Home server
A home server is which you probably have at home (or you want to). It provides services to other devices inside and/or outside your home through a home network and/or the internet. Such services may include file and/or printer serving, media center serving, web serving, web caching, account authentication and backup services.
Because of the relatively low number of computers on a typical home network, a home server commonly does not require significant computing power. An uninterruptible power supply is recommended in case of power outages that can possibly corrupt data.
If you decided to build your own home server you can use whatever OS is conveniently available or familiar to you, such as Microsoft Windows, Linux, Solaris or BSD UNIX. Pre-built home servers are usually supplied with Windows Home Server installed.
Administration and configuration
Home servers often run headless, and can be administered remotely through a command shell, or graphically through a remote desktop system such as RDP, VNC, Webmin, or many others.
Some home server operating systems, such as Windows Home Server include a consumer-focused graphical user interface for setup and configuration that is available on home computers on the home network (and remotely over the Internet via remote access). Others simply enable users to use native operating system tools for configuration.
What good is home server?
Centralized storage
Home servers often act as network-attached storage providing the major benefit that all users' files can be centrally and securely stored, with flexible permissions applied to them. Such files can also be shared over the internet to be accessible from anywhere in the world using remote access.
Media serving
Home servers are often used to serve multi-media content, including photos, music, and video to other devices in the house. Windows XP Media Center Edition and Windows Vista can act as a home server, supporting a particular type of media serving that streams the interactive user experience to Media Center Extenders including the Xbox 360.
Home servers are often used to serve multi-media content, including photos, music, and video to other devices in the house. Windows XP Media Center Edition and Windows Vista can act as a home server, supporting a particular type of media serving that streams the interactive user experience to Media Center Extenders including the Xbox 360.
Remote access
A home server can be used to provide remote access into the home from devices on the Internet, using remote desktop software and other remote administration software. For example, Windows Home Server provides remote access to files stored on the home server via a web interface as well as remote access to Remote Desktop sessions on PCs in the house. Some people often use VPN technologies as well.
A home server can be used to provide remote access into the home from devices on the Internet, using remote desktop software and other remote administration software. For example, Windows Home Server provides remote access to files stored on the home server via a web interface as well as remote access to Remote Desktop sessions on PCs in the house. Some people often use VPN technologies as well.
Web proxy
Some proxies can be configured to block websites on the local network from being viewed if it is set up as a transparent proxy.
Some proxies can be configured to block websites on the local network from being viewed if it is set up as a transparent proxy.
Online gaming
Some MMORPGs such as Continuum, Tremulous and World of Warcraft have server software available which users may download and use to run their own private game server. Some of these servers are password protected, so only a selected group of people such as guild members can gain access to the server.
Some MMORPGs such as Continuum, Tremulous and World of Warcraft have server software available which users may download and use to run their own private game server. Some of these servers are password protected, so only a selected group of people such as guild members can gain access to the server.
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