Windows Home Server 2011

Windows Home Server 2011, code named Vail, is a home server operating system by Microsoft designed for small office/home offices and homes with multiple connected PCs to offer protected file storage, file sharing, automated PC backup, remote access, and remote control of PC desktops. It was released on 6 April 2011 following the release of Power Pack 3 for its aging predecessor Windows Home Server. Microsoft has announced that Windows Home Server 2011 will be the last Windows Home Server release. Windows Home Server will be succeeded by Windows Server 2012 Essentials.

Windows Home Server 2011 is based on Windows Server 2008 R2 and therefore only supports x86-64 (64-bit) hardware. This is significant, since the preceding Windows Home Server v1 was 32-bit. Coupled with fundamental changes in the structure of the client backups and the shared folders, there was no clear method for migrating from WHS version 1 to WHS 2011.

Features
No new features have been announced by Microsoft, but reportedly will include additional entertainment capabilities, including web-based media functionality and an 'add in' feature with an app store.

Initial speculation by technology columnist Mary Jo Foley fueled the idea that 'Vail' would integrate with Windows Media Center. This prompted the response "Time will tell" by Microsoft Windows Home Server Product Planner Todd Headrick, but by the time of the public beta Microsoft had decided not to integrate Windows Media Center with 'Vail'.

Drive Extender removal
On 23 November 2010, Microsoft announced that Drive Extender would be removed from Windows Home Server 2011. This announcement has led to "astonishment and outrage" from testers and users. Criticism of Drive Extender's removal is mainly related to it being seen as a core feature of Windows Home Server and a key reason for adoption. Windows Home Server 2011 developer Michael Leworthy expressed concern that the implementation of Drive Extender might lead to "data error issues." As a result, third-party products entered the market to fill the void left by Drive Extender, including Drive Bender (Division M) and DrivePool (StableBit).

The volume spanning feature of Drive Extender, in which two or more drives are used as one large storage volume, is available using the Dynamic Disks feature as in any other Windows Server release.

Update Rollup 4 Available for Windows Home Server 2011
Microsoft announced there is an Update Rollup Pack 4 for Windows Home Server 2011.