9.3.3 Network-Attached Storage (NAS)

Little businesses searching for additional storage to share documents and print services ought to investigate at network joined storage (NAS). Like a server, a NAS gadget sits specifically on the network and like a server, a N͞A͞S gadget serves records—not uncovered pieces of storage—to clients and applications. In any case, dissimilar to a server, a NAS gadget does not require introducing, designing, tuning, and redesigning a multipurpose working framework. Furthermore, dissimilar to a SAN, a NAS needn't a different server to serve up its blocks of data as documents. Rather, a NAS comes preconfigured with simply the parts of a OS important to serve documents to clients and applications.

 

Most NAS gadgets serve records utilizing either the Network File System (NFS), which is an open source document framework, or the Common Internet File System (CIFS), which is the framework utilized by Windows to serve documents to the client. Numerous can utilize both. The developing ubiquity of Apple desktops and laptops has pushed numerous network storage gadgets to likewise bolster the Apple File Protocol (AFP).

NAS gadgets have many preferences:

Independence: A NAS can settle down anyplace on the network, free of servers, and serve documents to any network associated P͞C or server. In the event that a server or PC goes down, the NAS is still utilitarian. On the off chance that power goes down, there's no requirement for complex reconfiguration. With its basic engineering and setup, a NAS can be up and running again in minutes.

Usability: NAS gadgets commonly come as preconfigured, turnkey arrangements. There's no compelling reason to introduce a host connector or OS. You just connect the NAS to the network and, contingent upon the usability of the client interface, you do some light configuration utilizing a Web browser. There might be somewhat more design to do on computers and servers getting to the gadget, however by and large you're up and running in minutes. Contrasted with conventional servers, NAS units require little upkeep, few upgrades, and small investigating. Whatever administration is important should more often than not be possible by means of a basic Web browser interface.

Easy Upgrades: Adding storage to a server as a rule requires closing down the server, supplanting a drive or including another one and afterward starting up the server once more. To get more storage with you basically connect another NAS gadget to the network and are up and running with extra shared record storage in minutes. On the other hand a few NAS gadgets permit swapping of hard drives or including internal or external storage while they are in function (generally known as “hot swap”).

Flexibility: Many NAS gadgets can share their documents effectively among Windows, Mac, UNIX, and Linux-based PCs. Some are likewise sufficiently adaptable to be utilized as a NAS, as DAS for a solitary server, or, as a storage gadget on a SAN. Numerous accompany abilities for sharing printers.

Easy Backup: NAS gadgets can be an incredible storage medium for PC-based backups. A large number of these gadgets go with backup software that is easy to arrange and utilize, both for backing up client PCs to the NAS and backing up the NAS to another storage gadget, tape, or an outer backup service. When all your documents are in one place, backup is essentially simpler than when they are spread around the workplace. A few NAS's additionally come with simple devices for moving data to the gadget and replicating data over the network from storage gadget to storage gadget.

 

A Video Server designed with NAS

In short, depending on the necessities of your small business and your technical skills, you might be best off with DAS, a SAN, or NAS arrangement. On the off chance that basic document and print sharing is your objective and your staff has small networking technical expertise, a NAS is frequently the best arrangement.