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To maximize data protection, NAS also makes it possible to configure automatic backups to other devices and the cloud. User permissions are easily administered, files can be available to single users or groups, and access can range from basic to full. Once connected, NAS allows data to be accessed as a shared folder by other computers and devices on the network.Īn NAS system is relatively affordable and convenient to set up. An NAS device connects directly to a switch or a router on an existing network, usually via ethernet, and contains multiple drives arranged in a RAID configuration for redundancy. While it may not seem to the average user that there’s an operating system that manages the storage device, NAS devices have to have an OS on them to take care of the tasks that would otherwise be managed by a computer for DAS devices.Network attached storage (NAS) is a device used exclusively as a single centralized storage location for multiple devices on a network. NAS devices contain a CPU of some kind since it takes computing intelligence and power to manage the filesystem, read and write operations, run applications, process multimedia files (such as video), manage multiple users, and integrate with the cloud if desired. While many NAS devices contain USB ports, these ports are not used to connect the NAS device to your computer-these USB ports are for connecting other devices to your NAS device, whether for charging, for backing up the NAS device, or for otherwise transferring data. The network attachment can be via ethernet cable (hardwired) or W i- F i. This is how the NAS device is connected to your computer(s). While multiple hard drives clearly provide more capacity than a single hard drive, they can also provide redundancy and faster file access and storage times. NAS devices typically use a special NAS category of 3.5-inch hard drives that stand up to the requirements of a device that is constantly running. The most popular NAS devices for home office, small business, or enterprise workgroup contain two to five hard drives. Usually, with hard disk drives, the primary function of a NAS device is to store your files. Most people opt for attaching storage to their own networks when they care about keeping costs fixed or predictable, if they want the ability to access their data and files during internet outages, or if they’re concerned about privacy and data security. Azure, Amazon Web Services, iCloud, and many others are forms of network-attached storage, but for sake of discussion, we’ll confine ourselves to a local network. Wh ile Cloud storage in the W ide A rea N etwork (WAN) could be argued as the third method to connect computers and information as highlighted below, for sake of this discussion, we’ll confine ourselves to a local network other than this brief note. NAS devices are configured for access via permissions to users on an internal network, though you can usually set up access to your NAS devices via the internet, should you choose to do so. We’re referring to your local network at your business or in your home, which might be a hard-wired ethernet network or a WiFi-enabled network.Īs mentioned above, storage devices connected to networks are called network-attached storage, or NAS, devices. You might hear this referred to as direct-attached storage (DAS).
Whats the best nas for home mac#
Mac users might use Thunderbolt cables and ports. There are ways to share access to that hard drive with others, but usually, the hard drive is used exclusively by the computer it’s attached to. Most often, you’d use a USB cable to connect a hard drive or SSD to your computer’s USB port. This is what most of us do at home when we need more storage than our computer or laptop holds.
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