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Q: What are the differences between the different NAS device types?

2024-01-18


#NAS #FAQ

Server-based NAS is a device used to configure on-premise file storage and is available in a variety of sizes and types, such as desktop or rack-mounted NAS servers. These devices can be controlled and configured over a network, allowing users to easily manage storage space.
In terms of NAS expansion, there are two main ways to scale vertically and horizontally.
  1. Vertical Scale NAS: This device consists of a pair of controller-managed storage drives. More NAS drives can be purchased each time storage capacity needs to be increased. However, controllers have performance and capacity limits, so they can only optimally manage a fixed number of drives. When the limit is reached, new vertically scalable devices must be purchased, which can result in two separate file storage areas that need to be manually allocated and managed, increasing management costs.
  2. Horizontal Scale NAS: This device contains a cluster of servers that provide logical unit numbering or file sharing over a network. It has both controllers and disk drives, but the controllers can be connected to multiple physical units to ensure that they function as one logical unit. Horizontal scaling is characterized by linear expansion, and as capacity increases, so does the performance of the system. It is therefore more flexible and scalable.

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