Using Windows Home Server to set up a Windows 7 personal cloud

[sharcs]

I want to run Windows 7 as a cloud so that I can access any software installed on it from anywhere in the world without having to save or install anything on the local machine. So far I've learned that you really can't install stuff on Windows Home Server as you would on normal Windows so...

Can I install Windows Home server on a machine and forget about it, and then install Windows 7 on a different machine, link these two machines and then forget about them - then if I want to use my new "cloud" all I have to do is connect to the Windows Home server from anywhere in the world and then use it to run the Windows 7 machine.

Questions:
1 - I'm fairly sure that this can be done but is this a viable solution that I can use on a long term basis?
2 - Is there a way of achieving this without using two machines?
3 - If I'm using two machines, which of the two machines needs to have the most powerful processor?
4 - I understand that the server machine needs to stay on 24/7, but can I have the Windows 7 machine in sleep or hibernate mode and then wake it up using the server machine?

In case you were curious, I need to set up a home cloud because my business requires me to constantly interact with some very sensitive data and I'm not really comfortable carrying it around on a laptop or leaving it in a hard drive in the office.

 

[phantomofrussia]

Answers to your questions:

1. This depends on your business and how you set it up initially. If you are a one person business running with a home office, a simple solution will work. If you plan to grow your business and hire employees, you will need to get a better solution down the road.
2. Yes you can definitely achieve this without using two machines
3. The machine with all of the software installed will need to be the most powerful in my opinion
4. Yes, there are wake-on-LAN capabilities that can be implemented

I am assuming your business is run from your home as I am writing this. Do you access the data through a program or can you just use file explorer to use it? Depending on your answer you different ways you can go about setting it up.

 

[LMiller7]

Be sure that your ISP's terms of service permits you to operate an Internet accessible server. Many do not.