So Explain NAS?
In short Network Attached Storage is another server on the network in its own right and can in several cases, completely replace a traditional file server with a Direct Attached Storage System (DAS) – for example if the server’s only role has been to share files. If the NAS is to be used with an existing server already being used to control users login and access authorization over data, such as in the case of a Windows 2003 server with Active Index, then the NAS can integrate into the AD so that access permissions to the info on the Network Storage can still be controlled by the existing AD server/Domain Controller.
Network attached storage deciphers lots of the Problems linked with At Once Attached Storage by having miles better connectivity – to the network this time and not right to a server. By utilising 1 or 2 commonly accepted networking file system standards (NFS or Network File System for the UNIX systems and CIFS or Common Internet File System, for the Windows family of operating systems); NAS devices are able to share data across networks covering pretty much every personal computer straight from the box.
The uptake in NAS acceptance has been principally assisted by the rises in performance of the networks that distribute the information. Where as just a few years ago networks were limited by the 12.5MB/sec of a ten/100LAN, networks have now been given a new possibility enjoying theoretical speeds of 125MB/sec with the gigabit (1GbE) Ethernets and for the swiftest bandwidths available the new 10 Gig (10GbE) Ethernet cards and switches are currently available and becomming a touch cheaper. With these advances in network technology, the network is now not the bottleneck it once was and NAS is seen as a near ideal solution for many environments, enjoying several main benefits.
Simple installation and management for the organisation lowering costs.
NAS utilises new speedier gigabit network performance outstripping SCSI.
The glorious connectivity and info sharing ability between heterogeneous clients.
The power to centralise data storage helping trim costs at the same time making it simpler to secure the information and go along with numerous Acts.
In Short a NAS system can be seen as another server on the primary network that is actually capable of being attached to by many differing types of buyer. It can administer its own security or customarily also integrate with the Windows Active Catalog to admit permissions to be set by the AD server.
It is different from a SAN in that a Storage Area Network usually has its own separate network for storage traffic and in that a SAN sometimes only serves its info to servers who then in turn make the information available to client machines.
It is different naturally also to Direct Attached Storage also, since as the names suggest DAS is firmly attached to a client or server while NAS is attached to the network.
The writer is a nas storage expert with experience of working with qnap and qsan info storage technology.