Can a NAS drive be used a like a standard HDD...

[admin_exported]

The reason I ask the question is the largest hard drive you can get, i think is 2TB, whereas a NAS can offer a lot more storage.

So could I just get a NAS plug it in and connect it to my PC via USB? or does a NAS have to be networked?

thanks

Stan.

 

[professorhat]

Every NAS I know of has to be networked. Some offer USB slots, but these are generally to allow you to connect standard USB drives and further expand your network storage.

However, you could use a crossover cable to directly connect your NAS to your PC via its inbuilt ethernet socket - it would probably involve setting the NAS to use a static IP address instead of the standard which is to use DHCP and is thus technically a bit more challenging, but can be done quite easily if you or someone you know is willing to give it a go.

 

[Anonymous]

If you are looking at a massive storage device then you should be looking at a SATA array that can be connected to a PC via either USB or eSATA.

http://www.misco.co.uk/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=407154&sourceid=2459&cm_mmc=CSE-_-google-_-hhd-_-162247&CAWELAID=453241698

will offer up to 4 x 2tb storage or there is a more sophisticated version that offers RAID:-

http://www.misco.co.uk/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=407164&sourceid=2459&cm_mmc=CSE-_-google-_-hhd-_-162246&CAWELAID=445699565

Maplin Electronics offer similar devices but they are limited to 1tb per bay. Incidentally they are currently running a promo on a USB2.0 2TB external driver for under £130

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=264482&source=1

 

[Anonymous]

I've got my NAS hooked up to a Gigabit switch, which again is hooked up to a wireless router. This way I can access it with the modest speed of the wi-fi, or, when needed (and without altering settings) with a gigabit cable -- which should be faster than USB anyway.