Comments

Chienworks wrote on 4/26/2009, 10:01 AM
I find Linux with samba/apache installed to be far more reliable and efficient than anything Windows-based, and it's free! You could install it on an old 500Mhz box with a few large drives installed and get better performance than Windows running on the latest hardware. And ... it Just Plain Works.
JohnnyRoy wrote on 4/26/2009, 12:01 PM
I don't have the HP Home Server but it depends on what you want it for. I bought a Buffalo Linkstation Live 500GB NAS drive which plugs right into my network router and it works like a charm. It's always on, very quiet, runs Linux, and we share all of our files on it. In fact, I have an HP Officejet Pro L7680 All-in-one printer that can scan to a network drive. I have a scan folder set up on the Linkstation so now anyone can scan any documents they want without anyone's PC being on and pick them up from the scan folder on the Linkstation when needed.

The Linkstation Live has a web interface for administration and also has two printer ports in case you don't have a network printer (it will make it one). I think it only cost me $200 and was well worth the money.

~jr
InformationSponge wrote on 4/26/2009, 12:10 PM
I have an HPHS and have been using it for over a year. Got it not long after they came out. I haven't had any problems with it, it has been pretty trouble-free. You can literally just plug it right in, run through a quick setup and you will be off and running within a few minutes. I use it mainly for file sharing and for backing up photos and videos. I have two drives in it, plus on external USB drive (for backing up the server itself).
TeetimeNC wrote on 4/27/2009, 4:08 AM
I have WHS and except that the computer is currently down with a failed hard disk controller, I have been very pleased with it.

[UPDATE: Not a failed disk controller, just needed to reseat a card. Back up and running now.]

I paid $99 for WHS and put it in my original P4 video editing PC. I then threw in some old drives getting it up to a little over 1TB. I also installed a free plugin that allows the WHS server to sleep if neither of my other home network PCs are in use. It wakes when either PC comes on line (saves on electric bill).

It absolutely worked a treat. Things I really like about it:

1. It is very smart about doing its backup. If the same file cluster exists on two or more of your network PCs, it only backs it up once and maintains pointers to all the PCs that use that cluster. Impact: you need less HD space in the server.

2. WHS automatically handles any new drives you install for backup. Of course, replacing the system drive requires you reinstall WHS.

3. I had a HD fail. I simply removed and replaced the failed HD and WHS handled it transparently.

4. WHS makes it easy to make a backup of the backup for offsite storage. I installed a SATA drive caddy and keep rotating 1TB drives in my safey deposit box.

5. MS provides a nice support forum for WHS.

Oh, I also added a gigabit NIC to my old P4 for speedier backups. And on occasion I have recovered a few files off the WHS without problem or drama.

Jerry