NAS & Network Storage

What is a NAS drive?

A NAS, Network Attached Storage, is a storage medium that is connected to a network and consists of one or more hard drives. As a result, you can store and open the NAS files from different devices in the network. Especially handy when mediaplayers, computers and smartphones are connected. For instance, it is possible to view files in full HD from the drive on your TV or to play music on your smartphone. As well as serving as a medium to open and store files from various places on the network, NAS can also be used as a central back-up location. The current NAS drives contain so many functions that they can be considered as a personal cloud.

Types of NAS drives

NAS drives are available in various types, each with their own functions and applications. We've outlined two types of NAS.

• Complete ready-to-use NAS: This NAS system has been designed in such a way that the entire casing and everything inside has been made ready-to-use. A great advantage is that the network cable can be connected directly and putting into operation only takes moments. The settings are easy to run through and all the connections are located in the casing. A disadvantage is that the NAS cannot be expanded with extra hard drives and the internal hard drive often cannot be replaced.
• Expandable NAS: The expandable NAS system consists of the casing and offers numerous functions, such as adding extra hard drives and operating several drives in a set-up. For this NAS system, some technical knowledge is required.

Storage space and processor

The amount of storage space that the NAS contains is determining for the number of files that you can store on it and what you want to do with it. On a half terabyte, you can already store a considerable amount of films, music and documents, but with one terabyte you can already easily use the server for your online activities. It is advisable to use the RAID function, with which you can store files on several hard drives. If you have for instance four hard drives of a terabyte in your NAS, then the data can be stored on several drives, so that if one of the hard drives crashes you always have a back-up. Another important advantage is the processor of the NAS. These are supplied by ARM or Intel and nowadays can allow many processes to operate at the same time, so the possibilities with the current systems are rapidly increasing. Simultaneously streaming films is not a single problem for the current systems, but when you also wish to host a website, a fast processor and sufficient memory are required. So make your choice while considering what you wish to do with it.

Functions

The current NAS systems offer numerous functions which facilitate the use and can control several devices remotely. As well as the functions for saving and playing files, it is also possible to make a back-up of files on your pc, tablet or smartphone. NAS systems have a web interface which allows many possibilities, the interface therefore starts to look more like that of an operating system. Game consoles are also compatible with the NAS and downloading files can be done quickly and carefully. Playing and streaming films and sharing photos are the basic functions. However, numerous functions are added by the users themselves and you can also make a contribution to this yourself. The various packages can be viewed and installed in the web interface. For instance, CMS systems for websites and photo editing programmes. In addition, via the system a central printer can be adjusted into the network and a FTP server connected.