Windows 8 Home Server Guide

Posted 10/30/2012 at 12:03pm | by Tim Ferrill

Sometimes we don’t want to do things exactly like Microsoft designed, so using the existing libraries isn’t always going to be a workable solution. Fortunately you can add libraries and then share them with the HomeGroup or simply share an individual folder without using the libraries. To test this, let’s create a Backup folder in our storage space. Once the folder is created, right click on the folder, choose Share with, and choose HomeGroup (view and edit).

Libraries shared to the HomeGroup integrate directly into Windows Explorer.

Now that we’ve created our HomeGroup and shared all of our files open up File Explorer (this is another option in that power user menu we showed you earlier). In the left panel of File Explorer you should now see a HomeGroup section with your username underneath. Expanding your username should show the computers you have access to, and should provide a list of shared folders on that computer.

Another feature of a HomeGroup is the ability to stream media over the network using DLNA. This can be configured using the Media streaming options in the Network and Sharing Center Control Panel. The Media streaming options will allow you to allow or disallow individual media devices on your network from accessing certain types of files.

Protecting your Data

One thing we can’t recommend highly enough is backing up your data. Few things are worse than losing years of pictures or documents because of a failed hard drive or accidental deletion. There are two aspects of data protection we want to take a look at, using your Windows 8 server as backup storage and backing up the storage volume itself.

Windows Backup isn’t gone from Windows 8, it’s just hiding.

Using your Windows 8 server as backup storage is as simple as using the Backup folder we created earlier as your storage volume. This can be done with most backup tools, including Windows Backup and File History (which we’ll talk about in a minute). Interestingly, Windows Backup is a deprecated feature in Windows 8, which means two things. First, it’s hard to find. Second, it’s a feature that may disappear completely in future versions of Windows.

To use the traditional Windows Backup features in Windows 8 you need to go to File History in the System and Security category. Once there you will see an option for Windows 7 File Recovery in the bottom left corner of the window. Another option is to switch to the Control Panel’s icon view and find the Windows 7 File Recovery option there. Once you are in Windows Backup/Windows 7 File Recovery you can create a system image, back up your libraries, or choose individual folders to back up. These steps can be used to back up other computers to your central storage or to back up your centralized files and folders to another location.

File History is a feature we wish we had before deleting that massive Word document.

Another option to back up critical files in Windows 8 is by using the File History feature. File History is primarily used for backing files up from other computers to your centralized storage, but it offers some increased flexibility over traditional backups. File History can be configured by simply choosing the backup location and turning the feature on. In addition to having a backup copy of your files you also have the ability to open a previous version of a file. This is particularly handy if you’ve accidentally deleted something contained in a file, such as paragraphs from a document or a slide from a presentation.

Conclusion

Windows 8 is certainly a shift from previous versions of Windows, but it’s not all about the new interface and the start screen. If you know where to look there are some sweet new features that open up new possibilities in how we use our computers on a daily basis.

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Comments

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aerogamer

November 06, 2012 at 1:20pm

I was actually considering purchasing WHS 2011, but this may be a valid solution. Win Server 2012 Essentials is out of my price range. Are there any compelling reasons to use Win8 instead of WHS 2011/What are the Pros & Cons to each?

Steveo

November 02, 2012 at 5:24am

Listen to the exhaustive test done on the BYOB tech podcast. Win 8 sucks as a server. Better off staying with WHS 2011 or the more expensive essentionals 2012 for $425, ouch. Super slow and buggy,sorry folks.

SwiftyJc

November 01, 2012 at 10:42am

Will the Windows 8 Server be able to host websites as does WHS1 & 2?

tferrill

November 01, 2012 at 11:43am

Windows 8 includes IIS (Internet Information Services), which is Microsoft's web server. So yes, it can host web pages.

SwiftyJc

November 01, 2012 at 4:26pm

Great, thanks.
SwiftyJc

veryoldgamer

October 31, 2012 at 4:30pm

Tim,
Nice article. Informative.

A quick tip: Use Windows key + X to bring up the file explorer.

I can't ever recall using Windows key keyboard shortcuts as much as I am using them with Windows 8. The windows key by itself is getting a work out as is Windows + D, W + 1,2,3.... corresponding to the pinned icons on my toolbar, list goes on and on. From desktop, windows key + I gets you to control panel quickly

Really appreciate your work on this article

tferrill

October 31, 2012 at 9:24pm

Agreed. Navigation can be much more efficient using the keyboard.

GavinFarrington...

November 02, 2012 at 3:33pm

Win + X
Win + I
Win + E

These are my three most common keystrokes in Win8. Only Win + E is a holdover from Win7 - the others are new for me.

GavinFarrington...

October 31, 2012 at 2:36pm

If I boot to the Win8 installer from a USB key, will it see storage spaces? What if I put a system image there?

If I have 6 USB drives in a storage space and one of them fails, how do I physically identify the failed device?

tferrill

October 31, 2012 at 9:28pm

You won't be able to use Storage spaces as a boot drive. Was that your question?

Sadly, I didn't test any of my drives to physical failure. :)

Each drive in your storage pool can be individually named, and should. Indicate when a drive is removed or experiences hardware failure.

GavinFarrington...

November 01, 2012 at 1:41pm

I wouldn't expect to be able to boot from a pool. What I'd like to know is, if I put a system image made with Windows Backup on a pool, can I access that system image from the Windows Installer environment?

i.e.
1) Boot from USB key with Windows 8 installer on it.
2) Access system restore tools to do a bare-metal restore.
3) Browse to system image stored on storage pool.
4) Restore.

