Network attached storage (NAS) was introduced in 1983 with Novell’s early file sharing NetWare server operating system and NCP protocol. This article gives a brief on some of the best OSS for network attached storage. It gives access to files using network file sharing protocols like NFS, SMB or AFP. This product is only available in the US and UK at the time of this writing.Network attached storage is a dedicated appliance used for file storage and sharing, which provides advanced functionalities for data storage, access and management.Read our full review: Western Digital DL4100 review Combine this with a simple setup and cloud connected web apps, and you have an interesting backup device on your hands. Despite some annoying issues with wireless transfers, we found that the DL4100's 1.7GHz dual-core Atom processor and 2GB of RAM (configurable up to 6GB) performs admirably. Additionally, it has the ability to set up SMS and email alerts in case the system fails for whatever reason.Īs far as storage options go, the DL4100 is equipped with four drive bays and comes with your choice of four configurations. One of the coolest features of this device is its web dashboard, which provides users options for backing up to cloud services such as Dropbox and Box. If you're looking for one of the best NAS drives to help manage your backup needs, the DL4100 might be worth a look. Every PC on the network can use it as if it was an internal hard drive, and if one PC fails, you know that all the data is safely secured in the NAS drive.

Of course, a NAS can sit in the center of your work or home network, and act as centralised storage.

It also allows you to store the NAS device in another building, which is a good disaster recovery consideration, as if something happens to your home or office, an offsite backup of your files will at least ensure that you don't lost your important data. You can securely access the files on the drive from any internet-connected device, which is quick and convenient, and is also safer than lugging an external hard drive or USB memory stick around. This gives them a flexibility that other storage solutions lack, as you can access your files and folders no matter where you are in the world. Unlike the best external hard drives and external portable SSDs, NAS devices can connect to the internet, which means you can access them remotely, as well as connecting them to other devices in your local network.

Stand alone nas for mac and pc