Avante Digital offer a comprehensive range of Network Attached Storage that offer a flexible, cost-effective and easy-to-manage means to add storage to your network.

What is NAS?

Network-attached storage (NAS) systems are generally computing-storage devices that can be accessed over a computer network, rather than directly being connected to the computer (via a computer bus). This enables multiple systems to share the same storage space at once, and often minimizes overhead by centrally managing hard disks. NAS systems usually contain one or more hard disks, often arranged into logical, redundant storage containers or RAID arrays.

NAS was developed to address problems with direct attached storage, which included the effort required to administer and maintain "server farms", and the lack of scalability, reliability, availability, and performance. They can deliver significant ease of use, provide heterogeneous data sharing and enable organizations to automate and simplify their data management.

Avante Digital AV-NAS solutions contain an optimised Linux based operating system that is independent from the server.

NAS applications

NAS allows multiple server access through a file-based protocol. This allows administrators to implement simple and low cost load-balancing and fault-tolerant systems.

Typical uses for NAS

• File server
• Application specific server
• Video Imaging
• Graphical image store
• Centralised heterogeneous file sharing File system mirroring
• Snap shot critical data
• Replacement of traditional backup methods
• Medical imaging
• CAD/CAM
• Portable centralized storage for offsite projects
• Onsite repository for backup data

Easy installation, simple management

Only a few steps are required to make NAS work: Connect the power supply and the network cable, and enter the IP address. NAS can be administered from any system within the network via a Web browser. As a result, very little training is required.

Reliability

AV-NAS systems are equipped with redundant high-availability functions (hard drives, hot-plug functions for power supply and fans). Because the traditional application server is not responsible for data maintenance, the availability of data does not hinge upon possible malfunctioning of applications or the operating system. NAS file servers are dedicated solutions that are exclusively optimized for making data available on the network. As there are no additional applications on the NAS system that require storage space, the performance remains at a high level. NAS systems support heterogeneous networks: Windows, Linux and Apple applications can access data simultaneously.

NAS is cost-effective

With AV-NAS. there are no license and updating fees, meaning AV-NAS provides an unlimited number of user licenses that are free of charge. This differs to NAS devices based on the Microsoft Storage Server 2003.

An example of NAS vs upgrading a traditional server
Installing a NAS solution 1.     Connect the power supply and network cable. 2.     IP address is set up automatically, entered on the device’s display and registered via a browser. 3.     Existing data stock is transfered to the NAS system. 4.     Backup parameters for an internal or external backup drive are set up. 5.     Detailed configuration steps such as the assignment of user privileges can now be executed.	Upgrading a server First of all, all users have to be logged off, data have to be backed up, and the server has to be shut down. 1.     The server enclosure is opened. Hard drive mounting is installed, followed by the new hard drives. 2.     Depending on the number and the standard of the hard drives, a new controller has to be installed. 3.     Additional ventilation for the server is required. 4.     The hard drives have to be addressed and terminated correctly. 5.     Now the server can be reassembled. 6.     The server is back in operation. However, the administrator has to check if all hard drives are recognized properly. 7.     The BIOS configuration of the motherboard and the controller are changed. 8.     The server can start the operating system. New drivers for the controllers have to be installed. After that, the server is started again. 9.     The hard drives are initialized, partitioned and formatted. 10.   At last, all data can be transferred to the new hard drives.