Windows Home Server, from Home to SOHO

Despite the “home” in Windows Home Server, Microsoft is recommending the product not just to users with multiple PCs in the household, but also to small business owners that are watching the spending when it comes down to a backup solution. The two videos embedded at the bottom of this article have been put together to illustrate how Windows Home Server can be tailored to both home and small business users easily. Approximately one minute in length, the videos showcase the potential of Microsoft’s home server product along with its adaptability.

The Redmond company offers an enumeration of the main features of Windows Home Server, revealing that the product can act as a Media Server, Backup solution, Data Recovery product, and a software offering capabilities such as document management and remote access, but also allowing users to expand on the default features with add-ins.

“The first video gives an overview of how a family uses Windows Home Server in their everyday lives. It shows how Windows Home Server will keep all family memories safely backed up and stored in a vault-like box, and how it can also stream large collections of media throughout the house,” explained Microsoft’s Nicole Berett. “In this second video, you will see the benefits of using Windows Home Server in your Small Office/Home Office (SOHO). Windows Home Server provides an IT team for your office to help protect, organize, and connect to all of your data without the expensive price tag.”

At the end of November 2009, Windows Home Server evolved with the addition of the third Power Pack, a major update equivalent to the plain vanilla service pack released for Windows client and server platforms. Windows Home Server PP3 is currently served automatically through Windows Update to all users of the product. At the same time, in an effort to win over new customers, Microsoft is offering a free download of Windows Home Server complete with PP3 as an ISO image, which do-it-your-selvers can use in order to put together their own version of the home server.

Windows Home Server Power Pack 3 (PP3) is available for download here.