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Q: How does NAS compare to other storage network architectures?

2024-02-22


#NAS #FAQ

Network Attached Storage (NAS) is one of a number of networked storage solutions and differs from other major storage solutions such as Storage Area Networks (SANs) and Direct Attached Storage (DAS).
Storage Area Network (SAN): A dedicated high-speed network used to connect multiple servers and a large number of storage devices. a SAN centralizes access, replication, and protection of all storage resources, and uses technologies such as RAID and redundant data deletion to optimize storage capacity and reliability.
  • Differences between NAS and SAN: NAS and SAN are both networked storage systems, but the main difference lies in the user's perspective. To the client, NAS is viewed as a file system, while a SAN is viewed as an operating system; NAS handles each file request, while a SAN manages requests in contiguous blocks of data. They use different underlying protocols and technologies, with SANs being more flexible but difficult to configure and manage.
Direct Attached Storage (DAS): A type of storage that connects directly to a server, such as an external hard drive connected via a cable. DAS allows only the host server to access the data directly; other devices must request the data through the host server.
  • Difference between NAS and DAS: DAS is the predecessor of NAS, which is directly connected to the server and is limited by the expansion slots in the server and by connectivity; DAS capacity and connectivity are limited by the size of the server and the expansion slots. Compared to NAS, DAS is less suitable for sharing and more complicated to manage.

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