It's been a long (long!) time since we've caught wind of a substantial Windows Home Server refresh, but for those waiting on pins and needles, we're thrilled to say that the excruciating wait has finally ended. Sort of. Microsoft has revealed today its public beta of the next version of WHS, code named "Vail." The primary upgrades / changes include the extension of media streaming outside of the home or office, improvements in multi-PC backup and restore, simplified setup and user experience as well as "significantly" expanded development and customization tools for partner. Beyond that, the company's playing things pretty close to the chest, but you can feel free to grab a 64-bit copy of the beta starting today and dig in yourself. 'Course, Microsoft recommends that you install the software on a secondary (read: not important to your livelihood) machine, and on the development front, it's introducing a new SDK for those who wish to "create add-in applications using Vail's new extensible programming model." So, whatcha waiting for? That download is a-callin', and a brief demo video is just beyond the break.
Update: And we've already got our first review -- good for those too chicken (or busy, frankly) to completely wipe a second PC just to see how Vail stacks up.
This media streaming thing: how does it work? someone? Isn't mp3 sharing easier this way if someone wanted to give access to others to their home server that is setup for sharing only mp3?
@who said what Well, its streaming, not file access, so they would have to capture the stream and cut it into chunks and save them. And they're probably not in mp3 format. And you'd likely have to give them your password to your PC to share it with them and ...
So probably not a doable idea as far as sharing your mp3's with everybody you know online.
its a server. Uses less resources. It probably focuses more on core operating requirements. I doubt anyone who users home server uses it as their day to day workstation.
@furquanatique Windows Server 2008 R2 doesn't even use the nice looking graphics. It uses the classic style by default and you have to install the aero theme.
@dimithra I bet that is for the screen capture software's performance... Windows Home Server doesn't have a head (monitor), it only support connection from another PC using the provided software.
Simply because Windows Home Server is meant to be headless. You rarely interact with the actual desktop, only remotely connect to the Dashboard from another client.
This public preview only shows what the UI looks like (which leaked out already). I want to hear about the new features! Are we finally going to be able to record content from a WHS???
Yes it does, I use one in my office for the WHS server, you have a normal desktop that also has the icon for the server, the same one you would access if you WERE remotely connecting.
@dimithra Actually it's not a server, it's Windows 7 Ultimate. Did you think he installed Office Word on his server and put the windows background on there for fun?
Especially this kind of updates. Windows Home Server is a very nice product which hasn't be publicized enough IMO. It's very useful if you have more than one computers and much A/V material to backup every week.
I'm in such a situation and love the possibilities this packet gives.
Unfortunately, WHS has no built-in mechanism for backing up the server itself. My Acer WHS had a glitch, and I spent over 4 hours reinstalling the OS, downloading/installing all the frickin Windows updates, recreating the users, and reinstalling/configuring the 3rd part add-ins. What a PITA!
Also, it would be nice to have an individual backup schedule for each PC in the house, rather than a single schedule for all PCs.
I think WHS is a decent product, but hopefully they'll address these shortcomings in this new release.
Answering my own question, it appears that the new version now supports improved server backup, including the ability to back up the shared folders, the System OS itself, and the remote client backups. Nice.
The improved remote access with streaming also looks great. The ability to remotely access your media without having to download the media files is a huge improvement.
I've always found the windows server OS releases to be less bloated, more stable, better secured and in general perform rediculously better than the mainstream OS releases of windows. I'm glad to see that Aero has been nixed for this release too, it's all flash for a trade off in performance.
@Jaylittles531 because they're awesome. right now i'm planning how to set up the beta best, without getting in the way of the original whs. silent, in a cupboard, serving my home with tb's of data, and the savety that nothing gets lost even if i fuckup something. nothing beats that.
I had the trial version when it first came out and it was pretty much just a glorified Vista OS that could be achieved by sharing some files and what not. Maybe things have changed.
@Jaylittles531 What the deuce are you talking about? A glorified Vista OS? Home Server is essentially a stripped down versions Server 2003, with simplified UI for home users. That has nothing to with Vista.
Things that are nothing like Vista: -Disk management and redundancy, there's only one 'drive' (regardless on how many HD's you plug in) and it's managed to create an effective software RAID. -Discrete Backing up: When backing up multiple PCs or Macs, if there are identical files on the machines, it'll recognize that and back up only one instance of the file, which can save a ton of space. -Personalized web domain and remote access gateway webserver -Automatic collection and aggregation of media files: More of an HP/Twonky add-on, but cool. -On-the-fly transcoding of streaming of local video to your mobile device (cellphone) -Headless Operation -Single Disk restoration of a PC -Network Heath Monitoring
Question: When the 'Retail upgrade' becomes available does it require data backup or will it perform magic itself so i don't have to sweet blood and move my 2.2 TB data elsewhere first?
