Windows Home Server - why?

[slackerinabox]

I didn't mean that question in a sarcastic way, I'm just wondering if there are any compelling reasons to use it in my scenario.

Here's my setup:
Bedroom (Windows 7, willing to replace): home built HTPC for media/blu playback locally and for streaming to living room. It has a tuner card, but only used during rain storms/satellite outtages. All media is stored/ripped here and WMC and PS3 Media Server is running on here

Living room:
Xbox 360 as a media center extender + Asus O-play (I need to use PS3 media server since there's a current bug that prevents windows 7 native file sharing)

Office:
1. Imac used primarily for video editing. Windows 7 also installed via bootcamp. Sometimes the BEDROOM PC's mp3s are streamed to this computer
2. Macbook (2008 model) hooked up to a LCD for email checking, browsing, etc.

2 netbooks plus 1 notebook - I rarely play media on any of this


Do I need Windows Home Server? Would it make life easier?

 

[RebateMonger]

While the HP versions of WHS have some nice Mac-supporting features and some other media-serving features, the killer features of WHS are its automated backup system for clients (Windows PCs only) and its ability to create huge storage pools, with folder-level redundancy if you wish, by hooking up "random" disks.

If you don't need those features, then....

 

[Fullmetal Chocobo]

Given most of your systems are media related, and you seem to have that under control, do you have need for a backup configuration? If you don't need your machines backed up, then I think WHS would be a waste. While it does have nice media capabilities, they are all secondary to its backup functionality.

 

[JackMDS]

It would provide Central File Storage with auto backup that would do its work at night (or whenever you choose).

Very easy to expand storage when needed but just adding HD that joins the storage pool.

In addition, it is a very good media manager/streamer too.

Example Add-ons that are used to mange and stream media.

http://www.mediasmartserver.net/forums/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=3999

http://www.mymovies.dk/

http://www.asciiexpress.com/webguide/homeserver.aspx

More here, http://bhandler.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!70F64BC910C9F7F3!2479.entry

Few additional remarks about WHS, http://www.ezlan.net/WHS.html

Hardware wise you can use any old P-4 and above old computer.

Alternatively, the sweet spot of WHS is something like the E2160 (or similar class CPU) and 2GB of memory with a Giga NIC.

If one wants to save on Energy an ATOM based Mobo would work very well too.

There is a collection of ATOM Motherboards and barebones here, http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...ue&Order=PRICE

You can try it first,

WHS trial, http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...FamilyID=e3694b69-93f6-4267-b881-55ce0648c784
.

 

[slackerinabox]

very informative replies - thank you!

The backing up solution sounds very valuable if I had mostly Windows based rigs, that's very good to know if I ever get that 3rd computer for my home office.

Question -what's the local experience like? I hook up my "media server" to my bedroom tv for local media playback using a WMC -does WHS come with a version of windows media center, or should WHS ideally be run headless?

This is all very good to know since I want to eventually move my HTPC out of the bedroom and replace it with a WD live (less wires, less fan noise).

 

[nerp]

There was a great thread here just a little while back that had great links to all the addons.

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2029756

 

[JackMDS]

Question -what's the local experience like? I hook up my "media server" to my bedroom tv for local media playback using a WMC -does WHS come with a version of windows media center, or should WHS ideally be run headless?

Windows Home Server can assume many aspects of an HTPC computer but you are doing real-time interaction with TV you still need a regular HTPC.
You do not want to use a server as a sort of workstation and risk your backups, and other types of server activities.

It is a server and as such, it meant to run Headless.

This is a nice video presentation of what can be done at home with today Media.

The first few minutes is a little boring, but stick to it is really Cool.

http://on10.net/blogs/larry/Show-Us-Your-Tech-Mark-Pendergrast-Edition/
.