Microsoft Windows Home Server Unleashed

By Paul McFedries

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... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0672331063
• ISBN13: 9780672331060
• Release Date: January 2010
• Publisher: Sams
• Length: 769 Pages
• Weight: 2.73 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.0" x 1.5" x 7.0"

Customer Reviews

Everything you need to know about WHS - and more.

It's a pleasure to find a technical book as well done as "Microsoft Windows Home Server Unleashed" by Paul McFedries. Like all such series, there have been a number of weak titles, but this one shines on top of the hill. McFedries' writing style is fluid, polished and lucid. He never gets lost in his own detail, even though many of the subjects covered in this book lend themselves to meandering. McFedries stays unerringly on topic - and that is a quality to be praised and appreciated. Particularly so here, for Windows Home Server (WHS) is a somewhat simplified version of Windows Server 2003, a very potent and complex server platform. Even though WHS weasrs a very pretty face for home users, its internal plumbing is still very complicated. Effortlessly, McFedries walks the reader through the less complex WHS interface and use - and then explores the deeper roots. He really accomplishes this very well. There are about 750 pages of text on WHS and related subjects and around 80 pages of appendices. In 23 chapters, McFedries tells you everything you need to know about installing, administering and using WHS. The level of detail is very impressive. The author covers related subjects that may not interest everyone and may be well beyond the competence of many, such as running a SharePoint Site on WHS, working with the WHS Registry and scripting WHS. That's not a complaint: it's as compliment. Everything you really might need to know about WHS is to be found between the covers. McFedries has turned out a remarkably lucid technical book on an inherently complex subject. If you're considering installing or have installed WHS, you should really consider this book. It's the only book I've bought about WHS and the only one I can see needing. Excellent. Jerry

Excellent book for knowledgeable "home server" reader

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

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.

Great Reference Book for Windows Home Server

I purchased this book as a reference to use during setup of the HP MediaSmart Server, HP EX470 MediaSmart Home Server (AMD Live/ 64 Bit Sempron Processor, 500 GB Hard Drive). It was very helpful in the setup of the server, and I'd recommend it for anyone using either the HP package or a home-grown server. The HP MediaSmart Server itself is a superb integrated package that exceeded my expectations. I'd give it 5 stars.

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

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.