On the last podcast (show 301) we discussed building a new Windows Home Server 2011 box and I am about to get the hardware together to start my own WHS project, so I was really interested to read Ed Bott’s post on installing WHS 2011. Unlike most of us Ed actually read the install instructions (I normally put the disc in and click next,next, next) and the documents revealed some interesting warnings. I will quote some of Ed’s post here but go to his blog for the full article
In a yellow box, under the bold heading Important, you’ll find these instructions:
Before you install Windows Home Server 2011, set your BIOS clock to match the time and date for the Pacific Time Zone (PST) regardless of where you are located in the world. After successfully installing Windows Home Server 2011 and joining client computers, do not reset the time, date, and time zone on the Dashboard for another day.
If you do not set your server time to PST, you should not use the server or connect computers to it until the number of hours pass that equals the difference between your time and PST.
So, if you’re in Australia and you forget this step, you need to let your new server sit for a full day before you do anything with it?
Ed said “I had to look twice to make sure this wasn’t an April Fool’s joke. Nope, this document was updated March 30, 2011.”
Most versions of Windows default to Redmond time, but this is the first time I’ve ever been told to change the time in the BIOS too, and to leave it that way while I connect clients. What happens if I don’t? Unfortunately, the release notes don’t say.
I am looking at using RAID but the document does warn against it:
Are you planning to use a RAID array to work around the loss of Drive Extender? Think again. In a separate Troubleshooting document, this instruction is also in a yellow box under yet another bold Important heading:
Windows Home Server 2011 works best when each attached hard drive is accessed as an individual hard drive. Some computers and mainboards can be configured so that the hard drives are managed as RAID by the BIOS on the mainboard. For best results, you should turn off this configuration before installing Windows Home Server 2011.
It’s worth pointing out that Windows Home Server is an OEM product and not designed for end users to install so it’s not really a big issue but the RAID issue is something that could be a problem, I was thinking of using RAID for my new box. I am sure its a topic we can discus on the show next week and you can hear Ed Bott on TDL Show No 300
One thought on “RTFM before you install Windows Home Server says Ed Bott”
Yet more reasons to stay with WHS version 1. I Can’t believe that statement about Raid, they remove DE and then say, we don’t recommend you use RAID, what’s all that about?
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Yet more reasons to stay with WHS version 1. I Can’t believe that statement about Raid, they remove DE and then say, we don’t recommend you use RAID, what’s all that about?