1. International Journal of Computer Engineering and Technology (IJCET), ISSN 0976-
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NETWORK ATTACHED STORAGE DIFFERENT FROM
TRADITIONAL FILE SERVERS & IMPLEMENTATION OF
WINDOWS BASED NAS
Nathwani Namrata
Lecturer in Government Polytechnic, Rajkot
ABSTRACT
Several new methods of utilizing computer networks for data storage have emerged in
recent years. One popular approach, Network Attached Storage (NAS), allows homes and
businesses to store and retrieve large amounts of data more affordable than ever before.
Network attached storage (NAS) is file-level computer data storage connected to a
computer network providing data access to heterogeneous clients. Network Attached Storage
is designed to separate storage resources from network and application servers in order to
simplify storage management and improve the reliability, performance and efficiency of the
network, thus increasing the overall productivity of the organization.
Network Attached Storage servers are self-contained, intelligent devices that attach
directly to your existing LAN. This intelligence on the NAS device enables true data sharing
among heterogeneous network clients. NAS unit is a computer connected to a network that
only provides file-based data storage services to other devices on the network. So NAS is
useful for more than just general centralized storage provided to client computers in
environments with large amounts of data.
Keywords: Network Attached Storage (NAS), Storage Devices, Difference among Direct
Attached Storage (DAS), Storage Area Network (SAN) and Network Attached Storage
(NAS).
1. Windows based Storage Devices
1. INTRODUCTION
Network Attached Storage, or NAS, is a data storage mechanism that uses special
devices connected directly to the network media. These devices are assigned an IP address
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and can then be accessed by clients via a server that acts as a gateway to the data or in some
cases allows the device to be accessed directly by the clients without an intermediary.
The beauty of the NAS structure is that it means that in an environment with many
servers running different operating systems, storage of data can be centralized, as can the
security, management, and backup of the data.
Some of the big advantages of NAS include the expandability; need more storage
space, add another NAS device and expand the available storage. NAS also bring an extra
level of fault tolerance to the network. In a DAS environment, a server going down means
that the data that that server holds is no longer available. With NAS, the data is still available
on the network and accessible by clients. Fault tolerant measures such as RAID, which, can
be used to make sure that the NAS device does not become a point of failure.
A NAS unit is a computer connected to a network that only provides file-based data
storage services to other devices on the network. Although it may technically be possible to
run other software on a NAS unit, it is not designed to be a general purpose server. For
example, NAS units usually do not have a keyboard or display, and are controlled and
configured over the network, often using a browser.
Fig -1 Network attached storage
Fig- 2 Network attached storage in TCP/IP Network

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2. HOW TO WORK
Like traditional file servers, NAS follows a client/server design. A single hardware
device, often called the NAS box or NAS head, acts as the interface between the NAS and
network clients. These NAS devices require no monitor, keyboard or mouse. They generally
run an embedded operating system rather than a full-featured NOS. One or more disk (and
possibly tape) drives can be attached to many NAS systems to increase total capacity. Clients
always connect to the NAS head, however, rather than to the individual storage devices.
Clients generally access a NAS over an Ethernet connection. The NAS appears on the
network as a single "node" that is the IP address of the head device.
A NAS can store any data that appears in the form of files, such as email boxes, Web
content, remote system backups, and so on. Overall, the uses of a NAS parallel those of
traditional file servers.
NAS systems strive for reliable operation and easy administration. They often include
built-in features such as disk space quotas, secure authentication, or the automatic sending of
email alerts should an error be detected.
Fig-3 Working of NAS topology
3. ADVANTAGES OF NAS
1) Multiple users can access the drive at the same time.
2) Files can be shared among users and devices.
3) Remote access via Ethernet is possible.
4) Availability of data might potentially be increased with NAS if it provides built-in
RAID and clustering capabilities.
4. DRAWBACKS
1) If the NAS is occupied with too many users, too many I/O operations, or CPU
processing power that is too demanding, the NAS reaches its limitations. A server system is
easily upgraded by adding one or more servers into a cluster, so CPU power can be upgraded,
while the NAS is limited to its own hardware, which is in most cases not upgradeable.

