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[brandstetterh]

Hello!

Does anyone have experience with installing mediacenter on a windows home server and how it works?

Thank you
heinrich

[wilfredjg]

never installed it on the home server but I have Media Center on my pc and all my music files on my server and both my desktop and my notebook works ok. Desktop is wired and my notebook is wireless N. I have 13,000 files on the server and no problems.

[glynor]

Could you be more specific on what exactly you mean by Windows home server?  I assume you mean the "official" Microsoft Home Server product.  But, perhaps you just mean a server-like system at home.

I've personally never used Microsoft Home Server before.  Most of the features it provides are already available via off-the-shelf software, so it didn't really appeal to me.

[benn600]

You read my mind!  I'm fed up with Windows 2003 Server making my RAID system go 85% slower so I ordered a demo disc for Windows Home Server.  I'm concerned for a whole lot of reasons:

1. I had to pay $6 shipping and couldn't just download the demo.
2. It's a 120 day demo (hmm, that's just plain strange).
3. They say it will wipe all data on the computer.  I hope they mean what every OS does--wipe the OS drive.  I don't want my RAID array getting wiped!  I think I'll unplug the RAID card before installing.
4. I'd like to know what it's based on--W2K3 Server or the new server OS?  Or Vista?
5. I do not want it doing stuff on its own.  In fact, I don't even want to install the "connector" on my desktops because I just want it to act like a normal server.  I don't want system backups because I handle those on my own.  Wonder if it has Shadow Copy enabled?  I use that on W2K3 Server and really like it.  I need to find this out.

But I should have it in a few weeks they said.  I'll be interested to try it.

[leezer3]

Nope, total stupidity on MS's part, but any disks present at WHS's install will get bulldozed and added into its own variety of RAID. (I believe it uses a JBOD with error recovery, so not strictly RAID but close)
Kernel as far as I'm aware is a mix of 2003 and Vista code, with most enterprise level stuff disabled. Shadow copy is almost certainly not going to work, this is designed for idiots to use

Avoid like the plague I'm afraid. Try a decent Linux based server instead 

-Leezer-

[wilfredjg]

WHS is home-based server software, based on  Windows Server 2003 core. It has it own connect software so after installing the software you unplug the monitor and keyboard. You connect trough your network pc. Everday use you use the window home server connect software. To install add ins you connect by remote desktop connection. I have been using it since beta through RC1 and now I have the released software. It works for me. Its easy you do not have to know Linux or be a IT person.

[Doof]

Its easy you do not have to know Linux or be a IT person.

Which is exactly the target market. Those who understand and want the additional abilities will opt for the standard sever line.

With that said, I think it's a really great idea. I haven't tried it yet, so I can't comment on the execution, but a product like this can help a lot of average Joe/Jane Users accomplish things that aren't so average.

[craft]

null

[glynor]

Linux has really been getting better, BTW... The current Ubuntu release has been incredibly easy to use and stable for me (well, until the PSU on that box died on me -- which reminds me... I need to buy a new PSU for that thing).

[benn600]

Linux is great but I run a ton of server programs on Windows and switching would mean replacing and re-learning them all.  I'd need a different mail server, chat server, podcast downloader, Media Center (oh wait, I can't!)

The list goes on and on.

I'm very disappointed based on craft's comments if they're true and I'm sure they are.  WHS is junk to me then and I probably shouldn't have ordered a copy.  Oh well, I may try it on an old computer just to see what it's like.  I'll wait for Server 2008.  Maybe that will fix the problems I'm having.  Anyone know when it will be released?  More importantly: when will it be available for download for free to me through my student account?

[glynor]

I'll wait for Server 2008. Anyone know when it will be released?

Probably 2010 or so...   

[park]

Getting back to the first post, how do you/can you install MC's media server on WHS? Would it require an "addin" or is there some way to install software on it? I notice that it will serve itunes content and refresh the shared itunes library every 15 minutes.

I have just got the HP media server WHS product. It was dead easy to setup, and hopefully being NTFS, won't have the problems that my terastation had with japanese double byte characters in filenames.

I'm currently copying all my files from my terastation onto it now. I hope that MC can live on it in some form too.

[raym]

I notice that it will serve itunes content and refresh the shared itunes library every 15 minutes.

That sounds cool but I wonder how it handles localised content like playlists etc. Does this get blown away every 15 mins?

[park]

it says that it imports all playlists from all itunes libraries. But that might only be the first time it's run.