(1) See network access server.
(2) (Network Attached Storage) A specialized file server that connects to the network. A NAS device contains a slimmed-down operating system and a file system and processes only I/O requests by supporting the popular file sharing protocols, primarily CIFS for Windows and NFS for Unix.
The NAS concept originated in the early 1990s for computer-aided-design (CAD) and other applications that generated huge data files. File servers with full-blown operating systems have sometimes been called network attached storage, but a true NAS can perform no task other than I/O.
Just Plug It In
Using traditional LAN protocols such as TCP/IP over Ethernet, the NAS enables additional storage to be quickly added by plugging it into a network hub or switch. As network transmission rates have increased from Ethernet to Fast Ethernet to Gigabit Ethernet, NAS devices have come up to speed parity with direct attached storage devices. See NAS gateway, SAN and NetApp Filer.
Industrial Strength NAS
Network Appliance popularized the network attached storage (NAS) device. Sophisticated units such as this one can hold terabytes of storage and provide mission critical reliability for large enterprises. (Image courtesy of Network Appliance, Inc.)
SOHO and Personal Use
In 2002, Iomega introduced a line of economical RAID-based NAS devices with capacities to 480GB. Suited to the individual or small to medium-sized LAN, this model had a hot spare ready to replace a failed drive. (Image courtesy of Iomega Corporation.)
(2) (Network Attached Storage) A specialized file server that connects to the network. A NAS device contains a slimmed-down operating system and a file system and processes only I/O requests by supporting the popular file sharing protocols, primarily CIFS for Windows and NFS for Unix.
The NAS concept originated in the early 1990s for computer-aided-design (CAD) and other applications that generated huge data files. File servers with full-blown operating systems have sometimes been called network attached storage, but a true NAS can perform no task other than I/O.
Just Plug It In
Using traditional LAN protocols such as TCP/IP over Ethernet, the NAS enables additional storage to be quickly added by plugging it into a network hub or switch. As network transmission rates have increased from Ethernet to Fast Ethernet to Gigabit Ethernet, NAS devices have come up to speed parity with direct attached storage devices. See NAS gateway, SAN and NetApp Filer.
Industrial Strength NAS
Network Appliance popularized the network attached storage (NAS) device. Sophisticated units such as this one can hold terabytes of storage and provide mission critical reliability for large enterprises. (Image courtesy of Network Appliance, Inc.)
SOHO and Personal Use
In 2002, Iomega introduced a line of economical RAID-based NAS devices with capacities to 480GB. Suited to the individual or small to medium-sized LAN, this model had a hot spare ready to replace a failed drive. (Image courtesy of Iomega Corporation.)
 | Reproduced with permission from Computer Desktop Encyclopedia. Copyright (c) 1981-2009 The Computer Language Company Inc. All rights reserved. |
Additional Resources
- LaCie Network Space 2 NAS adds torrent support, wake-on LAN; $160
- No RAID - Not SmartWhy would any company build a NAS server without RAID today? Do you want to lose 1TB of photos, music, video, etc. in the blink of an eye when the hard drive crashes? A second drive is so cheap today as to make you wonder why...
- Discussion threads 2009-11-05
- News to know: Intel; Microsoft layoffs; Motorola, Palm; Oracle-Sun; MSN
- Here are today's notable headlines. You can get News To Know via email alert and RSS daily. For continuous updates see BNET's around-the-Web tech coverage.: Sam Diaz: New York AG files antitrust charges against Intel; alleges bribery, coercion Mary Jo Foley: Are the Microsoft...
- Blog posts 2009-11-05
- LaCie Network Space 2 NAS adds torrent support, wake-on LAN; $160
- LaCie on Wednesday updated its Network Space 2 network-attached storage device with integrated torrent support, wake-on LAN power management and an estimated $160 price tag. by Andrew Nusca
- Blog posts 2009-11-04
- Whitepaper:Â EqualLogic TCO Analysis by ESG Lab
- This ESG Lab report examines the economic excellence of highly scalable EqualLogic iSCSI storage solutions compared to traditional direct attached storage DAS, Fibre Channel storage area network FC SAN, and multi-protocol solutions (defined as systems that provide FC, iSCSI, and NAS connectivity). After testing EqualLogic storage in the lab using...
- White papers 2009-11-04
- Live File Backup 2.9.10.25 (Windows)
- Live File Backup is the user-friendly real-time/live backup program for your home and business PC. The Continuous and automatic backup software is creating automatically file copies (generations/versions) when saving in the background. The backup files and its corresponding copies can automatically be saved to local or external drives, USB memory...
