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What is a Home Network Server?
A home network server is a computer installed in a private residence that provides services to other devices inside or outside of the household through a home network. It is typically connected to a LAN, the Internet, or both. The services it provides may include file and print serving, media serving, web caching, and even web serving. A home network server can also provide data backup services, depending on specifications of the operating system software.
In the typical home networking environment, a home network server is often deployed to authenticate users and computers. Instead of logging on to their desktops, users simply log on to the server, which provides them with potential access to resources across the entire network. In a nutshell, it transfers these resources from all networked computers to a centralized server, where they can be accessed by every users based on the privileges assigned to them.
A home network server is capable of running a wide variety of operating systems. Home-based business owners and computing enthusiasts can generally choose whatever platform is preferred, whether it is Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, Unix, or Solaris. Many home server computers come equipped with Windows Home Server pre-installed on the hardware.
Home network servers range in complexity depending on the experience of the system administrator. For example, someone well-versed in IT would have an easier time managing the server through command shell than a user with basic computing skills. These servers can also be managed graphically by remote desktop systems and interfaces such as RDP and Webmin. Windows Home Server is a package with a consumer-orientated graphical interface that simplifies navigation and administration.
Many people use a home network server to serve multimedia content to other computers and home network hardware in the household. Windows Home Server leverages its built-in Windows Media Connect feature to enable media streaming to media receivers powered by digital living network appliances (DLNA), such as the Xbox 360™. Apple’s Macintosh server offers iTunes®, Elgato EyeConnect, and PS3 Media Server™. A Linux® home network server supports a number of all-in-one, open-source solutions that enable media serving.
Enterprise-class hardware or significant computing power is generally not required to run a home network server. This is because the average home network only consists of a small number of computers. The major requirements for such a system are a capable network interface card and uninterruptible power supply to prevent data corruption in the event of an outage.
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![A network interface card, which is used to connect to a home network.]()
A network interface card, which is used to connect to a home network.
Discussion Comments
@allenJo - I beg to differ on what makes up a real “server.” A server basically serves up stuff, content if you want to call it that, whether it’s web pages, multimedia or a role playing game.
Certainly in the corporate workplace you won’t find much in the way of Xbox 360 type applications, but as more and more people build their own home networks, they are exploiting all the features that networks offers.
One of those features is server technology, and it’s pretty much been mainstreamed. While I don’t have an entertainment server myself, I can see the day where these things become fully integrated into our households like television consoles and provide a fully immersive recreational experience for the user.
@everetra - Yeah, I used to set up servers at home with the Linux operating system. Like you, I was mainly doing it for fun and to learn website administration.
I wasn’t trying to wire my whole house. I think the idea that there are media servers that can feed into Xbox or other media devices is interesting, but that’s not really what servers are for in my opinion.
They are meant to be workhorses for websites or multiuser type setups. I eventually took the Linux server down, but I learned a lot about server administration as well as hosting websites.
Years ago I set up a server using one of the computers in my home. I believe I was using Windows XP or Windows 98, I forgot which edition it was.
The reason that I mention the version is that one of those versions came up with something called Personal Server, which basically let you set up your personal computer as a web server.
Usually that capability is limited to business or enterprise class computers, but at the time there was a streamlined version of server software that was available on consumer grade Windows computers.
I used that to host a website, and had it networked, so that I could use another networked computer to fetch pages from the site. It was kind of cool, and it enabled me to work on building websites without having to get a hosting service.
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