NAS ( Networked Attached Storage) systems Kenya – practical data management with network storage
admin Protect your data from hard drive failure, viruses or operator errors. The practical network storage offers a convenient storage solution for your data and can be accessed via any device. Discover the powerful NAS devices here in Nairobi, Kenya at printerpriceskenya.com
Anyone who uses a computer, notebook or tablet at home knows the problem: what to do with accumulated data, images and films. A NAS or network storage solution provides a very convenient storage solution. The abbreviation NAS stands for Network Attached Storage.
The stored data can be accessed via the NAS from any device on the network. This doesn’t necessarily have to be a computer or a tablet. A variety of multimedia players or televisions can also stream films, pictures or music files from a NAS. The advantage of a NAS is that the data is not managed on individual devices, but rather centrally on the network storage and you can access your data at anytime and anywhere.
Network storage with one or two hard drive slots is suitable for home users. A NAS for small businesses should have at least two disks so that the data is protected via RAID against the failure of one of the two disks. Larger companies usually use a NAS with at least four hard drive bays. On the one hand because of the storage capacity and on the other hand because of data security.
These manufacturers offer NAS systems:
- Synology Disk & RackStation
- QNAP Systems NAS
- WD My Cloud Series
- Zyxel Personal Cloud Storage
- D-Link Share Center
The NAS server: one device, many possibilities
With its role as a multimedia server in the home network, the possibilities of a NAS system are far from exhausted. What is particularly relevant in terms of security is its use as a central backup system. Some NAS devices are compatible with Apple Time Machine, Microsoft Windows Backup, or third-party backup software. It is also practical to use it as a print server, through which all devices in the home network can easily send print commands to a local printer. Many NAS systems can also be configured for access via the Internet and can be used as their own web, FTP or email server.
Save energy with a NAS system
A NAS system is an energy-saving way to distribute files to all possible devices. It can usually be configured so that it switches to standby mode when there is no access, from which it only wakes up again when requested via Wake-On-LAN. In addition, you can program fixed operating times, such as automatic shutdown at certain times when there is no scheduled data access.
The NAS should support automatic shutdown of the hard drives or time-controlled switching on/off of the device. As a home user, you should also pay attention to the volume of the system fan. Nobody wants to hear a loud, high-speed system fan in their study.
Suitable storage capacity for home users
A crucial purchasing criterion for a NAS solution is the use and size of the data to be stored. A NAS for home users with less than a terabyte of storage capacity is hardly worth it. An external hard drive (USB or eSATA) is usually the better choice here. In NAS systems with two drive slots, the storage capacity can even be doubled if a RAID 1 array is not used in the disk configuration. With this raid network, the data is mirrored and so if a hard drive fails, you still have a “backup” of the data ready.
When buying a NAS, you should also pay attention to the hard drives that will be installed later. Most NAS enclosures are designed for both 2.5″ and 3.5″ hard drives. SSD modules also usually fit in. When purchasing, you should consider whether the NAS housing supports the connection type of the selected hard drives.
The most common type of connection is SATA. Before buying a hard drive, you should also pay attention to the maximum supported capacity. You can usually find information about this in the technical data of the NAS devices, as not all capacities are automatically supported. Manufacturers usually offer longer warranty periods for NAS hard drives than for other hard drives.
Easy connection – wired or wireless
As a rule, Network Attached Storage is connected to the router/network switch using a LAN cable and, depending on the model and manufacturer, the user can access the NAS drives via a web interface, Windows drive sharing or FTP access. A GBit LAN connection is very advantageous here. Some models also work wirelessly, which is usually sufficient for home use for streaming data. Please pay attention to the WLAN standard of all devices.
The setup procedure for a network storage is usually done using the web browser and an assistant, so that even a layperson can quickly set up their NAS. As a rule, the user does not have to be a trained system administrator to create users, groups and rights. Most entry-level NAS devices can be used immediately after a few basic settings. For professional NAS devices, where data security and access rights are very important, more configuration steps are necessary.
