Microsoft Windows Home Server Unleashed :: Education by Design Store

Editorial Review

“Computer data can be immeasurably valuable, yet most people leave it totally vulnerable to damage or loss. Windows Home Server is the data equivalent to a home safe. We recommend Paul McFedries’s Microsoft®Windows®Home Server Unleashed as the best first step in getting a strong hold on securing and maintaining personal data at home.”

–Professor Michael L. Kleper

Editor, The Kleper Report on Digital Publishing

Windows Home Server is a brand new server operating system from Microsoft designed to be used in home settings. Windows Home Server is designed to reduce or eliminate the complexity of a typical network server and instead present home users with a simple, straightforward interface that focuses on four core areas: storage, sharing, backup, and remote access.

Microsoft® Windows® Home Server Unleashed is the first book on the market that takes a deep look at what makes this new server operating system tick. Inside you’ll learn how the Windows Home Server storage system combines multiple hard disks (both internal and external) into a single storage space that expands and contracts automatically as you add and remove hard disks, making it easy for home users to share folders, files, and digital media of all kinds. We show you how to access your files from any PC in the network and provide secure access to the network via the Internet for your users. We also show you how to automate the backup of every computer on your network, including performing complete system image backups of each computer and restoring previous versions of individual files.

Detailed information on how to…

Access your files from any computer in the house or while you’re on the road
Set up security--both local (user accounts) and remote (Internet access)
Take advantage of the power of the Windows Server 2003 code underlying Windows Home Server
Make working with Windows Home Server faster and easier
Use real-world examples and network configurations that will help you get the most out of your Home Server set up
Use Windows Home Server power tools to put you in complete control over your server and the network

Introduction 1

Part I—Unleashing Windows Home Server Setup

Chapter 1—Understanding Windows Home Server 7

Chapter 2—Installing Windows Home Server 23

Chapter 3—Setting Up Your Windows Home Server Network 41

Part II—Unleashing Windows Home Server Configuration

Chapter 4—Setting Up and Working with User Accounts 73

Chapter 5—Adding Devices to the Windows Home Server Network 101

Chapter 6—Configuring Windows Home Server 137

Chapter 7—Setting Up and Using Home Server Storage 169

Part III—Unleashing Windows Home Server Networking

Chapter 8—Sharing Folders and Files on the Home Server 187

Chapter 9—Making Connections to Network Computers 223

Chapter 10—Streaming and Sharing Digital Media 259

Chapter 11—Backing Up and Restoring Network Computers 287

Chapter 12—Monitoring Your Network 317

Chapter 13—Implementing Windows Home Server Security 3358

Chapter 14—Setting Up a Windows Home Server Website 373

Chapter 15—Running a SharePoint Site on Windows Home Server 407

Part IV—Unleashing Windows Home Server Performance and Maintenance

Chapter 16—Tuning Windows Home Server Performance 449

Chapter 17—Maintaining Windows Home Server 485

Chapter 18—Customizing the Windows Home Server Interface 513

Chapter 19—Troubleshooting Windows Home Server 543

Part V—Unleashing Windows Home Server Advanced Tools

Chapter 20—Working with the Windows Home Server Registry 577

Chapter 21—Using Windows Home Server's Command-Line Tools 603

Chapter 22—Using Other Windows Home Server Power Tools 661

Chapter 23—Scripting Windows Home Server 715

Part VI--Appendixes

Appendix A—Understanding TCP/IP 757

Appendix B—Setting Up a Home Network 779

Appendix C—Glossary 807

Appendix D—Windows Home Server Keyboard Shortcuts 823

Appendix E—Windows Home Server Online Resources 831

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Customer Reviews

Very Helpful

2008-05-31
Much more than just install, configure and review Help. It gets under the hood. WHS is based on Windows 2003 server. For XP users, the author adds a LOT of information on how to make thw server hum - better than many server books. The section on networking is worth the price of the book.

Excellent book for knowledgeable "home server" reader

2008-02-08
This book is for people who build home server from a regular pc. It assumes you have a keyboard, mouse, and monitor connected, and not headless (like HP MediaSmart Server). It reveals technical material in very detail. In addition, this book will teach you many ways to enhance its functionality. The author is extremely knowledgeable and a very good writer.

Easy to follow....must have for newbies

2008-01-10
I have configured many SBS 2003 servers, and this by far is the easiest thing to set up. This book will help out the novice and the experienced. It includes some great material on how to customize your server as well how to install and configure MS SharePoint service to your server.

Pretty good book for WHS

2008-01-09
I bought the book before I decided to buy the Windows Home Server and it really helped me make my decision. You may not need this if you're not a power user but if you really want to maximize your WHS, you should get this book.

MS Windows Home Server

2007-12-14
I was involved with the beta testing of WHS. I wish I had this book at that time. If one is using Windows Home Server this book is a must have.

