Windows Home Server will not only integrate seamlessly with Windows Vista but will also facilitate advanced use of the operating system's capabilities. Microsoft has not as yet revealed the technical details of Windows Home Server, but according to HP's Preliminary Datasheet for the MediaSmart Server, powered by WHS, the product will support Windows Vista and Windows XP as far as backup is concerned.

Windows Home Server will enable users to remotely access their machines only if they are running Windows XP Professional, Media Center Edition 2005 or Windows Vista Ultimate across the computers on home network.

"Windows Home Server will also support the remote desktop features in select versions of Windows Vista and Windows XP, so customers can access their home PCs and applications as if they were actually sitting in front of them," revealed Steven VanRoekel, director of Microsoft's Windows Server Solutions Group. File sharing will be enabled via Windows Home Server for Microsoft Windows Vista, Windows XP Home or Windows XP Professional, Windows 2000 Professional SP4, Mac, Linux.

"Windows Home Server will help customers make the most of Windows Vista's enhanced capabilities for accessing, creating, finding and enjoying digital entertainment. And because Windows Home Server is an always-on device, customers will also be able to store all the music from their Zune media player, stream that music and other digital media to devices in the house, such as the Xbox 360 sitting in the den, or third-party products that play streaming digital media stored on a customer's home server," added VanRoekel.

According to Microsoft, the security and the back-up features of Windows Vista will be enhanced via the Windows Home Server. Moreover, the product will report the health status of all the computers running Vista connected to the home network. Windows Home Server will alert the home administrator if the virus protection or the Windows Updates are disabled, or if a computer has not been backed up for a certain period of time. Additionally, Windows Home Server also features restore capabilities allowing home administrators to turn an operating system back in time.

"Customers will also be able to easily add an internal hard drive or connect an external USB or FireWire hard drive to Windows Home Server to increase the amount of storage for all of their photos, music and videos," said VanRoekel.