NAS storage has been a standard in the data center for decades. From IBM’s RAMAC to today’s high-performance, low-cost solutions, the evolution of storage technology has been incredible. In the past, storage capacity was measured in gigabytes and terabytes. Today, petabytes, even zettabytes, are possible with advances in storage technology.
But when it comes to purchasing or upgrading Network Attached Storage (NAS), it can seem a very daunting task. There are many factors to consider, such as capacity, performance, types, user interface, and scalability.
However, there is no need to panic as this is what this article is all about.
In this article, we will discuss the key points to consider when making a NAS purchase or upgrade. Many options exist for businesses looking to upgrade their storage solutions — what should you consider when purchasing or upgrading? Let’s find out.
NAS Storage purchase considerations
There are just so many options to choose from. Sure, many choices seem the same on the market. Still, you have to consider so many factors when looking for one—cost, speed, connection type, protocol, supported operating systems and applications, customer support, and more. Let us take you through the key points to consider when purchasing or upgrading to the best NAS system for your data center:
NAS Storage Considerations: The capacity and speed
Capacity and speed are the first things to consider while making a purchase decision. If your plans call for storing many files on the Network Attached Storage, capacity will be an essential factor. For example, if you are in for video surveillance or multimedia, you will store quite a lot of data. In this case, your NAS storage must have room for those kinds of large-scale data storage requirements. Furthermore, if you are providing services, you must also ensure that you provide the required speed, which means you will need fast storage.
Enterprise NAS comes in a wide range of options – from a couple of terabytes to multiple petabytes. But it all depends on your needs and what kind of business you run. For example, you can run a small store where you may not need that much storage. You need to store your daily records for safekeeping, and that is all. In this case, you may only need a small tower with a couple of hard drives.
However, consider the example of a logistics company that has to do a lot more. For instance:
- Storing and managing inventory data
- Make sure it is accessible at all times for business operations
- Making sure that employees can access relevant data at fast speeds
If you are a business with similar needs, you may need an enterprise NAS with a considerable capacity and performance. We recommend StoneFly super scale-out NAS if your data and performance requirements are way more than usual.
NAS Storage Considerations: The type of supported network connection
This will depend on your current network infrastructure. For example, is your company in an all-wireless setting, or does it use LAN to connect every computer and floor. Most modern NAS systems come with gigabit Ethernet, which is fine for typical workloads. However, if multiple people access the storage servers simultaneously, the system will go down.
In this case, you need 10 gigabit Ethernet. Having multiple network cards is a plus. If you have a clustered storage system, you can take advantage of installing multiple network adapters in multiple nodes to have an aggregated performance of all the storage devices. Scale-out systems have a much better chance of achieving a more remarkable performance throughput than single NAS devices.
NAS Storage Considerations: The user interface
User interface is also very important. If the users find it difficult to use the NAS solution then they will struggle in day-to-day operations. So, a lot of emphasizes should be made on user interface and the fact that it should be user friendly. NAS storage is built so even without a deep knowledge of IT, people can use it easily. So, it follows that it should have an easy to use, user-friendly management interface. For example, how easy it is to manage your storage content and manage access rights for other users using the storage. Your NAS solution should allow you to seamlessly manage and control all the storage devices from an easy-to-use console. Most NAS systems have a web interface to allow easy access to the storage through your browser. Some require special access rights to access it.
NAS Storage Considerations: What kind of Expansion capabilities do you need?
The best way to go about this is to look at what kind of business you have. Do you see your business expanding massively in the future? If so, you may need a scale-out approach to handle all the data that comes with the growth of your business. Scale-out NAS storage systems grow with your business. It will be much easier for you to expand in the future with a scale-out approach. All you got to do is add more nodes to achieve the required capacity and performance. However, if your storage requirements are not that great, you are better off with a single rack mount.
There is also another way around. If you want to go with scale-up type systems, you must consider that while you may increase their capacity to a greater extent, there is only so much you can do to improve their performance at scale. First, you will have limited physical space for drives; second, the prospects of upgrading the hardware are not that great. If you do choose to scale up, select a system that at least allows you to upgrade your hardware, i.e., CPU, RAM, etc., so you don’t have to discard your system and purchase a new one just for boosting performance.
Other Factors to Consider for NAS Storage Upgrade
Apart from the above mentioned factors, there are some additional factors that must be put under consideration as well. They are as following:
- Performance: How fast do you need data to be accessed? Make sure to choose a NAS solution that can provide the performance you need.
- Data Protection: How important is data protection? Make sure to choose a NAS solution that offers the level of data protection you require.
- Budget: How much can you afford to spend on a NAS solution? There are a variety of solutions available at different price points, so it’s important to consider your budget when making your decision.
Bottom Line
Before you purchase your storage platform, there are a few things to consider in advance. What’s included with the product itself, and what is offered as upgrades? Do you have an on-site management system, or will this be controlled remotely? What types of expansion capabilities do you need? Are there any specific scalability issues that might arise in the future, and if so, how will this scale? If appropriate, can you repurpose some of your current server hardware to meet your new storage platform requirements, or do you need to look at all-new devices?
These few questions and considerations will help you to choose the best option for your data center. Whether it is getting a new NAS solution or upgrading a new one, you can rely on this to make your purchase easier.
If you need any more help or want to learn more about NAS storage, be sure to check out NAS experts such as StoneFly.
