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Topic: Operating Systems

Early version of Windows Home Server 'Vail' leaks to the Web

Summary: It's been ages since I've heard anything about the next full release of Windows Home Server, codenamed Vail. But thanks to one reader who sent me a pointer on January 27, it looks like Vail is in the midst of private testing, and will include both "on-premises and cloud technologies."

Mary Jo Foley

By for All About Microsoft |

It's been ages since I've heard anything about the next full release of Windows Home Server, codenamed Vail. But thanks to one reader who sent me a pointer on January 27, it looks like Vail is in the midst of private testing.

(Check out my ZDNet colleague Zack Whittaker's gallery of screen shots of Vail, plus hisVail  YouTube video.)

There's something marked as "Windows Home Server Vail CTP4" (Community Technology Preview Release 4) that recently leaked to the Web and is downloadable via  torrents. According to the description of that download, Vail, the next version of WHS "builds upon both on-premises and cloud technologies" for home and SOHO (small office/home office) users.

More from the download description:

"Out of the box, Vail provides simple file sharing, remote access, home computer backup, expandable storage through Drive Extender, and media streaming both inside and outside the home. Vail also contains an application catalog and product-wide extensibility model so that new services such as anti-virus, online sharing, and home automation can be seamlessly and easily added to the solution."

Like previous versions of WHS, Vail will be available pre-installed on OEM systems. It also will be sold as a standalone software package to system builders.

The system requirements for the CTP4 version are listed as a 2 GHz x64 processor, 1 GB of RAM, and at least one 120 GB hard drive. NTFS is the only supported file system.

Microsoft delivered a "PowerPack" update to Windows Home Server users in the fall of 2009. Officials have not been willing to talk about Microsoft's plans for the next version of WHS. Microsoft execs did start talking about WHS being not just a product for home users, but also for small-business users last fall, repositioning WHS as the entry-level product in the Windows Server family (below Windows Server Foundation).

Based on the information from the torrent download, it sounds like Vail went to a group of selected private testers some time ago, if it's already up to CTP4. I wonder if the final delivery target for Vail is 2010 or 2011. I've asked Microsoft for an update and if/when I get one, I'll add it to this post. Meanwhile, any testers out there have an inkling about other Vail features in the works and/or when it will ship?

Update: The Softies aren't talking at all about Vail at all. From a spokesperson for the WHS team: "We are not ready to discuss future products but will certainly let you know as soon as more details become available."

Update No. 2: Folks who are downloading Vail CTP4 are starting to post tweets and reports about some of the features and functionality. Windows enthusiast Robert McLaws noted that the code base upon which Vail is built is Windows Server 2008 R2 and that there was both a Standard and a Premium version. Another downloader said there is an app store built into Vail that will allow for add-ins, perhaps like these, but said the store didn't appear to be functional yet.

Topics: Operating Systems, Browser, Hardware, Servers, Software, Windows

About

Mary Jo has covered the tech industry for more than 25 years for a variety of publications and Web sites, and is a frequent guest on radio, TV and podcasts, speaking about all things Microsoft-related. She is the author of Microsoft 2.0: How Microsoft plans to stay relevant in the post-Gates era (John Wiley & Sons, 2008).

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33 comments
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  • Did you see the screenshots?

    I saw them yesterday at thegreenbutton.com, I think it looks really nice, The only thing I do not like is the lack of media center support, I saw nothing for media center, maybe its not feature complete yet so they still have time to add it in. I like the new console/dashboard look though.
    NoThomas
    Reply Vote

    • Media Center belongs in WHS

      The one really obvious thing that [i]should[/i] be included in WHS is Media Center, and MS have had plenty feedback to that effect. It's so obviously a server application if you want to get the best out of it; I'll be really disappointed if it's in what seems like almost every client edition of Windows but [i]not[/i] in WHS. I don't want to have to fire up a client in order to use Media Center when WHS is running all the time.

      I'm waiting to hear officially what's in Vail before investing in WHS.
      ggreig
      Reply Vote

  • WHS = Epic

    WHS has been a wonderful addition to my home network, using it to keep all our pictures, documents, etc. Backups, streaming to my 360. Such an amazing product for the minimal price it is.

    I am definitely looking forward to seeing (and using) the next edition of WHS.
    WoW > Work
    Reply Vote

  • Thank you, Mary Jo

    For keeping the Internet rationally grounded with information about ACTUALLY USEFUL products, in this day of all days.

    WHS FTW!
    Microsoft Tablet PCs FTW!
    Courier FTW!
    angarita calvo
    Reply Vote

  • Tie in Media Center more fully and add scaled down mail

    The two things I want to see in the next version are better ties to Media Center and a scaled-down mail server for home users.

    For the hardware vendors selling these servers, I'd like to see more hard drive expansion capability. For people who want to put their large video collection on a server, it sucks to be forced to put large external multi-drive enclosures on USB2 ports because the eSATA port doesn't support port multipliers.
    BillDem
    Reply Vote

    • Media center

      I agree with that one , I bought an Acer h340
      and have 8 Terabites of storage in it.
      $400 CDN for the server and $180 CDN ea. for 4 WD green 2 TB hd. Great little rig and quite cheep in my opinion.
      scruff40
      Reply Vote

  • Application Catalog

    I like the idea about the application catalog. I think Windows in general should have a Windows <b>client</b> (not so much browser) software, that allows users to centrally locate Windows applications. Besides the convenience for users, and shoring up the Windows platform, it could be a great way for MS to make additional money - similar to the way vendors are making money from smartphone app stores.

    Of course the same thing could be done for Office. Create an Office ecosystem store accessible via slick Windows <b>client</b> software, where users can go to find myriad support add on, other software, and services.

    The above could be extended to all Windows client software that serve in one way or another, as platforms for software (e.g. add ons), or gateways to services. This includes Windows Media Center and Visual Studio.
    P. Douglas
    Reply Vote

  • Woohoo!

    This is great news! I'm glad we have something new to drool over!!! :)
    safesax2002
    Reply Vote

  • Honestly, didn't WHS get off to a bad start--black eye?

    I'll stick with Linux for all my home server needs. Thank you very much.
    D.T.Schmitz
    Reply Vote

    • There was a data corruption issue under very limited...

      ...circumstances. Details can be found on the WHS Wiki page:

      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_Home_Server

      This issue was resolved in the summer of 2008.
      ye
      Reply Vote

      • understated

        I think your use of "very" is understatement. It did not affect everyone, but there were more than a few ways to bork your data. Something as simple as adding metadata to photos could do it.... Yes, there WERE work-arounds. But it should have been an embarrassment to Microsoft. That said, since they fixed this bug, I've been extremely happy with the product.
        bmgoodman
        Reply Vote

        • No, it is not an understatement.

          [i]It did not affect everyone, but there were more than a few ways to bork your data.[/i]

          The requirements were:

          - You had to have drive mirroring enabled. Any system with a single drive was not susceptible.
          - You had to be editing the file directly from the server itself (instead of editing a local version and copying it to the server).
          - The system had to be under heavy load.

          From all accounts it affected a very small number of people because of the circumstances under which the bug appeared.

          With that said it was an embarrassment for Microsoft. And I make no excuses for them.
          ye
          Reply Vote

    • Data Corruption- Just like Linux

      That was resolved back in 2008.

      Didn't Linux have a data corruption bug back in 2006/07 as well?
      UncleBubba
      Reply Vote

      • I Have Had No Data Corruption In Linux

        I had not heard (or experienced) of this issue with linux. Of course, you failed to provide details; such as what version and what release.

        Windows Home Server is a good idea, but linux has been providing me with same service long before Windows Home Server was first released.
        chessmen
        Reply Vote

        • Linux kernel 2.6.19

          http://lwn.net/Articles/215113/
          ye
          Reply Vote

          • Ye, FTW!

            And it's Ye, for the win. Thank you.

            If you have Windows client machines in the house, Linux will work, but it can't do everything that WHS can do.
            aperry@...
            Reply Vote

          • not really, it was very limited

            not sure if you read the link:

            http://lwn.net/Articles/215113/
            -----
            "Ubuntu does not use 2.6.18 nor 2.6.19, so
            Ubuntu users are safe AFA this bug is concerned.

            Edgy: 2.6.17
            Feisty: 2.6.20"
            -----

            Since a lot of linux newbies use ubuntu "out of
            sight, out of mind" applies here.

            Digging deeper, it was supposed to utilize
            improved memory tracking - but it was dependent
            on the app code to become a problem. Here's a
            link from the source, and
            a quote from Linus himself:

            http://lwn.net/Articles/215115/
            -----
            "In 2.6.18, that would normally do absolutely
            _nothing_ to the shared memory mapping, becuase
            we simply couldn't track pages that were dirty
            in the page tables.
            -snip-
            In 2.6.19, because we actually track dirty data
            so much better, "sync()" will actually be smart
            enough to write out the dirty mmap'ed data too.
            But since the user program has only allocated
            ten bytes for it in the file, when it is written
            out, the rest of the page is cleared.
            -snip-
            So 2.6.19 is strictly _better_, but exactly
            because it's tracking dirty status much more
            precisely, you'll see certain user-level bugs
            much more easily."
            -----

            If that is to complicated to swallow, it is very
            analogous to the WHS bug that was previously
            mentioned in this thread. The only reference I
            have seen to get bitten by the linux corruption
            bug was the "rtorrent" application.

            It was a few days until the release of the
            kernel patch - how long did it take to fix the
            WHS bugs? I believe it was several months.
            ~doolittle~
            Reply Vote

  • What I Want in Vail

    Not that you really want to know:

    -64 bit (apparently done)
    -Version of Microsoft Security Essentials that works with WHS
    -Light weight web console option that runs in browsers other that IE (fat chance).
    -Ability to easily manage multiple websites on the same server.
    -Better way to connect remotely to file shares from Windows Explorer, access to shares through web browser stinks.
    -Remote backups.
    -Easy way to use existing custom domain names with WHS.
    -Integrated picture sharing application.
    txscott
    Reply Vote

  • RE: Early version of Windows Home Server 'Vail' leaks to the Web

    i'm previewing the 7360 ctp4 build and it has a very easy way to existing custom domains. Actually it seems like you can only use custom domains right now. It asks you to purchase a website from sites like godaddy and if you already have one it asks for the domain and login to the site like godaddy where you manage it. It auto setups the system with a remote. prefix for your domain for the remote access so i'm assuming they'll add an option to create your own sites and everything. Also its setup to ask for your login to sites like dyndns for people who have a dynamic ip.

    - It has an amazing way to connect to your shares and view your libraries and folders. It looks like you can even play movies in the site. also it has remote desktop settings to all your connected pc's so you can remote into them from wherever you are.
    justinm001
    Reply Vote

    • Remote Desktop a Security Risk

      If you can remote into it, so can the bad guys.
      chessmen
      Reply Vote
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