Many people have more than one PC nowadays. Add in all the mobile devices like netbooks and smartphones that need data moved around and you’ve got a problem: photos, songs, videos, and other files are available on one unit and not another.
There’s a simple workaround — namely moving the files from one machine to the next — but many users take no joy in the constant copying and transferring of files using external hard drives or USB sticks. One solution is Network Attached Storage, or NAS. The technology has become affordable enough for home users and it’s easy to configure.
As the name suggests, NAS involves a hard drive connected to a network instead of a single PC, says Johannes Endres from German computer magazine c’t. Unlike a USB hard drive plugged into one computer, NAS is available for access by all computers on the network.
“Anyone using multiple computers nowadays will already have a router,” he says. “The NAS simply connects to that and eliminates the need to carry around USB devices.”
The demand for NAS solutions is growing.
“The constantly growing use and creation of digital media and content has really exploded the need for storage space in the home area,” says Andreas Arndt from hardware maker Buffalo Technology. NAS devices are available with and without pre-installed hard drives. Most home users tend to reach for the integrated solution, Endres indicates.
Configuring a NAS, including setting an access password, is generally uncomplicated — usually handled using a browser connected to the home network. Most NAS units include a setup utility with delivery. “All of the NAS devices we tested included an easy-to- understand installation assistant to take lay users by the hand,” says Michael Schmelzle from Germany’s PC-Welt magazine.
To protect the data stored on the NAS against complete loss, it’s sensible to use…