Well, I got the server this afternoon and set it up. All that remains to be done is to install the printer, which I will leave to tommorrow. Once I disconnected the second hard drive I ‘d added the install went fine. I’ve no idea why. But then, again, thats why I’m beta testing.
The server install stopped temporarily when I forgot to return the install DVD to the drive after using my driver CD for the ethernet and bus devices. I simply restarted the server with the DVD in the drive and the install carried on fine. If you need to know, it stopped at the “installing WinFX” bit.
First impressions: very impressed.
Adding usernames and opassword could not be easier. I have the same username/password combinations on both of my PC’s and both were connected to the server without a hitch.
Adding a Hard drive was very easy as well. Straightfoward. My mother could do it, it was THAT easy. As far as physicaly adding the hard drive, I’m using Serial ATA hard drives next time; they are much easier to install in a Dell Poweredge Server.
Adding shared folers was easy as well. You just have to be careful of the read/write permissions. By default these are set to Read only. You need to set them t0 read write before you can move files in there. The permissions work seamlessly with Windows Explorer ( pardon me for being slightly ingorant, but I’m not sure whether this is a product of the Home Connector Software or it just is).
The Home Connector software is very easy to install and it finds the server automatically as an added bonus. The Ui is slick, clean and uncluttered. There is no space wasted to extra config options ( which is why I’m going to have to drag the screen, keyboard and mouse over to the server tomorrow to install my printer). Its well thought out and very Vista-ish.
At the moment I’m copying a 3.36Gb folder full of Downloads to the server ( thats after deleting the .iso files for my Suse Solaris and Vista Beta 2 Discs) . This is very sad as its taking an age. When it comes to my +/- 10 GB music folder. I do not want these folders backed up so I’m copying them off first. The other thing I’m doing, given the sheer disc size of my PC is uninstaling pgograms that I don’t need/want.
Right now I want to review the core selling points of the server. That is the backup ( hopefully will not have to test the restore bit 🙂 ) and the media sharing aspects of it. I have plans to install Virtual server and run an Exchange 2007 server VM on it. But that is a week if not more away.
I’ll have to start a “Windows Home Server” series now that the install is done.
Random Musings 