What is NAS in the Computer Network?


NAS stands for Network Attached Storage. It is storage devices that are linked to a network and support file access services to computer systems. These devices generally include an engine that implements the file services and one or more devices on which data is stored. NAS uses file access protocols, including NFS or CIFS.

NAS systems are famous with enterprise and small organizations in many industries as effective, scalable and low-cost storage solutions. They can provide email systems, accounting databases, payroll, video recording and editing, data logging, etc.

NAS is beneficial for more than only general centralized storage supported to client computers in environments with huge amounts of information. It can allow simpler and lower cost systems including load-balancing and fault-tolerant email and internet server systems by offering storage services.

The power emerging industry for NAS is the consumer industry where there is a huge amount of multi-media information. Specific consumer industry devices are now commonly available.

The cost of NAS devices has collapsed in modern years, providing dynamic network-based storage to the home consumer industry for a limited higher than the cost of a frequent USB or FireWire external hard disk. There are some home consumer appliances developed around ARM, PowerPC, or MIPS processors running an embedded Linux operating framework.

NAS is a hard drive connected to a web, used for storage and accessed through an authorized network address. It facilitates as a server for document sharing but does not enable other services such as emails or authentication. It enables the insertion of more storage areas to available networks even when the system is closing during maintenance.

NAS is a complete system created for heavy network systems, which can be processing thousands of transactions per minute. NAS supports a broadly supported storage system for any organization needing a stable network system.

Roles

There are three main roles which are as follows −

NAS Protocol

NAS servers fully supported by the network file system and standard interface file system. NASs also provide different types of network protocols, including SCP and File Transfer Protocol (FTP). The primary purpose of NAS design was only file sharing over UNIX across a LAN. NAS also strongly supports HTTP. Users can easily download the stuff directly from the network if NAS is linked to the Internet.

NAS Connections

Different mediums are used for maintaining connections with NAS servers, including Ethernet, fiber optics and wireless mediums with 802.11 standards.

NAS Drives

It can use any technology for this purpose, but SCSI is used by default. NAS also supports ATA disks, optical discs and magnetic media.

Updated on: 05-May-2021

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