Windows Home Server 411

Hey guys,

First, my TNT training is going great. I just finished running 6.32 miles in 1h 8m, a new distance and time record for me! If you haven't donated yet or would like more info, then please visit HERE. Thanks to all of my supporters!

Now to the business of the post, Windows Home Server (aka WHS). I have a friend interested in purchasing a home server to store all of his media centralized on his home network as well as computer backups. He asked if I could provide info regarding what I have at home and all the info I can regarding the HP Mediasmart home server line, I'd like to share with my faithful audience what I delivered to him.

Here is a list of resources for the HP mediasmart server and a wireless network:

Start here: What's a MediaSmart Server and why do I need one?

1) HP MediaSmart EX485

a) Newegg link

b) additional 750gb hard drive from newegg

c) $629.98 if you order the 2 together and insert the 2nd hard drive yourself

2) HP MediaSmart EX487 (same as above, but with a pre configured 2nd hard drive)

a) Newegg link

b) $699.99 if you order the pre-config 1.5 TB solution

3) HP MediaSmart EX470 (what I have)

a) Amazon link ($475.72)

b) my personal upgrade of CPU and RAM on 11/08
Patriot 2GB 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 667 (PC2 5300) Desktop Memory Model PSD22G6672 - Retail Item #: N82E16820220231

AMD Athlon 64 LE-1640 Orleans 2.6GHz Socket AM2 45W Single-Core Processor Model ADH1640DHBOX - Retail Item #: N82E16819103239

Order Total $57.98

c) Additional 1tb hard drive
$99 (often on sale for 90 or so)

d) total for everything = $633.70

e) better processor, more hard drive space

f) cons: manual labor to upgrade, voids the 1 year manufacturer's warranty (that's why I waited until mine expired to upgrade)

g) how to upgrade CPU and RAM if you choose the manual upgrade route

h) I followed the instructions above to the 'T' and they were dead on, super easy to do

4) My favorite sites for news and info regarding WHS (some are not specific to the HP products)

a) We Got Served

b) official Microsoft forums

c) MediaSmart Server dot net

d) MSWHS

5) Software that I use on my server:

a) Avast! antivirus

b) Perfect Disk 2008 disk defragmentation: (new version)

6) WHS white papers:

a) http://216digits.com/WHS/

7) Recommendations

a) I say go for the EX485 and then add a 1TB drive

b) stay away from the 1.5TB drive, I've read lots of data corruption and failure problem reviews

c) you don't need the items listed in #5 right away, just something to think about

d) the benefit of having antivirus on the server is that it will protect your server files from getting infected

8) Reviews:

a) lots of review links in one place

b) the 475

c) one really good review

9) Network

a) wireless router WRT54G

b) Tomato, a 3rd party firmware update for the router

If you've found this article, please leave a comment and let me know what you think!! Also, please share what you have or what you plan on getting in the future with me!

Best,
216Digits