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In a recent blog post, Microsoft announced that its Home Server engineering team has signed off on the release version of Windows Home Server 2011. MSDN and TechNet subscribers will have access to the OS starting sometime in early April. According to Microsoft, OEMs and System Builders have already started building machines around the new OS and you'll start to see them appear in the marketplace in May.
Windows Home Server 2011 is based on Windows Server 2008 R2, however Microsoft says it's been designed to be easier than ever to install. A simplified setup process with detailed guidance for configuring the server and each connected PC promises to have users up and running within minutes.
Other changes include an improved Dashboard (previously known as the Console), an easy sign-in page to access server resources, improved alerts now shown on a per user basis, better backups, the ability to set remote access permission levels by user, and more.
Find out what else is new by downloading this comparision datasheet.
Comments are closed on this article
hades_2100
April 01, 2011 at 9:38am
Two reasons I love WHS.
1) Backup
2) Drive Extender.
Remove either, and I'm not upgrading. Period.
skirge01
April 01, 2011 at 6:30am
WHS has essentially been turned into a backup program with this "update". I got WHS v1 because it covered most of my needs. Now, I may as well install Windows 7 on the server and use free programs for backups, DE replacements, etc. I have no intentions of buying WHS 2011 so that I can ALSO buy add-ons to make it do what I need it to, especially when there are free alternatives out there already for Windows 7.
Sorry, MS, you lost this WHS advocate big time.
ajuhawk
April 01, 2011 at 11:02am
which free programs are you thinking about as I'm currently weighing my options?
skirge01
April 01, 2011 at 2:42pm
I assume you're primarily talking about backups and a DE alternative, so for the former, MPC actually mentioned Macrium Reflect here:
http://www.maximumpc.com/article/features/[missing word below*]_guide_power_computing_31_ways_save_money_without_sacrificing_performance
Then, for DE, there's FlexRAID (currently in beta, but looking very good), FreeNAS, or unRAID. FlexRAID can run under Windows 7 (among others), while the other two would need a separate box or a virtual machine, since they run Linux.
*Apparently "ch3apskates" is a bad word on here, so I needed to remove it. Kinda funny, actually.
axiomatic
March 31, 2011 at 2:43pm
I own 2 Windows Home Servers and honestly have to agree with others here. (And yes I am running the Vail RC's) Without DE Vail is severly gimped. I know DE was broken in the begining but its run stable and error free for me for a long time. Baffled at the obviously marketing driven decision. Speaking as a SW developer myself I loathe marketing having anything to do with the development process. I will watch the DE alternative plug ins with great interest.
Can I build and use a better backup solution.... YES. Can my wife and son comprehend any backup solution other than the very simple WHS system.... NO.
Zharin
March 31, 2011 at 1:16pm
Without the drive extender, this is a useless upgrade. Can't see why anyone would want this over the previous version.
SleepyCatChris
March 31, 2011 at 1:46pm
Drive Extender is indeed awesome, and I'd hate to give it up, but I'm definitely going to wait to try out the entire product before declaring it a "useless upgrade". Have you been running the RC?
ajuhawk
March 31, 2011 at 2:20pm
There are 2 or 3 alternatives to the Drive Extender currently in beta. I've messed around with two of them and, while they're not finished yet and still waiting for a few features to be implemented, it looks like they should fill the gap nicely. It's definitely worth taking a look at for some of the other features/improvements.
