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	Setting Up A Home Server

Microsoft is in the process of introducing a Server operating system for home users. However you don’t have to wait that long for it. An XP Professional or Vista Business/Ultimate machine can also meet your requirements.

The benefits of a home server are:

1. Centralized place to store all files including: movies, music and documents.
2. Backups: You can configure your other computers to backup your server automatically at a certain time.
3. Higher security.
4. You can easily restore a failed computer in the network from the backups retained on the server.
5. Easily share applications installed on the server.

Some people may think having a home server is a bit too much, but if you have at least 3 computers, then it is cheaper to get them networked. You can either buy or build an Intel or AMD machine with 1 GB of memory and a hard drive with a capacity of at least 160GB. It should be installed with either XP Pro or Vista Business/Ultimate. Rename the Server's workgroup to something that is distinct and ensure all the remaining computers have the same workgroup name.

Next, share some folders present on the server, so that the remaining machines in the network can access them. This allows all users to store their files on the server. To take backups, run the in-built Windows back-up application by selecting start, then run and typing in ntbackup. The wizard takes you through the set up process. While choosing the backup destination, ensure you select a directory on the server. This is achieved with the help of the UNC functions. In the destination box, enter something like "server/backups" but without the quotes. Here "server" is the name of your server and "backups" is a shared folder on the server that you have provided for backups.

You can install the firewall software on the server to improve security. This software only permits the authorized users to access the system. If the computer on the network crashes, you can easily restore your files from the server, after reinstalling Windows. Another excellent feature is the ability to sync your "My Documents" folder with the documents you have stored on the server. This is possible with the Windows Sync Feature.

You can log in to the server through Remote Desktop, an application installed on the server. This does away with requirement of installing the application on various computers and yet permits many users to use that same application.

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