Datasheet

 I know people who have tried to put a WHS server on a network
that uses a dial-up Internet connection. They use Windows’ Internet
Connection Sharing to get onto the Internet. You may think of such
people as Luddites; I think of them as deluded. They pull hair out of
their heads in massive clumps.
If you buy WHS pre-installed on a computer, skip the rest of this section
entirely: every recent computer is capable of running Windows Home Server,
and the one you bought will no doubt work well.
On the other hand, if you’re going to install WHS on your own computer, you
need to pay attention to a small handful of specific details. Many of us
woosh-
goons
(that’s what I call WHS aficionados) stick WHS on an old PC, one that was
destined to accumulate dust anyway. Re-using old hardware is good for the
environment and for the pocketbook. Most old — nay, ancient — computers
can run WHS quite well, if you keep these few things in mind:
 Make sure all your WHS hardware has Windows 2003 drivers. Some
people report success installing Windows XP drivers on a Windows
Home Server box, but others find themselves in the seventh ring of
Server Hell. If you have an old PC with an obscure network card, hop
over to the card manufacturer’s Web site and download the Windows
2003 driver. Can’t find a Win2K3 driver? Then replace the hardware.
Life’s too short.
 Get 512 MB of memory. If you already have more than 512 MB of memory
on your designated WHS server, think about scalping it, and using it on
another computer. Bone-stock WHS doesn’t need more than 512 MB; you’ll
never notice the difference if you get more (so why get it?). Of course, if
you intend to add new programs to your server — something to monitor
the quantity of milk curdling in the fridge, turn on the fog lights in the
bathroom, and bring the Jacuzzi to a slow boil, simultaneously — you
might need more memory.
 You need to boot from a DVD — once. A WHS server needs a DVD drive
like a surfer needs a Great White. After you have WHS installed on an old
PC, the DVD drive just takes up space. But if you use a removable (say,
USB) DVD drive to install WHS, you need to make sure that your old
computer can boot from the DVD drive. (
D’oh!)
 Just like points on Whose Line Is It Anyway, the graphics card, keyboard,
mouse, and monitor don’t matter.
You use them once to get the PC set up
and then (so far as the server is concerned) you can throw them away.
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Chapter 1: Bringing Windows Home Server to Life
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