| Network Attached Storage (NAS) is a way to store | | | | simplest form, a NAS device consists of a hard drive, |
| common data on a network. While many people think | | | | a network card and a simple operating system residing |
| that NAS is only intended for businesses, it can be a | | | | in an EPROM memmory. Externally, it looks similar to a |
| great solution for home networking as well. Indeed, | | | | common external hard drive, apart from the RJ45 |
| many homes nowadays have more than one PC. File | | | | network socket. More advanced configurations are |
| sharing between multiple home PCs is often needed, | | | | available that offer advanced features such as RAID |
| such as accessing your desktop data on your laptop, | | | | support (multiple hard drives per device) but these are |
| so you can work on the patio, or downloading a movie | | | | both expensive and many times unecessary for home |
| on your desktop PC and playing it on your living room's | | | | use.Finally, some NASs have USB ports through which |
| HEPC.While it may sound complicated at first, it really | | | | you can make your USB devices such as printers or |
| isn't. A NAS device is simply a small box designed to | | | | external hard drives available on your home network. |
| host one or more hard drives. It comes with it's own | | | | All you need to do is simply connect the device to the |
| operating system and network interface and all you | | | | NAS USB port and it will be accessible by any PC on |
| need to do to make it work is plug it on to your switch | | | | your home network. One added benefit of this |
| or network router with a UTP cable. And that's it. You | | | | approach is that you no longer need to turn on the PC |
| now have your own file server for your home | | | | where the printer is connected in order to use that |
| network. However, NAS devices are simple to use for | | | | printer on your home-network. You only need to have |
| a good reason. They have very limited features and | | | | your local NAS device turned on!So, if you're looking |
| capabilities. In fact, the only thing they can do is accept | | | | for an inexpensive, easy, convenient and platform |
| and distribute files accross your local network. That's | | | | independent way to store your vast amounts of data, |
| pretty much it. For the average home user, however, | | | | NAS would be the ideal solution! |
| this is usually enough.NAS for Home NetworksIn it's | | | | |