Which OS/Programs do you use for your HA server?

[iostream212]

I have been a fan of WHS since its original version, but I am falling out of love with it. I have been running WHS 2011 for a year and a half now, and I think its more trouble than its worth. So now I am weighing options as far as what to do. Here are some initial thoughts:
 
Pros to keeping WHS 2011
Its installed already
It is working (mostly)
Secure remote file access
Home PC Backups
Reliable and always on
 
Cons to keeping WHS 2011
Can't get Bluetooth stack installed - Would like to have BT available in my HA machine
Some software incompatibility issues - Couldn't get Kinect SDK working on it.
Memory is limited to 8GB, have 16GB installed.
My install is botched - PC backup isn't working, and it I can't manage it with the dashboard.
 
So what do you think. Is it more trouble than it is worth to change OS? I'm thinking Win 7or Win8. Should I just do a fresh install?
 
I got backups covered with True Image Home, so losing that feature does not concern me. I do like the home website it set me up with as well as the ability to access and download my files from it. Would it be a huge PITA to replicate? I could always RDC to get files... So what OS do you use, and what other programs, beside your HA package, do you run to supplement?
 
 
 
 

 

[pete_c]

My concern/issue with WHS when I played with it was that they went to many a la carte stuff that was standard in previous versions kind of tuning the server for certain functions and removing stuff.
 
Here I utilized TTS fonts (multiple fonts in multiple languages - really to bug my wife).  In order to get TTS running OK I had to mod WHS with many W7 pieces that I wanted (real kludge). 

 

[iostream212]

Seriously loosing that pooled storage was a bummer, and the fact that I can't install Bluetooth irks me.

 

[sic0048]

I'm in the same boat as I'm still running the original WHS OS, but I won't consider ditching WHS completely.  It has saved my bacon several times in the years I've had it installed and I'm won't consider going to something else as long as WHS is still working/supported (it won't be forever).  I'm considering moving to WHS 2011 however.  The loss of the pooled storage won't be that bad (although I would totally prefer to have it) and more of my machines are running Windows 7, so I like the idea of running the same era OS for the WHS machine.   

 

[pete_c]

Yeah; not knocking the OS and the price.  Did notice it is the last WHS release and being replaced by Windows Server 2012 essentials.
 
I still utilize a very old program called Drive Snapshot for my backups.  It has evolved and still works just fine.  That said and relating to NAS boxes; still playing here some; such that I have Wintel and Linux and BSOD NAS boxes.  The Wintel box was a 1U embedded server with four hot swap drives in the front and a DOM for its OS.  I liked it and does well. 
 
Here I started to play with BT for automation.  I ran into one issue with one car when it was new.  It hada sticky bluetooth and would eat the batteries.
 
The truck did have a 5 year / 100k warranty except the dealer only changed the battery twice under warranty.  It was a documented issue but the dealer blamed me.  It was corrected with a firmware upgrade to the bluetooth module but I had to purchase the 3rd battery.

 

[iostream212]

Really?! I had heard of  Server 2012 Essentials but didn't realize it was the next version of WHS. Good to know... will have to look into that. For me it boils down to the reliability of the server versus the flexibility and 'main-stream' aspects of a common OS. Most HA software I have played with *seem* to play nice with either or.

 

[sic0048]

MS had started to put WHS into the Small Business Server OS and I guess they decided to only offer it in that package.  Those OS are pretty expensive however and probably won't be seen in a residential setting because of that barrier to entry.  Basically I think MS realized that people could buy Windows WHS 2011 for $50 and avoid paying $500 for the Small Business Server OS.

 

[tmbrown97]

Interesting thread - I've been running WHS forever too - the one based on Server 2003 in the HP MediaSmart.  Recently I'd been considering buying the special header that lets you hook up a monitor and keyboard/mouse and reloading Server 2012...  I actually have 2 of them (my previous old one) so I was debating having one in my Data Center replicating all my files via DFS.
 
I do love them - I love knowing that my PC's are always backed up; and I used to use the RDP Gateway function once in a while... never used much else of it, although I have mine also running Elve, my DynDNS updater, and a few other utilities.  It's the perfect form factor to just leave in the closet and keep running.
 
Mine does flake out once in a while though and needs to be rebooted - every few months it seems...
 
For those interested in tinkering/testing, I'd recommend taking a look at the Technet deals when they come by - you're allowed a few installs of each OS for testing - but they're fully unlocked and never expire.  It's good for any techie who likes to tinker, upgrade OS, etc... as long as they're for test purposes only  ^_^

 

[iostream212]

Interesting. Thanks for the note about TechNet. Also I will have to check if Drive Snapshot supports servers. Acronis requires a server program (ie home edition will not work) to support server backups. It is crazy expensive and many features are a a la carte.

 

[pete_c]

Yup; here have been using drive snapshot with my wintel servers now for a few years. This is the old copy that I purchased years ago.  I have updated it to most current and it still works just fine with my servers.  I have though downsized my HA wintel OS server to something a bit more managable (20Gb) with compresses nicely and easy to move around to the NAS.  A drive snapshot image takes about 5 minutes.  The program is also portable and has an explorer like feature for file extract.  Sits on a USB stick when I need it. 
 
I have also switched over to using little 16Gb SSD drives ($20) which are literally throw aways for my XBMC digital engines.
 
I just looked at their site and they have a different price point for workstsations (39 Euro and 89 Euro).
 
http://www.drivesnapshot.de/en/order.htm

 

[drozwood90]

MS had started to put WHS into the Small Business Server OS and I guess they decided to only offer it in that package.  Those OS are pretty expensive however and probably won't be seen in a residential setting because of that barrier to entry.  Basically I think MS realized that people could buy Windows WHS 2011 for $50 and avoid paying $500 for the Small Business Server OS.

 
Only if you did NOT use Active Directory.

 

[electron]

Interesting. Thanks for the note about TechNet. Also I will have to check if Drive Snapshot supports servers. Acronis requires a server program (ie home edition will not work) to support server backups. It is crazy expensive and many features are a a la carte.

 
FYI, the boneheads @ Microsoft thought it would be a great idea to discontinue TechNet (guess they didn't learn from their XBox One fiasco), so don't count on this option for much longer.

 

[tmbrown97]

FYI, the boneheads @ Microsoft thought it would be a great idea to discontinue TechNet (guess they didn't learn from their XBox One fiasco), so don't count on this option for much longer.

Doh!  I hadn't heard that... talk about a bonehead move!!

 

[iostream212]

Drive Snapshot is legit! Loving it. Thanks. Ps All the power must be under the hood cause it sure isn't in the interface!

 

[drozwood90]

iostream, you are liking that better than the built in server backup?  I've been using that for WHS2011 for a while.  Never actually restored it.  It is on my todo list.
 
This is the only reason I have WHS installed on my network, as well as only reason I did not get Drive Snapshot.  I just let WHS backup all the machines on my network (including itself).  I guess the biggest thing I need to start backing up are my Linux machines. 
 
I'm certain there are tons of backup methods for Linux.  For me, I use VirtualMachine for all my Linux machines.  I will be moving to ESXi at some point.  My non-implemented plan is to get the server setup, then export a copy of the container.  After that, I have a base machine I can retore at any time.  Then I will use rsync to just copy whatever has changed.  Easy-Peazy.
 
--Dan