If we want to create a storage server in the cloud to no longer pay for Google Drive, OneDrive, iCloud, Dropbox, Mega or any other platform, in order to always have our photos and documents at hand from anywhere, we have different options to do so: using a old computerwith a NAS or even with a SAN.
However, unless you have extensive computer knowledge, the most economical solution, which is to use an old PC, is not feasible, as it requires a specific Linux distribution. In addition, having the equipment always on represents an unnecessary waste of energy that will not be found in other equipment such as a NAS without going further.
Once we have ruled out the possibility of using a PC as a home cloud, the solution we are left with is to use a NAS or SAN. Let’s see below how none work and which is the best option for creating your own Internet storage infrastructure.
What is a SAN
SAN is a storage area network (Sget carried away Areal NOTnetwork) designed for a very specific working environment that combines storage systemsUseful servers, switches and more high speed connections like optical fiber, to share storage resources between all connected devices and works independently of the local network.
Information in a SAN system is shared in blocks of data, not through independent files, so it is available more quickly, reducing the time it takes to access content. This type of network is intended for businesses, not for private use, unless we have file sharing needs similar to those used by some large companies.
What is a NAS
And SIN It is a storage device connected to a network (NOTnetwork Aattached Sstorage) which functions as a file server centralized and where users can connect to share or store information. Unlike SAN, NAS must be connected to a local network and works, among others, with TCP/IP, NFS, SMB/CIFS and Ethernet protocols.
These devices include their own operating system which is responsible for managing access and file management, so it does not need to be connected to a PC to work completely independently. A NAS is designed to store and share files independently, and not in blocks, so it is the best option when creating a home cloud, it is advisable to use hard drives designed for NAS, because they have greater durability than conventional discs.
Using a DAS is not an option
In addition to SAN and NAS, you have probably also heard of THE (Ddirectly Aattached Sstorage), an option that we cannot consider because it relies on connecting a storage device directly to a computer, whether a PC, server or workstation and is mainly used to make backup copies.
A DAS does not have the ability to connect to a local network, so it does not have access to the Internet and, although it functions very similarly to a SAN (designed to provide access to remote storage), in a DAS it only works locally. A DAS is essentially made up of several hard drives connected to each other to unify all the space offered by the connected units into one, provided that it supports JBOD.
Which option to choose
If we are looking for the most economical device, easy to configure and that allows us to access it from anywhere remotely to download, download, play content remotely or share files, the NAS is the device that we are looking for. If we have a business, a NAS can be useful to a certain extent, however, in this case it is better to use a SAN or DAS, since the latter is cheaper and easier to configure.
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