Microsoft says the server's drive capacity is expandable, and I was able to add a drive to my server by simply opening the box, attaching the cables and powering the server back on. The system automatically takes care of reformatting the drive and adding the new capacity to the pool.

When Home Server is shipped in appliance form, Microsoft wants users to be able to add drives without using tools or opening the box. For example, HP's MediaSmart Server is expected to be available with either one or two SATA drives installed, but with an additional two open drive bays accessible without opening the case. This means you can buy two drives and simply slide them into the available slots in order to add storage capacity. In addition, users will be able to add external drives via both USB and FireWire connections. It is expected that capacity approaching six terabytes can be added without the need to use any tools.

Beta 2: Nearly feature complete

Microsoft announced a relatively short list of features for WHS, including:

-- Automated backup