your desktop to a crawl after they've been on a while. It'll take me like 30 seconds just to start a simple movie sometimes because of that.
Yeah he wrote an IMPRESSIVE Add-on no question. Granted I hate Bit-torrent. Somebody needs to write a great newsgroups add-on for it. Then I'd be in hog heaven.
As far as WSRM, I'd imagine it would work perfectly fine. WHS is actually based of SBS2003 not Server2k3 (splitting hairs I know). Regardless, WSRM should work fine.
Alright, I'm sold. I always HATED having to minimize mediaportal over VNC, or use a stupid wireless mouse just to manage torrents. If I can do it all 100% remotely, even from work, thats just sweet..If you think the WHS plugin is cool, check aufero out....VMC only, but you can control torrents from your couch! This is what I'm looking forward to. WHS box in the closet running uTorrent and aufero on my VMC in the living room. And maybe the WHS uTorrent plugin as well to control torrents from other computers as well. I hope he releases an open beta soon!Originally posted by: BD2003
Originally posted by: Homerboy
That looks amazing. I'm almost convinced to buy another drive just use it now.
Another question - has anyone tried out Windows System Resource Manager on home server? It is only supported on server 2003, but since WHS is based on Server 2003, I'm hoping it'll work.
Something like that would make it much easier for me to manage it as both a server and a htpc, that way I can give the HTPC apps ultimate priority for resources and keep them in memory rather than having them pushed onto swap by torrents, which have a tendency to slow down your desktop to a crawl after they've been on a while. It'll take me like 30 seconds just to start a simple movie sometimes because of that.
Yeah he wrote an IMPRESSIVE Add-on no question. Granted I hate Bit-torrent. Somebody needs to write a great newsgroups add-on for it. Then I'd be in hog heaven.
As far as WSRM, I'd imagine it would work perfectly fine. WHS is actually based of SBS2003 not Server2k3 (splitting hairs I know). Regardless, WSRM should work fine.
Originally posted by: Homerboy
Umm that's easy
I had to do it with 2TB of data on the initial install and now I have to do it again with the RC1 release
Its not that bad really.
You install your HDD0 and install WHS which creates your C and D parts.
From there you empty out one of your existing HDDs onto the new WHS install. Once that HDD is empty install it into HDD1. Repeat with your next HDD.... and again and again.
It's tedious but it works.
Alright, just so I got this straight before I wipe my HTPC:
1. Move all the data I want to save onto drive B.
2. Install WHS on drive A. It will create two partitions - one 10gb for the OS, and the rest for data.
3. Pop drive B in, and copy all the data into the applicable folders in the data partition on drive A.
4. Then initialize drive B into the WHS file system.
5. Turn on file duplication and what not as I please.
Does step 3-5 work, or do I need to attach drive B to my main PC and transfer everything over the network? WHS will allow me to access the native NTFS files on the drive before I choose to wipe it.
Also, how much space is left free on the OS partition? Wondering whether I should install my programs/games in the OS or Data partition.
Also, how does it manage the data across the two drives? Say I have 400gb of movies. Each drive is 250gb. Assume folder duplication is off. Do I have to manually create a new video share on drive 2, or does it distribute everything in the "videos" share across the drives as it sees fit? If so, what happens when you pull the second drive?
Does anyone know if I can still mirror the OS boot drive (well, I guess I can do this as part of a raid array, but thinking if I make them individual disks). Seems thats the biggest hole here, lose the boot drive and your down until at least you reinstall.
Mirroring addresses that.
The WHS setup sets aside 10GB of the first volume for the OS. The rest is set aside for data.
Homerboy
Lifer
- Mar 1, 2000
- 30,890
- 5,001
- 126
Originally posted by: BD2003
Originally posted by: Homerboy
Umm that's easy
I had to do it with 2TB of data on the initial install and now I have to do it again with the RC1 release
Its not that bad really.
You install your HDD0 and install WHS which creates your C and D parts.
From there you empty out one of your existing HDDs onto the new WHS install. Once that HDD is empty install it into HDD1. Repeat with your next HDD.... and again and again.
It's tedious but it works.
Alright, just so I got this straight before I wipe my HTPC:
1. Move all the data I want to save onto drive B.
2. Install WHS on drive A. It will create two partitions - one 10gb for the OS, and the rest for data.
3. Pop drive B in, and copy all the data into the applicable folders in the data partition on drive A.
4. Then initialize drive B into the WHS file system.
5. Turn on file duplication and what not as I please.
Does step 3-5 work, or do I need to attach drive B to my main PC and transfer everything over the network? WHS will allow me to access the native NTFS files on the drive before I choose to wipe it.
Also, how much space is left free on the OS partition? Wondering whether I should install my programs/games in the OS or Data partition.
Also, how does it manage the data across the two drives? Say I have 400gb of movies. Each drive is 250gb. Assume folder duplication is off. Do I have to manually create a new video share on drive 2, or does it distribute everything in the "videos" share across the drives as it sees fit? If so, what happens when you pull the second drive?
#1 The min you plug an additional HDD into the WHS machine you will be prompted to add it to the drive pool. I'm not sure if you choose to NOT add it if you can then copy to the C: D: partitions. I'm 95% sure you could as I know you can have HDDs running in the machine that are not part of the pool itself so yes your steps seem correct. Personally I have always done over the network, but was going to try your described method this time around myself... so let me know how that goes
#2 You will want to leave the bulk of C: alone. There is not too much space left on it after the install (5GB?) which runs out pretty quickly. For additonal apps and such I created D:/Program files and install anything there.