Is step 3 possible, or are pools only functional in a full-running Windows environment?

tferrill

November 01, 2012 at 3:14pm

Gotcha. I'm going to say no with a couple of caveats.Storage Pools will only be available from within Windows 8 but I'm told they are portable, meaning you could potentially take the two (or more) drives to another machine and access the data. Also, you could always share the backup volume or folder on the network and hit it that way

GavinFarrington...

November 03, 2012 at 1:11pm

So it turns out this is a bit of a moot point. Windows 8 doesn't have a native system-imaging backup system. I suppose it still applies though if you want to put an Acronis image there.

Edited: Sorry, I guess it actually does. Microsoft appears to be forking their backup solutions, though. The system that is new to Windows 8 only backs up user files. If you dig through the control panel, however, you'll find the old system called "Windows 7 File Recovery." This option is easiest to find if you use the classic control panel style. It will open backups created with Windows 7, and still includes the "create system image" option. The way they are separated though, makes one think maybe they're deprecating that utility?

tferrill

November 03, 2012 at 2:24pm

Covered that on page 3. :)

jlh304

October 31, 2012 at 11:33am

So is this disk pool the same tech used in WHS drive extender, that they took out of other versions of WHS?

tferrill

October 31, 2012 at 9:30pm

Same concept, different tech. I doubt you would be able to do a direct upgrade.

russgrad

October 31, 2012 at 11:25am

I didn't see it mentioned in the article, but should you go with standard 8 or the Professional version?

I have two 64 bit Win7 PC's, should I go with the 64 bit version, or with a 32 bit version?

Thanks

satrain18

November 01, 2012 at 6:35am

Go with 64 bit. You'll thank me when you use more than 4GB of RAM.

tferrill

October 31, 2012 at 9:44pm

As far as I know,standard is just fine.

usmckozmo

October 31, 2012 at 9:18am

This is the *only* reason I am buying windows 8. I'm sticking it on my old system in my basement with 16TB of hard drive space that I will physically touch maybe once every few months. It will be a backup repository for all the computers in my house, torrent dl/server, FTP server, and a media server for all the TVs/computers. Should work out nicely.

nlriehl87

November 01, 2012 at 3:27pm

The drive extender feature is nice and it creates a decent disk array setup for a basic media server but I think with what you are wanting to setup you might be better off going the Linux route.

With Ubuntu Server 12.04 LTS (Or any other modern Linux distro) you can easily setup Logical Volume Management (LVM) from the installer and create a large array of disks to act as one 16TB volume, just like storage spaces.

FTP and Samba(Windows File Sharing) can be easily setup as well with the help of the Ubuntu Help Site which is huge and has great howto articles.

For bittorrent you can setup the Transmission bittorrent Client to act as a background service and just throw your torrent files into a directory. Transmission will read your torrents automatically them and download your files.

Finally for the media server aspect you can setup MiniDLNA to allow the server to broadcast to any device supporting the DLNA standard.

Linux Server Pros
1) Command Line*
2) Low OS overhead vs Windows 8
3) Software RAID that actually works well
4) Fully supported for server operations (Ubuntu Server)
5) LVM allows multiple disks to function as 1 volume
6) LVM allows new disks to be added to the volume
7a) Samba provides full Windows File Sharing compatibility
7b) NetaTalk provides Apple File Sharing compatibility
8) Huge community of helpful and experienced users
9) Huge library of mature and reliable software
10) No Metro Interface
11) Costs $0.00

Linux Server Cons
1) Command Line*
2) Steep learning curve from Windows 7
3) No Start Menu

Windows 8 Pros
1) GUI Interface*
2) Storage Spaces allows multiple disks to act as one volume
3) Storage Spaces allows new disks to be added to the volume
4) Huge community of helpful and experienced users
5) Huge library of mature and reliable software

Windows 8 Cons
1) GUI Interface*
2) High OS Overhead vs a Linux Server
3) Steep learning curve from Windows 7
4) Not Supported for Server use
(MS recommends Server 2012 Essentials for Home Servers)
5a) NFS File Services availible but no longer supported by MS
5b) Apple File Services not availible
6a) Metro Interface
6b) No Start Menu
7) Costs Money

* - Command line vs. GUI is a personal preference. Both have their advantages and disadvantages.

Disclaimer: Obviously these are not all the pros and cons for both products, but they are the ones that IMO are most important. It is obvious that I personally prefer the Linux system but in the end you should use what you feel most comfortable with.

I hope in my ridiculously long comment I provided you with enough information to see whether or not you are willing to take a look at Linux for your home server.

Linux Server Resources
LVM: http://goo.gl/M1BqI
FTP: http://goo.gl/ieayp
Samba: http://goo.gl/Dr3gn
torrent: http://goo.gl/1Ddbg
MiniDLNA: http://goo.gl/fr4Bh

usmckozmo

November 06, 2012 at 2:08pm

Thanks man, great info!

TsunamiZ

October 30, 2012 at 10:20pm

damn, in windows 8, is there no way to make that window text and icons white on black?

DoctorX

October 30, 2012 at 8:24pm

but ... how do you use it as a backup server? without that, you dont have a home server.... sorry

davelray

October 31, 2012 at 5:06am

Read the whole article. Hint: The answer is on the third page.

DoctorX

November 03, 2012 at 10:00pm

i did read it and apparently you didnt... i am talking about all my pcs having a central backup like i have with 2011... dont make yourself look dumb.

davelray

November 04, 2012 at 6:35am

Hey Doc, instead of looking like an ass.... err too late for that, you already do now, learn what a backup server is. Just because it doesn't have the features or is set up the way YOU like it, does not make it any less a backup server. Nor does it make it any less similar to a home server. The writer of the article was showing you how you can come pretty close to having what WHS provided. Is it perfect? No and no one ever said it would be. But it is what it is and you, as usual, come off as a complete tool.