In case you’ve ever complained about working out of storage round a gaggle of geeks, you’ve in all probability been advised you want a NAS. With guarantees of 24/7 entry and fancy backup options, it sounds extra interesting than it truly is. I’m going to go towards the grain at this time: most individuals don’t really want a NAS—they only assume they want one.
What’s a NAS used for?
Earlier than I can let you know why you don’t want a NAS, let’s briefly go over what it actually is. NAS stands for “Community Hooked up Storage.” Consider it like a mini-server in your dwelling: you should utilize the machine to add, retailer, and entry your entire recordsdata, share information throughout a number of gadgets, and routinely again up essential recordsdata out of your PC. It’s primarily like having your individual Google Drive, however higher.
Besides, it’s even higher than Google Drive.
A NAS isn’t just for crude file storage and sharing. You can too set it as much as act as a media library in your films and TV reveals with Plex or Jellyfin, set up your pictures, retailer footage from safety cameras, and so forth.
The time period “NAS” is usually related to purpose-built items designed particularly for file storage and sharing, however technically talking, any commonplace PC or PC-like device (together with single-board computers like a Raspberry Pi) can function a NAS, so long as you may have a solution to connect sufficient storage drives.
Objective-built NAS items simply make the preliminary setup just a little simpler, make including or eradicating drives extra handy, and are usually extra vitality environment friendly.
The worth and setup complications of a NAS aren’t price it for most individuals
Whereas having your individual mini-server appears like a pleasant thought in principle, I don’t assume many individuals are literally prepared to undergo all the difficulty of setting one up. It’s not like you may simply plug a NAS into an outlet and begin utilizing it.
Whether or not we’re speaking a couple of purpose-built NAS or a DIY answer, you continue to need to arrange and format drives, select an working system and RAID format, configure permissions, arrange backups and community entry, and determine one of the best ways to allow distant entry with out compromising the rest of your network (which could even require shopping for a brand new router).
This may sound like a stroll within the park for a Linux consumer, however for somebody whose hands-on expertise doesn’t go a lot additional than putting in Home windows from a flash drive, there are numerous hurdles to clear at the beginning is up and working.
Value is one other main issue. A primary NAS device you should utilize for storage and file sharing will set you again round $150 to $200 only for the machine itself, with none drives, so you continue to must issue within the cost of an SSD or HDD.
- Model
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Synology
- CPU
-
Realtek RTD1619B
The Synology DiskStation DS124 is not ultimate for demanding setups, however with entry to the highly effective DSM software program and spectacular reliability, it is an incredible alternative for inexperienced persons.
If you wish to dabble in digital machines or AI options, anticipate to pay much more. A DIY solution using an older PC is one of the best ways to decrease the upfront price of a extra highly effective NAS.
There’s additionally the ongoing cost of electricity if you wish to maintain the NAS working 24/7—and that price solely will get worse for those who’re utilizing an outdated PC as an alternative of a extra power-efficient NAS unit.
If you would like extra storage or backup, simply purchase a number of laborious drives
As a lot as I really like the romantic thought of getting my very own media library, constructing one would take ceaselessly and value some huge cash.
I’m not going to cease utilizing Spotify in favor of building my own music streaming service anytime quickly. In addition to, I’d miss all the newest songs. That’s additionally true for TV reveals and different streaming content material.
Chances are high, you largely agree with me—so numerous the attraction of a NAS is already gone for most individuals. Past media, the principle benefit of a NAS is storing and backing up recordsdata. However do you actually need a particular machine for that?
A regular HDD is all you should retailer information safely and securely.
If in case you have a desktop PC, you may set up an affordable laborious drive to retailer all of your giant recordsdata. From there, there are many ways to access those files from other devices.
In case you don’t have a desktop PC or need to take your storage a step additional by following the three‑2‑1 rule (three copies of your information on two varieties of storage, with one off-site), you may simply get a few external HDDs and automate backups utilizing Windows File History or a third-party instrument.
- Storage Capability
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2TB
- Model
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Seagate
The Seagate Moveable 2TB Exterior Onerous Drive is a compact USB 3.0 drive that makes storing and accessing recordsdata on Home windows, Mac, PlayStation, or Xbox straightforward. Simply plug it in and drag and drop your content material for fast backups on the go.
Utilizing “chilly storage”—drives that aren’t powered on frequently—is without doubt one of the most secure methods to retailer information (sure, even safer than a NAS). The explanation why HDDs are preferable to SSDs right here is not simply because they’re cheaper, however as a result of they’re extra dependable for long-term storage.
If you run out of house on an exterior laborious drive, you may simply purchase extra. In that regard, you also have a slight edge over a NAS used solely for information backup.
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