Microsoft Windows Home Server 2011 Unleashed [Kindle Edition]

I have been working with the Vail pre-release for months and moving slowly in using the server in any meaningful way. Now this book is out and I'm immediately finding many ways to quickly utilize various features on our home server. I can't put this book down!

This was my first home server install and I can say this book is just fine for folks new to home server and have some basic technical background. Example, I messed up and didn't configure my homeserver with a static IP. The book simply outlines why this is important, and it saved me much troubleshooting a month later after the install and the dynamic server IP address changed.

While Home Server 2011 unleashed contains fairly obvious features like file sharing and management, security, and web access, the book goes on to explain areas not so obvious. Following the step by step instructions on setting up a sharepoint site on the windows home server, I now have sharepoint foundation (free limited version of Sharepoint) running for the family to share pictures, files, calendar events and collaboration. Since two of my kids are in college, I have a local computer set up where the kids can connect via a remote session and share or pull information. The book clearly outlines how to connect via the internet so all family members can still participate. Need to keep your windows patches up to date, chapter 14 explains how to install, configure and manage WSUS. Have a Mac (or Linux) and want to connect to the home server, there is a section on how to do that. It provides step by step instructions on how to first get your Mac onto the home server network and than how to specifically connect the Mac. Want to set up a windows home server website, chapter 12 is dedicated to working that step by step - no prior knowledge required. Desire to remote connect in to your home server and do all admin tasks from a locally connected client if your server is not in the same room. Once again, simply laid out in the book. Generally I search the web for fast solutions, but in this case, I've learned to go to this book as my primary reference.

I was initially concerned this was the first 2011 Home Server book out and may have been rushed to market, but that is not the case. It has many helpful insights, well written and like I said earlier, supplies valuable information to a wide range of non-technical and technical home server users. And even more critical, I generally do web searches before I open a book. I'm finding it's faster to just open this book then do a web search.

Highly recommend.

This is a good general reference book for any technical level, BUT it is very lacking in installation and setup procedures and general do's and don'ts. This is especially true if you have never install the WHS2011 or the earlier WHS v1. I also feel that more detailed setup procedures, with step by step instructions and explanations of the options available at each step would have been most helpful.

I'm a current Windows Home Server Owner of Version 1 and did do some Beta testing of WHS 2011 when it was still known by it's Code Name "Vail". I just got through reading the book and was very impressed how much the author covered on Microsoft's Newest Version of it's Home Server OS.

Not only does he covers the basic things most people know about Home Server in general (I.E. Backing Up PC's, Sharing out Files, Remote Access from the outside, etc...) But he also covers the other things you can also do to make the most out it, For Example...

- Registry Hacks to improve performace
- Using automated scripts (supplied in the book and downloadable)
- Installing and Using WSUS
- Installing and Using a Sharepoint site
- Using other DNS Services other than MSN

He even gives alternate suggestions on how to use other methods of trying to keep redundancy in your Home Server without the use of the Drive Extender which Microsoft still has not offically given us an answer as to why they abondoned the technology as of this writing.

I will be honest this book was not really written for beginners/average users, I would look more for a rudimetry book once it comes out that just covers the basics if that is what you are looking for. This book is more written for the Intermediate to Advanced User with a sturdy IT Hobbyist/professional background who are looking into fully exploiting the Windows Server 2008 R2 code on which this OS is based on and going beyond what Microsoft had originally intended this OS to do. That is who I would recommend this book for.

I would also recommend on picking this book up first before implementing your Windows Home Server Infrastructure or even upgrading your existing one.