#3 You're missing the point. Think of it in sorts (very loosely that is) of RAID0... it will by default create new shares for you upon install. /videos /music /pictures etc These are virtual directories. Its not as if all /videos reside on 1 HDD. if you had 10 HDDs in the machine, you could have some videos spread out over all 10, but ALL would be seen within /videos/. It will also manage the space for you. Shuffling data around the HDDs as it sees best fit for access, storage, segregation etc. It also defrags so no worries on that front. On that note, copying to the pool can sometime be slow as it maybe copying over and managing space at the same time. Or you may login one day and just see it chugging away... its just reorganizing for you.
Keep in minf you can create your own additional virtual shares/folders etc. Once you see it in action it wil make more sense... and you will be in love ESPECIALLY for a HTPC.
Personally though I think you should have a standalone media server. Toss 1 machine in the basement storing all your media and backups. Let the clients (HTPC, workstation, XBOX whatever) stream from that centralized server. A home network should function no different than a work network.
Keep in mind the WHS is designed from the ground up to be sold by OEMs on headless units. Entirely turn on and forget for the home user. That is how little management should be needed on any file/media server and WHS does a WONDERFUL job at that (granted people who link to tinker can still tinker).
Homerboy
Lifer
- Mar 1, 2000
- 30,890
- 5,001
- 126
You can still however ghost or RAID or whatever you want to that C drive.
It is designed though that you shouldnt have to.
If the psychical HDD) or virtual C dies you can run a simple restore off the boot DVD and your default install will be back up and running with all data and shares recovered. Mind you it will not recover 3rd party apps and any changes you made to the default install of course. THIS is where a mirror or image of the drive could come in handy.
UGGHHHH You people are making me want to install the RC1 now.... stupid 24hr days. not enough time!
If it helps any, aside from the exclude directories, I don't see a lot of differences between that and the previous release....
Originally posted by: Homerboy
#1 The min you plug an additional HDD into the WHS machine you will be prompted to add it to the drive pool. I'm not sure if you choose to NOT add it if you can then copy to the C: D: partitions. I'm 95% sure you could as I know you can have HDDs running in the machine that are not part of the pool itself so yes your steps seem correct. Personally I have always done over the network, but was going to try your described method this time around myself... so let me know how that goes
I'm hoping someone can confirm it before I submit my precious data to the favors microsoft likes to do for you with their "home" software.
K, that works for me, just checking.
I'm a bit confused by that. The shares are "virtual", yet its supposedly a standard NTFS file system and you can just pop the drive in another PC and read the files. And you've no problem creating a D:\program files\.
So if I'm understanding this correctly, under the first data partition (D
, you'll have a folder for videos (I assume its literally D:\videos?). Under the second data partition (E, you have another folder for videos (I assume also called videos?). The server automatically creates a single share visible over the net as just "Videos". The server moves files back and forth between the two drives as it sees fit, within those two folders.
Then, if you enable folder duplication for videos, it will make sure that theres at least one other copy of every video on one other drive.
I don't suppose you can post a screenie or type out a list of your partition roots?
I'm sure I'd figure it out in a second, but most of this data is so precious to me that I want to know what Im doing before I even take the slightest risk with it.
When the RTM comes out and I get a bigger paycheck for a spare PC and a gigabit router, I'll certainly do that. But right now the "HTPC" is pretty much 90% a server anyways. Besides, it's just me in an apt. I only have one other PC and a laptop, so a 4th computer is kinda overkill right now.
Baaaaaah....there goes my idea. Apparently, WHS doesnt do audio, so thats pretty much 100% useless as a HTPC.
Or maybe not....can anyone with WHS confirm that the "Windows Audio Service" is installed, but disabled, like it is in WinServer2003?
Or maybe not....can anyone with WHS confirm that the "Windows Audio Service" is installed, but disabled, like it is in WinServer2003?
I don't understand the issue - if you want it, enable it. 30 seconds and one reboot later, you have audio.
Seriously?
The issue is that I dont have WHS installed yet nor have I ever used it, and I dont want to wipe my HTPC if it doesnt actually have the service installed in the first place.
Homerboy
Lifer
- Mar 1, 2000
- 30,890
- 5,001
- 126
if your data is THAT precious then I wouldn't use a beta OS to store it on at this point.
Honestly I don't see the HUGE advantage for you running WHS at this point if its literally a HTPC and nothing more. Aside from the torrent apps and such previously mentioned.
It's the best thing going (that I've seen) for home PC backups. The backup application is wonderful.
Well, like I said...its more server than HTPC actually. It stores the vast majority of my A/V files, I save backups to it, I access those files over vnc remotely (the hard way, heh).
But it's been a pain in the ass to manage the data on it - always constantly moving stuff back and forth between partitions and such. Also a giant pain to connect to it, and the backup method I use (synchronizing folders) is pretty basic. Managing torrents and such over vnc is pretty absurd as well.
Why would you use VNC with anything that is Windows-based (assuming XP Pro, Vista Biz or higher, etc.) ?
Bah, I cant get it to install. When it asks me my date and time and keyboard format, I get to choose from blank boxes. Once I click next, the thing resets.
Have you tried MSTSC (Remote Desktop)? It's vastly faster than every iteration of VNC I've used.
Nah, never tried it. I was using VNC when my server was running Win2000 and it worked fine, so I figured if it aint broke, don't fix it.
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