NAS (Network Attached Storage) - a detailed analysis of the data storage system

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Typically, this is a separate NAS server (or several) with its own operating system, redundancy, and network interfaces for centralized data access.

NAS features:

• Network access: NAS uses a network connection, which means you can remotely access files from dozens and hundreds of devices simultaneously.
• Centralized storage: No need to duplicate files, it's easier to back up when a file exists in a single version.
• Data backup: NAS often has automatic data backup features (after setup, of course).
• Data security: There is the option of encryption and file access control for increased security.
• Streaming: Can be used as a media server, streaming multimedia content to other devices on the network.
• Operating system: NAS devices typically have their own full-fledged operating system (TrueNAS, XigmaNAS, OpenMediaVault, NAS4Free, Windows, or Linux) for file management and network interaction.
• Ease of use: Many NAS come with intuitive initial setup wizards, which is convenient for first-time users. However, a full-fledged deployment in a corporate environment requires a specialist to administer the NAS device and network.
• Protocols: The NAS works with various network protocols, such as SMB/CIFS, NFS, FTP, SFTP, HTTP, WebDAV, DC, BitTorrent, etc.
• Expandability: Easily expandable by adding drives or storage devices.

Disadvantages of NAS:

• Network bandwidth: NAS performance is limited by network bandwidth.
• Network dependency: If the network goes down, you won't have access to the NAS.
• Security: Network connectivity requires additional security measures - access control, firewalls, encryption, etc.
• Difficulty in setup: Basic NAS for home use is quite easy to use and configure, but for corporate environments you need to learn the basics of network technology and administration.
• Cost: NAS devices can be expensive - depending on the drives and their quantity, controllers, network cards, and backup components.
• Computing resources: The maximum amount of data scales well, but NAS computing resources are usually limited. Therefore, you need to choose a device taking into account the complexity of the tasks and the number of network users.

Scenarios when you need a NAS
NAS is a flexible approach to storage, and therefore has a wide range of usage scenarios. Here are a few of them:

• File server in the office: Shared access to work documents and files for employees. Centralized storage, management and backup of work data.
• Backup and archiving: Automatic backup of files from various devices on the network. Archive storage - with the ability to recover after incidents.
• Remote file access: Network access to files (via local and/or wide area networks). You can work with files from anywhere on the network - from different premises to different countries.
• Video surveillance: NAS is suitable for storing and archiving recordings from video cameras. The operator will be able to search for recordings on the network and view them without copying.
• Virtualization: Virtual machines on a host (or multiple hosts) can access a NAS server for centralized file access. This will help with file consolidation.
• Multimedia server: Storage and streaming of multimedia content: movies, music, photos, etc. For example, for movie theaters (including home theaters).

NAS Architecture and Components: 10 Important Points

You can make a NAS from a PC, but servers are better suited for this task. There are ready-made "turnkey" NAS devices, and there are general-purpose servers that can be adapted - that is, with the right choice of components and software.

Below are the NAS components to consider when designing a system. The specific specifications of the device depend on your mission, budget, resiliency, and security requirements.

• Physical storage and drives: This is a physical device (for example, a server or a file-based storage device) or a group of devices (a cluster) for storing data. Hard disks (HDDs) or solid-state drives (SSDs) are installed inside. If the server and controller support it, the drives can be organized into a RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disks) array to increase fault tolerance and/or performance. Entry-level NAS devices have 1-2 drive bays, more expensive models have 4 and above. Servers can spin 6-12 or more drives. SSDs have over 24.
• Power and Cooling: For 24/7 operation, you need an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) and a redundant power supply in the device itself. If your NAS device is a custom general-purpose server (such as a Dell R740xd), it will need a separate room with a server rack and cooling.
• Network card: Most often, NAS is connected to the network using an RJ45 port, but there are other options - it depends on the server's network card or NAS model. For basic tasks, you need at least a 1 Gbps port, and for advanced tasks from 2.5 to 10 Gbps. Not all NAS support installing or replacing network cards, so choose with a margin for the future.
• Processor (CPU) and memory (RAM): The processor and RAM are needed to process data and network requests, manage the file system, and provide sufficient storage performance. Ready-made NAS devices already have integrated CPUs (usually simple ARMs) and RAM (the amount in inexpensive systems is small, 2-4 GB). But in general-purpose servers, you need to choose something from Intel Xeon and select the memory. Start with 4 cores and 4 GB of RAM for 4 disks. Then you need to analyze and carefully select.
• Management interface: The management interface allows administrators to configure and control storage parameters and monitor system status. In conventional NAS, this looks like a regular PC desktop.
• Operating System (OS): The NAS operating system provides secure access, file system management, data security, and network protocol support. Examples include FreeNAS (now TrueNAS Core), Synology DiskStation Manager (DSM), QNAP QTS, OpenMediaVault (OMV), Asustor ADM, and Rockstor Games.
• Access protocols: Network File System (NFS) for UNIX-like systems and Server Message Block (SMB/CIFS) for Windows systems, FTP (File Transfer Protocol), SFTP (SSH File Transfer Protocol and AFP (Apple Filing Protocol).
• Backup: Many NAS devices allow you to create backups to external devices, other NAS, or cloud storage. Usually, the tools are built-in, you just need to select the data, set the schedule, and specify the location for the backups. However, in general-purpose servers, backup is not always built-in (there is limited functionality in Windows Server and Linux distributions) and requires separate software.
• Encryption and security: NAS can encrypt data at the folder and volume levels, and can encrypt data at the SSL/TLS protocol level during network transmission. For security, you can set up two-factor authentication, create and centrally manage user accounts and groups with limited access rights, use antivirus software, secure SFTP protocols, and SSL certificates.
• Monitoring and logging tools: Logging lets you see who did what to your files, when, and how. Access auditing helps you detect unauthorized access, abnormal behavior, or security policy violations. You can automate alerts for suspicious activity (such as repeated failed login attempts).

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