Server 2008 - Home Server Use

S

StarsFan4Life

Limp Gawd
Joined
May 29, 2008
Messages
472
Hello all!

I wanted to double check with you guys on whether or not I should do this or not. I am currently using Windows Vista Ultimate as my home server. The home server currently is nothing more than a file server for all my media. I experience constant "hangs" when trying to access media from my laptop and main PC (also both Windows Vista Ultimate). All are on gigabit lan (DLINK DIR-655) and move things back and forth fast...but at times if I try to open a song or something from another machine...it hangs and generally takes 20-30 seconds before it plays the song. Something is screwy with Vista for sure!

The current setup I have is as follows:

* CoolerMaster Elite 330 Case
* Gigabyte GA-MA78GM-S2H 780G motherboard
* AMD X2 AM2 BE 2400 2.3GHZ
* 3GB Kingston ValueRam
* 1 Samsung 80gb SATA (Operating System)
* 2X Western Digital 500gb SATA (media is stored on these)

Now, I would like to move to either Windows Server 2003 (which we all use at work....right) or Windows Server 2008 (something I am just getting into). I would prefer to install Server 2008 so I can familiarize myself with the OS, but is it a bit overkill for a "File Server"?

I would like to setup an FTP server on this server so all my family can share all that they want and possibly access all of my media too. What do you guys suggest I do?
 
First thing i would do is try disabling the network stack in vista. See if that resolves your issue
 
StarsFan4Life said:
Hello all!

I wanted to double check with you guys on whether or not I should do this or not. I am currently using Windows Vista Ultimate as my home server. The home server currently is nothing more than a file server for all my media. I experience constant "hangs" when trying to access media from my laptop and main PC (also both Windows Vista Ultimate). All are on gigabit lan (DLINK DIR-655) and move things back and forth fast...but at times if I try to open a song or something from another machine...it hangs and generally takes 20-30 seconds before it plays the song. Something is screwy with Vista for sure!

The current setup I have is as follows:

* CoolerMaster Elite 330 Case
* Gigabyte GA-MA78GM-S2H 780G motherboard
* AMD X2 AM2 BE 2400 2.3GHZ
* 3GB Kingston ValueRam
* 1 Samsung 80gb SATA (Operating System)
* 2X Western Digital 500gb SATA (media is stored on these)

Now, I would like to move to either Windows Server 2003 (which we all use at work....right) or Windows Server 2008 (something I am just getting into). I would prefer to install Server 2008 so I can familiarize myself with the OS, but is it a bit overkill for a "File Server"?

I would like to setup an FTP server on this server so all my family can share all that they want and possibly access all of my media too. What do you guys suggest I do?
Click to expand...
Do you have more than 10 family members? Technically either server OS is "overkill" for your needs unless you need more than 10 concurrent connections to the server. Especially if you are paying for a legal copy. Other than that it doesn't matter. Do what you want to do. Ever consider Linux?
 
If you can get a license from work or something along those lines, why not. Im running SBS03 at home. . . because I want to familiarize myself with the platform I use at work.
 
It's going to come down to cost and preference.

If cost isn't an issue, then there is no reason to not use 2k8. It sounds like you're learning the OS, so thats almost enough to justify using it.


Nothing is overkill if you're going to learn from it.
 
Demon10000 said:
If cost isn't an issue, then there is no reason to not use 2k8. It sounds like you're learning the OS, so thats almost enough to justify using it.


Nothing is overkill if you're going to learn from it.
Click to expand...

+10

Can't really argue with that logic. Using anything is justified if you need or want to learn it, and if the economics aren't an impediment.
 
StarsFan4Life said:
How do I do that?
Click to expand...

netsh interface tcp set global autotuning=disabled

Do that from a cmd prompt

But like others have said, if cost is not an object, or you already have the server OS, learn from it. Explore all that server 2008 is great for.
 
Will Server 2008 do away with this stupid response time when trying to access files on one of the drives?
 
The guys on here really like WHS. From what I've read up on it, it's very easy to use. It just works.
 
My file server is a duron 1ghz with 512mb of ram, supermicro 8 port sata card, and 4 sata hard drive, 1 usb, and a gigabit nic. It runs winxp pro and I have no streaming issues.