I was worried when I read it is 64bit only, but Google tells me that the Atom 230 running in my HP LX195 is one of the few Atoms that support 64bit, so I may be ok. Here's hoping.
@yakuza Awesome. Considering that my LX195 is my only WHS, I'll probably be waiting for the full release before I attempt to upgrade. I was just hoping my three month old purchase wasn't already outdated.. :D
This version is based on Server 2008 while the current version is Server 2003. I hear there is better intergration with Windows 7, like Home Groups. The Remote Access is supposed to have better online streaming. Where is Media Center intergration ?
@dieharder i'm interested in what media center integration you want. accessing media works out of the box. is it for the tv recordings? as they have implemented that for whs1, it sure gets added/improved in whs2. maybe it's not yet done, and thus not in that beta?
@davepermen I would like to see the Media Center softsled built into WHS Vail so I don't have to have a PC runing to record my Recorded TV or connect to my 360. If the softsled was on the server, then that's saving hardware and power and transfering data off the PC.
@dieharder ah okay. i get it now. i'm not a tv guy myself so i don't care about that that much. stuff i want to watch i get on dvd, bluray or in some other way to store and then playback. the tv function is mainly used by my gf... :) and obviously, she doesn't care about "the recording should happen on the home server" :)
but it would be nice, indeed. the addon on the home server side would not be a big problem. rewriting the ui on the media center is (it's very fixed in terms of pre-existing functionality.. so they would need the media center team to rewrite parts of it..). would be hard for external people to add that functionality with some addons :(
Now that we've thrown 'em off the trail, use the form below to get in touch with the people at Engadget. Please fill in all of the required fields because they're required.
posted April 26th 2010 2:34PM
Oh this is nice. Thanks Microsoft.
@Daveiops You read that in less then 2 minutes?
@MoonWalkerCTE
Excluding the "update", Yes.
@MoonWalkerCTE You read the article, then the first comment, and responded in three minutes!?
@Daveiops ; whALE!
@One Love
This media streaming thing: how does it work? someone?
Isn't mp3 sharing easier this way if someone wanted to give access to others to their home server that is setup for sharing only mp3?
@jaradFromSubwa Yes and I watched the video later moron
@who said what Well, its streaming, not file access, so they would have to capture the stream and cut it into chunks and save them. And they're probably not in mp3 format. And you'd likely have to give them your password to your PC to share it with them and ...
So probably not a doable idea as far as sharing your mp3's with everybody you know online.
I demand to know why Aero is turned off.
@furquanatique
its a server. Uses less resources. It probably focuses more on core operating requirements. I doubt anyone who users home server uses it as their day to day workstation.
@furquanatique Windows Server 2008 R2 doesn't even use the nice looking graphics. It uses the classic style by default and you have to install the aero theme.
@dimithra I bet that is for the screen capture software's performance... Windows Home Server doesn't have a head (monitor), it only support connection from another PC using the provided software.
@furquanatique
I take it you never used WHS.
@knwldg0010
No sir, I have not.
@furquanatique
Do you understand what a server is?
@furquanatique
Simply because Windows Home Server is meant to be headless. You rarely interact with the actual desktop, only remotely connect to the Dashboard from another client.
This public preview only shows what the UI looks like (which leaked out already). I want to hear about the new features! Are we finally going to be able to record content from a WHS???
@Kit
Not "only", you can use it with a monitor if you want, afterall you need to be able to set it up before you can use it headless.
@Kit
Yes it does, I use one in my office for the WHS server, you have a normal desktop that also has the icon for the server, the same one you would access if you WERE remotely connecting.
@Jaylittles531
KVM Switch, at SU (Syracuse Univ.) Maxwell School, we have something like 6 Prod. Servers and 2 Dev Servers, 2 monitors and a KVM for them all.
@dimithra Actually it's not a server, it's Windows 7 Ultimate. Did you think he installed Office Word on his server and put the windows background on there for fun?
Nice Microsoft I lovveee updates!
@MoonWalkerCTE
Especially this kind of updates. Windows Home Server is a very nice product which hasn't be publicized enough IMO. It's very useful if you have more than one computers and much A/V material to backup every week.
I'm in such a situation and love the possibilities this packet gives.
@Kensai
Unfortunately, WHS has no built-in mechanism for backing up the server itself. My Acer WHS had a glitch, and I spent over 4 hours reinstalling the OS, downloading/installing all the frickin Windows updates, recreating the users, and reinstalling/configuring the 3rd part add-ins. What a PITA!
Also, it would be nice to have an individual backup schedule for each PC in the house, rather than a single schedule for all PCs.
I think WHS is a decent product, but hopefully they'll address these shortcomings in this new release.
@Spiny Norman
Answering my own question, it appears that the new version now supports improved server backup, including the ability to back up the shared folders, the System OS itself, and the remote client backups. Nice.
