On-Site Storage Part 1 - File Servers, NAS, Portable Storage Devices

What is On-Site storage?

Onsite storage locations are physical computing infrastructures that are housed, managed, and maintained strictly within your organisation's own physical facilities.

What are the different kinds of On-Site storage locations?

-File servers

-Network Attached Storage (NAS) devices

-Portable storage devices

-Solid State Drive (SSD)

-Storage Area Network (SAN)

What is a Server?

A server is a high-performance system dedicated to managing network resources. It requires significantly greater memory, storage, and processing power than standard workstations. Servers must be scalable, possessing the adaptability to maintain efficiency as the number of connected systems increases or decreases.

Why may organisations employ multiple servers?

-Isolates system failures (ensuring that if one server fails, others remain operational)

-Optimises performance by allowing each unit to focus on a specific resource, such as printing or file management.

What are the characteristics of File Servers?

-Central computer used to store and manage files so they can be accessed by everyone on a network.

-Handles security by checking that users only access the files they are allowed to see.

-Automatically back up data to meet disaster recovery rules.

-Using a file server saves space on individual employee computers and can even double as a print server.

What are the advantages of File Servers?

- One location to back up rather than each individual computer needing files backed up.

- Files can be accessible from any computer on the network. This is useful if a computer fails and is replaced or if the user needs to work in a different location, for example, a meeting room.

- Designed to be scalable, meaning more storage can be added if required.

What are the disadvantages of File Servers?

- They are expensive due to the hardware and infrastructure required.

- A trained person is required to manage them, usually a network manager.

What is Network Attached Storage (NAS)?

A Network Attached Storage (NAS) device is a computer dedicated entirely to saving files.

Think of it as a hard drive with a brain: it doesn't need a screen, keyboard, or mouse because its only job is to store data and share it across a network.

How does NAS work?

NAS plugs directly into your Wi-Fi router.

What are the characteristics of NAS?

Once connected, it acts like your own private cloud. This means every device in your home or office (laptops, phones, or tablet) can wirelessly access and save files to it at the same time.

What are the advantages of Network Attached Storage (NAS)?

- They are usually small, quiet devices compared to file servers. This is an advantage as small businesses are unlikely to have a dedicated server room.

- They are simple to manage and do not require a network manager.

What are the disadvantages of Network Attached Storage (NAS)?

- They tend to have smaller storage capacities than file servers

- They have limited flexibility in terms of customisation compared to file servers.

What are Portable Storage Devices?

Portable storage devices (or removable media) are small, lightweight tools used to save and carry digital data.

Designed to be mobile

Allows you to easily transport files in your pocket or bag and transfer them between different machines or locations.

What are the characteristics of Portable Storage Devices?

-Plug-and-Play: They usually connect via universal ports (like USB) and work immediately without needing complex installation.

-Non-Volatile: They keep your data safe even when they are unplugged and have no power.

-Offline: They do not require an internet connection to work.

What are the advantages of Portable Storage Devices?

- They are affordable.

- They are very easy to transport

What are the disadvantages of Portable Storage Devices?

- They generally hold small amounts of data.

- They can be easily lost. If lost, the data could be accessed by someone else and have disastrous consequences for a business.

- Damage easily.