Windows Home Server or Windows Server (2008 or 2003)..?

I have been running a Win2003 server at home, using Active Directory and
roaming profiles to manage approx 6 PCs. Mainly it's for fun, but it does a
good job of allowing the family to log on to any PC and get their files etc.

I now want to increase the functionality to server media files to a PS3 and
soon a Media Centre PC.

I've been looking at Microsoft's Windows Home Server and wondered if it
would
be a better solution than the W2k3 server I'm using. I know that WHS is
based on W2K3 server, but it seems to have a load of ease of use features
and disk load balancing capabilities which look good.

I've just ordered 2 x 500GB disks for my server and want to know what is the
better OS to load. I have copies of the various OS, so it's not a cost
issue, just functionality/ease of use.

Any input/thoughts gratefully received.

cheers

simon

"Simon Coupland" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:fh9smb$is$2$(E-Mail Removed)...
>I have been running a Win2003 server at home, using Active Directory and
> roaming profiles to manage approx 6 PCs. Mainly it's for fun, but it does
> a
> good job of allowing the family to log on to any PC and get their files
> etc.
>
> I now want to increase the functionality to server media files to a PS3
> and
> soon a Media Centre PC.
>
> I've been looking at Microsoft's Windows Home Server and wondered if it
> would
> be a better solution than the W2k3 server I'm using. I know that WHS is
> based on W2K3 server, but it seems to have a load of ease of use features
> and disk load balancing capabilities which look good.
>

I would alwyas prefer hatrdware RAID/Striping.

> I've just ordered 2 x 500GB disks for my server and want to know what is
> the
> better OS to load. I have copies of the various OS, so it's not a cost
> issue, just functionality/ease of use.
>

Why not download the EVAL and try it on Virtual PC...

> Any input/thoughts gratefully received.
>
> cheers
>
> simon
>

"Dave Wade" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:_(E-Mail Removed). uk...
>
> "Simon Coupland" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:fh9smb$is$2$(E-Mail Removed)...
>>I have been running a Win2003 server at home, using Active Directory and
>> roaming profiles to manage approx 6 PCs. Mainly it's for fun, but it does
>> a
>> good job of allowing the family to log on to any PC and get their files
>> etc.
>>
>> I now want to increase the functionality to server media files to a PS3
>> and
>> soon a Media Centre PC.
>>
>> I've been looking at Microsoft's Windows Home Server and wondered if it
>> would
>> be a better solution than the W2k3 server I'm using. I know that WHS is
>> based on W2K3 server, but it seems to have a load of ease of use features
>> and disk load balancing capabilities which look good.
>>
>
> I would alwyas prefer hatrdware RAID/Striping.
>
>> I've just ordered 2 x 500GB disks for my server and want to know what is
>> the
>> better OS to load. I have copies of the various OS, so it's not a cost
>> issue, just functionality/ease of use.
>>
>
> Why not download the EVAL and try it on Virtual PC...
>
>> Any input/thoughts gratefully received.
>>
>> cheers
>>
>> simon
>>
>
>
Dave,

I've got the WHS media now, so will try it. I think I need to define my
requirements better first, then I can evaluate the OS issues against the
reqs.

I was hoping for some insight from other enthusiasts who had a home network,
for multi PC and media serving.

cheers

simon

On Mon, 12 Nov 2007 15:49:31 -0000, "Simon Coupland" <(E-Mail Removed)>
wrote:

>I have been running a Win2003 server at home, using Active Directory and
>roaming profiles to manage approx 6 PCs. Mainly it's for fun, but it does a
>good job of allowing the family to log on to any PC and get their files etc.
>
>I now want to increase the functionality to server media files to a PS3 and
>soon a Media Centre PC.
>
>I've been looking at Microsoft's Windows Home Server and wondered if it
>would
>be a better solution than the W2k3 server I'm using. I know that WHS is
>based on W2K3 server, but it seems to have a load of ease of use features
>and disk load balancing capabilities which look good.

I looked and there isn't anything that I really want to do with this,
I always use hardware RAID on my W2k3 server here at home. If you are
used to AD and roming profiles, I think you may be disappointed with
WHS, though I haven't used this.

Andrew.