Another Technology post

I have feedback from my only reader that I sound depressing. Well, to use the worst saying ever: it is what it is. This is a cathartic spew of melodrama and mixed metaphor and I am turning to this more than ever now. I can't say it will get any better but here is something for those still reading.

Windows Home Server - I have to say that I was a little confused when I requested the free 120 day eval from Microsoft. I had it in my head that this was a media center server or some combo like that. Man was I wrong.

If you are looking for an in depth probe of the features and buttons of this OS then you are in the wrong place. I am not a fan. I am not a hater either. I suppose that if I had the cash to buy a shiney new HP home server with the version of Windows Home Server that does not destroy your data then I would be happy with what it does. It has a place in the world of computers but... I don't have a use for it.

I should explain my situation. I have a operated a domain controller for 8 years now. I have a Dell GX1 and other than the rare reboot I have only had to shut it down for hurricane evacuations. I have Windows 2000 with software IDE RAID on old junk drives and a throw away refub chassis. It runs the little P3 500 MhZ processor at 75% 24/7 dedicated to folding @ home. This is a print server, file server, music server, DNS, DHCP, Account Control, so on and on. I guess I am spoiled.

Windows Home Server on the other hand is more defined by what you can't do (not supposed to do). There may be ways around all of these limitations but that is not the point. If you have to hack it there are far better hacker friendly open source projects out there than this. You can't run a domain from WHS and it can't join a domain either. The server can't be wireless but your clients can be. I will add more to this list as my demo lets me down.

I should also mention that the requirements are widely optimistic in MS fashion. I have a P4 2.8 with 512mb of RAM. This is minimum or better than minimum according to the package. It took over an hour to install. I went to bed at 1 hour. I don't really know how long it really took.

I watched enough of the install to see "Installing Windows Server Small Business 2003" at one point. This tells me that this is a product that they gutted and put some lipstick on. The lipstick is cool but not worth the price of admission.

I am on a mission now to upgrade my old server. I don't know if I will just move my domain to the newer PC or if I will keep the old GX1 until it goes out and put freenas on the new gear. I will keep you informed.

I am pretty sure that no one is reading now so I could be writing about gang-land debauchery or lethal stage dives and no one would know.