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Network-attached storage (NAS): A technology overview

This storage technology overview will provide you an introduction to the Network-Attached Storage Services Guide by Chris Evans, independent storage consultant with Brookend Ltd.

Chris Evans
Network-attached storage (NAS) is now a major player in the externally connected storage market, moving from simple filer to storage networking protocol provider. More customers are using NAS as part of their core data storage infrastructure to deliver file services and support business critical applications. As a VAR or systems integrator, you should be taking advantage of NAS features like snapshots and replication to meet customers' growing business storage needs.

Before you jump on board the NAS bandwagon, use this project guide to help you determine whether NAS is the right product for your customers. For instance, in the NAS strategy chapter, you'll find comparisons of NAS with direct-attached storage (DAS) and storage area network (SAN) protocols, so you can determine which may be a customer's optimal solution.

NAS now has rather complex backup features, including advanced snapshot technologies, disk-based backup functionality and integration with leading backup software tools. Learn how you can improve your customers' backup performance in the NAS backup chapter.

Furthermore, managing NAS represents a new challenge as it is an ever-developing technology. You must consider how to handle scalable growth, provide enterprise-level availability, and ensure data security and compliance. Read about such major issues in the NAS management chapter.

Finally, you'll find specific technology information and example case studies to potentially use in your own customer environments. If you have specific concerns about working with any storage networking technologies, please send me your questions.

Click to begin navigating the Network-Attached Storage (NAS) Services Guide.

This was first published in November 2006

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