- Software downloads 2009-10-22
- Uranium Backup 7.5.1 build 3226 (Windows)
- Uranium Backup Free is a tool to back up your data on your PC. You can do so by backing it up to local or external drives, network drives, NAS servers and any other mass storage drive. It allows you to back up your files multiple times and to unlimited...
- Software downloads 2009-10-16
- Optical storage: RIP
- Vintage Zip DriveI've actually got a Zip 100 SCSI drive sitting around with a ton of disks. Cost a ton when it was new, but now it's just an antique paperweight...Optical storage is not a dead endSSD drives are never going to catch on for some big things, like PC...
- Discussion threads 2009-10-11
- Iomega StorCenter ix2-200 offers up to 4TB of efficiency, simplicity
- Iomega has announced a refresh of its popular double-drive desktop NAS device, the StorCenter ix2-200. by Andrew Nusca
- Blog posts 2009-10-08
- Iomega StorCenter ix2-200 photos
- Iomega releases the updated version of its StorCenter ix2 NAS server with enhanced functionality and features. by CNET News.com
- Image galleries 2009-10-08
- DEK BackupAssist 5.3 (Windows)
- BackupAssist performs automatic, scheduled backups of Windows servers to a variety of backup devices, such as tape, hard drive, REV drive CD/DVD, NAS and file. In the event of a server crash or other disaster, files and system state can be restored from the backup media. BackupAssist will allow you...
- Software downloads 2009-10-05
- HP MediaSmart EX495 Server
- Editors' note: The HP MediaSmart Server EX495 has a very similar feature set to that of the already reviewed LX 195. For this reason, you might have a slight feeling of deja vu while reading the feature section of this review.Priced at around $700, the HP MediaSmart Server EX495 is...
- Product reviews 2009-10-02
- NetCDP Online Backup 2.0.20 (Windows)
- NetCDP Online Backup provides an extremely easy to use continuous online data backup application for Windows users. NetCDP automatically and continuously back up your selected folders to Amazon's S3 Simple Storage Service or a NAS server and virtualizes your backed up data as a local folder. It has the ability...
- Software downloads 2009-10-02
- Asus, QNAP release new 1080p HD media streamers
- Home theaters are still waiting for the killer device that will run away with the market for streaming media to your HDTV. How do we know? More and more companies are jumping into the "network media player" game—a dominant device (whether a networked TV or super...
- Blog posts 2009-10-01
- Ahsay Backup Software Free Edition 5.5.3 (Windows)
- The FREE Edition is for home users and small companies who have 2 desktop or laptop computers to back up. It comes with 2 AhsayACB and 1 AhsayOBS. You need to install AhsayOBS on a computer or a supported NAS device to turn it into a backup server. For the...
- Software downloads 2009-09-28
- Ahsay Backup Software 5.5.3 (Mac)
- The Free Edition is for home users and small companies who have 2 desktop or laptop computers to back up. It comes with 2 AhsayACB and 1 AhsayOBS. You need to install AhsayOBS on a computer or a supported NAS device to turn it into a backup server. For the...
- Software downloads 2009-09-25
- Netgear WNDR3700 RangeMax Dual Band Wireless-N Gigabit Router (Premium Edition)
- The new Netgear WNDR3700 RangeMax is a great upgrade from the Netgear WNDR3300. It now supports true dual bands, offering simultaneous Wireless-N performance in both 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz bands. The router also offers a decent network storage feature when coupled with a USB external hard drive. It includes a traffic...
- Product reviews 2009-09-23
- News to know: Twitter DMs; New Neutrality; Zimbra; Dell-Perot; Palm; Foursquare
- Here are today's notable headlines. You can get News To Know via email alert and RSS daily. For continuous updates see BNET's around-the-Web tech coverage. Michael Krigsman: Are Twitter direct messages safe? Richard Koman: FCC to announce net neutrality principles ...
- Blog posts 2009-09-22
- (Netgear Stora NAS server photos)
- Problem is...It only does RAID-1 mirroring, not RAID-0 striping. That means that, if you add a second 1TB drive you still only have 1TB. But, at least you get a duplicate copy of all the data in the event of a crash. Don't know what that means...
- Discussion threads 2009-09-21
- Netgear debuts 1TB Stora consumer NAS; $229
- Netgear on Monday announced the new 1TB Stora, a $229 consumer NAS device for home multimedia. by Andrew Nusca
- Blog posts 2009-09-21
- Netgear Stora NAS server photos
- Netgear unveiled Monday its new network attached storage server that supports two internal SATA hard drive and an easy over-Internet remote-access solution. by CNET News.com
- Image galleries 2009-09-21
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