What is Windows Home Server?

Windows Home Server helps families with multiple PCs easily connect their digital experiences, providing a reliable and familiar way to store, access, share, and automatically protect treasured digital images, music, video, and personal documents.

Who is building hardware for Windows Home Server?

Later this year, a variety of manufacturers will be offering products powered by Windows Home Server, providing a complete hardware and software solution.

How does Windows Home Server differ from other products in the marketplace?

Windows Home Server is a unique, integrated solution that provides backup and restore, centralized expandable storage, and access from anywhere to your home server and home PCs. It is a lot more than extra storage. Unlike other home storage, backup, or remote access tools currently available, Windows Home Server offers unprecedented simplicity and ease of use. In addition, as a development platform, Windows Home Server offers partners great opportunities for innovation to address the needs of the digital home. This means that a wide range of applications and tools that integrate with and take advantage of Windows Home Server will be available.

Is it hard to set up?

No. Windows Home Server is easy to set up and configure from any PC in the house, using the Windows Home Server Console. You will need to simply plug in the power and connect Windows Home Server to the broadband router, and then install the Windows Home Server Connector software from a CD onto each PC you wish to automatically backup every night to your home server.

How can I access my files when I'm not at home?

You can access Windows Home Server and your home PCs through a personalized Windows Live Internet address that you choose. That means with a simple log in to your family Web site, you can access your photos, music files, and videos from anywhere. Windows Home Server not only enables you to upload and download files stored on your home server but also allows you to connect remotely and use your home computers as if you were sitting in front of them.

Is it easy to control who has access to specific files and folders?

Yes. Using the Windows Home Server Console, you can define users and easily set permissions for the shared folders stored on the home server. You can also define which users can access the server remotely.

When will this product be available for purchase? How can I buy it?

Windows Home Server will be available through the retail channel within a wide range of new hardware products. The first products are targeted for availability in the second half of 2007. It will be available in English, German, French, and Spanish.

How much will Windows Home Server cost?

OEMs will set the final pricing for their products, depending on the storage capacity and additional capabilities. We'll have more information to share in the future.

If I already have a router and a home network, why would I also need a home server?

Windows Home Server unleashes the power of your existing home network—it allows you to store, share, and protect your photos, movies, music, and more. And it lets you remotely access your information and your home computers anytime from anywhere.

How is Windows Home Server better than home Network Attached Storage (NAS) products?

Windows Home Server provides unprecedented simplicity for home users and it was designed to solve problems for households with multiple PCs.

More than just storage, Windows Home Server uniquely provides pre-defined shared folders, such as "Music" or "Photos" making it easier to organize and find your files. Windows Home Server also features simple storage extensibility, and built-in search capabilities.

New internal or external hard drives can be easily added to a Windows Home Server device. The amount of available storage grows based on the size of the hard disk. You no longer have to worry about D:, E:, F:, G:, H:, etc. drives as you add more hard drives. New hard drives can be of any size.

Also, in a Windows Home Server device with two or more hard drives, you can elect to duplicate folders. This prevents you from losing any photos, music, or other files stored in a folder that has "duplication" enabled, if a hard drive fails.

In addition, as a development platform, Windows Home Server offers partners great opportunities for innovation to address the needs of the digital home. This means that a wide range of applications and tools that integrate with and take advantage of Windows Home Server will be available.

How is Windows Home Server different from Windows XP Media Center Edition or Windows Vista Home Premium?

Windows Home Server works with your Windows PC. Windows XP Media Center Edition and Windows Vista Home Premium are designed to run on personal computers and provide acquisition and management of media, such as TV programs, music, and photos. Windows Home Server is designed to make managing a home network, with Windows XP PCs and Windows Vista PCs, easier and more automatic. It does this by acting as a centralized place for storage, enabling remote access and providing automated backup for all PCs in house.

How can independent software vendors (ISVs) work with Windows Home Server?

As a software platform, Windows Home Server will offer software partners tremendous opportunities to build innovative products that meet the needs of the digital home. We expect that a wide range of third-party applications will emerge, such as virus and malware protection, media sharing, and home security and automation.