| Introduction | | | | If data safety is important to you, a better choice |
| Many small businesses today are working harder than | | | | would be to use the popular and well supported |
| ever to find new ways to reduce costs and | | | | RAID 5. The drives in this type of configuration use a |
| streamline their operations. At the same time, these | | | | standardized redundancy system that allows a certain |
| businesses are also generating more data throughout | | | | number of failed drives to be safely replaced. Once |
| their organization than ever before. Data that must | | | | the replacement drive is in place RAID should rebuilt |
| be protected while being more widely available. In the | | | | the data onto the new drive without losing any of |
| past businesses had only a few megabytes of | | | | your data. And while this is a slow process, especially |
| storage on servers and desktop PCs to worry about. | | | | if the system stays in production, it is a relatively |
| If they were diligent, they backed everything up daily | | | | safe process. |
| onto tape drives. | | | | When sizing the capacity of a NAS unit, start with a |
| Today, businesses are under growing pressure to | | | | rough measure by estimating the maximum amount |
| insure that the data they produce is protected and | | | | of storage you think you'll need and then double that |
| available on demand. Large corporations use large | | | | figure. |
| scale data storage networks and clustered storage | | | | NAS for Servers |
| farms to manage and keep their data safe. But those | | | | Your servers can benefit from using NAS units in a |
| solutions are far too costly and complicated for the | | | | number ways. First, NAS can increase your data |
| average small business. | | | | serving performance. Servers gain performance from |
| What can a small organization do that is looking for a | | | | using NAS to remove the heavy I/O responsibility of |
| reliable, flexible, cost-effective, storage solution? This | | | | file serving. This frees up the servers processor to |
| article will look at the benefits to small business of | | | | do more for your applications. |
| integrating Network Attached Storage (NAS) | | | | NAS is also a solid solution for further increasing |
| solutions into their network infrastructure. | | | | performance of virtual servers as NAS units can be |
| Network Attached Storage (NAS) Defined | | | | configured to work with virtually any file system and |
| Network Attached Storage (NAS) was introduced by | | | | can provide file serving resources across virtual |
| Novell as a file-sharing system in 1983. Sun | | | | platforms. |
| Microsystems created the UNIX based Network File | | | | NAS can also provide for load balancing of high |
| System (NFS) protocol in 1984 which allowed | | | | activity file server access like database, email, and |
| network servers to share storage with networked | | | | web servers. Your web server or email content is |
| client systems. The first dedicated NAS system was | | | | stored on one or more NAS systems. The server |
| built by 3Com in 1985. | | | | load balancing system uses an algorithm to distribute |
| Today, a Network Attached Storage (NAS) system | | | | file requests evenly across the system. The NAS will |
| is basically a stripped down server that is designed | | | | efficiently process all server and user requests from |
| from the inside out for high performance file-based | | | | one central repository. |
| data storage on your network. NAS systems come | | | | NAS for Workgroups |
| with all the major components of a server: a CPU, a | | | | One of the issues I still run into from time to time is |
| motherboard, RAM, etc. And just like a server, a | | | | data stored for whatever reason on local hard drives. |
| NAS unit is only as reliable as its components, | | | | The main issue with this is that it rarely, if ever, gets |
| software, and configuration. NAS units come in a | | | | backed up. When the PC hardware eventually fails or |
| variety of types and sizes from simple standalone | | | | an application fault corrupts some data, it often takes |
| units for the networked home PC and entertainment | | | | all of this work with it. And data recovery services |
| center, up to high capacity rack mounted units | | | | are still painfully expensive. |
| suitable for larger corporate data centers. | | | | NAS and workgroups are made for each other. |
| NAS systems can be connected to networks in a | | | | Configuring your various client systems to use NAS is |
| variety of ways: Ethernet, Fiber, iSCSI, Wi-Fi, and | | | | a simple and fast way to consolidate valuable data |
| even using USB2. Generally though, NAS would be | | | | and add a layer of protection for your data. Using |
| attached to your businesses network using Ethernet. | | | | NAS to consolidate data encourages and simplifies file |
| Because the performance of NAS is tied to your | | | | sharing and collaboration. Another key benefit is that |
| network, it is essential that your infrastructure is | | | | the data can be stored in a secure central location in |
| working as efficiently as possible. | | | | your organization where it is easier to manage. NAS |
| NAS Functionality | | | | is also immune to many common client and server |
| NAS functionality is targeted for heavy duty file-level, | | | | hardware failures. If a client system isn't working the |
