How to Set Up a Microsoft Home Server
Windows Home Server is a program that allows you to connect your server to the Windows-based PCs in your home. A server lets you share files and programs between multiple computers, as long as they are all connected to the server. The installation and set up is a multi-part process and requires you to already own a home server system and have computers linked through broadband Internet access and a network router.
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Things You'll Need
- Internet connection
- Monitor
- Keyboard
- Mouse
- Ethernet cable
- Network adapter
- Wireless router
Instructions
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Connect a monitor to the video port in the back of the server. You will also need to connect a keyboard and mouse to the USB ports on the server to go through the installation process. If you would rather not disconnect your peripherals from your desktop computer, you can connect a laptop through one of the USB ports on the server to conduct the installation. Also, connect an Ethernet cable directly from a network port on the server to one of the network ports on your home network adapter and another Ethernet cable from the home network adapter to your wireless router.
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Power on your server and insert the Windows Home Server installation disc into your server's disc drive.
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Click the "Next" button once the installation wizard opens to begin the installation setup. Choose the region that you live in from the list provided in the next window and click the "Next" button when you are finished.
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Select the hard drives that are in use on your computer. Click the "Next" button when you are finished.
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Click the arrow next to the text box and select "New Installation" from the drop-down menu. Click the "Next" button.
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Click the radio button next to "I accept this agreement" to accept the End-User License Agreement. Click the "Next" button.
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Input your product key into the boxes provided on the next screen. The product key can be found on your Windows Home Server box. Click the "Next" button when you are finished.
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Type a name into the text box next to "Home Server Name." You can name your server whatever you want. Click the "Next" button when you are finished.
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Click the check box next to the acknowledgement statement to acknowledge that the data on your hard drive will be lost. Click the "Next" button. A dialog box will open asking you to reconfirm that you know the data will be lost. Click the "Yes" button.
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Click the "Start" button to begin the installation process. This will take some time depending on your computer. The system will restart several times during installation. When the installation is complete you will see the Windows Home Server welcome screen.
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Click the arrow at the bottom of the Windows Home Server welcome screen.
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Type a password for your server into the appropriate text box. You will need to confirm the password in the text box below that. In the text box at the bottom of the screen, type a password hint into the text box. Click the forward arrow when you are finished.
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Turn automatic updates on or off. Turning them on is recommended, that way your computer can stay updated with current software and protection against viruses and other threats. Click the forward arrow when you are finished.
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Select if you would like to be involved in the Customer Experience program. This is up to you. Microsoft will take information about your computer and use it for a survey of system and server use as explained in the blurb at the top of the screen. Click the forward arrow when you are done.
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Choose whether you want error reporting turned on or off. This will ask you to submit an error report to Microsoft whenever a program unexpectedly closes or there is a problem with software. Click the forward arrow when you are done.
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Disconnect the monitor, keyboard and mouse or your laptop from the server. Keep the Ethernet cable connected to the router. This is how your other computers will connect to the server. Servers do not support wireless connections between the router and the server.
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Download the Windows Home Server Connector software (see Resources) to any computer you wish to connect to the server.
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Click the "WHSCONNECTORINSTALL.exe" icon when you are ready to install the server connector to your computer.
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Click the "Next" button once the installation wizard starts and follows the installation instructions.
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Log in to your server by typing the password you created while installing the server software on your server. Click the "Next" button.
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Choose whether you want to wake the computer up to back up the computer. Click "Next" to configure the set up. When the configuration is finished, click the "Finish" button.
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Click on the server icon in the system tray to open the server console. Log in with your password and you will have access to the server.
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Tips & Warnings
The Windows Home Server Connector software will need to be downloaded and installed on each computer you want to have access to the server.
References
Resources
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