NAS Overview
NAS (Network Attached Storage) products are used to add easily managed and cost optimized file storage to a network. NAS systems are optimized servers dedicated to file serving (with print server capabilities) and can be managed remotely. The NAS servers ship with an operating system pre-installed, so the system can be up and running in a very short time.
NAS products are used to store unstructured data such as created by office productivity applications, images, audio files or videos. In addition, NAS gateways offer the ability to share the data stored on block storage backend arrays among many users.
In addition, NAS systems host file-oriented application data such as static web content, document management data stores, Linux/Unix application data for e-mail systems, source-code storage, etc.
NAS products in the market are servicing block-oriented data more frequently, typically with IP storage protocols like iSCSI, for mid-range applications that rely on block-level data access to stored data. Examples of applications requiring block access are database systems such as SQL and Oracle, messaging solutions like Microsoft Exchange, and many others.
NX430 | NX3240 | NX3340 | |
Leveraged Server Platform | PowerEdge R330 | PowerEdge R740xd | PowerEdge R640 |
Form Factor | 1U rack-mount | 2U rack-mount | 1U rack-mount |
Version of Windows Storage Server 2016 Supported | Standard | Standard | Standard |
Workgroup | |||
Type of Data Supported | File and Block (Microsoft iSCSI target) | File and Block (Microsoft iSCSI target) | File and Block (leverages shared storage backend) |
Processor | Single | Single and Dual | Dual |
Memory | 8GB / 16GB | 16GB / 64GB | 32GB / 64GB |
Number of Internal Data Drives | 4 3.5” drives identical in capacity and type | 12 front-accessible, hot-swap 3.5” drives and 4-3.5” drives in mid-bay, 2 2.5” rear accessible hot-swap drives for the OS | 2 or 4 front accessible (chassis has total of 8 drive bays), hot-swap, 2.5” drives for the OS |
Size/Type of Data Drives Supported | SATA, NL-SAS | SATA, NL-SAS, SAS | Attached to external block storage |
External Scalability | Can be expanded to support external, but is not preconfigured | Can be expanded to support external, but is not preconfigured | Each platform in clustered configuration |
iSCSI Target | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Cluster Support | No | No | Yes, up to 64 nodes |
Hardware RAID Levels (factory-installable options) | R5 | R1 (OS) | R1 or R5 (OS) |
R5 or R6 (data) | |||
Hot-Swap Drives | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Redundant Fans | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Redundant Power | Yes (optional) | Yes (optional) | Yes (optional) |