A home server provides services to multiple computers and peripherals in a household. It can be used for shared printing, storing and sharing multimedia files, and as primary storage and backup for all home files. Backup software can be installed, and a surge protector is recommended.
A home server is a workstation or computing device that provides a variety of services to multiple personal computers and peripherals within a household or residence. This configuration most often consists of a personal computer or server workstation equipped with high-speed, large-capacity internal or external hard drives. The home server communicates with the other computers in the house via the home network and is an invaluable tool for a family that needs specific services on each workstation throughout the residence.
When a household has a single printer, the home server can provide shared printing services to multiple computer users on the network. Once the server has been made accessible over the network and visible from any connected location, the available printer can first be configured with the server via a direct connection. Through the properties or printing preferences on the server, you can enable access to the shared printer by allowing all users on the network to send jobs to that printer.
Multimedia files including digital photos, movies and music can also be stored and shared using the home server as the central distributor. Depending on the platform or type of media, there are many media players available that can view or play photo slideshows, watch digital home movies, or listen to your family’s collection of digital music. After each media player has been configured to access shared media libraries on the home server, the network user can view, play, or copy the file on their workstation.
Due to its storage capacity and accessibility, the home server is often used as the primary storage and backup for all the home files created by any single user. In addition to media files, documents, emails and other important digital information can be stored and organized on this server. Considering all these possibilities, the home server can truly be the hub of all home information and digital property.
With additional storage space, backup software can be installed and configured to make scheduled copies of archived files to prevent data loss or corruption. Backups can be scheduled to run every night to ensure all files are up to date and accurately match the original archive. Most importantly, a surge protector that includes an uninterrupted power supply should be included to avoid hardware damage or file corruption during power surges, thunderstorms, or power outages. The home server may prove to be the most important tool used in the computer user’s household.
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