Using Windows 10 as a Server at Home or in a Small Business

New! 2nd Edition updated December 2015 with additional and improved sections based on user feedback.

This guide describes how to setup a home or small business network using a file server based around Windows 10. Windows 10 is a great choice in such environments as it offers the everyday ease and convenience of Windows, but without the additional cost and complexity of Windows Server 2012 R2 or the unfamiliarity of Network Attached Storage (NAS) boxes. This guide is succinct but authoritative, based around techniques that work in the real world and is written in a friendly and understandable style, accompanied with plenty of illustrations and screenshots. It is aimed at the home, home office or small business user who has some knowledge and experience but who would not necessarily consider themselves to be an expert or enthusiast. It has been written according to the Goldilocks Principle: not too much information, not too little, but just the right amount.

1 GETTING STARTED
1.1 The Benefits of a Server-based Network
1.2 The Case for Windows 10 as a Server
1.3 Hardware Considerations for the Server
1.4 Editions of Windows 10
1.5 Infrastructure
1.6 Location
1.7 Electrical Considerations
1.8 Printers
2 INSTALLATION AND CUSTOMIZATION OF WINDOWS 10
2.1 Standard desktop computer with Windows pre-installed
2.2 Blank desktop computer or Micro server
2.3 Personalization and Settings
2.4 Change the Name of the Computer
2.5 Network Settings
2.6 Disk Storage
2.7 Storage in a Single Drive System
2.8 Storage Spaces (Multiple Drive System)
2.9 Power Management
3 USERS
3.1 Creating a User from PC Settings
3.2 Creating a User from the Command Prompt
3.3 Deleting a User from PC Settings
3.4 Deleting a User from the Command Prompt
4 SHARED FOLDERS
4.1 Setting up the Shared Folders
4.2 Home Folders
5 ACCESSING THE SERVER
5.1 From Windows Explorer/File Explorer
5.2 Accessing a Shared Folder Using the Run Command
5.3 Mapping Drives Manually
5.4 Using a Batch File
5.5 Connecting a Mac
6 MULTIMEDIA & STREAMING
6.1 Setup Streaming
6.2 Playback Media on Other Devices
6.3 Third Party Media Streaming Software
7 USING CLOUD STORAGE SERVICES
7.1 Dropbox
7.2 Google Drive
7.3 Box
7.4 Comments about OneDrive and iCloud
8 USING IPADS AND OTHER PORTABLE DEVICES
8.1 Accessing the File System with File Browser
8.2 Using a Cloud Sync Service
8.3 Multimedia Playback
8.4 Microsoft Remote Desktop app for iOS
8.5 Chromebooks
9 BACKUPS
9.1 Server Backups
9.2 Restoring Data to the Server
9.3 Backing up Computers to the Server
9.4 Backing up Windows 7 Professional Computers to the Server
9.5 Backing up Windows 8/8.1 Professional Computers to the Server
9.6 Backing up Windows 10 Professional Computers to the Server
9.7 Backing up any Windows Computer to the Server
10 HOUSEKEEPING AND MONITORING THE HEALTH OF THE SERVER
10.1 Windows Updates
10.2 Check Disk Space
10.3 Optimizing the Hard Drives
10.4 Anti-Virus & Anti-Malware Software
10.5 Checking the Event Viewer
10.6 Remote Desktop
11 ACCESSING THE SERVER REMOTELY
11.1 Fixed IP Address
11.2 Port Forwarding
11.3 Dynamic DNS (DDNS)
11.4 Using the Remote Desktop Client