Microsoft recently held a reviewer's workshop for its upcoming Windows Server 2008 operating system, due for introduction in February. The conference was attended by about 100 press, bloggers, and a handful of analysts, who were largely subdued for much of the three-day conference as the new system's many functional improvements were itemized in detail. The audience noticeably perked up during the very last presentation, though, which reviewed Microsoft’s just-released Windows Home Server operating system. That session generated a swell of questions, revealing considerable interest in the potential for a server platform targeting the needs of consumers.
Windows Home Server is designed for homes with two or more PCs/laptops, and it will typically be delivered in OEM hardware like HP’s new MediaSmart server. The home server is supposed to be turned on all the time and connects directly – i.e. via cable – to the home router (which is usually inside the home's wireless base station). As an appliance, it runs headlessly, so it doesn't have a monitor, mouse, or keyboard - all interaction with it occurs remotely over the network. Microsoft showed prototypes of devices that were very unobtrusive, some fanless and not much larger than a car battery, designed to be bolted inside closets or under cabinets.
One of the main functions of Windows Home Server is to automatically back up the home’s PCs and laptops (possibly even if they are turned off, since many clients can be remotely powered up on demand using Intel’s Wake-on-LAN protocol). The Windows Home Server backup engine uses a very space-efficient method that duplicates redundant blocks to minimize disk consumption. To protect files from disk failure, data is mirrored over available drives using an adaptive algorithm, so it is not necessary to have strict RAID configurations, which also makes it easy to add or upgrade drives. The server is designed to share media like videos and music between different clients around the home, which will be increasingly valuable to users with media collections swelling to hundreds of GBs (more than currently fits on most Apple iPods), which they may want to consume on multiple devices in addition to portable players, i.e. home audio-visual systems. Any content on the server can be shared over the web, allowing it to be accessed from anywhere, and authorized remote users such as family and friends can deposit content on the server over the web.
The difference in positioning of Windows Home Server compared to Microsoft’s previous “home appliance" efforts, i.e. Windows XP Media Center Edition, could be critical to its success. As an entertainment device, the Windows Media PC had to compete for living room shelf space that was already cluttered with a variety of other gadgets (and their remote controls), including video games, Tivo boxes, audio/video receivers, VHS/DVD players, and even the TV itself. By contrast, the Windows Home Server device is oriented towards the home network, which allows it to be placed far less obtrusively, like in the basement, attic etc. and promises to give the platform significant leverage as the “gatekeeper” between the home and the web.
The home server concept is still controversial, and skeptics point out that consumers may have little interest in becoming server administrators. However, it appears that Microsoft has done a lot of work to make Windows Home Server as simple as possible to set up, manage, and use. If Windows Home Server devices are successful at becoming as unobtrusive and maintenance-free as other home appliances, while supporting a variety of functions based the growing use of digital resources in day-to-day life, why wouldn’t every future home have one of these built in? If so, Windows Home Server promises to create opportunities for a huge range of applications. ISVs are already starting to line up with add-ons, offering applications for home control & security monitoring etc. Centralized backup solutions targeting consumers in an appliance form factor and based on other operating systems have been on the market for some time. However, it is Microsoft's vast and diverse ecosystem of developers, OEMs and partners that will give Windows Home Server the best chance to reach its full potential as a true server platform meeting the needs of a broad new set of customers.
I've been using Windows Home Server now for over a month and when I first heard about it I thought why would I need it. Once I read a bit more it became, I have to have this!
The auto backup procedure you mention is perfect for anyone running a business from their home or if you happen to love digital photography. With the auto backup no worries for either.
Where the Windows Home Server really shone for me was the ability to stream pictures, music and video to my Xbox 360. We had already been doing this via Media Center, but this made it even easier.
I liked it so much I put together some info of my own on it which is available here, http://www.squidoo.com/windows-home-server-info
If you are worried about having to maintain a server, as Tony pointed out, it is all automated, so after a very simple initial setup you basically forget you have it!
Posted by: Bill | June 29, 2009 at 10:19 PM