Server 2008 SBS vs WHS

[ddubois89]

I brought to the attention of my employer that we don't have a solid backup plan and its every man for himself when it comes to data saving.

He agreed and told me to fix it.

I am trying to configure our server to do scheduled backups of our client computers. I keep reading about windows home server but I feel that this functionality should be or is built into Windows Server 2008 standard.

Is it built in? I have the server already set to back its self up nightly. Just need to really safeguard our essential files.

Am i not looking in the correct areas for it?

Thanks in advance for the help

 

[scoop818]

Do you have SBS 2008 or server standard 2008? I'm unclear because your title say sbs but your text says server standard 2008.

Either way unless I missed something this is not a function built into windows server 2008, nor is it in the sbs version. SBS 2011 essentials does have this feature, but it strips out the other functions of a normal sbs box (exchange, sharepoint, etc.). If you don't want to add another box and you are using SBS your could enable folder redirection for the users and include that in your server backup. That way at least client data is protected.

Or if you chose you could add a WHS box to the scenario to backup the client machines, but this also has limitations:
1. WHS maxes out at 10 client machines.
2. WHS cannot join a domain. (not really a big deal)
3. There is no server backup built into WHS v1. (they use folder duplication instead). V2 does have this.

I have added WHS v1 into a few of my clients offices (those with less than 10 client machines), and it has worked out fine. As long as the box is on the network the clients can see them just connect them to the WHS, enable client backups and folder duplication.

Hope that helps.

 

[FoolishTech]

I brought to the attention of my employer that we don't have a solid backup plan and its every man for himself when it comes to data saving.

He agreed and told me to fix it.

I am trying to configure our server to do scheduled backups of our client computers. I keep reading about windows home server but I feel that this functionality should be or is built into Windows Server 2008 standard.

Is it built in? I have the server already set to back its self up nightly. Just need to really safeguard our essential files.

Am i not looking in the correct areas for it?

Thanks in advance for the help

WHS is the way to go. Microsoft even recommends it now for the SMB backup, and in fact they state basically that hey, if you have an office with more than 10 computers, say 20, then just setup TWO WHS boxes.

Unfortunately backup is about all WHS is good for now that they are going to rip out the drive extender tech.

 

[TLE]

3. There is no server backup built into WHS v1. (they use folder duplication instead). V2 does have this.

WHS v2(Vail) which is based on 2008, had the storage pool and folder duplication technology removed. You need a 3rd party application to be able to use those features now.

Unfortunately backup is about all WHS is good for now that they are going to rip out the drive extender tech.

Going too...they did WHSv2 is now ready to order http://www.wegotserved.com/2011/05/19/windows-home-server-2011-order/

 

[pc-quebec]

WHS v2(Vail) which is based on 2008,.....[/URL]

WRONG .... Windows Home Server 2011 ( vail was the code name ) is base on 2008r2 not 2008, that's make a huge difference.

I brought to the attention of my employer that we don't have a solid backup plan and its every man for himself when it comes to data saving.

He agreed and told me to fix it.

.

Sound to me like end user

 

[TLE]

WRONG .... Windows Home Server 2011 ( vail was the code name ) is base on 2008r2 not 2008, that's make a huge difference.

You're just being pedantic, I know it's based on 2008 R2, the point was that folder duplication is no longer available.

 

[ddubois89]

WRONG .... Windows Home Server 2011 ( vail was the code name ) is base on 2008r2 not 2008, that's make a huge difference.




Sound to me like end user

I'm not an end-user. I just don't have much experience with the different server editions. Lets just say the army training on servers was quick and I don't have one at home to use/study on. Thats why I came to the server section.

Anyway

The version we have on our server is the SBS 2008 Standard.

Scoop, I have SBS 2008 Standard Edition, I thought there were multiple editions to the SBS 2008, and figured that would be descriptive but seems to just cause more confusion. Sorry.

As far as WHS goes, I understood WHS includes the backup features for client computers, The support documentation for it is slightly confusing to me. It wasn't clear to me immediately that a WHS function for backing up wasn't included in my server version.

Our office is set-up pretty simple, we have our server set up for AD. If setting up another box would be required, I may just look at alternative options.

Thank you all for the input, it does seem like I have some more studying to do on the newer versions of server, and their features. Gotta crack open 70-642 book more. ( Been so busy)

Sorry I cant be more active in the conversation today, Lots of customer appointments and meetings. Sorry to have caused the major confusion. Ill figure it out. Thanks again.

 

[ProTech-MN]

I'm not an end-user. I just don't have much experience with the different server editions. Lets just say the army training on servers was quick and I don't have one at home to use/study on. Thats why I came to the server section.

Anyway

The version we have on our server is the SBS 2008 Standard.

Scoop, I have SBS 2008 Standard Edition, I thought there were multiple editions to the SBS 2008, and figured that would be descriptive but seems to just cause more confusion. Sorry.

As far as WHS goes, I understood WHS includes the backup features for client computers, The support documentation for it is slightly confusing to me. It wasn't clear to me immediately that a WHS function for backing up wasn't included in my server version.

Our office is set-up pretty simple, we have our server set up for AD. If setting up another box would be required, I may just look at alternative options.

Thank you all for the input, it does seem like I have some more studying to do on the newer versions of server, and their features. Gotta crack open 70-642 book more. ( Been so busy)

Sorry I cant be more active in the conversation today, Lots of customer appointments and meetings. Sorry to have caused the major confusion. Ill figure it out. Thanks again.

As scoop818 suggested, I'd just redirect users documents folder to the server to at least get their files backed up.

If you need a complete client backup solution, then you're going to have invest in some additional software.... also, I may have missed it, but I didn't see mention of how many clients are involved... just make sure you have the available storage if you're going to backup all the clients.

-Randy

 

[Tony_Scarpelli]

See what this does for you.

http://www.tgrmn.com/free/