. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

About Me

I am public blog

Hello word I am Public Blog

Menu

Network Attached Storage (NAS) for the home is all the rage. NAS offers a way to share files, access music and movies, and back up your data.

What is network attached storage?

Network-attached storage devices are small servers dedicated solely to sharing files. Instead of having to physically connect a drive to your computer, you can simply connect a device to your home network that provides additional storage space. Storage prices are falling and adding 250gb, 500gb or even 1tb (terabyte) is getting cheap and easy.

NAS advantages

* It’s a simple way to add data storage to all your computers instead of just one.

* Multiple computers can access files at any time and are not dependent on a host PC for file sharing.

* Savings on your electric bill because a power-hungry computer or server doesn’t need to be on 24 hours a day to share files.

* New media server features allow centralization of your music and movie library so everyone can share it on your network and even stream it to home audio and video devices.

* Provides a central location for backup storage.

Features Explanation

USB Print Server: A USB printer can be connected to the NAS device and the printer can be shared over the network.

Media server: The device can stream media content to any device on the network capable of receiving it. MP3s or movies can be streamed to your PC or movies can be streamed to a media center attached to your TV.

UPnP: Universal Plug and Play. UPnP is a zero-configuration dynamic protocol used for device interconnection. That’s pretty complicated, but what it means is that UPnP devices can communicate with other UPnP devices without your intervention. It just works.

DLNA – Digital Life Network Alliance. DLNA is a certification based on other technologies. DLNA certification ensures that certified devices will be able to communicate with each other and provide a minimum level of functionality.

RAID: Redundant Array of Inexpensive Disks. RAID, in its many configurations, sacrifices some disk space for a level of data redundancy. RAID 1, called mirroring, makes an exact duplicate of the primary drive. If the primary drive fails, the “mirrored” secondary drive can take its place until you purchase a replacement. RAID only helps in cases of hardware failure and should not be confused with a backup strategy. If you accidentally delete a file on the primary drive, the file is also deleted on the mirror.

FTP Server: File Transfer Protocol server. Most people won’t need this and will use Windows File Sharing instead. Some security cameras and office scanners have the ability to save to FTP servers and in those cases, and many more, this feature would come in handy.

iTunes Compatible: The NAS has the ability to publish your media files to a computer running iTunes. The computer with iTunes would then be able to play those media files.

USB Ports – External USB storage can be added to expand the capacity of your NAS. This can ensure that your NAS never becomes outdated! When you run out of space, you can buy a cheap external USB drive and connect it to your NAS. Some systems will use them to share USB printers or as a host for your digital camera.

Gigabit Ethernet: transfer rate of one billion bits per second. Most cabling done in homes or offices in the last 5 years was rated gigabit, but the equipment is still a bit more expensive than 100 megabit, so most homes and small offices don’t support this. Gigabit will be cheaper for home and SOHO usage, so it’s still a nice feature.

Backup software included – One of the main reasons to add NAS to your network is for backup. Quite a few drives come with Windows Backup software to automate this important but often overlooked task.

Vista support: Vista has removed support for some older Windows file sharing technologies, and some NAS drives still rely on it. If you use Vista at your home or office, make sure the NAS says that it supports Vista.

Mac compatibility: Native Mac compatibility is patchy, so make sure the device is compatible with your Mac and your version of Mac OS. Macs can access Windows shares, so this really isn’t a big deal.

Active Directory Support – If you are running Windows Server or Windows Small Business Server in your office, then you need this. It allows users on your existing network to use the file shares on the NAS without creating new usernames and passwords. Very useful.

Gigabit Jumbo Frames – Geekspeak for faster networks.

File access via web server: This allows you to browse files on the NAS via a web browser. This would be useful if you were trying to access from a system that doesn’t support Windows file sharing or if you just prefer to access files that way.

DFS Support: Distributed File System. This is another Windows technical term that means that a remote shared folder can be mirrored to the NAS device. This is great for a business with a Windows server and multiple locations.

Accessible via the Internet: Some companies have set up central servers that act as intermediaries between users connected to the Internet and their NAS. This makes your files accessible to anyone, anywhere. Of course, everything is password protected for security. The possibilities here are endless.

Copyright 2007 – NASDrives.net

By admin

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *