Outlook Personal folder Files and Database Files are Unsupported on WHS Home Network

bodogbodog · **20th July 2008, 09:57 AM**

In readiness for the release of PP1 for WHS Microsoft released a Knowledge Base article KB 955690 on 17 July.
The article discusses the kinds of files that are unsupported on a home network that uses Windows Home Server. These files include Microsoft Office Outlook personal folder files (.pst) and database files. Additionally, it discusses other computer programs that may not be designed to work on a home network that uses Windows Home Server.

woohoo · **20th July 2008, 11:36 AM**

It's a shame about the .pst files, but I guess they are retrievable in the system backup.

bodogbodog · **20th July 2008, 12:13 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by woohoo

It's a shame about the .pst files, but I guess they are retrievable in the system backup.

Correct - so worst case you would lose a days email if your client is included in the WHS backup schedule

benogil · **31st July 2008, 04:02 AM**

Not that it helps with .pst's, but there is a new add-in on wegotserved allowing Outlook to work on WHS.

Ben

Rinko · **31st July 2008, 10:07 PM**

Just a quick FYI - You can store PST files on a WHS with PP1 which obviously solves the data corruption issue. It's only the MS official line that it isn't a supported configuration - but in the past I have used server based PST's in a corporate environment without any issues.

vlad · **31st July 2008, 10:25 PM**

Again dear friends. I am not against WHS, but try Windows Server 2008. You will be surprised. My personal haters - just stating my opinion, go have some chill pill.

tsf · **16th August 2008, 11:52 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by vlad

Again dear friends. I am not against WHS, but try Windows Server 2008. You will be surprised. My personal haters - just stating my opinion, go have some chill pill.

Vlad,

I am just in the process of installing a new server for home and was thinking of using WHS. Having just read your post above I would be interested in your reasons for trying 2008 Server inplace of WHS.

Basically, want to take Music and avi's from the Media Centre, datafiles from the two study computers and move them to a central server.

Cheers
Andrew

GlenR · **17th August 2008, 12:10 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by tsf

Basically, want to take Music and avi's from the Media Centre, datafiles from the two study computers and move them to a central server.

That's exactly what I'm doing and WHS does itw ell. I had some problems (nothing major) initially, but if you patch VMC properly and put PP1 on WHS there's no problems at all.

I'd recommend WHS for what you want.

tsf · **17th August 2008, 12:36 AM**

Thnaks GlenR

What is the data redundancy of WHS like. As I will be moving some 50Gb music, 200Gb of photo's and all of over personal datafiles I am wanting to be sure integrity of the data is high.

My other option was to look at a NAS drive with Raid 5. I am planning on starting with either 2 x 500Gb and 2 x 1Tb drives or 4 x 1Tb drives.

Andrew

GlenR · **17th August 2008, 01:08 AM**

WHS uses file duplication to provide data redundancy. This can be selected by file share, so unimportant data is not duplicated, but important data is.

Essentially the software makes a second copy of any file in a share with duplication enabled. Thios second copy is always on a separate physical drive to the main copy, so if a drive fails there is another copy available - kind of like mirroring. When I was testing WHS (see my review - Windows Home Server – Part 1) I actually put 16GB of data on the WHS then removed one drive while the system was running. The only thing I noticed as a client was a notification from the server that a drive had failed. All the data was still accessible.

In addition, WHS uses shadow copy so you can roll back a file to an earlier version if you wish.

Plus, it automatically backs up all your PCs each night.

I love it.

tsf · **17th August 2008, 01:21 AM**

Thanks GlenR

I will use the existing board in my current Media Centre (about to upgrade) and start off with 2x500GB and 1x 1Tb Hard Drives.

This will allow we to get it all up and running.

Lets home the onboard Broadcom Nic works at 1Gb with WHS running as it only works at 100Mb with Vista SP1.

Cheers
Andrew

tsf · **17th August 2008, 01:50 AM**

Bugger

Just realise the Microsoft don't offer WHS via my Technet Subscription. Looks like I will need to pay $200 for a copy on Monday.

Thats life.. Maybe I will have a look at 2008 Server first.