One embodiment is directed to an object addressable storage (OAS) system that has a plurality of storage devices to store a plurality of content units. The OAS system provides an OAS interface so that each one of the content units stored on the OAS system can be accessed using an object identifier. The OAS system is capable of discovering the addition of newly added storage devices to the plurality of storage devices after the OAS system has been at least partially populated so that at least some of the plurality of storage devices have content units already stored thereon, and in response to the discovery of newly added storage devices, configuring the newly discovered storage devices to increase the storage capacity of the OAS system and to enable content units to be stored thereon.