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Pico Home Server: The Worlds Smallest Windows Home Server

Jan. 8, 2009 Paul Thurrott | Paul Thurrott's Supersite for Windows

Donavon West tipped me off to an awesome project of his … and a neat contest. Check this out:

VIA has created system builders kit that is based on the VIA EPIA PX-Series Pico-ITX main board. It's called the ARTiGO A1000. For those of you who may not be familiar, Pico-ITX is a standard motherboard form factor that is a mere 10 x 7.2 cm (smaller than your wallet). The entire computer, case and all, measures just 5.9" x 4.3" x 1.8" (15cm x 11cm x 4.5cm). Let me be clear about this folks, this system is small!

Oh yeah, I mentioned that there might be something FREE…

OK, here's the part that you all have been waiting for. Not only have I built up this sweet Pico Home Server using off the shelf parts, but (and I can't believe I'm doing this) I am giving it away to one of my lucky readers for free!

What do you need to do to win? Virtually nothing. Between now and Sunday, 11 Jan 2009, 11:59pm EST (midnight on the day the CES ends), leave a comment on this blog telling me what you would do with a Windows Home Server that's smaller than your sack lunch and you will be entered in the drawing. Ok, any comment will do, but don't you want to win in style?

Just a quick addition here: You must leave comments at Donavon’s site, not mine, to win the contest.  :)

Discuss this Article 15

technutmonkey
on Jan 8, 2009
slick little server. Enter me into the contest. I would use the server to serve media to my WinXP machine and Xbox 360.
mcwilliams132
on Jan 8, 2009
I'd probably use it as my main media server. Alternatively, I'd probably put it in my pocket, plug it in and see if it'd keep me warm in our sub-zero Wisconsin winters!
Cold_realms
on Jan 8, 2009
MMM something green to power my XBMC enabled home entertainment network.
mikegalos@msn.com
on Jan 8, 2009
To clarify (and I shouldn't because I'm already entered and would prefer fewer competitors)... You need to post your entry on the HomeServerHacks blog to enter. This isn't Paul's contest, it's Donavon West's.
tayme
on Jan 8, 2009
I think that you need to leave your posts on the linked site..right, Paul? --tayme
donavonwest
on Jan 8, 2009
You need to post a comment on www.HomeServerHacks.com and NOT on Paul's site. Ok, go ahead and post here, but it won't count. :) Post your comment here (read the article too!): http://www.homeserverhacks.com/2009/01/pico-home-server-worlds-smallest....
gumby74
on Jan 8, 2009
If I were to win the server I’d “…Do the same thing we do every night Pinky… try to take over the world…” That and serve music to my recently repaired Xbox.
reddragon72
on Jan 8, 2009
I would use it to with a hacked connection on a fiber line in a Uverse box as a out side storage space and a remote hack site that would be nearly impossible to find :-) hehehehe no really I would replace the power hog P4 that I have now to try and cut down on those high electric bills.
jeremy1029
on Jan 8, 2009
Hmmm, I entered on the other site, but in case there is some kind of loophole, guilt trip, or class action against Paul, I think I'll post here as well. I'd use it as a Media Server which I do not currently have. Depressing, I know.
whatsonfire
on Jan 8, 2009
I would put my kids DVDs down on it and run it to their monitor to watch when they wanted to. Probably put some of my music on it and play from anywhere in the house.
bdizzel
on Jan 8, 2009
I would mount in my kitchen cabinets right next to my pop tarts so every morning when i go to make breakfast i would remind my self that i have the coolest server ever
Waethorn
on Jan 9, 2009
Quick question: Can you manage NAS storage from WHS and gain all the extra options that WHS provides? It might seem like a good solution to have one of these Artigo kits with a smallish hard drive (or cheap SSD, like one of those CF-to-SSD adapters) to just run WHS, and then manage a basic NAS or USB dual bay kit with WHS. It would be 2 parts, but still... Ideas, ideas....
Waethorn
on Jan 9, 2009
Meh....looking at the A2000, it has a CF adapter. Um, how much storage space does WHS take up??.... Is it just me, or does the A2000 have a lot of wasted space in the bottom of it (in front of the Pico-ITX motherboard)? You could probably throw another couple of 2.5" drives in there! What's nice about the A2000 is that it supports an optional wireless module. It would take a few extra tasks to get that enabled for WHS though - you'd have to enable the Wireless Zero Config service in WHS (I'm assuming it has it, but don't actually know), or else use local computer policy (it's not a domain, so group policy is pointless) to automatically connect on bootup.
prc292
on Jan 9, 2009
I would be really happy to be able to store all of my movies and music in one central location. i want to be able to stream them to other computers in my home as well as my Xbox. ive been using a 10 year old computer with linux on it for way to long. It's way to slow, it's a huge case and im sick of looking at this monster. Help me out cause i don't see any upgrades in the near future!!
stlbud
on Jan 9, 2009
Wow! this could be the core of a new home-wide media system.

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