Help with NAS... plz?

Question

Hi everyone!
I'm was gonna just buy an external USB HDD but I came across NAS (network attached storage). I did a little bit of research on it and I know you can share files and stuff over a LAN. So let's say I have this home network and a wireless router and I can connect the NAS to it and have my files sharing with all the computer independent of each other.
BUT, can I somehow make my files accessible (the ones in the NAS connected to home network) at work or school or library??

I would appreciate any comments, suggestions, and answers

Thanks for the help

Answer 1

Well, here's a few things to consider:

1) The NAS will run at the speed of your network. This is probably about 100mbps

2) It does not require a computer to function and usually includes utilities such as FTP access, windows file sharing, web management, etc.

3) A USB drive will operate much faster than the network.

4) A USB drive will require it's host computer to be on in order for it to be accessed

5) The host computer must share the USB drive

6) No (well, not really) web admin for the USB drive. FTP access would be provided by the host computer.



So with the above, you need to determine if speed is a concern. I have both USB drives and a NAS connection. It takes about 2 hours to perform a backup to the NAS device whereas the USB drive gets it done in about 20 minutes. (Both have the same drive in them.)



With the NAS, yes you can open it up so that it's available through your firewall and accessable from the internet without having to have a computer turned on. You can also do this with the USB drive, but again, there must be a computer at home to host that USB drive.



If you must go with the accessability from outside your network, I'd go with the NAS. Otherwise, I'd yield to speed and go with the USB.



***Added info ***

In order to access it from outside your network, you'd need to modify your router and firewall settings to create what's known as a DMZ. Basically, you'll allow the IP address of the device to be reachable from the internet. How to do this depends on the equipment you have as they're all different.

Answer 2

The above pretty much covers it except -



> Your home network will not actually be running at 100Mb/s as it's wireless (G runs at 54Mb/s)



> USB will run much faster than the network, but only on the computer it's connected to. All the other computers that access it through the network, will be restricted to the speed of your network



> You don't need a DMZ to access from outside of your home network; most routers support port forwarding (when traffic hits your routers IP address (the IP address it holds with yoru ISP), on a specific port (let's say FTP - assume 21), it (the router) will forward that traffic along your home network (via a local IP address - assume your home desktop - which would have the USB drice attached)



And, just to throw something else into the mix.....Firewire is much faster than USB 2; so IF speed were your driving force, that's actually where I would head.



However, you seem more concerned with an always on, storage drive; so I would say NAS with port forwarding is the deal for you.

Answer 3

Well, I'm from the STL , so I gotta say Nelly. However, Nas is a better lyricist but Nelly got the tight beats that get you out on the flo when you in the club.