| file-sharing. The most common NAS protocols and file | | | | user moves to one that is and accesses their work |
| systems in use include, though are not limited to | | | | from there. The same principle applies to servers. |
| Network File System (NFS), Common Internet File | | | | And because NAS is flexible enough to work with |
| System / Server Message Block (CIFS / SMB), Multi | | | | many popular file systems like those used by Apple, |
| Protocol File System (MPFS), VMware's Virtual | | | | Microsoft, Sun, and Linux, NAS is very cost-effective. |
| Machine File System (VMFS). | | | | NAS for Backup |
| NAS can be setup to handle just about any client | | | | NAS is ideally suited as a backup solution. In |
| accessible files using whatever file-sharing system | | | | comparison, NAS is superior in many ways to legacy |
| there is. Microsoft, UNIX, and Linux file systems for | | | | tape systems. Performance of disk-to-disk backup |
| example are thoroughly supported. On the application | | | | and restoration is far greater with NAS than tape. |
| side Oracle, Apache, MySQL, and more are covered. | | | | And remember, when a tape or the tape drive goes |
| The performance of a NAS device depends on a | | | | bad it's never good news. Replacing a tape in a series |
| number of factors including the configuration of the | | | | can be a daunting task and finding out a tape is bad |
| hardware, the operating systems efficiency, the | | | | several months down the road can catastrophic. NAS |
| speed of the network connection, the amount of | | | | is a faster and more secure solution to your data |
| traffic on the network, and the number of clients | | | | backup needs. |
| accessing files on unit. Make no mistake, NAS | | | | Use NAS for temporary parking or staging of data |
| performance is not going to be on par with Direct | | | | that is out of the current production cycle. Once the |
| Attached Storage (DAS). However, when properly | | | | data is ready for archiving it can be sent, via |
| sized, and configured, NAS is a solid performer | | | | encrypted network transfer, to an online, off-site, |
| providing very good overall value. | | | | data storage service. You can also backup servers to |
| Deciding which NAS solution is right for you depends | | | | NAS using disk-to-disk or as a Virtual Tape Library |
| on where, and how, you plan to use it. | | | | (VLT). Or you can backup to a mirrored NAS unit |
| What to look for in NAS | | | | (RAID1) with an attached tape drive for long-term |
| When you count data safety as your most critical | | | | archiving later. |
| issue, your NAS system choice at a minimum should | | | | As I mentioned a moment ago, using NAS with |
| have the following: redundant power supplies, | | | | parked / staged data, ready to send to an |
| redundant disk controllers, and have good RAID 5 | | | | encrypted online data storage service, preferably one |
| support. Additionally, you should look for a NAS | | | | that is outside of your geographic area, is a far |
| system where the operating system used is well | | | | better solution to local backup. In terms of disaster |
| supported and specifically tuned for the type of data | | | | recovery and business continuity, it is a solution that |
| storage and file serving you intend to use it for. Look | | | | can have your business back up and running again |
| for mixed file system support, multiple data paths, | | | | quickly. |
| secure shared access to files, and simplified | | | | One side note, if you decide to continue using tapes, |
| management of all these functions. | | | | be sure you have a way to get the tapes far |
| Because your NAS is going to be a popular resource | | | | enough away from the effects of any potential local |
| on your network is would be a good idea to keep it | | | | disaster. (Can you tell I live earthquake country?) |
| on a Gigabit Ethernet connection. There are NAS | | | | Either FedEx them to an out of state branch office |
| units available that support wireless 802.11a/b | | | | or data storage facility. Because if your building gets |
| connections but they are very limited due to the | | | | damaged in a quake, or flood, or whatever, and your |
| available bandwidth on these types of networks so | | | | tapes are in your building, well, you get the idea. |
| use them with very small, low demand, groups. | | | | Summary |
| Storage on a mid-range NAS unit, targeted towards | | | | Safely storing your companies data is critical in |
| small & medium sized businesses, will typically | | | | today's productivity driven market. Having the |
| use multiple disks arranged into logical, redundant | | | | information your company needs, when and where it |
| storage containers or Redundant Arrays of | | | | needs it, can make the difference between making |
| Inexpensive Disk (RAID) arrays. There are a number | | | | and keeping or losing customers. Small businesses can |
| of different types of RAID systems available and | | | | use the versatility, reliability of NAS systems as a |
| some are geared towards performance of over | | | | cost-effective part of their network infrastructure in |
| safety. For example, while RAID 0 yields superior | | | | many ways. NAS is a tool that can help keep your |
| performance it offers no redundancy. If one of the | | | | business lean and agile while providing scalable |
| disks fails, the entire array may be corrupt beyond | | | | solutions for the future. |
| recovery. | | | | |