Commercial NAS Operating Systems - A Comprehensive Overview of Core Features
by Ganesh T S on November 14, 2016 8:30 AM ESTSetting the Stage...
As we draw the first part of our comprehensive coverage of commercial NAS operating systems to a close, it is important to touch upon one additional core aspect. The setting up of multiple users, user groups, joining domains etc., LDAP or NIS authentication etc. are very important for business NAS units, but, not so much for NAS units targeting the home market.
Since the COTS NAS operating systems are all based on Linux, adopting the standard user / group strategy is not very difficult for the vendors. ZyXEL, as expected due to their targeting of home users, has only very basic user and group settings with quota support. Western Digital goes a bit further by allowing for multiple users to be created at the same time. Asustor, QNAP, and Synology have that feature and much more too. For example, Synology even supports 2-factor authentication for certain groups. Netgear does support some advanced features like Active Directory, but there are lots of things that Netgear could learn from the aforementioned vendors.
Today's piece dealt with the core aspects of NAS operating systems - storage and how it is configured, the user interface, setting up of the desired services and shared folders, and the configuration of the network links. Even though the coverage has been very subjective, there are some clear areas for each vendor to improve.
Asustor, QNAP and Synology have the setup process nailed down to a decent extent. However, Netgear needs to make its ReadyCLOUD process more robust. Alternatively, the RAIDar program should be fixed to avoid Java requirements. Western Digital's approach is almost perfect, given that they mostly sell systems with disks pre-installed. However, it would be good if a volume is created by default when the My Cloud OS is installed. ZyXEL's approach is passable, but the slow web UI leads to an unsatisfactory UX.
On the storage and services side, Synology and QNAP turn out to very feature-rich, followed closely by Asustor. Netgear still has some catching up to do as certain aspects like advanced SMB options still require an external package to be installed.
In terms of networking features, QNAP is very much on top. While all vendors have some sort of teaming implementation, QNAP has gone beyond that and started to implement various network modes that can really take advantage of the multiple LAN ports.
Next week, we will have a follow-up article that deals with value-add features. These include media services, surveillance (DVR for IP cameras) solutions, and the public cloud (integration with Dropbox, Google Drive etc.). We will also discuss support for virtualization - in terms of being a datastore, as well as the NAS being a host for guest VMs. A look at some of the third-party applications and the usage models that they enable will round up our comprehensive coverage of NAS operating systems.
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Namisecond - Tuesday, November 15, 2016 - link
Don't forget the hot-swap bays. A regular PC wouldn't have them and they can get rather pricey.MrCrispy - Tuesday, November 15, 2016 - link
Yes a commercial NAS has some advantages of course. But the price is too high.You don't need a server license, any Windows version, even Home is fine, there are plenty of remote control options.
Notmyusualid - Monday, November 21, 2016 - link
I get my servers WITH a Win Server license. Its not unheard of, from a well-known auction site.With Windows its a breeze creating shares.
And having commercial-grade HP servers allows for hot swapping, RAM-based controllers with battery backup, lights-out access and other cool stuff.
But as mentioned above - power & noise are the real caveats. Don't underestimate this part - you'll need a rack mounting in the basement as you will be able to STAND hearing even a couple of these running 24/7, and the electric bills soon show a difference too.
Call me a noob, but in the end - I didn't like FreeNAS, however much I liked the idea. Upgrading is not as easy as they make it out to be - I was forced back to the command line (as a CCNP its something I'm well used to, but dislike) and then - sometimes is JUST DOESN'T WORK / UPGRADE. Those are just my real-world experiences, and I know some of you are happy. But for me, it is no thank you Sir.
I too will continue buying NAS boxes off the shelf, or adding shares on existing servers if policies allow.
edlee - Monday, November 14, 2016 - link
Or you could just buy a lenovo ts440 intel e3-1245 with 8 drive bays and hardware raid for $420, there was a deal last year on this. Install win server 2k12 r2 and be done with itjlabelle2 - Tuesday, November 15, 2016 - link
- Install win server 2k12 r2 and be done with itHow do you do that? As a single private person? Could you point me the link where I can buy it?
DanNeely - Tuesday, November 15, 2016 - link
Anywhere that sells high end software will sell the standard edition for about $700. I suspect for this use you could get away with a $400 essentials license.https://www.amazon.com/Microsoft-Windows-Server-20...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N8...
jlabelle2 - Tuesday, November 15, 2016 - link
- you could get away with a $400 essentials license.That is what I thought so you would end up with something... MORE expensive than those NAS but less functionalities for consumer needs.
I don't know why there are some lunatics always trying to say that a DIY NAS would be cheaper and better when it is obviously not the case.
doggface - Tuesday, November 15, 2016 - link
FreeNas is FREE. :Djlabelle2 - Wednesday, November 16, 2016 - link
But not the hardware. Let's be real for a minute and stop the bull..t.A 2 bay NAS cost 250$. New.
Can you tell me how much cost, NEW, a celeron processor, 1Go of RAM, the motherboard, the case, the alimentation, the fans... to built your own NAS hardware?
What do you expect to win? 50$? Does it really worth it with all the loss of functionality? Seriously?
doggface - Wednesday, November 16, 2016 - link
About $300 for a 5 bay implementation. Did it myself. With as I said earlier, the same feature set, A better zfs implementation... Etc etc. (see earlier posts)It's not bulls**t. I am just spreading the word, because it is just that good.
If anything the zealotry is on the side of cots. We humble freenas folk are just trying to advise you that you can have an enterprise solution for the same cost as consumer cots that is as good if not better.