NAS, or network attached storage, enclosures are hard drives connected to your local network. They function like the hard drive in your computer, but are easily accessible for multiple people. Some models can connect to the internet, letting users access them from anywhere. They range in size and performance from small units best for homes, to larger commercial models for office use.
NAS servers, on the other hand, host websites on the internet along with a variety of other uses. They can include storage, but aren’t limited to it. Depending on how they’re set up and used, they can run applications, allow communications between different computers on a network, or do anything a desktop computer can do, but on a scale large enough to support multiple connected computers.
Adorama has NAS servers and enclosures from companies like Buffalo Technology, Qnap, Synology, and Western Digital.
Pre-built and DIY NAS servers and enclosures
When shopping for a NAS, you can go with a fully pre-built model or just an enclosure. A pre-built NAS server is ready to go out of the box. You choose what capacity you want, from a few terabytes to several hundred, along with the processing speed and number of drive bays.
If you’d rather build out your own, NAS enclosures include the physical case along with the various hardware like a motherboard, CPU, and RAM, that forms the foundation of a NAS. All that’s missing are the hard drives themselves. This is helpful if you already have drives you want to use, or have specific storage needs in mind that aren’t available in an otherwise pre-built NAS.
Home NAS enclosures
Home NAS enclosures are typically smaller, less expensive models for family use. They’re small enough to fit on a desk or next to a router. They’re typically accessible by both Windows and Mac computers, and many have available mobile apps for Android and iOS. You can also configure most as either RAID 0 or RAID 1 depending on whether you want to prioritize speed or redundancy.
Media servers and remote access
For personal or small-offices, a smaller media server may be perfect. These NAS devices specialize in fast network storage and transfers of photos and videos. They can store anything, but have additional helpful features specific for media files. Some models can function as a local cloud server, allowing remote access. Think of it as your own personal iCloud or Google Drive.
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