What is Network Attached Storage?

Network Attached Storage is essentially a self-contained computer connected to a network, with the sole purpose of supplying file-based data storage services to other devices on the network. NAS systems use file-based protocols such as NFS (popular on UNIX systems), SMB/CIFS (Server Message Block/Common Internet File System) (used with MS Windows systems), or AFP (used with Apple Macintosh Computers.

Related terms: NFS, CIFS, file system, cluster storage, file storage


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