What is NAS?
Network Attached Storage is another name for NAS.
Network Attached Storage (NAS Storage) is a well-known storage solution for computer networks.
In 1990s, the NAS device was released in the market for business use.
In the latest NAS device, good features & performances are available.
File-Level storage protocols are used by these devices.
To allow multiple devices to access the same files and folders at the same time, we generally use Network File System (NFS) or Server Message Block (SMB).
NAS is very simple and easy to set up.
Anyone can access the NAS on the network easily.
The NAS system is very cost-effective and a better option for small businesses/users who really need a better & centralized storage solution.
When multiple users try to access the same file at same time, NAS may perform slower because NAS usage of file-level storage protocols.
Advantages of NAS:-1. Cost-Effective: NAS is more cost-effective than SAN and it requires less hardware.
2. Easy to set up: NAS devices are very easy to set up, configure and manage which can be easily deployed and managed through a web interface.
3. Good Option for file sharing: For file sharing & media streaming, NAS devices are more usable across a network.
Disadvantages of NAS:-
1. Scalability: In terms of scalability, NAS devices have limitation and is not suitable for those organizations which require large storage.
2. Performance: The performance of NAS devices is not the same as SAN solutions. The major drawback of NAS is lower performance and is a concern for those organizations which require high performance.
3. Security: At the security level, NAS devices do not provide the same level of security as SAN solutions. This is a concern for those organizations which require high security to store sensitive & important data.
Use of NAS devices
We can use NAS devices for below tasks:-
1. For streaming media across the network.
2. For file sharing.
3. Applications for development or test environment that require less storage, security, and performance.
4. To store images & media files which require frequent access over the network.
5. We can use the NAS solution for backups & DR.
Type of NAS
Types of Network Attached Storage are given below:-
1. Desktop NAS: This type of NAS device is compact and cost-effective. This type of NAS device can be used for a home or small office and is designed to be put on a desk or attached to a shelf.
2. Rackmount NAS: This type of NAS device is designed in such a way that can be mounted in a server rack easily and are suitable for medium to large organizations. It has multiple bays for drives which can provide more & advanced features/functionality than desktop NAS devices.
3. Cloud NAS: It uses cloud features to store data and backups. It provides a subscription-based service that can be accessed from anywhere over an internet connection.
4. Hybrid NAS: It is a combination of local & cloud storage which provides benefits for both environments. It has multiple bays for drives which can be configured to take a backup of data automatically on the cloud.
5. Enterprise NAS: This type of NAS device is designed for large-scale storage organizations. It can also be used for large data management at an enterprise level. This type of NAS device provides more advanced features like virtualization, clustering, RAID, and high-capacity storage.
