WHS v2 "Vail" leaks online

I have a server box running WHS. I've been waiting for this, wonder when it will come to Technet?
 
Hmm was just about to buy WHS even though I could get server 2008 for free. Any idea when this would mjake it to retail? 2010? I don't want to buy WHS now and then have this come out by the end of the year!
 
Hmm was just about to buy WHS even though I could get server 2008 for free. Any idea when this would mjake it to retail? 2010? I don't want to buy WHS now and then have this come out by the end of the year!

I would not expect us to see WHS v2 in 2010
 
i'll put twenty bucks down on june/july release. call it a hunch.

Hmmm...if they keep their normal 90 day RTM window that would mean RTM version to technet by March/April. I think you may be optimistic - but I like how you think.
 
Another thought is that if this is R2 based, they are probably 90%+ completed before they start adding any WHS functionality since they aren't building/ testing from scratch. I could be wrong though.
 
Thanks! This is exciting, I've been really waiting for this. Hopefully it gets still released this year..
 
Hardware requirements for Vail:

The system requirements for the software are interesting: available in a 64-bit edition only - at least for now - you'll need at least a 2GHz x64 processor, 1GB of RAM, and a storage device of at least 120GB. Vail offers no support for any file system beyond NTFS, but has had a version bump to its code base - bringing it up to Windows Server 2008 R2 level. The 2GHz CPU seems the biggest kicker here, as many WHS boxes are built on Intel's Atom technology that exclusively sits under this frequency threshold.​

SOURCE WEBSITE

If true, that CPU requirement will require a server upgrade. Fortunate then that I was planning such an upgrade!
 
The 2GHz CPU seems the biggest kicker here, as many WHS boxes are built on Intel's Atom technology that exclusively sits under this frequency threshold.​

I'm guessing that that is a single core @ 2GHz.

And just about any dual core (ex:E1200, E2140) would be fine?
 
Also, although I'm a huge fan of 64bit software, the x64 exclusivity makes it tough to build a server out of old platforms :(

I have 2 old p4 systems that aren't 64bit
 
There aren't any 64-bit Atom CPU's either. Looks like the choice to use Windows Server 2008 R2 (a strictly 64-bit OS) as the foundation is going to pretty much eliminate the same system upgrade option all together.

Edit: Atom 330 supports 64 bit instructions.
 
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But Server 2008 R2 only requires a 1.4ghz 64 bit processor:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2008/en/us/system-requirements.aspx

Wonder why Vail will need more power?

Nothing about the WHS app needs more CPU power.

They made a decision to base it on server2008v2 and these are the same minimums MS quotes for that. They are the platform's requirements.

My money says you can still run it with less just that MS won't support you (except the x64 part - there's just no getting around that one).
 
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There aren't any 64-bit Atom CPU's either. Looks like the choice to use Windows Server 2008 R2 (a strictly 64-bit OS) as the foundation is going to pretty much eliminate the same system upgrade option all together.

Edit: Atom 330 supports 64 bit instructions.
All of the Atoms (including 230, 330, N230 and the new ones just released) support 64 bit instructions and can run x64 os. I've run Win7 x64 on a 230 (painful) and a 330 (not bad at all). In the WHS application they should do just fine.

BTW, I downloaded overnight last night. I plan to give it a go loading it on a toy system that does not meet their minimums - an Atom 330. Should have some results to post next week (unless the weekend gets busy with more interesting things...).
 
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I can confirm it loads and runs on an Atom 330. A bit sluggish. It didn't find all the right drivers so I've got some manual updating to do. I was in a hurry - its pretty ghetto, but it does run. And runs nicely.

BOXD945GCLF2 Atom 330 MB
2Gb generic DDR2 (single stick)
2x Seagate 7200.11 1.5TB disk
PicoPSU 150ATX
MiniBox M350 case (open, obviously, 'cuz the two 3.5inch drives won't fit...)

ghettoatomwhs.jpg
 
All of the Atoms (including 230, 330, N230 and the new ones just released) support 64 bit instructions and can run x64 os. I've run Win7 x64 on a 230 (painful) and a 330 (not bad at all). In the WHS application they should do just fine.

I use the Asus ION based N330 board as a Win 7 x64 Media Center box. Actually works well. I will say between the second core and the ION graphics it makes my old dell mini 9 seem super sluggish.

I would think the Zotac board with the PCIe x16 slot would be cool since you could install a real raid card on it.
 
odditory: I'm thinking $300 for a decent 8 port card, $120 for BBU, $190 for SAS expander = $600+ That being said... when I get these HP SAS Expanders working :) I was actually thinking that this i3-530/ H55 box could be somewhat cool with a 3085/5085 or similar. Have a small WHS box controlling two SAS expander'd Norco cases...

I was also thinking of doing something similar to this. Namely, I want to buy a controller that supports spindown as my current card does not and is wasting a lot of energy since my server isn't all that active. What cards were you looking at?
 
I see a big change here - shares are now mapped as drive letters. I'm betting DE went through some big changes.

Untitld.jpg
 
I dunno, im not convinced its a huge departure from what we already know.

You can map shares to drive letters in windows XP
 
2nd build complete. P5B Deluxe MB, 4x7200.11 1.5TB on ICH8R, 4GB ram, QX6700 (yes, ridiculous, but it was already in this MB...). Things I tested:

- Load system onto Raid1 drives. PASS. Simple and easy, especially since ICH8R drives are already included in the load. This fixed having to slipstream the install to do this. Big plus.

- Add >2TB drive to pool. FAIL. DE still limited to seeing 2TB.

