Installation of Windows Home Server (WHS) RC

I started to try Microsoft Windows Home Servr about half year ago. I like it very much so far. It provides easy usability and decent functionality. I got an email from Microsoft last month about that they decided that there is no upgrade option when upgrade from WHS CTP to WHS RC. It is really a big pain, but I still decided it is worth doing it because Microsoft promised there will be "upgrade option" in the future upgrading pathway, from RC but not from CTP. So an fresh installation will happen sooner or later, and it will be fun to have a look of RC without additional pain.

The torture of fresh installation is that I have to move more than 300G content from server and squeeze them into free space around other home computers. On and off of moving for almost two weeks, I finally made the server computer ready for the fresh WHS RC installation.

I first downloaded Windows RC from Microsoft, burn the server installation image to a DVD. Installation DVD was loaded to an external DVD of server (Just want to load four harddrive to server from the very beginning).

After system booted from CD, WHC starts the installation. And the remaining steps are easy and straightforward.




This part of the installation will be most confusing to someone that has no computer backgroup. I guess the term of "Volume" will make them lost immediately, so may be a good idea to have some "plain" word in "HOME" server installation. Actuatlly adding harddrive later in client console later is much easy to follow and this step can be get around at this moment.


A fresh installation is selected here.


A choice of no choice!


Customize server name can be done in this step.


Cool features included in Windows Home Server, with almost no or very few setting: Media sharing, Backup, Remote Access, and more.





Core of WHS is Windows 2003 Small Business





After another 1.5 hour installation, WHS set up is almost done before a few basic setting:





Not all done yet,


Activation of WHS


Finally


NEXT, I installed the client software, Windows Home Server Connector, on each home computer. It takes just a few minutes to do it.


After installation, it will pop up to ask the server password and join the client computer to server.

From WHS connector, you can add and manage user account,


manage and create new sharing folder, setting duplication of these folds, etc.


View server storage space and harddrive status.


Summary:
Windows Home Server is very easy to install and manage. Some cool features I like include automatic client system backup, easy share folder setting (but with limited choices), super easy storage managing(integrated all hardrive into one). I will like to have a few more features in WHS, like running some program which need to be running around the clock on the server side.