If you're sick of losing info when your external drive crashes, or just need to get access to your music, photos and video from any computer - PC or Mac - in your place over your network then a good home NAS is just what you are looking for.
Most folks right now, though, do not have a ton of cash to spend on more computer equipment. So it makes sense to discover a home NAS that not just trusty but inexpensive too.
For a lot of us, that implies finding a 2 drive NAS, which generally winds up being a 2 drive bay network attached storage unit. I make this distinction because it is feasible to purchase a 4 or more drive bay NAS device that only has 2 of the drive bays populated with hard drives.
Purchasing a home network storage solution with more bays gives you more expansion capacity down the line, and we are all for that. But since those cost more our discussion here will concentrate on reliable and reasonable 2 drive systems that only have 2 drive bays.
There are innumerable internet sites and magazines covering external storage that could be accessible over your network. The key, though, is that you get an actual network attached storage device and not just an external hard drive with network capability.
The difference is in protecting your data with RAID technology.
RAID1, also known as mirroring, protects your info if a hard drive fails. In the event of drive failure, you receive a message the drive has failed and you get it replaced before the other drive fails. Since each of the 2 hard drives "mirror" each other, the unit keeps operating whether or not one drive fails.
Do not be confused and think RAID0, which many products offer, protects your information in any way. It does not.
Select from a variety of quality home NAS vendors, picking a NAS device that is highly rated by those purchasers who have purchased one. We have a list at our website along with other helpful reviews.
Most folks right now, though, do not have a ton of cash to spend on more computer equipment. So it makes sense to discover a home NAS that not just trusty but inexpensive too.
For a lot of us, that implies finding a 2 drive NAS, which generally winds up being a 2 drive bay network attached storage unit. I make this distinction because it is feasible to purchase a 4 or more drive bay NAS device that only has 2 of the drive bays populated with hard drives.
Purchasing a home network storage solution with more bays gives you more expansion capacity down the line, and we are all for that. But since those cost more our discussion here will concentrate on reliable and reasonable 2 drive systems that only have 2 drive bays.
There are innumerable internet sites and magazines covering external storage that could be accessible over your network. The key, though, is that you get an actual network attached storage device and not just an external hard drive with network capability.
The difference is in protecting your data with RAID technology.
RAID1, also known as mirroring, protects your info if a hard drive fails. In the event of drive failure, you receive a message the drive has failed and you get it replaced before the other drive fails. Since each of the 2 hard drives "mirror" each other, the unit keeps operating whether or not one drive fails.
Do not be confused and think RAID0, which many products offer, protects your information in any way. It does not.
Select from a variety of quality home NAS vendors, picking a NAS device that is highly rated by those purchasers who have purchased one. We have a list at our website along with other helpful reviews.
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We learn the fine details of home network storage so that you won't have to. Protect the info that means the most to you while making it less complicated for you to access. Network Storage Tips for home and business.