I can't believe you got a server with that much muster for the little bit you are doing.

If you went with a server OS, i'd say win2k3 it. I have 2k8, other then making everything stupid easy, and being stupidly bloated like vista, meh.
 
I'm using Server 2008 at home as a file server, and I have no complaints about it.
 
Why are we not pushing WHS like we usually do?

WHS FTW!



ok, there we go...
 
If you go to microsoft trial software you can get a trial copy. They will send you WHS on disk for free. I just recieved my copy last week and liked it so much purchased my license online even though my trial period wasn't over with. It was only 100 dollars direct from microsoft.
 
They've been going for $99 new, so I was planning on doing $75 shipped. My copy has been opened, but it's never been installed or activated. I can take pictures of it tonight to prove it is a legit version.
 
dcds1 said:
If you go to microsoft trial software you can get a trial copy. They will send you WHS on disk for free. I just recieved my copy last week and liked it so much purchased my license online even though my trial period wasn't over with. It was only 100 dollars direct from microsoft.
Click to expand...

So if you purchase the lic, do you have to do a fresh install or does it let you update your lic?
 
Also, need an opinion here.

3gb of PC2-4200 ram or 2gb PC2-6400?

Currently I have 3gb pc2-4200. Frys has Crucial 2gb sticks of PC2-6400 for $25 each. Thinking of upgrading the ram.
 
bigdogchris said:
The guys on here really like WHS. From what I've read up on it, it's very easy to use. It just works.
Click to expand...

I just started using this and it works great. If you're going to buy anything for a home file server it's worth anyones while to at least take a look at Windows Home Server.

It's a modified version of Win 2003 Server with some great automatic back up and restore features in addtion to basic file/printer serving.
 
So is Windows Server 2008 just overboard compared to WHS?

I'd love to eventually run my own exchange server, setup sFTP, domain controller, ect.
 
if you are doing file sharing, seems to be no reason why u wouldnt want to go with

freeNAS/freebsd/debian/centos

if setting up a server, might as well go with the best...
 
brucedeluxe169 said:
if you are doing file sharing, seems to be no reason why u wouldnt want to go with

WHS
Click to expand...

fixed:D

simpler, much simpler. No need spend time setting up a *nix distro when you can just go WHS and enjoy all its easy to use features.
 
StarsFan4Life said:
Also, need an opinion here.

3gb of PC2-4200 ram or 2gb PC2-6400?

Currently I have 3gb pc2-4200. Frys has Crucial 2gb sticks of PC2-6400 for $25 each. Thinking of upgrading the ram.
Click to expand...


Unless your computer usage is lightweight and undemanding having more RAM shits all over having faster RAM, any day of the week!

If that extra 1Gb of RAM is just sitting there for the sake of sitting there, and you don't actually ever need or gain benefit from having it there, then swapping to 2Gb of faster RAM might well help make the system a wee bit snappier. But if your usage sees that extra RAM being needed then changing from 3Gb of 533Mhz to 2Gb of 800Mhz woulkd just make your system more sluggish.

Having 'enough' RAM is the most important factor. That adds the most benefit.
Having faster clockspeed RAM comes next when you're trying to improve performance.
Having RAM with tighter timings comes last in the list of options to improve performance.
 
criccio said:
fixed:D

simpler, much simpler. No need spend time setting up a *nix distro when you can just go WHS and enjoy all its easy to use features.
Click to expand...

meh, takes all of 25 minutes to get an ubuntu or freenas server on the home network up and running, and no need to spend 100 bucks doing it too....
 
brucedeluxe169 said:
meh, takes all of 25 minutes to get an ubuntu or freenas server on the home network up and running, and no need to spend 100 bucks doing it too....
Click to expand...

To get any version of Linux to do what WHS would take significantly more time than 25 minutes and more than a little knowledge of Linux. If WHS were merely a File Server then I would agree with you, but it brings a lot to the table .

If you ever get the chance or time, download the trial version from MS and see what it can do.
 
well yea... the OP specifically mentioned that he wanted a simpe file server....

so seriously.... if thats what he wants, linux all the way... i agree, getting linux to do all that WHS does is a bitch, and to the people without the knowledge of linux, it is worth it....

but for anyone that wants a basaic file server, like the OP.... not going linux would just be foolish..
 
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