I think I know what I'm going to do. I think once I get my second server, I'm going to have one of the virtual servers act as Windows Server Essentials (running under the Experience role, not running as a Windows server Essentials virtual machine straight up), that way I get all of the functionality, and it doesn't have to be a domain controller if it doesn't want to be. I like the backup and anywhere access to the server, not to mention, the media streaming functionality. Plus, my domain is underneath the primary, so, a western Digital appliance probably wouldn't work in that scenario.
-----Original Message-----
From: Blind-sysadmins [mailto:blind-sysadmins-bounces@lists.hodgsonfamily.org] On Behalf Of Ryan Shugart
Sent: Monday, August 8, 2016 5:06 PM
To: Blind sysadmins list
Subject: Re: [Blind-sysadmins] Considering a windows Storage server
Andrew:
I’m a little curious about the loosing access to virtual domain controlers thing. My last job had about 40 domain controlers all over the world, and all but two were virtualized. I never had a problem and it never kept me up at night. Microsoft’s official recommendation at one point was that 25 percent of your domain controlers should not be virtualized, but just before I left we had Microsoft come in and perform an active directory assessment and the virtual to physicals ratio never even came up. Obviously you need to make sure you have a local account on your host (either ESXI or Hyper-V) and perhaps not even have the host joined to the domain (which is what we did) and you should be fine. The other thing is to make sure you don’t take snapshots of your virtual domain controlers, although with 2012R2 DCs this is actually no longer a restriction.
Ryan
-----Original Message-----
From: Blind-sysadmins on behalf of Andrew Hodgson
Reply-To: Blind sysadmins list
Date: Monday, August 8, 2016 at 2:50 PM
To: Blind sysadmins list
Subject: Re: [Blind-sysadmins] Considering a windows Storage server
Hi,
Like I said, I used Storage Server 2008 R2 and 2012 on some appliances (that connected to a SAN) as they were rock solid file servers. My only thing is don't try and use them for other means as you may get into trouble, and they aren't cheap.
The Western Digital devices are probably the cheapest ones available for a small enclosure, the Dell units tend to be towers. Make sure you get the relevant model with Storage Server 2012 R2 as there are older models still around with older versions of Storage Server.
This is an interesting blog post:
https://blogs.technet.microsoft.com/storageserver/2013/09/04/windows-storage...
One of the options there seems to be setting up a virtual domain controller, not sure whether that gets put on the storage server or somewhere else. I avoid virtual DCs like the plague as you get into situations where management of the VM hosts is not possible if the DC is not up.
Andrew.
-----Original Message-----
From: Blind-sysadmins [mailto:blind-sysadmins-bounces@lists.hodgsonfamily.org] On Behalf Of Katherine Moss
Sent: 08 August 2016 21:06
To: Blind sysadmins list
Subject: Re: [Blind-sysadmins] Considering a windows Storage server
The one feature I like in Storage Server is storage spaces (I use it for my Hyper-V host, and love it. Even got my friend off of his raid obsession.) . Part of what annoys me indeed, though is how Storage server lacks the remote web features that Essentials does, which makes me almost want to use an Essentials server as a file server, disabling all of its other features, and using it for backups/file storage/media streaming. (VPN is covered by my EdgeRouter).
-----Original Message-----
From: Blind-sysadmins [mailto:blind-sysadmins-bounces@lists.hodgsonfamily.org] On Behalf Of Andrew Hodgson
Sent: Monday, August 08, 2016 10:34 AM
To: Blind sysadmins list
Subject: Re: [Blind-sysadmins] Considering a windows Storage server
Hi,
Be careful with the mantra of being able to put other OSes on the device. Those devices sometimes don't have KVM access which means it is a real pane to put the other OS on, and there is also the question of RAID setup, one device I used several years ago used a type of software RAID running on top of Windows Storage Server 2003, which meant that if that OS wasn't on the box the server became a useless brick.
I can see why you want to go down this route but I would say that unless you really get a good deal on these boxes, you have very specific needs or there is a feature you want from Storage Server don't bother.
Andrew.
________________________________________
From: Blind-sysadmins [blind-sysadmins-bounces@lists.hodgsonfamily.org] on behalf of Katherine Moss [Katherine.Moss@gordon.edu]
Sent: 08 August 2016 14:48
To: Blind sysadmins list
Subject: Re: [Blind-sysadmins] Considering a windows Storage server
What I want is complete Active Directory integration, and I do like Windows for the added benefit. I'll be honest. Using Linux for a file server right now would be too foreign to me, I think. I'm more comfortable in the Linux arena with Routers, not filers. And plus, with MSDN, I could put onto the unit essentially whatever OS I wanted to once I got ahold of it. Plus space ... all I've got is shelving above my desk, so a rack mount or smaller pedestal would be better than a full tower.
-----Original Message-----
From: Blind-sysadmins [mailto:blind-sysadmins-bounces@lists.hodgsonfamily.org] On Behalf Of Billy Irwin
Sent: Sunday, August 07, 2016 1:01 PM
To: Blind sysadmins list
Subject: Re: [Blind-sysadmins] Considering a windows Storage server
Hi Guys,
I got busy and forgot to respond. The one I use is WD MyCloud 4TB version. Best Buy sales them. I like them because you can SSH into it and use the linux shell to advanced tasks if you wanted.
Thanks,
Billy
-----Original Message-----
From: Blind-sysadmins [mailto:blind-sysadmins-bounces@lists.hodgsonfamily.org] On Behalf Of Andrew Hodgson
Sent: Sunday, August 7, 2016 12:41 PM
To: Blind sysadmins list
Subject: Re: [Blind-sysadmins] Considering a windows Storage server
Hi,
Are there specifics you want to use for Windows Storage Server?
I have virtualised file servers before but always make sure the file share disks are mapped to separate LUNs in your storage.
I had a Dell PowerVault unit with Windows Storage server 2008 R2 to take advantage of the single instance storage, but as that is now in Windows Server 2012 and up, I am not sure if I would bother with one of those units with Windows Storage Server.
Andrew.
-----Original Message-----
From: Blind-sysadmins [mailto:blind-sysadmins-bounces@lists.hodgsonfamily.org] On Behalf Of Katherine Moss
Sent: 05 August 2016 18:49
To: 'blind-sysadmins@lists.hodgsonfamily.org'
Subject: [Blind-sysadmins] Considering a windows Storage server
Hi all,
This has come up recently ... I'm very fond of the virtualization of servers; I've got two; my web server, and then a domain controller on one physical server, however, I see more benefits than drawbacks to a physical filer as oppose to making my filer another virtual server having to share drive space with databases, web applications, and other things. I'm very picky as to which OS my file server runs, however (preferring windows Storage server, which I can get via mSDN, over anything else) . I was thinking something along the lines of a Western Digital Sentinel or a Dell powerVault, though less emphasis on the latter considering those are the size of a tower. Preferably something desktop-sized or rack-mountable. But I don't want another tower unit hanging around ... or should I just attach a couple of USB 3.0 drives to my current hyper-V host make a dedicated storage space out of them, and then install WSS on a virtual machine?
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