Possible Home Server Build

[Tumbler]

I'm considering moving my download box operating system to WHS but I have a few questions before I make a decision.

Currently I have a RAID 5 array made up of 4x 500GB Disks on a Highpoint RocketRAID 2310 Raid Card which stores all my music, videos and photos. As I understand it WHS doesn’t support RAID and I would need to copy my data off the array, then rebuild it as JBOD array for WHS to utilise the disks – is that correct?

How serious are the data corruption issues currently affecting the software? When is a fix due?

I know that Powerpack 1 is due shortly which will finally deliver the x64 connecter software, when is it due for release and if I decide to go with WHS can I use the shares n WHS without having the connecter software installed on my Vista x64 PC?

[shilv]

The way I understand it is WHS does not support a RAID configuration, mainly due to its disk extender/duplication method, but that is not to say people aren't using a RAID array on their WHS systems, as you will see browsing around the various WHS forums.

I haven't had any issues with the data corruption *hastily touches wood* as yet. The main tips that seem to be working for most people are:

Copy files to the server using Windows Explorer
Do not edit files directly on the server (copy them to a client and edit there before copying back to WHS)
Check that software on the WHS is not able to update files (eg WMP has an option to auto update media files with tags from the internet). Make sure this is turned off.

I'm pretty sure that Power Pack 1, which includes the data corruption fix, is currently being rolled out for beta testing with a view to official release in June.

I think you will be able to use the 64-bit Vista PC to access the shares, as it is just a network path (eg \\server\shares), but you would need a PC capable of running the connector software to create the user accounts and administer the WHS box.

http://www.wegotserved.co.uk/ is a good source of information for WHS. It may be worth you asking the 64-bit Vista question over there for a definitive answer.

All the best

[AMCross]

it looks like the x64 connector software is a few months off still


you can still use the shares on other machine but your x64 pc will not be backed up at all and cannot access the whs unit as well

major cockup by microsoft if you ask me

[wywywywy]

Originally Posted by Tumbler

Currently I have a RAID 5 array made up of 4x 500GB Disks on a Highpoint RocketRAID 2310 Raid Card which stores all my music, videos and photos. As I understand it WHS doesn’t support RAID and I would need to copy my data off the array, then rebuild it as JBOD array for WHS to utilise the disks – is that correct?

How serious are the data corruption issues currently affecting the software? When is a fix due?

WHS doesn't support software RAID, but your hardware RAID is totally fine. In fact, because you are using a hardware RAID, it will appear as only one logical hard drive to WHS, in which case the data corruption bug won't even affect you.

(The bug only affects machines with more than one drive.)

On the other hand, you still need to copy the data off before installing WHS, because WHS insists on formatting the drives.

[Barbarosa]

I am about to put together a WHS with a similar card.

True WHS doesn't support RAID, so I am going to install the WHS OS on a couple of 250Gb discs in the disc pool. Then add the RAID card but not add it to the disc pool. I will be able to mount it and share it just as present - but I will not be able to use it for WHS mirroring.

This way I don't need to disturb the eexisting RAID configuration.

[cmclean]

I've been working with MS on the data coruption bug as I have it and only got a single drive in my WHS

Yes. MS were mega interested when they found out!

So I've been asked to beta test the new software which they say I should get in about 2 weeks.