NAS (Network Attached Storage)

Definition

NAS is a file-level storage device connected to a network, providing shared access to files for multiple clients. It operates as a dedicated file server, using protocols like NFS (Linux/Unix) and SMB/CIFS (Windows) to serve data over TCP/IP.

NAS differs from SAN (Storage Area Network), which provides block-level storage. NAS is easier to deploy and manage but typically has higher latency than SAN.

Key Concepts

  • Protocols: NFS, SMB/CIFS, AFP
  • RAID: NAS devices typically use RAID for redundancy
  • Scale-out: Modern NAS can scale horizontally across multiple nodes
  • Use cases: File sharing, backups, media storage, home labs
  • San — alternative to on-prem NAS

References