When to Use Network-Attached Storage
So now that we have laid out the basics of network-attached storage and some of its alternatives, the question remains- why and when should this be used?
In order for network-attached storage to be best put to use, it will have to be put in an environment which is completely networked. In a SOHO environment or "connected home" all the systems are generally on one network which will allow them to all access the NAS. This way it becomes a center for file storage and access is given to all the computers. This could be useful for making all your home's digital music accessible to the computers on the network or to make an office's records viewable by all the people who work there. A NAS device is plugged into a router which connects it to the network and distributes access to all the local computers- the setup can be as simple as this or can can get very complex because some devices support timed backups, permission systems, a controllable switch and more. The some products can even be connected to from outside the network via a protocal like FTP.
So when is it smart to use NAS? The best times are when a central storage device is needed for a network, when an external RAID device is needed for secure storage, or when basic file server access is needed for data. Most SOHO/consumer NAS devices can hold somewhere between 250GB and 2TB of data, so while the higher end devices can hold a lot of information, they are still not that large and are not powerful enough for a large office or corporate environment. The smaller, single drive devices are really for the dedicated home user or a small office with limited demands.
One of the most important strengths of NAS is the fact that is provides external RAID support. There are not many options for affordable in the part of the market and the number of direct-attached storage devices are woefully limited. A RAID DAS device, like Maxtor's OneTouch III Turbo connects to one system using USB or FireWire as opposed to the network. This is an evolution of the external hard drive, though it has extra features which make it more powerful. As stated before, dual (or larger) DAS devices are not as prevelant in the market as NAS devices because if you are going to invest the money, a NAS is more power useful and scalable and it can do everything a DAS can do.
There you have it, the basics of network-attached storage. Understanding and implementing these devices is not hard at all, but the main problem with them is that they are expensive, as are most reliable storage solutions. Some money can be saved by buying a device and then using your own drives, but they you must have a number of matching drives (either two or four, unless you want to use JBOD). Finding the right device can be hard as well, but there are lots of options out there and many are tailored towards different needs so a more basic device can be used at home while a more powerful device, like the Yellow Machine, can be used in the workplace.