Windows Home Server

Windows Home Server is easily one of the best products ever released by Redmond. It performs most of the functionality of a full server with no trouble. OEMs like HP and Acer to move quickly to the platform a few years ago and found out the fantastic line of products centered around WHS that allows almost all consumers to set up a backup solution that is complete, the jump media and the storage unit connected to the network - all in small form factor PC that draws less energy than a traditional computer. This seems to be a superior product to Microsoft, maker of hardware and even us consumers. But the perception that proved false. Microsoft is preparing the next version of WHS named Vail, which are not the features and functions previously assigned platforms.
Of course, this movement has been led WHS server eruption fan base on the Internet ragestorm dictated by the issues of confusion and abandonment. The idea that Windows Home Server is dead in the water is further defined today, while Microsoft has confirmed reports that HP has delivered the first customer WHS wide, will not result in a server based on next -gen OS. Dead, canceled, or another name with the same lead to the appropriate description is not possible that Microsoft obviously worked on the platform, but the next version of WHS is apparently quite different in philosophy and target the core demographic justify the name change or even a death decree.
I have Windows Home Server running in my house since 2007. Before WHS, my server solution consists of Windows XP box with a bouquet from more different network that is in a great variety of hard drive is PATA. I think I have seven hard disk sizes from 80 GB to 250 GB doll in a complete tower. Drive Extender feature of Windows Home Server creates a complete virtual file system are allowed to share the network span different physical disks. Configuration seriously just two clicks to add hard drives. Of course, it's just a JBOD system, but I have not lost one bit of data in the year, I'm running this server since 2007. Even if there is a problem, Windows Home Server allows for redundancy and duplication of multi-disk drive.
I think the Drive Extender is the same model is useful in off-the-shelf HP, Acer, and others. Want to add more storage? Pull on a sliding tray on your hard disk, insert a 2 TB hard disk, drag, click the button and within minutes the couple, the total capacity of 2 TB of storage you'll be rich. The solution is a completely free software and runs on almost all materials.
But, unfortunately. The main feature is over. Microsoft announced several days ago as Vail, instead rely on hardware RAID solutions rather than burned in software solutions such as Drive Extender. On the one hand, the RAID using the native is likely to increase the speed of data transfer, which, let's be honest, has never been a star in the current version of Windows Home Server. Transfer between drives or through a gigabit network speed and often met facepalm-type, but the Luddite-simple installation and management still make a valuable WHS.
Microsoft claims that the decision was to increase the efficiency of the network and I am delighted to support the cause. But the platform Windows Home Server is not the right to remove items that focus on the consumer. When available, the Drive Extender with all its faults is still the best reason to buy a product. Hard drives are always lower prices and increase in size. Crafts great vault centralized household media is a non-business with Windows Home Server. It's something that people with the possibility of opening a cardboard box holding a new hard drive can do about seven minutes.
Internet today speculating that Microsoft Windows Home Server transition to more solutions to small businesses. Okay, but why not have a separate building that supports RAID and eliminate ED killing does not support? That's what most fans are now asking for a week long of whether the platform just drift into relevance.
Then comes today's announcement on the cancellation of HP MediaSmart line. This is a model that has been launched with the platform and suddenly, just days after word got Drive Extender will not be in the next version, the HP kill line entirely. It's like watching Kobe Bryant left the Lakers as a free agent the day after Phil Jackson was fired. (As a Celtic fan, it would be my dream scenario, but the point is clear)
This leaves Acer and quiet as two important partners, even if the equipment HP offers WHSs over the last two combined companies. Suddenly, like this, the potential number of Windows Home Server on the market cut in half, which seems to imply that Windows Home Server are on the fast track ... wrong place. There is always a possibility that the Internet will lead to protest against the power of Microsoft back into the ether Extender Back to the platform or comes with a balance. Otherwise, Windows Home Server can also die because that is what will be seen by the majority of existing fans and perhaps even hardware partners.
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