Home Forums Discussions General Discussion AC V4 On Windows Home Server

I have some questions, and have tried to sort out the answers from reading the various threads, but it's not tying together for me.

My basic issue is that I have used Windows Home Server (WHS) as a convenient variant of Server 2003 for my clinic. It does software mirroring, nice automated computer backup, and various thing that Microsoft should have put into Server 2003 or SBS2003. So I have been mapping a subdirectory on WHS as the designated AC drive, and happily pointed all my computers to that drive for their AC 3.7 needs. Is has been a happy little server, with no hiccups so far, running on 300 A-H of backup energy. I even have a twin server mirroring all its activities, in case the redundant drives in the primary server fail all at once.

In comes AC V.4. I know that SQL Express can be installed on WHS (not officially supported). However, tried as I might, I can't seem to find the actual procedure used by the v.4 installer, or what sequence it will do what. Before I start messing around, I would like to know what it does. Can I go on the command console to install V4? You know how finicky SQL installs are - they don't like to be installed remotely in Server 2003, and WHS is ONLY remote-accessible.

I suppose I can just backup WHS and try the install. Or I can call tech support to stand by me when i install, although I am not sure if they have any experience in WHS. Or, I can just bite the bullet and change to SBS2003 (2008?).

Comments from folks who have successfully installed on the various server platforms? Bert? Jon?

Thanks in advance.

My advice is save yourself the time, aggravation, and the money. These exotic installations/configurations are an exotic pain in the "a-hem."

Windows Home Server, is named "Home Server" for a reason. It is fine with MS-Access and other programs that provide simple file sharing. Believe it or not, MS would not build the same capabilities into Home Server that they have in SBS2008.

I have test loaded V4 on WHS without incident.

I did not try it on a network, and it was a "raw" not upgraded system.

That being said, it worked and I used a backup to load patients on it.

It was a temporary thing I was playing with, and it was a demo that I never registered, and subsequently erased (I then loaded Windows & and Ubuntu on the drive). I could not get Ubuntu to recognize AC through Wine.

I would probably consider calling AC Central for b/u in installing only because it is a variant system (of SBS 2003)

Thank you for your replies.

WAW, If I had time to play, I am half-tempted to fire up my spare clean WHS and load V4 on it just for the experience. How did you install? Can the exe work as an add-in? Or did you go into the console?

gkf, what capabilities of SBS2008 did they not build into WHS? Anything that I can justify $2000 to my wife? I guess I started with WHS because it was there, and have since found it stable. I did go through a growth spurt and had problems with the 10-seat limit, however.

Please don't spend 2000 on SBS 2008, I got 2003 for 600+ only. The equipment was not included, let me know if you need a vendor!

I was going by the Dell quote on the T100. Software alone, looks like eBay has SBS2003 for $325, and a 25 CAL Server 2003 for bids (I need 16 seats). No SBS 2003 25 Device CALs (about $1000 street price?) I also see assorted used Dell servers with 2003, not too cheap. There is one HP server, and i think some AC users have and like HP servers.

I have found SBS enterprise edition with 25 cal for well under 1000 in the past - search for these,mine was 600.00 on ebay.