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2) Management is still an issue, although less so than a few years ago. While storage
management facilities on NAS filers have gotten a lot better, especially with the release of
Windows Storage Server, NAS filers still lack the sophisticated management tools available
for SANs or high-end NAS systems. Today, most NAS filers have Web-based interfaces that
allow them to be managed with a browser. Even inexpensive NAS filers often include
features such as snapshots, checkpoints and journaling file systems to improve data integrity.
3) Backup is also a consideration. Some filers back up to an attached tape drive or
library, while others can be backed up over the network. Backing up to a separate device
introduces some complexity in managing backups. Backing up over the network puts an
additional load on the network.
5. NAS vs. TRADITIONAL FILE SERVERS
Proponents of NAS claim that NAS technology provides these advantages over
traditional file servers:
1) Lower cost.
2) Better security.
3) Higher availability (less downtime).
4) Easier to use and administer.
6. DIFFERENCE AMONG DIRECT ATTACHED STORAGE, STORAGE AREA
NETWORK & NETWORK ATTACHED STORAGE
1) Direct Attached Storage (DAS)
Direct attached storage is the term used to describe a storage device that is directly
attached to a host system. The simplest example of DAS is the internal hard drive of a server
computer
Fig 4 Direct attached storage in LAN

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Fig 5 Direct attached storage connected with clients
2) Storage Area Network (SAN)
A SAN is a network of storage devices that are connected to each other and to a
server, or cluster of servers, which act as an access point to the SAN. In some configurations
a SAN is also connected to the network. SAN's use special switches as a mechanism to
connect the devices. These switches, which look a lot like a normal Ethernet networking
switch, act as the connectivity point for SAN's. Making it possible for devices to
communicate with each other on a separate network brings with it many advantages.
Fig-6 Storage area Network

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3) Network Attached Storage (NAS)
Network Attached Storage, or NAS, is a data storage mechanism that uses special
devices connected directly to the network media. These devices are assigned an IP address
and can then be accessed by clients via a server that acts as a gateway to the data or in some
cases allows the device to be accessed directly by the clients without an intermediary.
Fig-7 Network attached storage in LAN
7. WINDOWS BASED NETWORK ATTACHED STORAGE
Current offerings in the Network-Attached Storage (NAS) market generally fall into
two camps – the Windows-based NAS solutions and NAS solutions based on other operating
systems and macrocodes. Windows Powered Network Attached Storage (NAS) is an
optimized file server based on Windows technology that is designed for high reliability,
availability, and ease of management. Windows Powered NAS integrates with the existing
infrastructure and supports heterogeneous file serving as well as backup/replication of
mission-critical data. Windows Powered NAS is also an ideal solution for consolidating
multiple file servers into a single solution that enables cost reduction and policy-based
management of storage resources. Windows Powered NAS includes advanced availability
features such as point-in-time data copies, replication, and server clustering. Because
Windows Powered NAS solutions are preconfigured, they can be deployed out of the box in
minutes, and their Web user interface makes management easy. Windows Powered NAS
integrates with existing infrastructures, so enterprises can leverage commonly used network
environments and standard management software, as well as Windows 2000 Server’s Active
Directory service. Preconfigured Windows Powered NAS solutions are available from
industry leading OEMs in sizes ranging from a few hundred gigabytes to several terabytes.
The Windows-based NAS solutions are built with Microsoft-qualified server
hardware running Microsoft Windows Storage Server 2003, which is based on Windows
Server 2003 technology and optimized for serving networked storage.
Overall, the Windows Storage Server 2003-based NAS solutions offer both technical
and cost advantages over NAS solutions based on other operating systems and macrocodes.
Hence, the deployment of Windows-based NAS allows customers to pay less for their
networked storage infrastructures and realize more cost savings through this solution’s
superior manageability and reliability as well as its reliance on current employee skills.

