When choosing a server for your home business, it’s important to keep in mind what you plan to do with the machine and what your budget is. If you plan to host your own website and send out a lot of email, for instance, you need to choose a system that can handle this.
You should also consider the future needs of your business and plan accordingly. For example, if you plan to host an ecommerce site, you’ll need a system that can handle all of the emails for all of your employees as well as the clients’ attachment sizes and such. These things are secondary, but need consideration.
Windows Home Server
Windows Home Server (click here to learn about) is a software application that enables you to create a home network that allows you to share files, store files in folders, and back up your PCs. The WHS software package includes a console that you can use to configure the system and create user accounts. It also comes with the Home Server Connector, which allows you to log in to the system dashboard online.
WHS is based on the same operating system as Small Business Server 2008. It features a similar set of features, but it’s geared toward consumers. Its main difference is that it lacks the features that a small business would need, such as Microsoft Exchange Server and a SQL database. It can also run regular Windows software, and it provides full remote management.
The WHS software is compatible with a wide range of operating systems, including XP and Vista. However, the operating system doesn’t support domain joining, so it isn’t easy to join a Windows Server domain.
Several free and open source system software programs can handle many of the features offered by WHS. However, these alternatives will not be as reliable and maintainable as WHS. If you need more powerful functionality than the free alternatives can provide, consider a paid system software package.
In addition to providing the operating system, the software also provides backup and restore capabilities. Backups can be performed on a system or on the client computer. Backups can be scheduled to run at midnight or early in the morning. Backups can also be manually started from the console. The backup wizard in WHS offers several ways to back up the data.
WHS provides backup and storage, health monitoring, remote access, media streaming, and printer sharing. The software also comes with more than 100 add-ins for a host of tasks. Its unique features include Drive Extender, which doesn’t duplicate files and folders on unmatched drives.
This allows you to add extra hard drives and backup drives for the system.
While WHS is designed for home use, it does have some business-specific features. Its media file storage is easy to organize and access from anywhere on the network, and it supports external hard drives and add-ins.
Windows Server Essentials
A server for home business can benefit from the many features offered by Windows Server Essentials (WSE). While this free operating system can be used for a single VM, you can also install other applications and services separately. For example, you can use Office 365 and Windows Azure to provide your system with email and collaboration tools.
The first step in setting up WSE is to run the Configure Wizard. It will guide you through setting up the basic system settings, such as setting up a domain, setting up user accounts, and setting up updates. After that, you’ll be presented with the WSE Dashboard. From here, you can manage the system’s main settings.
If you’re on a budget, WSE is a great choice. The software allows for up to 25 users and 50 servers like these (https://www.lenovo.com/us/en/d/deals/servers/), which is more than enough for a home-based business. Additionally, this free system solution doesn’t require a CAL license, so it’s an excellent option for small businesses.
If you’re looking to build a system home business and want to keep operating costs down, WSE is the right choice for you. It’s affordable, easy to install, and has powerful features that small businesses need. The software includes the ability to store and share files among multiple users.
WSE includes the Administrative Dashboard, which is a useful tool for simplifying network management and system configuration. It’s worth noting that this dashboard is not preinstalled on all computers and can only be installed manually. This tool is also not included in the Add Roles and Features wizard, making it necessary to manually configure it on your own.
Microsoft’s Small Business Server (SBS) service has been discontinued, and WSE is the next step for smaller businesses. As of today, it is available in two editions, Standard and Premium. The Standard edition includes three Windows Server 2008 x64 Standard Servers and the Windows Office 365 suite.
