flynz4
07-01-2009, 02:25 PM
I have been searching the threads on the HP MediaSmart server running Windows Home Server. There are a lot of posts about compatibility with Tivo etc. I am specifically looking for info on some of the other usage models of WHS in addition to being used as a video server.
First for my setup:
There are 4 of us in my family, and we currently have a nice single desktop (Vista) which has the "master copy" of our important data (for my wife and I). Every time we add “data” (ex: pictures, music, home videos, scans, documents, etc) to our collection, it is added to this single computer. This computer has a lot of utility for editing, arranging, etc as it has a 30" monitor (2560X1600). All of the data (but not OS, Programs, etc) is backed up to the cloud using Mozy (currently 113.7 GB).
I have two RAID 5 NAS boxes (each with 4 drives) in the house (2TB total) on a 1GB ethernet connection that I was originally using for backup using EMC Retrospect... but I have since shut off Retrospect once I decided to back up our data to Mozy. These two boxes are getting very little use now... and are primarily used to facilitate data transfer from computer to computer. They will be probably be decommissioned if I get a MediaSmart home server.
We have a nice networked Xerox color laser printer/MFD... so I do not need a print/scan server.
We each have laptops and/or netbooks and iPhones, for a total of 4 laptops, 2 netbooks, 4 iPhones. I do keep copies of pictures/music on my laptop... but that is not automated, and they get out of sync. My kids (age 20's) laptops are a mess... and not in sync with our home media collection in any way. Their data is not currently being backed up. The 4 iPhones are each synced to our own laptops.
We use McAfee on all computers.
Here are my questions:
I really would like to consolidate all of my iTunes music... but I am somewhat confused on how this will work. I like the fact that if any of us add music… the master library will be updated. I know that I can have my laptop’s iTunes point to the WHS, but will I have to give up my own local copy of the music on my laptop? I suppose this is OK (since I rarely play any music off of my laptop)… but what happens when I sync my iPhone to my laptop when I am away from the house? Will I lose my iPhone music?
I absolutely want copies of all pictures on my laptop. Right now, this does get out of sync… can I automate updating “my pictures” to keep it in sync with the WHS.
Other than my personal laptop (which is backed up at work)… I want the other 5 laptops/netbooks and the home desktop to be automatically backed up to the WHS. I trust there are no issues in this regard. Does it support “bare metal” restore… or just “file backup”. I am not sure that I care too much… but it would be nice to know.
Off site backup: This one concerns me the most. I absolutely will not accept any solution that does not have my data securely backed up off-site to the cloud. It seems that WHS is made to work with Amazon S3, and it seems to be an expensive solution given the amount of data that I want backed up. I am currently delighted with Mozy, but MozyHome (the inexpensive unlimted solution) does NOT support WHS. I would be content to keep running MozyHome on my desktop, if I could automate moving all of the “important” and consolidated WHS data back to my desktop. Alternatively, I would be willing to drop Mozy if a competitive solution (ex: Carbonite or others) offers a similar “unlimited” plan that runs on WHS. Suggestions please.
I probably have a dozen other questions that will evolve as I understand WHS better. I will worry about using the MediaSmart for Tivo expansion later... but the MediaSmart seems to be a popular choice for this application as well. First I need to understand if it will satisfy my other more important needs.
/Jim
First for my setup:
There are 4 of us in my family, and we currently have a nice single desktop (Vista) which has the "master copy" of our important data (for my wife and I). Every time we add “data” (ex: pictures, music, home videos, scans, documents, etc) to our collection, it is added to this single computer. This computer has a lot of utility for editing, arranging, etc as it has a 30" monitor (2560X1600). All of the data (but not OS, Programs, etc) is backed up to the cloud using Mozy (currently 113.7 GB).
I have two RAID 5 NAS boxes (each with 4 drives) in the house (2TB total) on a 1GB ethernet connection that I was originally using for backup using EMC Retrospect... but I have since shut off Retrospect once I decided to back up our data to Mozy. These two boxes are getting very little use now... and are primarily used to facilitate data transfer from computer to computer. They will be probably be decommissioned if I get a MediaSmart home server.
We have a nice networked Xerox color laser printer/MFD... so I do not need a print/scan server.
We each have laptops and/or netbooks and iPhones, for a total of 4 laptops, 2 netbooks, 4 iPhones. I do keep copies of pictures/music on my laptop... but that is not automated, and they get out of sync. My kids (age 20's) laptops are a mess... and not in sync with our home media collection in any way. Their data is not currently being backed up. The 4 iPhones are each synced to our own laptops.
We use McAfee on all computers.
Here are my questions:
I really would like to consolidate all of my iTunes music... but I am somewhat confused on how this will work. I like the fact that if any of us add music… the master library will be updated. I know that I can have my laptop’s iTunes point to the WHS, but will I have to give up my own local copy of the music on my laptop? I suppose this is OK (since I rarely play any music off of my laptop)… but what happens when I sync my iPhone to my laptop when I am away from the house? Will I lose my iPhone music?
I absolutely want copies of all pictures on my laptop. Right now, this does get out of sync… can I automate updating “my pictures” to keep it in sync with the WHS.
Other than my personal laptop (which is backed up at work)… I want the other 5 laptops/netbooks and the home desktop to be automatically backed up to the WHS. I trust there are no issues in this regard. Does it support “bare metal” restore… or just “file backup”. I am not sure that I care too much… but it would be nice to know.
Off site backup: This one concerns me the most. I absolutely will not accept any solution that does not have my data securely backed up off-site to the cloud. It seems that WHS is made to work with Amazon S3, and it seems to be an expensive solution given the amount of data that I want backed up. I am currently delighted with Mozy, but MozyHome (the inexpensive unlimted solution) does NOT support WHS. I would be content to keep running MozyHome on my desktop, if I could automate moving all of the “important” and consolidated WHS data back to my desktop. Alternatively, I would be willing to drop Mozy if a competitive solution (ex: Carbonite or others) offers a similar “unlimited” plan that runs on WHS. Suggestions please.
I probably have a dozen other questions that will evolve as I understand WHS better. I will worry about using the MediaSmart for Tivo expansion later... but the MediaSmart seems to be a popular choice for this application as well. First I need to understand if it will satisfy my other more important needs.
/Jim