Pondering if any folk use Windows Server O/S for their astronomy labs?

[g__day (Matthew)]

I was just wondering if any folks with dedicated astronomy computers have opted to go Windows Home Server instead of the normal Windows 7 or 8 operating system - given its stability?

Home Server is normally used on NAS, Media Servers etc things that you want to be on 24 * 7 and never ever have to worry about. I could see its relevance for a dedicated astrolab PC if your never switched it off.

It has much tighter networking set up and allowed connections definitions and application software registration processes - so might be a pain to set up and get everything working. So just wondering if anyone has ever trod this path and had success or otherwise?

[Kal (Andrew)]

Is it really more stable? I'd question that.

I've found my Win 7 desktop to be stable for the last 5 years and it is on 24/7

[Garbz (Chris)]

I would say there's zero stability difference. Windows Servers and standard Windows desktops ultimately run the same kernel. These days they even run the same userspace desktop (much to the anger of system admins who thought they wouldn't need to deal with the touchscreen style interface of Windows 8).

Ultimately what separates the server from the home edition is the additional features it has, things like:
- Domain hosting for user information like logins.
- Monitoring of client computers connected to it.
- More advanced storage features like volume shadow copy that allows you to "roll back" files which have changed, and data-deduplication so that 10 copies of the same file don't take up additional space over 1 copy.

On the otherhand there are many underhanded downsides to running server software for instance: anti-virus software may refuse to install because they think you bought a server and that means you're made of money and thus should buy the "server" version of their anti-virus package.

In short I would not at all recommend it. Windows 7 and 8 are absolutely rock solid with about the only thing taking them down being faulty hardware or crap drivers, neither of which would be prevented by running the server OS.
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[g__day (Matthew)]

The Server OS often have much stricter policies on what services can run and what has to be enabled before software can be installed and run. This discipline may help tighten up vulnerabilities. I have never seen a Server box crash running Windows Server at home. I have occasionally seen a Windows PC crash at times.

[Garbz (Chris)]

<quote>I have never seen a Server box crash running Windows Server at home. I have occasionally seen a Windows PC crash at times.</quote>

Again I question how much this is to do with the OS and how much this is to do with hardware drivers and software that people install on their OS.

I've never seen a desktop windows machine used headless as a server crash either, but then there was no aftermarket junk installed like webcam software and other poorly written garbage.

[g__day (Matthew)]

It's a fair observation you make Chris. If one isn't around to witness the BSOD once can't always attribute it to flakely hardware or drivers. A bad video driver can take out the best machine.

It's rare for me to update general software on my astro lab PC - so I just kind of expect it to work. Whereas my NAS box running a media server has less specific hardware in it and runs less complex programs - so its not an apples vs apples comparison.

The question I poised was one where I don't actually know the answer too and was seeking more informed input. I don't mind what the correct answer is if it can be well established and any conditions on it identified.