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Q: How does the NAS work?

2024-01-18


#NAS #FAQ

Network Attached Storage (NAS) systems use specific protocols and file formatting protocols that combine hardware and software to allow users to easily share files over a network as if they were accessing them on their own computers.
  1. Protocols: On a network, users perform data transfers over the Internet Protocol (IP), which is used to obtain the address of the file data being transferred, and the Transmission Control Protocol (TCP), which is used to package the data into packets and send the packets out.
  2. File Formatting Protocols: Considering that different machines may run different operating systems, such as Windows, Linux, or Unix, NAS file systems need to support various file formats. Therefore, NAS uses specific file formatting protocols, including the following major ones:
  • Network File System (NFS): Used in Linux and Unix systems, NFS can be used in any hardware, operating system, or network architecture.
  • Server Message Block (SMB): Used in Microsoft Windows devices, SMB is the most common file formatting protocol in Windows systems.
  • Apple Filing Protocol (AFP): Designed for Apple devices running macOS, AFP is used for file access in the Apple environment.

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