This document discusses the advantages of using Microsoft Windows Home Server including its backup solutions, secure storage capabilities, and ability to remotely access files over HTTP. It describes how the home server fits into the network topology and uses dynamic DNS to allow external access via a fully qualified domain name. Automatic backups and file detection are supported. Security is provided through NTLMv2 authentication and access controls based on username. Remote desktop access is also enabled.

1. Microsoft Windows Home Server
Ricky Saltzer

2. Overall Advantages
 Backup Solution
 Secure Storage Container
 Remote Access to Network (not VPN)

3. Network Topology
Home Server
192.168.2.102
192.168.2.101
Dynamic or Static
Ex: 66.82.4.8
`
192.168.1.1
192.168.1.2
192.168.2.1
`
192.168.2.100
192.168.2.103

4. Backups
 Automatic backups at desired schedule
 Automatic File Detection
 Pictures
 Documents
 Explicit Extension (ex: *.dwg)

5. Security
 NTLMv2 Authentication Headers
 Access files specific to your user name (guid)
 Windows Server 2003 Security Architecture

6. Remote Access
 Control computer away from home (RDP over HTTP Protocol)
 Upload / Download any file with respected credentials.
 Easy to remember FQDN (http://rickysaltzer.homeserver.com)
End User Home Server
http://rickysaltzer.homeserver.com

7. What is DNS?
 A service which translates FQDN -> IP Address(s)
 Example : download.microsoft.com > 206.33.45.125
.
Note:
COM (xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx)
URL addresses actually
have a “.” after it’s address.
MICROSOFT 207.46.197.32
DOWNLOAD 206.33.45.125 “download.microsoft.com.”
-- download.microsoft.com --
NET

8. How Dynamic DNS Works
DYNAMIC DNS UPDATE QUERY(Once a Day)
1.) Home Server Initiates Connection with DNS Server.
2.) Home Server Updates DNS Record with current outside ip address.
3.) User now able to acess his / her home server via URL
(ex: http://rickysaltzer.homeserver.com)
User’s Home Server Microsoft DNS Server

9. IP Forwarding
IP FORWARDING (If UPnP cannot be enabled)
PORT NUMBER PORT TYPE
80 (HTTP)  TCP
443 (HTTPS)  TCP

10. Data Integrity
 Retail, or OEM built home servers are in RAID configuration.
 RAID 0 – Striped without parity.
SATA 0 (500gb) SATA 1 (500gb)
Total:
1 2 1 Terabyte
 RAID 1 – Mirror without parity
SATA 0 (500gb) SATA 1 (500gb)
Total
1 1 500 Gigabytes