The improved remote access with streaming also looks great. The ability to remotely access your media without having to download the media files is a huge improvement.
This site has an interview with Microsoft about the Vail beta.
Listening now, so far so good.
http://homeservershow.com
Finally, just a massive shame there's been nothing further to the WMC integration that v1PP3 brought :(
D'ooh. No mention of my tip. How rude ! :)
Mmm, chicken...
I've always found the windows server OS releases to be less bloated, more stable, better secured and in general perform rediculously better than the mainstream OS releases of windows. I'm glad to see that Aero has been nixed for this release too, it's all flash for a trade off in performance.
@33Thirty This is normal - no version of Windows server has used anything but the windows "classic" UI.
donwloading :D lets see its perfomance..
They till make these? Why?
@Jaylittles531 because they're awesome. right now i'm planning how to set up the beta best, without getting in the way of the original whs. silent, in a cupboard, serving my home with tb's of data, and the savety that nothing gets lost even if i fuckup something. nothing beats that.
@Jaylittles531
Was that a serious question? If so, obviously you just need to read the feature set. It's a fantastic home server environment.
@Jaylittles531 I'm guessing you're a mac user?
@ajwoodhouse
I'm a everything user.... Win7, Linux, OS X.
I had the trial version when it first came out and it was pretty much just a glorified Vista OS that could be achieved by sharing some files and what not. Maybe things have changed.
@Jaylittles531 What the deuce are you talking about? A glorified Vista OS? Home Server is essentially a stripped down versions Server 2003, with simplified UI for home users. That has nothing to with Vista.
Things that are nothing like Vista:
-Disk management and redundancy, there's only one 'drive' (regardless on how many HD's you plug in) and it's managed to create an effective software RAID.
-Discrete Backing up: When backing up multiple PCs or Macs, if there are identical files on the machines, it'll recognize that and back up only one instance of the file, which can save a ton of space.
-Personalized web domain and remote access gateway webserver
-Automatic collection and aggregation of media files: More of an HP/Twonky add-on, but cool.
-On-the-fly transcoding of streaming of local video to your mobile device (cellphone)
-Headless Operation
-Single Disk restoration of a PC
-Network Heath Monitoring
How much of that can Vista do out of the box?
@Jaylittles531
I think you are seriously confused about this product. You will find nothing that ties Vista and WHS.
It's nice to see that the features of WebGuide have been integrated to the default WHS Web UI. Good work !
Question: When the 'Retail upgrade' becomes available does it require data backup or will it perform magic itself so i don't have to sweet blood and move my 2.2 TB data elsewhere first?
@GN1 This website is dedicated to WHS. Check it out for answers regarding migration to Vail: http://www.wegotserved.com
@SSD To answer the migration question - at the moment, no migration tool has been announced, so you will have to manually move your data.
I was worried when I read it is 64bit only, but Google tells me that the Atom 230 running in my HP LX195 is one of the few Atoms that support 64bit, so I may be ok. Here's hoping.
@ArcSyn nice googling, I was/am worried about that as well.
@ArcSyn I've installed it on my LX195 and have instructions on how to do so without the need for a display.
http://www.mediasmartserver.net/2010/04/26/how-to-install-windows-home-server-vail-on-the-hp-mediasmart-server/
@yakuza Awesome. Considering that my LX195 is my only WHS, I'll probably be waiting for the full release before I attempt to upgrade. I was just hoping my three month old purchase wasn't already outdated.. :D
This version is based on Server 2008 while the current version is Server 2003. I hear there is better intergration with Windows 7, like Home Groups. The Remote Access is supposed to have better online streaming. Where is Media Center intergration ?
Here's a good place to see some YouTube Videos on Windows Home Server http://www.youtube.com/user/windowshomeserver
@dieharder i'm interested in what media center integration you want. accessing media works out of the box. is it for the tv recordings? as they have implemented that for whs1, it sure gets added/improved in whs2. maybe it's not yet done, and thus not in that beta?
@davepermen
I would like to see the Media Center softsled built into WHS Vail so I don't have to have a PC runing to record my Recorded TV or connect to my 360. If the softsled was on the server, then that's saving hardware and power and transfering data off the PC.
@dieharder ah okay. i get it now. i'm not a tv guy myself so i don't care about that that much. stuff i want to watch i get on dvd, bluray or in some other way to store and then playback. the tv function is mainly used by my gf... :) and obviously, she doesn't care about "the recording should happen on the home server" :)
but it would be nice, indeed. the addon on the home server side would not be a big problem. rewriting the ui on the media center is (it's very fixed in terms of pre-existing functionality.. so they would need the media center team to rewrite parts of it..). would be hard for external people to add that functionality with some addons :(
but the communities are always creative.. :)