Putting Storage on the Network

A major benefit of NAS devices is that they utilize existing Ethernet resources and additional high-speed connectivity hardware. NAS vendors support all levels of Ethernet including 10 to 100 based T media to Gigabit standards. The connections are enabled through industry standard NIC cards that offer both concurrent Ethernet support and high-speed connections. Most vendors will offer various configurations regarding the type of connections, number of NICs supported, and related TCP/IP drivers. However, most devices will remain limited in the appliance and entry-level NAS solutions, with additional enhancements and offerings through mid-range and enterprise level NAS servers.