Network Attached Storage, also known as NAS, is a file-level computer data storage that connected to a network and providing data access to data clients.
The NAS is solely a computer that connected to a network with own installed stripped down and minimal operating system. The unit is oftenly not and unable to carry out other functionalities as other computer may have. NAS unit normally do not have keyboard+mouse and display, it is controlled and managed over network by using web-based browsing.
NAS uses file-based protocol i.e. NFS ( Sun Network File System ) on linux system or SMB ( Server Message Block ) on windows-based system. NAS units rarely limit clients to a single protocol.
More info on NAS : http://compnetworking.about.com/od/itinformationtechnology/l/aa070101a.htm
The benefit of using NAS
Availability of data might potentially be increased with NAS if it provides built-in RAID and clustering.
Performance can be increased by NAS because the file serving is done by the NAS and not done by a server responsible for also doing other processing. The performance of NAS devices, though, depends heavily on the speed of and traffic on the network and on the amount of cache memory (RAM) on the NAS computers or devices.
Buffalo
The Buffalo network-attached storage series are network-attached storage devices sold around the world, for example by US, European and Japanese computer retailers, and have been reviewed by the computer press. They can be modified into miniature general purpose Linux-based computers. The LinkStation and TeraStation are intended for the general public, while the Kuro Box is intended for expert hackers as a cheap platform for Linux development.
<-- Click me
One of it famous product is Buffalo TeraStation.
My experience on Buffalo....
"I used this product once for my office, the system was CRASHED and the RAID system was failed. Suppose by using RAID5, it should be able to recover the lost data from the redundant hard disk but the worst thing was the data inside was TOTALLY LOST and the support told me, it is unable to recover....damm!"
Ever since that, I have lost my confidence on this product and the support as well.
Just found out an open source NAS system...think gonna get a computer and try it on. Be back on the configuration steps and the experience once I had tried it....
[Update: 21st July] Click here, to find out more on how to build your own Network Attached Storage
No comments:
Post a Comment