Owning and configuring Your own Economic Home Server

I’m not a Certified IT, I can’t even setup my own DVR!

Nor do you have to be, there are various Operating Systems that can be used to serve this function but the easiest Operating System for your average Joe User is probably Windows Home Server. I’m not going to sit and defend the sterling reputation of Microsoft and how they have the superior product on the market today because I know this is far from the truth. However, for a Home Server Operating System they sell a product that is easy for ANY average Home User to install. The Operating System Installs with virtually little to no input from you the user. Windows Home Server offers Remote Access from outside your house so you can either access a file or even one of your PC’s (Other than your own Home Server PC). Windows Home Server will not only back itself up but also up to 10 of your PCs (Including Apple’s IBook) which can fully restore your PC from a major outage to when it was last fully functional, Best of all you can stream your Music, Pictures, and Videos from across the internet. While it is not free (nothing long term from Microsoft is free) the Operating System is anywhere from $30 to $50 dollars Cheaper than a copy of Microsoft’s desktop Operating System Windows 7 Home Premium.

Where am I going to find all this stuff and how much is it going to cost me?

If you already have an old Desktop or Laptop that is just lying around the house that could be easily re-purposed it will only be about $50, Since you will need only the Windows Home Server Operating System, You will be purchasing Windows Home Server 2011 version, which can be obtained at either Amazon or Newegg. IF you need to obtain a Refurbished or unsold PC from a wholesaler along with the Operating System than your probably looking at around $250, Maybe slightly less. For this I usually go to a wholesaler by the name of Geeks . They generally sell good quality products at great prices.

Does my re-purposed Desktop/Laptop or the PC I’m buying have to meet a minimum requirement for Windows Home Server to Work?

The Answer to this is unfortunately yes but is not that bad by today’s standards. I’m going to post both Microsoft’s Minimum PC requirements and then my own recommend requirements for the candidate PC…

Microsoft’s Minimum Requirements

– 1.4 GHz x64 processor.

– 2 GB RAM

– At least one 160 GB hard drive.

ITBeast’s Minimum Requirements

– Pentium Dual Core\Intel Core Duo or AMD 2 equivalent CPU with 64 bit architecture.

– 2 GBs of RAM minimum (More is always better)

– Can be 160GB but preferably a 250GB Hard Drive if available (Again more is better).

These requirements pretty much apply to most PC’s that were manufactured 5 or 6 years ago. Here in this following link is an example of a PC the meets those requirements as recommended by Microsoft and Myself. While Microsoft’s minimum requirements will do the job, my minimum requirements will probably give you a more enjoyable Home Server.

Ok, Now that I have the necessary equipment and software are there any good reference or how to guide’s out there that can show me how to initially install and configure my Home Server?

Funny you should ask that question, it so happens that I wrote a How to Guide almost 9 months ago for Connected Digital World, It will give you blow by blow instructions from initially installing the Home Server Software to finally setting up the static IP after the install. There is also numerous information on this procedure that can be obtained by using your favorite search engine (mine being Google), along with actual You Tube Videos of someone showing a live installation of the Operating System onto the Physical Machine. For your convenience I will be listing both guides, You Tube Videos In addition to the How to Guide I mentioned earlier. This will help you get your Home Server Installed and Configure the Basic functions to get the most out of your Home Server going in…

– Installing Windows Home Server 2011(You Tube Video)

– First time setup of the WHS 2011 Server Connector, PC Backups, and Launchpad (You Tube Video)

– Setting up Remote Web Access on Windows Home Server 2011(You Tube Video)

– How to Create Users in Windows Home Server 2011 (How to Guide)

– How to Install Windows Home Server 2011 Connector Software (How to Guide)

– How to Configure PC Backup Options in Windows Home Server 2011(How to Guide)

Other than the PC and the Software is there anything else I need to make my Home Server work?

This article is going to assume that you already have a DSL or Higher speed ISP (Internet Service Provider) and a Router to connect your Home Server to. The last thing you may have to do initially after setup is depending on how new or type of PC you are using as your Home Server is download/obtain the Hardware Drivers for your targeted PC’s Manufacture’s Site (I.E. Video Card, Network Interface Card, etc…). Since Windows Server 2008 and 2008 R2 drivers are generally not available for Desktop PC’s then use either Windows Vista or Windows 7 64 bit drivers. However, there is a very small chance of you having to find these drivers since the Windows Home Server 2011 Installation Software will generally already have those drivers for your PC installed during the initial setup.

Are there any other optional pieces of equipment that I should consider obtaining once I have configured and I am happy with the final Outcome of my Home Server?

The only 2 other things I would purchase once you have completed your Home Server and if the funds are available is a UPS (Uninterruptable Power Supply) to safe guard your Home Server from an unexpected power loss and an External Storage Drive to backup your data to from the Home Server. Both these Items can be obtained from $50 to $75 each and can easily be obtained at either Amazon (UPS / External Drive) & Newegg (UPS / External Drive), or if you are a US Resident SAM’s & Costco.

Ok IT Nerd, Can you finish this up before I fall asleep!

Alright already! and its ITBEAST not nerd. So here you have it, the perfect recipe for your own Economic Home Server. Hopefully I was able to cover all the basics and point you in the right direction for Installing and Configuring your first Home Server. If any further assistance or clarification is needed please feel free to leave me a comment here or in the Connected Digital World Forums.

Acknowledgements I want to thank Andrew Edney Owner and Founder of Connected Digital World for pushing me to write this article, My wife Dawnise and son Stewart for checking my spelling and Grammar so I don’t come off as an uneducated Dunce, and finally to Timothy Daleo for inspiring me with his intuitive and humorous How To Article’s that got me into the Home Server world.