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Technical
scenario
Business needs Why windows powered NAS
File serving A. High reliability
B. High availability
C. Easy of
management
D. Integration into
existing
infrastructure
A. Optimized for File Serving
B. No overhead of running applications
C. Replace multiple GP servers used for file
serving with single solution
Backup/Restore
and Replication
A. Business
continuity
• Disaster
recovery
• Availability
of data
A. Backup without taking Servers offline
B. Geographic Replication
Server
consolidation
A. Optimize IT
resources
• Lower touch
point
• Reduce
admin cost
A. Low $/MB
B. Consolidate multiple file servers
C. More data per server per admin
Table-1 Benefits for using windows powered NAS
8. KEY TECHNOLOGY IN WINDOWS BASED NAS
A. Highly reliable & Available
1) Optimized software and hardware:
Access stored files with more reliability using a Windows operating system that is optimized
for file serving. In addition, built-in hardware redundancies are included in the solution to
avoid any single points of failure within the device.
2) Persistence storage manager:
Provide high data availability by creating and managing up to 250 data snapshots.
Entire server volumes of corrupted or deleted data can be restored within minutes, instead of
hours that might be required to restore from tape.
3) Storage manager:
Optimize storage resources by setting quotas at volume, directory, and user levels. In
addition, enforce rules regarding storage of unwanted files by filtering file types and track
resource usage with storage reports.
4) Distributed file system:
Build and manage a single, hierarchical view of multiple file servers and their shares.
Distributed File System (DFS) simplifies management of data on multiple distributed
servers. DFS enables Windows Powered NAS to automatically redirect clients to data
replicas in case data becomes unavailable.
5) Clustering:
Create high availability solutions with support for two-node failover clustering using
Microsoft Cluster Service (MSCS).

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6) Replication:
Increase data availability and provide disaster recovery by creating multiple copies of data on
remote servers over local area networks (LANs) or wide area networks (WANs) using third
party add-on software.
B. Easy to deploy and manage
1) Plug-and-play deployment:
Deploy a preconfigured Windows Powered NAS solution in minutes. Use a Web interface to
connect to the network, join an Active Directory domain or a local workgroup, add users,
create shares, and select file sharing tools.
2) Remote manager:
Manage devices remotely through a Web user interface, Terminal Services, or standard
enterprise server management tools.
C. Seamless Enterprise Integration
1) Active directory integration:
Take advantage of existing Active Directory policies to centrally manage Windows Powered
NAS using Group Policy, Kerberos Authentication, and Encrypted File System.
2) Network interoperability:
Easily configure Windows Powered NAS to interoperate with most common network
environments, including Windows, UNIX, Novell NetWare, and Apple Macintosh. Also
included is support for CIFS, FTP, WebDAV, and Apple File Sharing Services.
3) Support for existing management software:
Leverage existing IT investment in server management tools like Microsoft Systems
Management Server, Tivoli, and HP Open View.
4) ANTI-VIRUS SOFTWARE SUPPORT
Take advantage of investment in existing anti-virus utilities to protect data.
D. Low Total Cost of Ownership
Windows Powered NAS enables IT administrators to easily manage growing amounts of data
while reducing storage costs. Customers can acquire Windows Powered NAS at one of the
lowest costs per gigabyte available, and take advantage of high scalability to expand storage
capacity as needed.
Advanced availability features, ease of deployment and management, and seamless enterprise
integration also combine to lower the total cost of ownership
E. File Level Security
NTFS enables the administrator to put security access control lists on each directory and file,
such that individuals and groups have specific privileges.
F. File Sharing/Locking
Individuals or applications can open a file for reading while another user or application is
writing to it elsewhere.
G. Encrypted File System
Enables the user to encrypt their files for extra security. The encryption is transparent to
authorized users, but unauthorized users are unable to access or read files.

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H. Disk Quotas
Enables system administrators to monitor disk space usage to ensure that systems do not
unexpectedly reach capacity. Capacity can be monitored by both volumes and users. In
addition, enforce rules regarding storage of unwanted files by filtering file types and track
resource usage with storage reports.
9. NAS SERVER
NAS servers are dedicated (and often optimized) file servers that function to store and
retrieve files for production servers. Whereas general-purpose production servers are loaded
with applications that consume storage, NAS servers are stripped of unnecessary hardware
(there is no monitor, keyboard or mouse) and software applications, and use only those
components of the operating system required for file serving, thus maximizing the disk space
available for storage.
NAS Server has several advantages
A. Rapid Installation
NAS appliances are preconfigured with the necessary software for effective existing
network. Unlike general-purpose servers which can be complex and time-consuming to
install, often requiring network downtime, NAS servers can be plugged directly into the
network cable—with no impact on network operations—configured and up and running in
less than 15 minutes. All NAS server management is conducted through a web browser
interface, rather than having to use the command line interface more common to general-
purpose servers.
B. Support for Heterogeneous Environments
NAS servers make pooled storage available to multiple operating systems, thus
making it unnecessary to maintain multiple machines for separate storage, lowering costs and
streamlining management. Windows Powered NAS servers from Dell support CIFS and NFS
file sharing protocols (among others) enable file serving of both Windows and Unix files.
C. Server Consolidation
By shifting the file serving and storage burden off of the general-purpose servers onto
high storage capacity NAS servers, overall equipment costs and associated licensing expenses
decline. Moreover, pooling storage on a NAS server both makes it both simpler for users to
access files as well as streamlining storage management
D. Improved Server Performance
Production servers relieved of the burden of file serving, experience less bandwidth
congestion and improved performance, which translates directly into improved response time
for the end users.
E. Highly Available Data
NAS servers can be designed with redundant components such as failover Ethernet
controllers and hot-swappable drives to ensure that storage remains available even in the
event of a hardware failure. The separation of storage functions from production work

