Best place to get windows server?

[ukracer]

Where is the best place to get windows server? And is an older version ok to use?
Also do you just add a monitor , keyboard and mouse to install it?

As it has no hard drive i guess you install via USB stick .

I have never had a dedicated rack mount server before so it's all a big learning curve.

 

[Kayos]

I can highly, highly recommend not using Windows Server and trying Linux

If you are set on it, I will pop a usb stick in the post (think I still have your details)

No warranty or guarantee offered or implied

 

[Endeleus]

What are you going to use the server for? If it's for general file sharing, media streaming, etc then I'd also recommend Linux.

Unless you're running Microsoft-specific stuff such as SharePoint, Exchange, SQL Server (in which case you'd almost certainly be better off with a M365 subscription anyway), then something like Debian or Ubuntu would probably suit your needs, with not much in the way of overhead to keep it patched, etc.

 

[ukracer]

What are you going to use the server for? If it's for general file sharing, media streaming, etc then I'd also recommend Linux.

Unless you're running Microsoft-specific stuff such as SharePoint, Exchange, SQL Server (in which case you'd almost certainly be better off with a M365 subscription anyway), then something like Debian or Ubuntu would probably suit your needs, with not much in the way of overhead to keep it patched, etc.

The honest answer is I am not sure what I am going to use it for. The main objective is to be able to store Disc images from family Desktops and laptops. I have a couple of NAS which I wanted to use. I purchased a synology and it ended up with a corrupted drive. I formatted it and it's fine again.

I purchased a Buffalo and did not get on with it's software. So I purchased an empty Qnap and like the software better. Sadly it's not an X86 so cut run HDP that is required to use Netbak PC Agent.


I am no adverse to Linux but I have never used it as an installed OS.

I have been dabling with backups etc for a few weeks as two grandkids using computers etc I need to keep on top of any disasters.
But this week was triggered by Bambu and me wanting to use Orca slicer and Bambu Handy but staying up to date is not easy.

I am using Rust desk as Teamviewer decided as I access a number of PC's i must be using it commercially.
It's also very slow so it looks like I need to sell on and get a newer one. So my plan was to access Orca slicer remotely but the X1C does not stay connected in lan only mode. It's all a bit of a minefield to be honest.

 

[Kayos]

I'd read a guide/watch a video on setting up a Linux Server, zero issues setting up windows shares etc

I've never used any of the NAS distros but they do seem like they would meet your needs

I do still have your address, pre-activated Windows Server 2022 will be in the post Mon/Tue

 

[ukracer]

I'd read a guide/watch a video on setting up a Linux Server, zero issues setting up windows shares etc

I've never used any of the NAS distros but they do seem like they would meet your needs

I do still have your address, pre-activated Windows Server 2022 will be in the post Mon/Tue

Cheers bud I will have a play and also read up on Linux server.

 

[Kayos]

I acquired it for a project that never happened, I've used it to install but never gone beyond that

 

[ukracer]

I acquired it for a project that never happened, I've used it to install but never gone beyond that

Let me know what I owe you please.

 

[Kayos]

Let me know what I owe you please.

I'm posting a load of stuff, it's going in with that

The usb stick owes me £0

Just pay it forward (sorry for the Americanism)

 

[ukracer]

I'm posting a load of stuff, it's going in with that

The usb stick owes me £0

Just pay it forward (sorry for the Americanism)

Cheers bud.

 

[dyno-tron]

Don’t know if you are aware but Windows Server has file, folder and share level permissions. So my two-penneth is don’t be too eager to set lots of permissions at different levels

 

[gaz1]

The honest answer is I am not sure what I am going to use it for. The main objective is to be able to store Disc images from family Desktops and laptops. I have a couple of NAS which I wanted to use. I purchased a synology and it ended up with a corrupted drive. I formatted it and it's fine again.

I have been dabling with backups etc for a few weeks as two grandkids using computers etc I need to keep on top of any disasters.
But this week was triggered by Bambu and me wanting to use Orca slicer and Bambu Handy but staying up to date is not easy.

i wouldnt be going your way as a server needs more hard drives due to time being turned on

the same can be said with a media station and if its a shared media station that is accessed often then you need to consider new hard drives every year or every 2 years and that also means staggering the drives so your buying them yearly

for what your storing its worth just 2 hard drives that means 2 back ups of the same material unplug them after transfering to them but test them first when they are new

when you renew them in a few years depending on there usage then you can use them for transfering but i prefer an ssd for transfer for speeds a 4tb hard drive drives me nuts to transfer onto it as its slow as the drives rpm is 5400 and theyve removed 7200 as not green ... on power yet still uses the same power just slower

even with a server and media station you will still need back ups

 

[MetalMonkey]

i wouldnt be going your way as a server needs more hard drives due to time being turned on

the same can be said with a media station and if its a shared media station that is accessed often then you need to consider new hard drives every year or every 2 years and that also means staggering the drives so your buying them yearly

for what your storing its worth just 2 hard drives that means 2 back ups of the same material unplug them after transfering to them but test them first when they are new

when you renew them in a few years depending on there usage then you can use them for transfering but i prefer an ssd for transfer for speeds a 4tb hard drive drives me nuts to transfer onto it as its slow as the drives rpm is 5400 and theyve removed 7200 as not green ... on power yet still uses the same power just slower

even with a server and media station you will still need back ups

Sorry but that's just nonsense Gaz.

Decent quality hard drive should last you years, if not decades - and that is in heavy constant use.
In the above scenario they would be sitting idle for most of the time, depending on the type of drive you would do more harm starting and stopping them rather than just leave them running 24x7.

If you are buying new drives every year you are doing something seriously wrong or they are coming from aliexpress.

 

[knighty]

as above, hard drives should last for years,

plus, a media server / backup server / most other home uses aren't going to work them hard, it's only really cctv recording 24/7 that'll put any miles on them

for remote desktop, I use version 6.0.8 of anydesk - it's an older version but the newer ones have adverts / subscription plans etc. - easy enough to find online but happy to send to anyone who wants it

which server have you bought?

 

[ukracer]

as above, hard drives should last for years,

plus, a media server / backup server / most other home uses aren't going to work them hard, it's only really cctv recording 24/7 that'll put any miles on them

for remote desktop, I use version 6.0.8 of anydesk - it's an older version but the newer ones have adverts / subscription plans etc. - easy enough to find online but happy to send to anyone who wants it

which server have you bought?

Dell Poweredge. R730.

Not sure what's inside it but it had 4x 300meg drives and I swapped them out for 4 x 2tb drives.