Web browsing using WHS?
July 27, 2009 – 10:13 amThe Barebones box which I used to build my WHS is now reduced to just $135, or around £82. It started me thinking about buying another box and using it as an “always on” email/browsing PC. The problem I have at the moment is that I often just want to check my email, or Google Reader, and I don’t like leaving my main PC on full time for power reasons, so I end up booting into Vista or Win 7, and it’s a bit of a pain. With a new MSI atom box I wouldn’t mind leaving it on as it uses a lot less power. Then it suddenly hit me (and by suddenly I mean after about 12 months), why not just hook a keyboard, mouse and monitor to my WHS, after all, my WHS is on 24/7.
I did this a few days ago, installed Firefox on my WHS and now I have my always on Web box. The question is, is this a bad idea? after all, WHS does give you a nice warning when you first boot regarding using the PC directly i.e. not via the connector software.
There are other options of course, I could install Sandboxie and run the browser in a Sandbox, or even install a virtual OS, both of these options should protect WHS from harm.
Anyway, any thoughts on using WHS (or any server for that matter) as a web box?