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ensures that in the event of storage problems, the production servers remain online.
Conversely, should there be a problem with a production server; files are still available
through the NAS device.
10. DEPLOYMENT SCENARIO
A. File serving
1) Pre-configured for easy deployment
2) Designed for remote management
3) Dedicated optimized file server
4) Data protection with Persistent Storage Manager
Fig-8 File serving
B. Backup & replication
NAS used for network backup from multiple production servers
1) NAS may be clustered for added availability
2) Production servers don’t have to be taken offline
3) Replication increases data and device availability
Fig-9 Backup & replication
C. Server consolidation
1) Reduce number of servers on the network
2) Lower cost of storage management

11. International Journal of Computer Engineering and Technology (IJCET), ISSN 0976
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1) Reduce number of servers on the network
2) Lower cost of storage management
11. CONCLUSION
Windows Powered NAS provides both robust file serving and backup capabilities,
thereby enabling both server and tape device equipment consolidation. The NAS server is an
out-of-the-box solution that can be deployed in minutes, without network downtime. The
minimal management of NAS servers can be accomplished through a web browser, rather
than having to use command-line interfaces. NAS servers provide simple cross
sharing and backups, greatly simplifying management of multiple platforms, makin
necessary and valuable part of your complete enterprise backup solution.
12. REFERENCES
[1] http://www.microsoft.com/storage
[2] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Network
[3] Cyju Varghese, John Blesswin, Navitha Varghese
Approach for Satellite Imagery Storage
International Journal of Computer Engineering & Technology (IJCET), Volume
Issue 2, 2012, pp. 147 - 159
[4] Prof. S.A.Ubale and Dr. S.S. Apte
with .Net Framework for Windows Operating System
Computer Engineering & Technology (IJCET), Volume
pp. 426 - 434, ISSN Print: 0976
International Journal of Computer Engineering and Technology (IJCET), ISSN 0976
6375(Online) Volume 4, Issue 3, May – June (2013), © IAEME
549
Fig -10 server consolidation
Reduce number of servers on the network
Lower cost of storage management
Windows Powered NAS provides both robust file serving and backup capabilities,
thereby enabling both server and tape device equipment consolidation. The NAS server is an
box solution that can be deployed in minutes, without network downtime. The
minimal management of NAS servers can be accomplished through a web browser, rather
line interfaces. NAS servers provide simple cross
sharing and backups, greatly simplifying management of multiple platforms, makin
necessary and valuable part of your complete enterprise backup solution.
http://www.microsoft.com/storage
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Network-attached_storage
Cyju Varghese, John Blesswin, Navitha Varghese and Sonia Singha,
or Satellite Imagery Storage by Classifying the Non-Duplicate Regions
ournal of Computer Engineering & Technology (IJCET), Volume
159, ISSN Print: 0976 – 6367, ISSN Online: 0976
Dr. S.S. Apte, “Study and Implementation of Code Access Security
or Windows Operating System”, International
Computer Engineering & Technology (IJCET), Volume 3, Issue
, ISSN Print: 0976 – 6367, ISSN Online: 0976 – 6375.
International Journal of Computer Engineering and Technology (IJCET), ISSN 0976-
June (2013), © IAEME
Windows Powered NAS provides both robust file serving and backup capabilities,
thereby enabling both server and tape device equipment consolidation. The NAS server is an
box solution that can be deployed in minutes, without network downtime. The
minimal management of NAS servers can be accomplished through a web browser, rather
line interfaces. NAS servers provide simple cross-platform file
sharing and backups, greatly simplifying management of multiple platforms, making it a
ingha,, “A Novel
Duplicate Regions”,
ournal of Computer Engineering & Technology (IJCET), Volume 1,
6367, ISSN Online: 0976 – 6375.
f Code Access Security
International Journal of
, Issue 3, 2012,