- Driver updates. FAIL. Older WHS had no trouble finding drivers using automatic update. This version struggles. This is likely because not many desktop parts have official support for Server2008 tagged in MS driver database. W7 x64 drivers load fine. This is also something MS could fix before release...
 
Noticed something else new to Vail: it appears to spin down the disks when they have not been used for a while. I noticed yesterday that the Atom-based build took a while to respond the first time you accessed it after it had been sitting idle. This morning I happened to be sitting next to it when I accessed it and heard the drives spinning up.

I know the current release does not do this - even if you tried the drive balancer in DE just hit them too often to make it work. Could be a big win for power-conscious users.
 
Dumb question but does V2 let you use more than 4x 2TB MBR disks?

Somewhat odd if MS keeps the 2TB limit. 2TB drives have been out for quite a while now and I'm guessing 2.5TB drives will see the light of day before Vail is released.
 
Dumb question but does V2 let you use more than 4x 2TB MBR disks?

Somewhat odd if MS keeps the 2TB limit. 2TB drives have been out for quite a while now and I'm guessing 2.5TB drives will see the light of day before Vail is released.

No you cannot use more than 2TB volumes
But there is not limit on how many you can use.
 
I was also thinking of doing something similar to this. Namely, I want to buy a controller that supports spindown as my current card does not and is wasting a lot of energy since my server isn't all that active. What cards were you looking at?

Well I'm mainly looking at an Areca 1680LP, Dell Perc 5/i (pretty much against this), Adaptec 5805, 3085, or 31605 (well two of them) since they are all sitting around :)

I will say, this i3-530 is going to make the Atom N330/ION and the new Pine Trail irrelevant for WHS builds. The integrated GPU, 32nm process, DDR3 v. DDR2 and etc + the ability to turn off a core more or less make the power consumption really good. At the same time the boards are coming with PCIe x1 slots (perfect for x1 Intel Pro/1000 PT's), 6-8 SATA ports on board with a PCIe x16 slot (more disk connectivity through a raid controller or simple HBA) and a PCI slot (or multiple) if you have a legacy PCI wireless adapter, TV tuner, or something like that.

Performance wise... I'm using the same Patriot PS-100 32GB SSD's to run Win 7 x64 off of, and it isn't even close. The i3-530 is FAST, and super scary since it overclocks a ton with stock cooling. With HT you can actually do some encoding, and it does support virtualization so for $30 more (I spent $200 for the Intel mATX H55 board + the CPU v. $169 for the Zotac IONITX-F-E) you are getting a significantly better system. The difference running Server 2008 R2 thus far is night and day.
 
Anyone know if you download the torrents version of the windows home sever V2, will you be able to convert it to full version when it is official release?

Does it supports upgrade of existing WHS V1 to V2?
 
Does it still have the 10 user limit? Thats the main problem with WHS IMHO.

AtW

Yes. There remains a limit of 10 userids (11, actually, since "administrator" does not count).

There is also a limit of 10 clients running the connector software (i.e., 10 fully registered clients using WHS backup, etc).

But they don't impose a limit of 10 total clients using the shares (many of my clients are media players, etc., that share the same user ID and don't set up the connector software).
 
Thats the main problem with WHS IMHO.

AtW

Well it is windows Home server.

Not many homes facilitate more than 10 people.

WHS is not an enthusiast product by any means, and was never intended to be.
Yea i wish it could do more, but thats not the market M$ was after. Just how it is. :)
 
Well I'm mainly looking at an Areca 1680LP, Dell Perc 5/i (pretty much against this), Adaptec 5805, 3085, or 31605 (well two of them) since they are all sitting around :)

I will say, this i3-530 is going to make the Atom N330/ION and the new Pine Trail irrelevant for WHS builds. The integrated GPU, 32nm process, DDR3 v. DDR2 and etc + the ability to turn off a core more or less make the power consumption really good. At the same time the boards are coming with PCIe x1 slots (perfect for x1 Intel Pro/1000 PT's), 6-8 SATA ports on board with a PCIe x16 slot (more disk connectivity through a raid controller or simple HBA) and a PCI slot (or multiple) if you have a legacy PCI wireless adapter, TV tuner, or something like that.

Performance wise... I'm using the same Patriot PS-100 32GB SSD's to run Win 7 x64 off of, and it isn't even close. The i3-530 is FAST, and super scary since it overclocks a ton with stock cooling. With HT you can actually do some encoding, and it does support virtualization so for $30 more (I spent $200 for the Intel mATX H55 board + the CPU v. $169 for the Zotac IONITX-F-E) you are getting a significantly better system. The difference running Server 2008 R2 thus far is night and day.

I'm currently running a 31605, but I'm thinking of upgrading to a 5085 for the spin down features along with the external ports.

Thanks for bringing up the i3-530. I didn't realize just how little power it used and after looking it over my next build might very well use it instead of my original plan of a ion setup. The fact that it should also be able to run virtualized WHS is also a pro :)
 
I'm currently running a 31605, but I'm thinking of upgrading to a 5085 for the spin down features along with the external ports.

Thanks for bringing up the i3-530. I didn't realize just how little power it used and after looking it over my next build might very well use it instead of my original plan of a ion setup. The fact that it should also be able to run virtualized WHS is also a pro :)

You can also turn a core off in the mobo's BIOS to save even more electricity if you want.
Then turn it on, if you need more kick :)
 
You can also turn a core off in the mobo's BIOS to save even more electricity if you want.
Then turn it on, if you need more kick :)

Read about that as well, very spiffy feature! Ironically my desktop is still running a q9550, so I do end up going this route my file server will be more advanced than my desktop technologically :)
 
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