NAS Vs. Server

[z123killer]

What is the difference between a NAS (Network Attached Storage) and a server?

[Kobathor]

A NAS is more or less a dedicated storage on your LAN. A server (if connected online) could be accessed anywhere through the Internet. 

[z123killer]

A NAS is more or less a dedicated storage on your LAN. A server (if connected online) could be accessed anywhere through the Internet. 

So a NAS is dedicated storage on my network. A server can be accessed from anywhere (different network)

[braneopbru]

So a NAS is dedicated storage on my network. A server can be accessed from anywhere (different network)

No. One has nothing to do with the other.

 

Every NAS is a server, but not every server is a NAS.

[Kobathor]

So a NAS is dedicated storage on my network. A server can be accessed from anywhere (different network)

A NAS is basically a storage server. You can configure it to be accessed from the Internet. A server could be used for many more things, you know, like running a game server. 

[Godlygamer23]

So a NAS is dedicated storage on my network. A server can be accessed from anywhere (different network)

As stated, a NAS is a type of server. NASes can also be configured to be accessed over the Internet.

 

If you use something like FreeNAS, you can re-purpose or add extra purposes to it like a Minecraft server.

[Enderman]

nas = storage server

 

server = HUUUUGE category of all types of computers that do all kinds of stuff

its a very general term

[leadeater]

Strictly speaking a NAS is a server. Servers are defined as a computer that provides a service to multiple users. This could be Authentication, Data Storage, Web Hosting etc. The hardware doesn't define the server, a Raspberry Pi can be a server. Hardware classified as a server is really just saying that it is very reliable and has inbuilt redundancy for component failures.

[z123killer]

nas = storage server

 

server = HUUUUGE category of all types of computers that do all kinds of stuff

its a very general term

 

As stated, a NAS is a type of server. NASes can also be configured to be accessed over the Internet.

 

If you use something like FreeNAS, you can re-purpose or add extra purposes to it like a Minecraft server.

 

A NAS is basically a storage server. You can configure it to be accessed from the Internet. A server could be used for many more things, you know, like running a game server. 

So a NAS is a storage server but a general server can be used for many thing such as a game server, a storage server or a web server

[Godlygamer23]

So a NAS is a storage server but a general server can be used for many thing such as a game server, a storage server or a web server

Correct.

[manikyath]

well.. a "server" is a computer that fills the role of providing a service to other systems on the network, that being lan, or wan. (very vague)

 

a "nas" is in most cases a full featured computer in the same sense as a "server" (in some cases it isnt, this being solutions built into routers, etc.) but optimized/configured for the specific usage of accessing its hard drives across a network connection. it is common for a "nas" to contain low power hardware, calculated for its specific use case. (enterprise level NAS solutions will have powerfull processors, plenty of ram, and quality raid cards for enterprise level performance, while simple home raid 1 NASes usually dont have much more than an atom with a gigabyte of ram or less)

[z123killer]

Thanks guys for all the explanations, it was greatly appreciated.

[braneopbru]

So a NAS is a storage server but a general server can be used for many thing such as a game server, a storage server or a web server

 

 

Your question is basically the same thing as asking: "What's the difference between a Honda Civic and a car?"

[z123killer]

Your question is basically the same thing as asking: "What's the difference between a Honda Civic and a car?"

lol, well I didn't know I am only 13 and trying to learn stuff

[Godlygamer23]

Your question is basically the same thing as asking: "What's the difference between a Honda Civic and a car?"

There is nothing wrong with asking since NAS stands for Network-Attached Storage. Some may get confused and think it's not a server.

[braneopbru]

lol, well I didn't know I am only 13 and trying to learn stuff

You only learn by asking. I realized that might have sounded like a bit of a dick comment; that wasn't my intention, but I figured it might be an easy way to explain it in a way that you'd understand.

[z123killer]

You only learn by asking. I realized that might have sounded like a bit of a dick comment; that wasn't my intention, but I figured it might be an easy way to explain it in a way that you'd understand.

it's all good

[Captain_WD]

~snip~

 

Hey there z123killer,

 

Here are my two cents on the topic:

- NAS (Network Attached Storage) is basically any storage device that is connected to your storage and is accessible over the network. For example a regular external drive such as WD My Passport that is connected to your router's USB port and can be accessed by all devices on the network is considered a NAS. 

- A Server is a system with a OS that has the functionality of a NAS plus much more including third-party app support and others. 

- Both NAS devices and Servers can be accessed over the internet if configured properly. If you have an external drive connected to your NAS or a dedicated NAS such as the WD My Cloud that is connected to the router and if that router has access to the internet, the data on the storage drive should be accessible over the internet with the proper settings from devices that are not on the particular network.

 

Feel free to ask if you happen to have more questions

 

Captain_WD.