CAM Posted March 24, 2011 Posted March 24, 2011 I'm looking at getting a home server for backups, streaming and possible development practice. The cost of 2008 is overkill though... If I get MS Home Server, can I still do things like install SQL Server 2008 Express for practice? And what would you recommend I buy hardware wise?
zag Posted March 24, 2011 Posted March 24, 2011 Assuming you just want to use it for development, you might as well use Windows 7. That will work perfectly with SQL server or IIS 1
Michael Posted March 24, 2011 Posted March 24, 2011 It really depends what you want to do. You can use Windows 7 as a file/print server, IIS and SQL (as above) in a Workgroup, however if you want to play with Active Directory, you will need 2003 or 2008 Server. 1
CAM Posted March 27, 2011 Author Posted March 27, 2011 It's a workgroup so I don't think Active directory would do much would it?
Netwacky87 Posted March 27, 2011 Posted March 27, 2011 I could be wrong but Windows Home Server is based on Small Business 2003 i think, Ive just looked at my WHS and it doesnt gray out the option to join a domain....but cannot test as im not at work!
ihaveaproblem Posted March 27, 2011 Posted March 27, 2011 You could build a half decent pc and then run a virtual machine for your testing/backup purposes. This way you can use the computer for every day use and have the VM working in the background doing it's stuff. Just an idea. For testing i use the free 180 day trial of windows server 2008 R2 Windows Server 2008 R2 Evaluation Free 180-Day Trial However this might not be of any use if you plan to have it running long term. 1
featured_spectre Posted March 27, 2011 Posted March 27, 2011 Home Server will do what you need, just make sure you have oodles of RAM to ensure that you can cope with multiple people accessing it at the same time. Otherwise your standard PC will do the job of running it. 1
dhicks Posted March 28, 2011 Posted March 28, 2011 I'm looking at getting a home server for backups, streaming and possible development practice. The cost of 2008 is overkill though... Use Debian or another Linux distribution instead? And what would you recommend I buy hardware wise? I have a home server based on a £30 Atom motherboard - the £30 covers the motherboard and integrated procesor and heatsink, you need to add RAM and put it inside a case. I got an Antec case with included power supply for around £70 and some RAM for around £30, all I needed to add then was some harddrives. 1
CAM Posted March 28, 2011 Author Posted March 28, 2011 I tried Linux originally but had problems with remote desktop. Kubuntu didn't like it. Currently there is an old PC sitting here but it's in my bedroom and makes a bit too much noise to keep on 24/7...
pagelad Posted March 28, 2011 Posted March 28, 2011 Ive got a HP MediaSmart server and im more than happy with it. I think its a bit more expensive than usual solutions but it comes in a small box that i can tuck away and it just works. Its based on server 2003 and its is configurable although they reccomend against it because of the way its hacked together. You can get instructions on how to make it into a domain controller etc and SQL server etc seem to run fine. I use mine mainly for storage, the drive extender is pretty awesome but ive got a test apache and mysql running and external access so i can get to my files from work 1
dhicks Posted March 28, 2011 Posted March 28, 2011 Currently there is an old PC sitting here but it's in my bedroom and makes a bit too much noise to keep on 24/7... My other home server is a Tranquil PC device - a completly silent, fanless Core i3 or i5 based machine in a solid aluminimum passive-heatsink case. Tranquil actually specialise in Windows Home Server devices, although I bought their bare-bones device and installed Linux on it. I have that running the whole time in our front room attached to some external eSATA harddrives - the harddrives make a little bit of noise, the machine itself doesn't. I saw Very PC's very similar-looking machine at BETT - their machine have a very quiet fan in instead of Tranquil's radiator-grill passive design, but as far as I can see their case design is the same. 1
CAM Posted March 28, 2011 Author Posted March 28, 2011 I'll take a look at Tranquil then. It's also a pet personal project so no fear when it comes to hacking bits together.
dhicks Posted March 28, 2011 Posted March 28, 2011 I'll take a look at Tranquil then. It's also a pet personal project so no fear when it comes to hacking bits together. If you fancy a build-your-own silent PC, pasivly cooled in a similar manner to Tranquil's, then try LinITX, who specialise in Mini-ITX boards, cases, components, etc - should be a bit cheaper than Tranquil or Very PC, although I can nenver get build-your-own cases to come out quite as neat-looking as Tranquil/Very's.
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