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Network-attached storage (NAS) is a combination of hard disk-based storage and a network adapter. Its purpose is to provide a centralized data repository for computers sharing a network. Rather than connecting to your computer via a USB cable (like a typical external hard drive), a NAS connects to your local area network (LAN) via an Ethernet connection to your router, and it becomes available to all computers and devices connected to your network. Some NAS devices allow you to expand storage with additional hard drive bays, or USB ports for connecting external hard drives.
A NAS unit is a computer connected to a network that provides only file-based data storage services to other devices on the network. Although it may technically be possible to run other software on a NAS unit, it is not designed to be a general purpose server. For example, NAS units usually do not have a keyboard or display, and are controlled and configured over the network, often using a browser.
NAS is useful for more than just general centralized storage provided to client computers in environments with large amounts of data. NAS can enable simpler and lower cost systems such as load-balancing and fault-tolerant email and web server systems by providing storage services. The potential emerging market for NAS is the consumer market where there is a large amount of multi-media data. Such consumer market appliances are now commonly available. Unlike their rackmounted counterparts, they are generally packaged in smaller form factors. The price of NAS appliances has plummeted in recent years, offering flexible network-based storage to the home consumer market for little more than the cost of a regular USB or FireWire external hard disk. Many of these home consumer devices are built around ARM, PowerPC or MIPS processors running an embedded Linux operating system.
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