NAS vs. RAID Storage Differences

Network-attached storage (NAS) and redundant arrays of independent disks (RAIDs) are two of the most popular digital storage options for filmmakers, post-production houses, and others with the need to store, back up, and archive extremely large files.

But what exactly is NAS? And what is RAID? Keep reading to discover the difference between NAS vs. RAID.

• What is a NAS?
• What is RAID?
• Is RAID Better Than NAS? Or Is NAS Better Than RAID?

What is a NAS?

A Network Attached Storage (NAS) is essentially a dedicated storage server with a network connection. That’s because these file-level storage architectures can store a lot of data while also connecting to your network, which is super convenient for remote work or when multiple users need to access the same device.

NAS devices use hard disk drives (HDDs) or solid-state drives (SSDs). There are also ‘cloud NAS’ providers like LucidLink — but the majority of the time, NAS devices are physical items.

Drives are often enterprise-grade, so they can withstand the rigors of running 24-7 for months on end. NAS typically includes a powerful CPU that can enable integration with cloud storage, organize files, or run software applications to provide additional capabilities such as email or security.

💡 Related: The Top 5 Best External Hard Drives For Video Editing

NAS, which emerged in the 1970s and was initially commercialized in the early 1980s, can also be configured to create backups, stream media, and even host virtual desktop infrastructure.

Users can access NAS over a network using file protocols such as NFS (Network File System) or SMB/CIFS (Server Message Block/Common Internet File System).

Synology DiskStation DS418

Advantages of NAS

The biggest advantage of NAS enclosures is their networked capabilities for continually accessible data.

But a close second is that a NAS can be deployed in a RAID configuration, providing the best of both worlds: The redundancy of RAID with the networking capabilities of a NAS.

Additional advantages of NAS include:

1. It’s relatively inexpensive compared to many other storage types.
2. Users can employ multiple file-based protocols (such as NFS or SMB, as mentioned earlier) for access.
3. Multiple users can access storage at the same time (unlike direct-attached storage, or DAS, which can only handle one user at a time).
4. Can be configured to back-up data to other devices automatically.
5. User friendly and relatively easy to operate; NAS devices feature a streamlined operating system and pre-installed scripts.

The potential speed, organizational capabilities, and ease of use of NAS devices make them well suited for storing unstructured data such as video, image, or audio files.

💡 Read More: What is the Difference Between File Storage, Object Storage, and Block Storage?

Disadvantages of NAS

NAS setups do have some disadvantages. These can include:

1. Limited scalability compared to other options (although newer scale-out NAS options have made scaling easier).
2. Higher-end setups can be much more difficult to use and may require additional skills.
3. High user traffic on the LAN can cause latency issues, especially when video editing with large files.
4. Typically not as fast as DAS or storage area network (SAN) options, although a network optimized for 10Gbps speeds can address this issue.

What is RAID?

RAID stands for “redundant array of independent disks,” a term coined in 1987 by Berkeley professors David Patterson, Garth Gibson, and Randy Katz. It’s a data storage virtualization technology — a fancy way of saying multiple independent drives digitally fused to become one logical drive, offering better performance and redundancy. AKA it’s a hard drive on steroids.

RAID arrays are managed and configured via a hardware- or software-based RAID controller. The controller presents the RAID as a single, logical unit while also helping to improve performance and enable data protection if a drive crashes.

PROMISE Pegasus32 R6 24TB RAID System

Several different RAID levels exist, from RAID 0 to RAID 60, based on their level of performance, fault tolerance, and redundancy. Some RAID levels are nested in that they combine two types of data storage mechanisms. Data storage mechanisms within RAIDs include striping, mirroring, and parity.

Here’s a breakdown of the various RAID levels, from RAID 0 to RAID 60:

• RAID 0: Uses striping by splitting data into blocks written across all disks in the array (a minimum of two disks). RAID 0 provides high performance but zero redundancy or fault tolerance, so if one drive fails, the array is toast.
• RAID 1: Uses mirroring across at least two disks. RAID 1 arrays provide redundancy and failover but have a read/write speed equivalent to a single drive, while the mirroring in RAID 1 setups means the device’s storage capacity is essentially cut in half.
• RAID 5: Uses striping and parity across at least three disks to split data between two of the disks, while the third maintains parity data, allowing the array to be rebuilt if a drive fails. RAID 5 arrays offer fast read speeds but slower write speeds.
• RAID 6: Uses double parity striping across a minimum of four disks. RAID 6 setups can be expensive but use two disks for parity, allowing the array to be rebuilt should up to two drives fail. Like RAID 5, RAID 6 arrays offer fast read speeds but slower write speeds.
• RAID 10: A hybrid setup combining RAID 1 (striping) and RAID 0 (mirroring) across a minimum of four disks, offering high performance and redundancy. Can be more expensive than RAID 5 or RAID 6 due to mirroring consuming around half the array’s storage capacity.
• RAID 50: Also known as RAID 5+0. RAID 50 uses a combination of RAID 5 (parity) and RAID 0 (striping) across a minimum of six drives for better write performance and more efficient data rebuilds than RAID 5, allowing it to overcome up to four drive failures.
• RAID 60: Also known as RAID 6+0. RAID 60 combines RAID 6 (double parity) and RAID 0 (striping) across at least eight disks.

Other RAID types not widely used include RAID 2, RAID 3, RAID 4, RAID 7, and RAID 100.

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Advantages of RAID

Aside from the fact that RAID is a much cooler name than NAS, there are other advantages to a RAID setup:

1. You can get similar or even better performance than some expensive drives by chaining a series of relatively inexpensive disks together.
2. Highly customizable due to the number of RAID levels available.
3. Depending on your RAID level, you can configure your system for peak performance or the highest possible redundancy and failover.
4. Can protect against data corruption due to hardware defects or read errors.

Disadvantages of RAID

RAID also has a few drawbacks, unfortunately. These include:

1. Can be more expensive per GB than other storage because so much space is usually required for redundancy.
2. Doesn’t protect against user error, viruses, or fire/water and other catastrophic damage.
3. It can sometimes take days to rebuild failed RAID drives.
4. Disk failures can also imply corruption on other disks, making it difficult or impossible to rebuild the array.

💡 Read More: MacOS Ends Support for Dropbox Sync Folders on External Drives

Is RAID Better Than NAS? Or Is NAS Better Than RAID?

Whether NAS vs. RAID storage is best depends greatly on your use case, but neither option is perfect. Both are primarily used as online storage for video workflows, but can also be deployed as nearline storage options. As mentioned, NAS is typically regarded as best suited for storing unstructured data such as videos, thanks to its data management capabilities, which may give it the edge in video and post-production.

In any case, a RAID setup is likely preferable in the following situations:

1. When dealing with sensitive data, where data availability and the ability to restore data in case of failure are paramount.
2. When working with large files requiring extremely fast read/write speeds.
3. When only one user requires extra storage, wants to improve data storage performance, or improve data availability/reliability.

Likewise, a NAS is preferable when:

1. You’ve got more than one user or workstation needing access to the same data.
2. You need to store and serve multimedia files or automate backups.
3. You require a robust, networked storage solution that’s easy to operate without specialized IT knowledge.

However, you don’t necessarily need to choose between RAID vs. NAS. That’s because a combination NAS/RAID configuration might be your best bet for a relatively low-cost storage solution with redundancy, failover, decent performance, the ability to share files among your network, and the ability to access your files remotely.

Combine Your RAID or NAS with MASV Cloud Storage

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