Types of Network Attached Storage Implementations
Last Updated :
14 Jun, 2023
Network-attached storage (NAS) is a file-based storage architecture that makes stored data more accessible to networked devices means multiple users or client devices retrieve data from a single storage system.
NAS Implementations
There are two ways to implement NAS
- Integrated NAS
- Gateway NAS
Advantages of integrated NAS
- Simple, affordable, and simple to set up.
- It has pre-installed software and can be rapidly set up for use.
- it is a single device, it is simple to administer and maintain.
Disadvantages of integrated NAS
- Because its storage array is combined with NAS head, it has limited storage capacity and is difficult to scale.
- Does not support advanced features like backup and recovery or data deduplication.
Advantages of gateway NAS
- Enables advanced features like backup and recovery or data deduplication.
- As its storage array is not integrated with the NAS head, it is easily extensible and has no upper limit on its storage capacity.
- It is compatible with all storage systems, including conventional and legacy storage systems.
Disadvantages of gateway NAS
- it has to work with the existing storage system, it is complicated, expensive, and challenging to set up. It also demands for additional hardware and software.
- Its performance is based on the current storage system, hence gateway NAS often performs worse than integrated NAS
Difference between Integrated NAS and Gateway NAS
Basis of Distinction |
Integrated NAS |
Gateway NAS |
Hardware |
Independent file storage device |
It offers storage interface for installed systems |
Operating System |
It uses specialized own operating system |
uses a generic operating system instead of having its own |
use case |
ideal for Small to medium-sized businesses |
ideal for Enterprise environments |
Access to storage |
It Provides file-level access |
it Provides storage capacity and data sharing capabilities |
Cost |
Cost-effective |
Costly |
Features |
It does not support advanced features like data deduplication. |
support advanced features like data deduplication. |
Compatibility |
It is not compatible with all types of storage systems, it compatible with storage system with file-based protocols NFS and CIFS |
A compatible with all storage systems like cloud Storage ,conventional and legacy storage systems |
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