NAS-server based on Windows Home Server

A friend asked me to assemble a NAS-server and install WHS on it. Below is the hardware I used for this. At first I wanted to buy a Chenbro case with mini-ITX (ES34069) but I finally decided to buy the Antec NSK1380 case. I wanted to be more flexible and chose a micro-ATX system. Now this friend has the option to turn the system into a media center. So this is the list.

Case: Antec NSK1380
CPU: AMD Sempron LE-1200 2.1 GHz EE 45W AM2
Motherboard: GA-MA78GM-S2H
Memory: 1 x 1GB 667 MHz DDR2 Geil (1 module) (IAIE8F)
Harddisk: 2 x WD 1TB Sata II 7200 rpm 16MB Caviar GP (WD10EACS)
PSU: Antec 380W 80plus (custom)
CDROM: Samsung DVD writer sh-s202

The Antec NSK1380 case is a very comfortable case and comes with PSU. This is the case. The dimensions are 33.5x20x26.9 (DxWxH) (in cm).


There is room for three 3.5 inch drives and an external 5.25 inch drive on a removable cage.


So I put one 3.5 inch drive vertical on the left and one below. The picture has the cage upside down.


Next is putting everything together in the case.



The sidepanels are made of three layers: aluminum, plastic and aluminum. The sidepanels are detachable which is really nice. So I can do a little cable management. Also there is an extra expansion slot fan (on the left).

Next step is booting the system and installing WHS as can be seen below.


The hardware part was piece of cake. The server is running idle about 69 watt. Next stop is the software part ie configuring WHS.