NAS, or network-attached storage (NAS), is file-oriented storage that allows network users to access data by connecting to the network like a node. All clients and users in a local network (LAN) will have access to this storage space using a standard Ethernet connection.
Network storage devices usually do not have a screen, keyboard, mouse, or other hardware equipment, and they can be managed and configured using tools such as a browser. Our goal in this article is to review and provide a complete explanation of the storage connected to the network, which is suggested to stay with us until the end.
What is meant by Network-attached storage or NAS?
As mentioned, NAS stands for Network-attached storage, which is connected to the network. This device is used in small and local networks or LAN (local area network) to access all files and documents stored between heterogeneous clients and users. To configure and manage the NAS device, it is necessary to use browser-based tools because the human-computer interface hardware, such as the screen, keyboard, etc., is not built into this device.
Like servers, printers, computers, switches, etc., storage devices connected to the network are also known as nodes and will be added to the network using a standard Ethernet cable connection. Due to the low cost of preparation and installation, easy configuration and use, high capacity, and simple access, this device is considered one of the popular options in any network. Network-attached storage performs its tasks well with cloud layers, archiving, and data backup support.
SAN and NAS are the two main types of network storage. The former is used to store structured data and blocks in a database, while the second type can store unstructured files and documents such as video, photos, audio, data related to a website, text files, etc.
What are the components of NAS?
NAS devices have different components that allow them to be used differently.
- Hardware: NAS includes dedicated hardware. This hardware is called a NAS box, unit, server, or head, and it works like a server with 2 to 5 storage drives, a CPU, and memory.
- Networking: NAS devices are connected to computers or other devices over a network using an Ethernet cable or Wi-Fi. These devices connect the NAS to other devices for charging, backup, or data transfer through the port.
- Processor: NAS devices have a CPU that provides computing intelligence and power for file system management, read/write operations, application running, multimedia file processing, managing multiple users, and integrating with the cloud.
- Software: Pre-configured software is installed on the NAS hardware. The same operating system that handles the NAS device’s data storage and file-sharing requests is responsible for running this program. Of course, these programs will vary depending on the features of the NAS box.
What are the protocols used by NAS?
NAS uses TCP/IP and file-based protocols such as NFS, SM/CIFS, and AFP to communicate between devices in the network.
- NFS: Network file system commonly used for Unix and Linux systems and works on any hardware, network architecture, or operating system.
- SMB: Server Message Block is commonly used for Microsoft Windows and is also known as the Microsoft SMB protocol.
- AFP: Apple’s archiving protocol is exclusive to Apple’s MacOS devices.
The most important advantage of using NAS (Network Attached Storage)
The purpose of preparing a NAS device and its main advantages is easy access to documents and files. If we want to use an example to help better understand the concept of using Network-attached storage, suppose you work in an organization without modern facilities such as a network to access resources. To do your work, you need to have a series of documents and specific data at your disposal. For this purpose, you must search the archive section for hours for the desired information.
After some time, your company and organization decided to make employees’ work easier by installing and running a network and finally transferring all resources and data to it. As a result, to access any file, you only need to connect to the network and find it in less than a few seconds. However, the problem that will arise for the organization is the integration of the devices related to document storage.
In large and developed companies and organizations, the volume of data and information is so large that it will be necessary to configure and install hundreds or even thousands of server files. Also, with the passage of time, the amount of data has increased daily, and this storage system must also have high scalability and flexibility.
NAS can solve all these problems at this time. This is because, in addition to integrating all storage devices, it is designed to be scalable and flexible based on a company’s size.
According to the explanation given, it should be said that from small to large networks of Network-attached storage for more effective configuration and distribution of data among heterogeneous employees (employees who need remote access or may work in different time frames, such as telecommuting) is used By installing and adding multiple storage disks or replacing them with larger ones, the network infrastructure can be expanded as the company grows.
Or what are the disadvantages of NAS?
Now that we know the advantages of storage space connected to the network, it is not bad to examine its disadvantages to make a more informed decision about its use.
- Because NAS is physically located as a piece of hardware at the server location, it is more susceptible to data loss due to natural disasters or device theft.
- Heavy NAS usage can cause congestion on the shared LAN and affect other users. This technology is not suitable for applications that transfer large amounts of data.
- NAS is a shared storage space. System management should set a limit for each user’s storage so that one user’s excessive use does not harm other users.
Using flash storage in improving the performance of Network-attached storage
One of the most significant drawbacks of using Network-attached storage is the disruption when the request and input load increase. If many users send commands to this device to download data simultaneously, there is a possibility of insufficient traction, and eventually, the system will stop.
An efficient solution to this problem is to use fast memory cards. In the old NAS systems, all the storage hardware is HDD, which has a slower speed than the new generations of storage. Therefore, replacing them with more advanced hardware will be a sure solution.
Flash storage is one of the fast storage spaces used in some network storage configurations instead of HDD or in parallel with it. This means that a whole column of flash storage can be configured to work with HDD or completely replace the old storage.
Examples of Network Attached Storage (NAS) applications
NAS applications are different for home and enterprise use, and the type of HDD used may be different based on the programs running on this storage system. Sharing Word, Excel, and other Microsoft programs among users is a common process like backup. Network-attached storage will be used to manage a large volume of multimedia data such as images, videos, sounds, etc.
Home users rely on network-attached storage for more straightforward tasks than enterprise developers.
Among these items are:
- Smart TV storage management
- Management and updating of security systems
- Management of different parts of the consumer-based Internet of Things
- Create and play a media service such as streaming video
- Management of torrent files
- hosting personal cloud servers
- Creating and developing a personal website or even testing one
But there are uses of NAS in industrial uses and organizations such as:
- As a backup point for data recovery and information archiving in case of disaster
- Testing, creating, and developing server-side web applications
- Hosting messaging and chat programs
- Hosting server-based and open-source applications such as customer communication
- Human resources management and overall planning related to employees and employees
- Providing email, multimedia files, printed documents, etc.
Will be. For example, when a company deals with a large volume of multimedia files such as photos (Instagram), it cannot use cloud spaces because of the delay. Instead, it is better to store and archive data in real-time by installing and configuring a network-attached storage system along with this cloud storage.
It should be noted that high-end NAS products have disks with very large storage memory. The connections and configuration of these disks create a unified space with several hard disks for better performance, more redundancy, and higher availability.