What is network-attached storage (NAS)
Network-attached storage (NAS) is dedicated file storage that enables multiple users and heterogeneous client devices to retrieve data from centralized disk capacity. Users on a local area network (LAN) access the shared storage via a standard Ethernet connection.
NAS devices typically don’t have a keyboard or display and are configured and managed with a browser-based utility. Each NAS resides on the LAN as an independent network node, defined by its own unique IP address.
NAS stands out for its ease of access, high capacity and low cost. The devices consolidate storage in one place and support a cloud tier and tasks, such as archiving and backup.
Network-attached storage and storage area networks (SANs) are the two main types of networked storage. NAS handles unstructured data, such as audio, video, websites, text files and Microsoft Office documents. SANs are designed primarily for block storage inside databases, also known as structured data, as well as block storage for enterprise applications.
What is network-attached storage used for?
The purpose of network-attached storage is to enable users to collaborate and share data more effectively. It is useful to distributed teams that need remote access or work in different time zones. NAS connects to a wireless router, making it easy for distributed workers to access files from any desktop or mobile device with a network connection. Organizations commonly deploy a NAS environment as a storage filer or the foundation for a personal or private cloud.
Some NAS products are designed for use in large enterprises. Others are for home offices or small businesses. Devices usually contain at least two drive bays, although single-bay systems are available for noncritical data. Enterprise NAS gear is designed with more high-end data features to aid storage management and usually comes with at least four drive bays.
Prior to NAS, enterprises had to configure and manage hundreds or even thousands of file servers. To expand storage capacity, NAS appliances are outfitted with more or larger disks; this is known as scale-up NAS. Appliances are also clustered together for scale-out storage.
In addition, most NAS vendors partner with cloud storage providers to give customers the flexibility of redundant backup.
Although collaboration is a virtue of network-attached storage, it can also be problematic. Network-attached storage relies on hard disk drives (HDDs) to serve data. I/O contention can occur when too many users overwhelm the system with requests at the same time. Newer systems use faster solid-state drives (SSDs) or flash storage, either as a tier alongside HDDs or in all-flash configurations.
Why do organizatons use NAS?
NAS systems are versatile, flexible, and scalable, so you can add onto existing solutions as your storage needs grow. They can be either pre-populated with disks or diskless and have one or two USB ports so you can connect printers or external storage drives to the network, allowing additional options for all connected users.
Do you need IT to manage NAS?
Because NAS devices are simple to operate and can be configured and managed through a browser-based utility, you may not need an IT professional on standby to manage storage. Additionally, a NAS device can be accessed remotely, allowing it to serve as a private Dropbox or Google Drive with far more storage and no monthly cost.
How does a NAS device work?
A NAS device runs on any platform or operating system. It is essentially a bundle of hardware and software with an embedded operating system to run independently. Often, it is a simple combination of a network interface card (NIC), a storage controller, a number of drive bays, and a power supply. NAS devices contain anywhere from two to five hard drives to provide redundancy and fast file access. While NAS is often thought of as a mini-server, its controller only manages disks for storage and does not operate as a server.
In basic terms, a NAS device is an appliance that directly connects to the network either through a hardwired Ethernet (RJ45) cable or via Wi-Fi, thus creating a LAN instead of WAN. It is assigned an IP address, and data transfer between users, servers, and a NAS via TCP/IP. NAS operates with a traditional file system—either a New Technology File System (NTFS) or NFS for remote file services and data sharing. All storage on the device is accessed at the file level through a file share.
NAS devices deliver shared storage as network mounted volumes and use protocols like NFS and SMB/CIFS. When it’s used for shared storage, the NAS device attaches multiple servers to a common storage device. These “clusters” are often used for failover through a cluster-shared volume, which allows all cluster nodes to access the same data.
A NAS consists of the following elements:
- Hardware: The hardware is simply a server that contains storage disks or drives, processors, and RAM. Known as a NAS box, unit, server, or head, it transfers only two types of requests: data storage and file sharing.
- Software: Storage software is preconfigured and installed on the above hardware and deployed on a lightweight operating system embedded in the hardware.
- Network switch: Users access data transfer protocols through this switch, which is essentially a central server that connects to everything and routes requests.
- Protocols: Transmission control protocol (TCP) combines files into packets and sends them through internet protocols (IPs).
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