Research Note: Components of Network Attached Storage
Key Issue: What is networked attached storage (NAS)?
Network attached storage (NAS) is a dedicated file storage system that connects directly to a network to provide centralized data access and storage for heterogeneous clients. NAS devices are specialized computers that contain storage drives and data management software, allowing them to serve files to clients using common network protocols like NFS and SMB/CIFS. By processing file I/O internally, NAS offloads file serving from other servers and provides a simple, consolidated solution for storing and accessing unstructured data over a LAN.
Key Issue: What are the components of NAS ?
Storage Components
Hard disk drives (HDDs)
SATA HDDs
SAS HDDs
Solid state drives (SSDs)
SATA SSDs
NVMe SSDs
Drive bays/enclosures
RAID controller
Hardware RAID
Software RAID
Network Connectivity
Network interface cards (NICs)
Ethernet NICs
1GbE
10GbE
25/40/100GbE
Fibre Channel HBAs
Network switches
Ethernet switches
Fibre Channel switches
Processing
Central processing unit (CPU)
x86 processors
ARM processors
Random access memory (RAM)
Motherboard/system board
Operating System and Software
NAS operating system
Proprietary NAS OS (e.g., FreeNAS, QTS)
General purpose OS (e.g., Linux, Windows Storage Server)
File sharing protocols
SMB/CIFS
NFS
AFP
FTP/SFTP
Data management services
Deduplication
Compression
Snapshots
Replication
Backup software
Management and Monitoring
Web-based management interface
Command line interface (CLI)
SNMP monitoring
Email alerts
LCD panel
Cooling and Power
Cooling fans
Heat sinks
Power supply units (PSUs)
Chassis and Physical Components
Drive trays/caddies
Mounting rails
Front bezel/faceplate
LED indicators
Buttons (e.g., power, reset)
Expansion and Connectivity
PCIe expansion slots
USB ports
eSATA ports
