The new file cabinet.
The new file cabinet or what is called network-attached storage (aka nas) is very useful for a business. Network-attached storage is a computer(s) that are dedicated to acting like an external hard drive for your computer network. Not that you could not share files from your local machine, the nas allows more than one person access under certain rules load and save files to the unit. It is basically a computer dedicated to serving out files. Just a new name or buzz word for a traditional file server. Nas units are generally oriented to the home or small business where management or administration of the file server is or can be reduced.
You can get a nas in what is called a turnkey package off the shelf from your local electronics store. Generally you might pay a premium for such a setup. But then you know it should be supported well from the manufacturer. Hewlett Packard is a prime example of those units. Now everyone under the sun is selling some sort of system billing themselves as a nas unit. Not saying that is bad, but you do need to compare the features.
Could you use a spare machine to do the same thing? You certainly can. In fact, using a spare machine can save you money and maybe even time. There are a lot of commercial packages you can purchase to get the job done. Any brick and mortar computer store can tell you what they recommend. Being a supporter of open source, I would recommend using linux , but if you are not familiar with Linux that can as much work as some of the commercial solutions (unless your an IT specialist).
What do I use? Definitely use linux as you can add many other services that the traditional nas may or may not offer. What i like is something call FreeNAS. It is based on FreeBSD and is a cousin sort of to linux. Even the Apple osx is based loosely on BSD. As in the name it is free, so there is no shelling out of hundreds of dollars to make a pc a file cabinet (unless you want to contribute to the project). You can find FreeNAS at http://www.freenas.org/.
What is so great about FreeNAS? They have two versions, one for newer computers (version 8) and the also have a version for legacy computers (version 7). It can be set up in minutes by a knowledgeable user. It can even be run from a cdrom or even a simple thumb drive. You could easily turn an existing machine into a nas. I think I set up mine in a total of ten minutes. Another advantage is that you can use already existing drives without reformatting them. For example, we took a drive from an old Microsoft windows machine with lots of files and plugged it in (with the machine turned off) and FreeNAS was able to immediately recognize the drive and immediately put to use the existing files so they could be shared on the network.
Now if you want more advanced features (such as a commercial nas may offer) of a nas such as a raid (redundant array of independent disks), you will need to use drives that can be erased or wiped. So you would need to back up the MSWindows formatted drive we used first. Raid depending on what level you use can allow you to replace a failed drive on the fly and the system will repair it self.
In recent years, FreeNAS has added other feathers such as a web server, the ability to support iscsi (independent small computer system interface) devices, and many other features. FreeNAS is more than a one trick pony. More on that at a later time. The main advantage of FreeNAS, I like is that you can manage it remotely via a web interface. All a simple point and clicky type environment.
Only you can decide what file cabinet is best for you, but FreeNAS should be included in your decision making process.
You can get a nas in what is called a turnkey package off the shelf from your local electronics store. Generally you might pay a premium for such a setup. But then you know it should be supported well from the manufacturer. Hewlett Packard is a prime example of those units. Now everyone under the sun is selling some sort of system billing themselves as a nas unit. Not saying that is bad, but you do need to compare the features.
Could you use a spare machine to do the same thing? You certainly can. In fact, using a spare machine can save you money and maybe even time. There are a lot of commercial packages you can purchase to get the job done. Any brick and mortar computer store can tell you what they recommend. Being a supporter of open source, I would recommend using linux , but if you are not familiar with Linux that can as much work as some of the commercial solutions (unless your an IT specialist).
What do I use? Definitely use linux as you can add many other services that the traditional nas may or may not offer. What i like is something call FreeNAS. It is based on FreeBSD and is a cousin sort of to linux. Even the Apple osx is based loosely on BSD. As in the name it is free, so there is no shelling out of hundreds of dollars to make a pc a file cabinet (unless you want to contribute to the project). You can find FreeNAS at http://www.freenas.org/.
What is so great about FreeNAS? They have two versions, one for newer computers (version 8) and the also have a version for legacy computers (version 7). It can be set up in minutes by a knowledgeable user. It can even be run from a cdrom or even a simple thumb drive. You could easily turn an existing machine into a nas. I think I set up mine in a total of ten minutes. Another advantage is that you can use already existing drives without reformatting them. For example, we took a drive from an old Microsoft windows machine with lots of files and plugged it in (with the machine turned off) and FreeNAS was able to immediately recognize the drive and immediately put to use the existing files so they could be shared on the network.
Now if you want more advanced features (such as a commercial nas may offer) of a nas such as a raid (redundant array of independent disks), you will need to use drives that can be erased or wiped. So you would need to back up the MSWindows formatted drive we used first. Raid depending on what level you use can allow you to replace a failed drive on the fly and the system will repair it self.
In recent years, FreeNAS has added other feathers such as a web server, the ability to support iscsi (independent small computer system interface) devices, and many other features. FreeNAS is more than a one trick pony. More on that at a later time. The main advantage of FreeNAS, I like is that you can manage it remotely via a web interface. All a simple point and clicky type environment.
Only you can decide what file cabinet is best for you, but FreeNAS should be included in your decision making process.
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