Speaking about Windows 8 and its possibilities as a file server, especially to replace the lamented soon to be departed Windows Home Server (WHS) products, Redmondmag.com has an article about the "file history" feature of the soon to be released Windows 8:
Microsoft is ditching the current Windows 7 backup-and-restore approach because consumers aren't using it. Less than five percent of PC users have turned on the Windows backup feature, according to Microsoft's stats. With Windows 8, Microsoft is hoping for a change. File History promises to make the backup-and-restore process easier for consumers, but it also helps IT departments. For instance, File History makes it easier for users to restore older versions of files themselves, without having to enlist IT help-desk support. IT pros still have control of corporate compliance policies, though, such as file retention, because they can turn off the File History feature through Group Policy settings.
The file history feature will only backup user created files - not the system itself. It also is slated to be "off" by default, so users will have to turn it on to use it. One of the most intriguiing features of "file history" though, especially to those interested in a replacement for a WHS type NAS is that it will work across local networks:
File History can be enabled across a home network by using it with Windows 8's HomeGroup sharing feature. Once a HomeGroup is set up on the network, File History detects it and suggests creating a shared backup. Individual PC users can then be invited to share HomeGroup as their common backup space.
I guess time will tell if the various features of Windows 8 will truly be a decent replacement for the lamented WHS and WHS 2011.
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