NAS products offer SMBs and enterprises a variety of options
NAS products are generally a more optimal way to store unstructured file-level data, such as backups or archived data, rather than structured databases. And, unlike SAN devices, which are intended for high-performance environments, NAS systems rarely have their own dedicated network server and typically offer lower performance through the use of iSCSI interconnects.
Most vendors support a variety of features when it comes to NAS systems. For instance, NAS products targeted toward the SMB market often consist of no more than a network interface card, storage controller, power supply and primary storage. By contrast, higher-end enterprise NAS devices often have redundant components that can take over in the event a primary component fails.
This guide discusses what you should look for if you intend to buy a NAS system for SMB environments and details the top eight appliance features to consider. It also compares and assesses NAS devices to determine which ones best match an organization's needs. The final section offers a comprehensive listing of the top enterprise offerings available today.