Great Reference Book for Windows Home Server

2007-12-11

–Professor Michael L. Kleper

Editor, The Kleper Report on Digital Publishing

Detailed information on how to…

Access your files from any computer in the house or while you’re on the road
Set up security--both local (user accounts) and remote (Internet access)
Take advantage of the power of the Windows Server 2003 code underlying Windows Home Server
Make working with Windows Home Server faster and easier
Use real-world examples and network configurations that will help you get the most out of your Home Server set up
Use Windows Home Server power tools to put you in complete control over your server and the network

Introduction 1

Part I—Unleashing Windows Home Server Setup

Chapter 1—Understanding Windows Home Server 7

Chapter 2—Installing Windows Home Server 23

Chapter 3—Setting Up Your Windows Home Server Network 41

Part II—Unleashing Windows Home Server Configuration

Chapter 4—Setting Up and Working with User Accounts 73

Chapter 5—Adding Devices to the Windows Home Server Network 101

Chapter 6—Configuring Windows Home Server 137

Chapter 7—Setting Up and Using Home Server Storage 169

Part III—Unleashing Windows Home Server Networking

Chapter 8—Sharing Folders and Files on the Home Server 187

Chapter 9—Making Connections to Network Computers 223

Chapter 10—Streaming and Sharing Digital Media 259

Chapter 11—Backing Up and Restoring Network Computers 287

Chapter 12—Monitoring Your Network 317

Chapter 13—Implementing Windows Home Server Security 3358

Chapter 14—Setting Up a Windows Home Server Website 373

Chapter 15—Running a SharePoint Site on Windows Home Server 407

Part IV—Unleashing Windows Home Server Performance and Maintenance

Chapter 16—Tuning Windows Home Server Performance 449

Chapter 17—Maintaining Windows Home Server 485

Chapter 18—Customizing the Windows Home Server Interface 513

Chapter 19—Troubleshooting Windows Home Server 543

Part V—Unleashing Windows Home Server Advanced Tools

Chapter 20—Working with the Windows Home Server Registry 577

Chapter 21—Using Windows Home Server's Command-Line Tools 603

Chapter 22—Using Other Windows Home Server Power Tools 661

Chapter 23—Scripting Windows Home Server 715

Part VI--Appendixes

Appendix A—Understanding TCP/IP 757

Appendix B—Setting Up a Home Network 779

Appendix C—Glossary 807

Appendix D—Windows Home Server Keyboard Shortcuts 823

Appendix E—Windows Home Server Online Resources 831

Excellent Reference Resource

2007-11-24
An excellent reference and resource book for Windows Home Server(WHS). It is not intended to be read cover to cover but piecemeal as problems or needs arise.

Pros:
- covers all of the essential, including system requirements, installation, setting up, maintaining and troubleshooting WHS
- has additional tips on optimizing WHS
- uncovers many undocumented features to really bring out the power of WHS
- provides nonWHS related information on TCP/IP, the Windows Server 2003 underlying operating system, and running your own website

Cons:
- can be difficult for nontechies to read since it assumes a certain level of knowledge of using Windows and also uses certain technical terms without explanation. Even ones that are explained, like a stack or layer, use an explanation that is technical in nature
- sometimes the instructions are redundant in that the book will repeat verbatim a 12 step process that was just covered a page before but with only 1 change in the steps

Bottom line: A great reference book for intermediate users.

Best for those who are 100% Microsoft

2007-11-16
If every part of your software world is Microsoft branded, this book is great. It assumes all your client machines run Windows Firewall; there's no mention of how to work with Symantec, ZoneAlarm, or other popular products. It tells you how to make WHS talk to your Zune [We all have several of these, right?], but doesn't even acknowledge the existence of iPods and iTunes. All video collection and playing is assumed to happen through Microsoft Xboxes and Media Extenders, using only MS software.

This is all so perverse and disconnected from the real world that I found myself wondering why the obviously well-informed author left these giant holes.

The "Unleashed" in the title led me to expect something I couldn't get from Microsoft directly. Actually, "Tightly Leashed" would be more accurate.

Excellent Windows Home Server Reference and Home Networking Book - All In One!

2007-10-18
How often do you purchase a book on a topic and end up not only learning a wealth of information about that topic, but also getting a treasure trove of information on a related topic? In "Windows Home Server Unleashed" the author has created not only a terrific reference manual for the newly released Windows Home Server product, but also includes an excellent primer and how-to on home networking that is among the best I have seen!

Let's start out talking about who this book is for -- geeks. It's chocked full of helpful information, tweaks and "behind the scenes" information about Windows Home Server. The author not only tells you about what it can do out of the box -- but how you can extend it to bring out its full potential, such as creating shared calendars or your own internal (and external if you wish) family website to display vacation photos, journals, etc. You'll even learn how to use SharePoint technologies to extend WHS in a way that makes it seem as if you've been doing it for years!

The book is also good for those amongst us who are comfortable with computers, but want to take that next step. Who see the value in setting up a home network and using Windows Home Server, but want to do more than just share files and automate backups. It's for the Geeks-in-Training, and you couldn't ask for a better training manual.

The book itself is filled with 800 pages of information about Windows Home Server and home networking. You'll find out everything you need to know to get WHS up and running in your house -- regardless of whether you bought the software and installed it yourself or an "out of the box" appliance with WHS already installed. And don't worry if you are still running Windows XP, 2000 -- or even Millenium Edition in some cases! For many of the examples on how to use WHS features the author covers a variety of operating systems -- including Linux and Mac!

I am a tech guy, and therefore am an early adopter of Windows Home Server and this was the first book to hit the bookshelves on this amazing new software from Microsoft. I was just expecting to get a book that walked me through WHS and its basic features, but what I got was a reference I could use to really tear into it. It's not a book you read cover to cover, but rather one you refer back to each time you are ready to try out something new and push the envelope.

If you are thinking about getting Windows Home Server, do yourself a favor and add this book to your bookshelf. You will soon find that you are extending Windows Home Server to do new things and bringing your home network to life by adding useful features that brings the entire family into the digital age.