We have more and more devices connected to the Internet. In recent years we have added more computers to our home network. One of the most recent is the NAS, which is a storage device dedicated to sharing storage capacity with computers or any user that acts as a client, in addition, it also allows communication with other servers, always through a local network or through over the Internet. Also, these NAS systems often have multiple storage devices and are often configured in RAID. Then, depending on the operating system we have and its applications, we can use it for one thing or another. In this article we are going to see the essential applications that your NAS server must have.
What can we do with a NAS
A NAS server is much more than just a computer, server, or external hard drive. By having your NAS server you have an intelligent data storage connected to the network. Among the components that your NAS server must have would be the box such as the processor, RAM memory and several high-capacity hard drives. Its function is to centralize the data to make it available to users in a secure way, and regardless of where they are. They are used both at the domestic level and at the business level.
One of the main advantages of having your NAS server at home is that you keep full control of your data and, in addition, you can save costs. The downside to them is the expense to replace components plus the electricity you consume to keep that server running. As for the functions for which we can use a server of this type, they would be:
- Data storage.
- Make a security copy.
- Share files to work collaboratively.
- Synchronize files between different computers.
- Create a complete media server with Plex and other programs.
- Save and share our videos and photos.
- Creation of servers of different types.
- Downloading files using P2P programs.
Regarding if you want to have a NAS server, it should have at least two bays, have SSD Cache acceleration, a dual-core CPU and a minimum of 2 GB of RAM. Here are the specifications that a NAS should have if you want to buy one.
Essential applications that a NAS must have
In this aspect, the operating system of the NAS that we install has a lot to say. After its installation and start-up we have to review the general options of the operating system. We must also configure the storage, groups and users. Now is the time to have your NAS server with the essential applications you need. Here you have to choose an operating system for NAS that already comes with them as standard or that at least lets you install them.
A list of the essential applications that our NAS should have would be:
- A file manager from the cloud or locally, that is very complete and that allows us to both upload and download files with ease.
- It would also be interesting to be able to play the music that we have stored on the server.
- A program that allows the synchronization of our photos with the NAS.
- Having a video player that would allow us to stream from the local network or the Internet.
- That you have a BitTorrent or eMule client to carry out our P2P downloads.
- It allows us to have a Web, FTP, SSH or Samba server among others.
- The ability to create a DLNA media server or media center like Plex.
- It allows us to have a VPN server, to be able to browse safely, for example, when we connect to a public Wi-Fi network.
As you can see, this type of network equipment can be installed with many different kinds of applications. This means that they are very complete and we can perform multiple tasks depending on the operating system that we have installed and its applications.
Finally, it should be noted that having your NAS server brings many functions but also many responsibilities. In this aspect we must take care that it is always well updated and make a correct configuration of users and groups.