What OS for headless server?

[sunlover]

I'm making the leap from 1 machine doing everying, to a server and clients/extenders. What OS would you recomend? What advantage does WHS have over XP Pro?

[S_M_E]

WHS is based on the win2k3 server core, XP is a client OS. It also has a great storage system, allows remote access and it automates backups of supported client computers. It was actually designed to run headless too. I wouldn't use another OS for a Sage server.

[morphy]

Anything...
But...
Vista

[webwalker]

If we're talking about just using the server headless, I'm not sure I understand the hoopla about WHS. If its just Win2k3, sans enterprise bits, why bother with it? Surely WinXP provides better compatibility for drivers and software of the consumer components we're usually trying to stuff in to these boxes....

M

[ghostlobster]

Originally Posted by webwalker

If we're talking about just using the server headless, I'm not sure I understand the hoopla about WHS. If its just Win2k3, sans enterprise bits, why bother with it? Surely WinXP provides better compatibility for drivers and software of the consumer components we're usually trying to stuff in to these boxes....

M

I don't understand it either, but I'm a believer! Since converting to Sage for WHS everything has been working perfectly. I've tried XP and Vista. Had a few hiccups, nothing ground shaking, but little annoying things like having to reboot for no reason, the HDPVR locking up now and then...just little weirdness.
Since changing to WHS, it's been rock solid.

[S_M_E]

As I said, WHS was designed to run headless and it's a server OS, XP is a client OS. There might be more drivers for XP but that doesn't make it a better server.

[Micco]

Surely WinXP provides better compatibility for drivers and software of the consumer components we're usually trying to stuff in to these boxes....

You'd think.

But I've never had a driver issue with it, and it has simply run everything I've thrown at it.


I'll put my vote with WHS.

Rock. Solid.

[S_M_E]

Originally Posted by Micco

But I've never had a driver issue with it, and it has simply run everything I've thrown at it.

I just had my first one with a USB tuner but I haven't ruled out another USB conflict and I don't have a powered USB hub to test out the theory yet. It might be HW not WHS related.

EDIT:
Yeah, it's not a driver issue, it's working with OTA...

[ghostlobster]

XP Drivers work perfectly in WHS.

[S_M_E]

Originally Posted by ghostlobster

XP Drivers work perfectly in WHS.

So it seems, I thought it was driver issues because QAM wasn't working on the USB tuner but OTA worked so the driver is fine. The problem must be with the cable co.

[mikehaney]

Count me as another vote for WHS. I was running it before I switched to Sage (the backup feature alone is worth the price), and initially I tried running Sage on a separate XP machine, not wanting to overload the server. I never got Sage/XP as stable as I would have liked, so I tried moving Sage to WHS and it has been rock solid ever since.

My WHS machine has 2GB RAM and an E7200 processor (dual core, 2.5GHz) and it handles 4 tuners, 3 extenders, and ShowAnalyzer without missing a beat.

[MorfiusX]

To answer to question of why WHS is better than a 2k3 server:

- WHS is a lot easier to manage the other setups. I am a network admin, so I manage servers everyday at work, but I still use WHS because it just works and I don't have to mess with it.
- It has an awesome backup system for your network.
- Most of the tasks you might need to perform can be done headless via the connector app.
- The storage management makes adding/removing/etc disks a breeze.

As for driver support, I've never had any problems in 5+ years installing XP drivers on 2K3, and this includes WHS.

I have three seperate WHS/SageTV installs that I manage and all of work exactly as advertised. No problems, glitches, or bugs.

[webwalker]

And that last post was what I was looking for...

There is something to be said for not including components that you don't need to do the job. It sounds like with WHS, MSFT finally learned this lesson.

My replacement mainboard arrives Wednesday. Perhaps I'll take everyone comments about WHS seriously and give it a whirl. I could really use some stability in my system...

M

[lotusvball]

I tried for years to get a stable system with XP, with on minor success. Since I switched to WHS it has been nothing but rock solid. The wife use to go without using SageTV for a couple of days while we were using XP, until I could get time to fix it. Now it just works and she has yet to complain. That alone makes the switch to WHS gold. So that is 2 votes for WHS.

[stevech]

Originally Posted by webwalker

If we're talking about just using the server headless, I'm not sure I understand the hoopla about WHS. If its just Win2k3, sans enterprise bits, why bother with it? Surely WinXP provides better compatibility for drivers and software of the consumer components we're usually trying to stuff in to these boxes....

M

I agree. WHS does have UI things for the non-geek to automate backups of family PCs. But that's kind of a lame rationale for using WHS.

[S_M_E]

WHS is more than just a home network backup app too...

[gplasky]

Originally Posted by stevech

I agree. WHS does have UI things for the non-geek to automate backups of family PCs. But that's kind of a lame rationale for using WHS.

I guess you missed the posts people have put up about the stability. The PC backups are not the rationale, it's an additional feature that adds to the rationale. The rationale is the stabilty of the platform and the ease of adding storage to it.

Gerry

[vexhold]

Does WHS use domains and AD?

[gplasky]

It uses workgroups, not domains. Easier to manage.

Gerry

[vexhold]

So since it doesnt use Domains or AD, am I correct in assuming that you cannot setup group policies,home directories and all the other useful stuff available in 2k3?