Antivirus/Antispyware for Windows Home Server?

**mctw** · #1 7th Apr 2009, 11:10

okayy guys, bit of a noob question here sorry.

just setup a old desktop pc on windows home server, only the evaluation at the moment, but will be the full version sometime.

just wondering, do i need antivirus/antispyware on it? if so, whats good and whats not, the pcs only got 512mb of ram, so i'd prefer lightweight apps if possible.

Cheers,
MCTW

**evilfantasy** · #2 7th Apr 2009, 17:05

You atleast need an antivirus and the built in Windows firewall.

Avast is very lightweight so I would give it a try. Avast! Home Free Edition

**mctw** · #3 8th Apr 2009, 06:50

heyy, thanks for the link.
downloaded it, but when i run it to install, it says it is not compatible with Windows NT Server. damm
ermm.. any more ideas? or is there a way around that..

MCTW

**evilfantasy** · #4 8th Apr 2009, 11:41

Sorry the server part didn't register in my head. You will likely have to buy an antivirus for a server. I'm pretty sure avast! PROFESSIONAL EDITION will work. http://www.avast.com/

**mctw** · #5 8th Apr 2009, 12:38

okayy no worries.
ill have a look around and try some other free bits to see if i can get away without paying first though - cheapskate here

MCTW

**Bubba** · #6 8th Apr 2009, 15:10

On a side note EF, I've cycled through several free and paid for AV's and so far I'm really happy with the Avast free version..........

**mctw** · #7 9th Apr 2009, 13:03

i know this is a bit different, but i saw something on CJ on a old post about using a old pc as a firewall or something similar, is there such a thing thats any good as a antivirus or spyware?

also, i reckon i can get my hands on a copy of norton server edition (or called something similar!) for cheap. having used norton before, im not exactly for it! but still, would this be any good? or would it seriously be worth investing in some decent server protection software.

MCTW

**serverguy** · #8 9th Apr 2009, 16:05

Woooah hang on a minute :)

First off, technically, and I am ready to be shot down for saying this, Windows Home Server doesn't need any anti virus installing. Heres why.

Microsoft intend it as a very simple, suitable for anyone 'application'. It is not really designed to be tweaked, fiddled with etc. Everything should be able to be done through the console, which means you can't go and install any programs or modifications that aren't specifically designed for WHS.

Now, Microsoft doesn't suggest you actually need an antivirus on WHS for this reason. (the firewall is pre set up, and I reccomend you don't fiddle with it, because you may end up messing up the remote access for the websites).

Windows Home Server is designed as a storage device, a backup device, and a remote access device. Everytime any folder is put on the WHS, or taken off the WHS, that folder should have already been scanned for viruses by the computer that sends it to the WHS.

However, the problem comes when you put files on WHS, without first scanning them or knowing they are safe beforehand (for instance if you download straight to the WHS, or modifiy it beyond how Microsoft intended it to be used).

So, if you do think you want to have antivirus on the WHS (which is understandable, in fact I do on my WHS) there are only a few antivirus products that will actually work, and surprise surprise they are made specifically for WHS.

First off, Norton will make WHS unusable, due to the way that WHS stores files, basically Norton will take you WHS to 100% CPU load 24/7. This is the same for 95% of other antiviruses, basically none of them will work with WHS unless they specifically say they are supported (and it has to be WHS supported, not just Server 2003 (which WHS is based on) supported).

The two suitable antivirus products are Avast WHS Edition, and F-Secure Home Server Security 2009.

I use the Avast one, and use their free desktop client on all client PCs. This way, I can remotely manage all of the other computers, which is great.
I have no experience of the F-Secure one.
I think they both off trials so you can try them both out and see which one you like best.

As for the standalone network security device, this would require another old PC (it can be really really really ancient) and basically you install a special OS on it, which acts in place of you router at the moment, and allows much much greater control of what comes in to, and what leaves your network. However, it is no use protecting from viruses that could get on your homeserver that are on the local side of the firewall, only stuff that comes from the internet.

**mctw** · #9 10th Apr 2009, 03:18

cheers :) that makes things a bit easier to understand. seems i got a bit confused between 2 very different topics then i think!

I didn't realize just how different WHS from server 2003, I just thought it was like and extra application or add on running over the top.

im downloading the trial of avast WHS edition, to test that out, but i take it you would recommend running a antivirus to not running one at all, even if it not entirely nessacary?

and about using another pc in place of the router, is that something you would recommend setting up? Ive got a load of old bits (like many people on here have im sure) lying around, a really basic pc shouldnt be to hard to knock up.

**serverguy** · #10 10th Apr 2009, 12:48

Personally I couldn't be without my Smoothwall router.

If you have a computer why not install it and have a play around, you may then decide it is worth it or maybe not but there is no harm in trying.

I will try to find the post I made about it a while back.

Here we go:
http://www.computer-juice.com/forums...express-17094/