From: "Rich Gauszka" 

From what I've read the appliance is based on Server 2003 R2. With all the
PC monitoring WHS is capable of I would think there would be a steady
stream of communication with Microsoft. I wonder if it will  function as a
local patch management server?

http://www.winsupersite.com/reviews/whs_preview.asp

Finally, Windows Home Server will provide ways for users to access their
WHS-based content from both around the home network and externally, via the
Internet. Microsoft will provide WHS customers with a handy IP address via
Windows Live Domains to make this as simple as possible.

Somewhat related, WHS also monitors the health of each PC it is protecting.
In the meantime, WHS will monitor Windows Security Center in XP (SP2 and
up) and Windows Vista, and provide a single dashboard view of the health of
all of the PCs in your household. So if someone turns off anti-virus for
some reason, you'll know about it. There's no remote management in the
first version, though that will come in a future update.

"Robert Comer"  wrote in
message news:575i03dhefa5ukbd73n0kful3bl5cdvirt{at}4ax.com...
> No. The current version does require activation, but I'm not so sure
> the finished product will, as most will buy it as an appliance.
> (hardware)
>
> Of course you're not going to get the full benefit of what it does or
> no updates if it doesn't have internet access.
>
> --
> Bob Comer
>
>
> On Mon, 26 Mar 2007 22:18:41 -0400, "Geo."
 wrote:
>
>>Does it require internet access to function?
>>
>>Geo.
>>
>>"Rich Gauszka"  wrote in message
>>news:46081746$1{at}w3.nls.net...
>>> Not only that -  the Windows Home Server's wga could hold your entire
>>> media collection hostage till you prove you are entitled to use it.
>>> Would
>>> you risk your entire media collection on an appliance that can shut you
>>> down at will?
>>

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