HP MEDIASMART SERVER IS DESIGNED primarily to be used as a network-attached storage (NAS) unit for the home. The box itselflooks great. The glowing blue LEDs indicate occupied drive bays, power, and server health. You manage the NAS via a console app on any networked Windows machine or through a browser using the Remote Access feature. The idea is to power the box on, connect it to your home network, and then place it on a shelf. You shouldn't ever have to touch it again, unless you're upgrading drives.

The server's four bays accept drives of any capacity, but the capacities must match. External drives, which connect via USB ports as well as an eSATA port in the back, can vary in storage size and provide easy expandability . After unboxing the EX 470 , all I had to do was power it up and connect it to my simulated home network, then install the HP Windows Home Server software on at least one Windows PC on the network.

To make full use of the MediaSmart, you need to install the HP software, though it's worth noting that computers on the network don't require it to access the device.
Overall, the EX 470 fast performance on Gigabit Ethernet networks coupled with a nice price make this a package most home networks will enjoy.

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