A NAS server is a network attached storage device It also offers many other functionalities. In the following article we will tell you everything about this type of servers, how they work, what are they for and all its possibilities.
What is a NAS server?
A NAS -Network Attached Storage- server is a network storage device. It allows, among other things, access from different devices: mobile phones, computers and remotely. There are many access possibilities that it offers and it stands out for its price and its simple administration.
NAS servers allow us to store our data wherever we wantEither at home or in the office. With these servers we can create our own cloud at home, set up web servers, VPNs or even create a service streaming own.
Thus, the principal function of a NAS server is to act as a storage unit, acting as an external hard drive or allowing us to create our own storage in the cloud, but not on servers of an external company, but on our own house.
How does a NAS server work?
To put it in some way, a NAS server is a computer with its own operating system that works 24 hours a day. In these servers we find two sets of components: the NAS with its RAM, processor and others, and on the other hand the hard drives that can be added to its slots.
NAS servers can be configured in various ways. For home use, the NAS is usually connected directly the router to obtain direct connection to the local network and the Internet, without restrictions to update and offer multiple possibilities.
Once we have connected the NAS we must access the device from our computer, and you can do it at through the browser. We can also install applications on our PC or mobile devices with which to configure the files that we want to copy to the NAS.
The NAS also allows set up multiple user accounts when we use it as a device to make backup copies. With this we will have our own cloud to make backup copies without having to pay each one a different service, having as the only limit the level of storage that we have with the hard drives.
Usually carry out the initial setup of a NAS can take us between 15 and 30 minutes, although if we want to explore other possibilities and functionalities that the server offers, this will take us more time.
What is a NAS server for?
NAS servers can be focused on two types of users depending on the use they are going to give them: domestic or business. For the users domestic, the NAS, brings you greater ease in data storage concept. In using <strong>Training</strong> businessFor small and medium businesses, the NAS offers the possibility of having a good number of hard disk slots and possibilities to configure them.
Home users can also configure the NAS. They can take advantage of hard drive slots to add storage or have one copy the other's content for a Double backup, so it offers a great solution in data loss security.
What can we do with a NAS?
To determine all the possibilities offered by a NAS, you will always depend on the applications that we install on the server and its manufacturer. Each manufacturer has a different operating system, so the functionalities will vary depending on the NAS model. Next we will mention the principal functions from the NAS:
- Storage unit: As we have already seen, the main function of the NAS is to act as a data storage unit, or what is the same, to use it simply as a hard disk. The difference is that we do not need to connect the hard drive to the computer when we want to use it, since it is connected to the network.
- Create your own cloud: Another function of the NAS is to create backup copies of various devices to act as our own private cloud.
- Multimedia center: NAS servers have several applications that allow us to turn the device into a multimedia center, or what is the same, to play content from our hard drives on televisions and other devices, even being able to create our own service of streaming.
- P2P downloads: We can use the NAS to download files as you could with torrent, but instead of being saved on your computer, they would be saved on the NAS server.
- Web server: The NAS also allows you to host a server to which you can upload a website, being able to use PHP technology.
- Your own VPN: some NAS also allow mounting a VPN or virtual private network. This allows, among other things, to connect as if we were in another country or to mask the IP of our computer so that your browsing is more private.
- FTP server for file sharing: This will allow us to share folders with the users we want or even allow private and anonymous access to these folders.
Differences between a NAS server and an external hard drive
As we have already seen, the main function of NAS servers is to store files, but for that reason we should not believe that they are the same as External hard drives.
An external hard drive is a storage unit that you plug and unplug. Instead, the NAS functions as a computer connected to the network. You can also access it from various devices, and whose functionalities you can expand with applications.
Buy a NAS server
When buying a NAS, we must first be clear what do we want to use it for, if we are going to give it a basic use or we want to go further and use specific functionalities. Therefore, we must take into account several things that we will comment on below:
Processor and RAM
As we have already seen, a NAS is a computer, so when buying it we must take into account the processor and RAM that that model has. It depends on the use that we are going to give it, if we are going to use them as a storage unit and make backup copies, any model will work for us. If we want to reproduce content or opt for other functionalities, we will need something more powerful.
Thus, to give a normal use of the NAS, it will not be enough to have 1 GB of RAM, but if we are going to give it a more sophisticated use and we are going to use other functionalities far from the main ones, we will have to opt for a NAS that has a minimum 2 GB of RAM.
Total storage
Each NAS can be fitted with a maximum hard drive storage, such as 2TB, 4TB, 8TB, 16TB, 32TB, etc. NAS slots are known as bays, that we must also take them into account.
For home users, we will suffice with one or two bays, that is, the more slots, the more hard drives we can put and, therefore, the greater storage capacity we will have. But if we want to have more than two, we must have a NAS with a more powerful processor and RAM.
Operating system and applications that the NAS has
As we have already said, one NAS server will be different from another depending on the maker, since it will have its own operating system for its NAS. Depending on the model, we will find an interface different from another, with different navigation menus. Some NAS are committed to simplicity in their interface and others to offer many possibilities while subtracting ease of use.
NAS hard drives
Something that we must take into account when buying a NAS is to see the hard drives that it has inside. Some NAS have the disks built in, but many others do not, so you will have to buy them yourself separately.
Therefore, you must buy Hard drives prepared to perform in optimal conditions in NAS devices. That is why we recommend that you inform yourself before buying disks for the NAS and do not opt for the cheapest, since there is no use having a very powerful NAS if the internal disks do not perform at the same level.
Recognized NAS Server Brands
There are several manufacturers of NAS servers on the market, so you will find many options if you are considering purchasing one. We recommend several for their popularity among users, let's see them below.
- Synology: DS420j, DS720 +, DS419slim.
- Western Digital: My CloudHome.
- QNAP: TS-251B.
- Terra Master: F2-210, F2-422.
In general, today these are one of the best NAS servers that we can find in the market, although as you already know, everything is progressing and in continuous improvement, so we recommend that before purchasing one, you inform yourself well of its possibilities and functionalities, always taking into account the use you want to give it. Thus, you will avoid spending a lot of money being totally unnecessary.
A NAS server or network-connected storage unit can, among many other things, access files from any device that is connected to the network, make backup copies in the cloud or use it as a multimedia center. Offers many possibilities that it is important to study in detail.
And you, did you know what the NAS were? Tell us in the comments and we will be happy to read you.