It’s not the client backup feature, it’s the backup of the WHS database. You can still back up client PCs to the WHS as always.

Since the data on the WHS is already the backup, loss of the backup database only matters if you lose both the client PC and the WHS at the same time.

Dave,

You’re right, thats what I meant. But not having WHS backed up is not good enough, makes it a worthless NAS to me.

[...] I can’t say it any better then Vlad, http://www.vladville.com/2008/05/more-microsoft-mesh-windows-home-server-loses-client-backup.html. [...]

Maybe they will create a Microsoft Sonar next to scan the bottom of the sea for their sunk opportunities.

Stick a fork in WHS…it’s done.

Will the target market care? Nope. We are not the target market. Gotta keep things in perspective.

WHS…backed up by PFM. Even though it’s not the “intended” market..the intended market will be backing up directly to the server and not moving it offsite or replicating it anywhere..so as soon as their WHS dies and all their PCs from a power surge (Cause the intended market thinks a surge protector is safe) they’ll say “Shit…I never had an option to backup my server” and their business goes bye bye.

I’ve been a fan of WHS since I first heard of it a couple of years ago. I consider the CONCEPT the greatest thing that that Microsoft has created in years. In one swoop, it solved a dozen big gaps in home and very-small-business PC networks.

I fail to understand how such a miraculous product can end up with such giant holes. A server that corrupts data files? A server that you can’t back up? Backups that can’t be taken offsite?

I love my own WHS. It’s great knowing (thinking?) that I can uninstall something from my desktop and know that I have last night’s backup if the uninstall routine trashes my system. It’s so disappointing that Microsoft can’t follow up with the finishing touches.

I have been loving my WHS since I bought it. However the data corruption bug has left me mad as hell. But when I heard that MS was going to offer me a bonus of backing up my WHS to an external drive later on with the data corruption fix, I thought OK this is a nice way of making up for a mistake they made that should have never happened. (It is a server backup after all!!!) Now they tell me my backup doesn’t backup everything on the server. What? Doesn’t Microsoft know the meaning of what a backup is? It is something that has to be complete for it to be effective, this means the database portion as well. MS here is the scenario: My whole small business office gets destroyed/stolen but fortunately I have an offsite and complete backup that I can get up and running again in no time. — Oh wait not anymore I am screwed, but thankfully I can take several days out to reinstall all my OS and applications on all my computers. MS GET YOUR ACT TOGETHER!!!

As said, it’s just the Client database backup that is being removed.

Btw, any idea how large a Client backup database can grow?
Keep that size in your mind, add the size of the other data that need external back and check the size of external harddrive. Guess what, the targetted WHS owner will run into storage shortage soon

And if you are a smart user with above average needs, you can always create images (using eg Acronis True Image Home 11) on a regular base, put the image in WHS folder and there you are

But I guess using bad language and writing half true and incorrect information gives more traffic to the BLog.

So be it
Have a nice day!

Leen,

I’m sorry, but you’re going to take your WHS-hugging ass to a reality check clinic:

- Product corrupts files for more than 6 months without an update/fix.
- Product features being removed.

Do you really want to argue the semantics of the specific feature being removed while its undergoing lobotomy?

Nice solution, buy more third party software. If I have Acronis, WTF would I want WHS for?

I don’t know about you, but my WHS is becoming a Linux box this weekend. The WHS product was scapegoated as a bloated consumer NAS, and just about a year later it’s nothing more. Unless you count file corruption as a feature.

-Vlad

Windows Home Server is ALL about backups. File Servers are a dime a dozen.

A huge feature of WHS is the ability to automate the process of creating “Day Zero” backups of each client PC, along with automated daily incremental backups. And this feature is bascially “free”, versus buying and managing copies of Acronis for every single desktop PC.

The concern now is the lack of an easy way to keep those “Day Zero” backups. One little glitch to your WHS Backup Database, and you are stuck having to erase the database and start over, losing those original backups, as well as all your other historical file version information.

Vlad –

“Windows Home Server Loses Client Backup”

That is the title of this blog entry, and it also exposes the fact that you’re 100% utterly misinformed and confused about this.

What WHS is losing is the *SERVER DATABASE* backup function, which was never there to begin with. It was an upcoming feature, and by no one’s definition would it even come close to the “primary feature set”, as you’ve labeled it above.

Do a little homework next time.

Aaron,

With all do respect, but Vlad already explained and admitted his error. The title is only partially incorrect, because, they PROMISSED from the beginning (i.e. first MS announcement) to provide a CLIENT Database backup to external storage. Actually, lack of this feature from the beginning tells volumes, about how very little thought was given in packaging of WHS features. Any backup strategy that cannot backup the server itself is …. no backup strategy at all. Telling people that the strategy to recover from a backup server failure is … to give up on the historical client backups is …. laughable. I would expect more from MS.
If you read the text of the entire blog entry, it is evident that Vlad actually was venting about the correct issue, and he DID do his homework before writing the post (unlike yourself).
It is very arrogant on MS part to hype the product as they’ve been doing all over the net, and now, very quietly withdraw one of its mostly demanded feature, unless you want to call Power Pack’s fixing a data corruption fix a major technical break through for them.

I did read the “text of the entire blog entry”, and it’s just a childish swear-laden rant about something that turns out to be completely wrong and could have been avoided with a little homework. Someone will have to point out where in the blog entry he clears up that this is actually about the server DB and not the client (you know, as the title says very clearly). And since you’re so sure about this, please show me.

This would be a nice feature to have but it’s hardly critical. Backups are backups, you lose the server and you still have the cients. Very unlikely to lose them both simultaneously. My guess is you’re just a microsoft hater looking for excuses to bash. If you’d have used WHS like many of us I’m sure you wouldnt be saying this crap.

I realize that you may have changed your view since May, but here goes my response …
I actually like WHS (always have), but I am not a rabbit religious follower. I bought my HP EX475 in January and luckily have not experienced any data corruption as other did. Having said that, I must disagree with your assumption that backups are only for last version only, and are not critical. I DO want to be able to go back in time at least for 12 months. IF I lost my client backup database due to a WHS disk failure I would be VERY unhappy. BTW, I believe that that some people already came with a manual process of backing up (or even replicating) these files, so my opinion is not just any excuse to bash WHS or Microsoft. If you worked for an IT and you could not recover data from a historical Year-end tape, that would be your last day of employment (I can assure you of that). The reason people spend hundreds of $ for backup solution is not to have a feel good experience of backing up, but to have reasonable expectation for restore to succeed. I don’t believe that with missing client backup database replication by WHS anybody (even you) can feel secure in this particular area.
Anyway, I like your blog. Keep up the good work.