Direct Attached Storage (DAS) and Network Attached Storage (NAS) differ primarily in how they connect to and are accessed by devices.
DAS is storage directly connected to a single computer or server, typically via interfaces like SATA, SAS, or USB. It is not accessible to other devices on the network unless shared through the host system. DAS is simple, cost-effective, and offers high performance for local storage needs.
Example: A desktop computer with an internal hard drive or an external USB drive is using DAS.
NAS, on the other hand, is a dedicated storage device connected to a network, allowing multiple users and devices to access files over Ethernet. NAS systems run their own operating systems and provide file-level access, making them ideal for shared storage in small to medium-sized environments.
Example: A Synology or QNAP NAS device connected to a home or office network, enabling multiple computers to access shared files.
In cloud environments, Tencent Cloud offers Cloud Block Storage (CBS) for DAS-like direct-attached storage, providing high-performance block storage for cloud servers. For NAS-like shared storage, Tencent Cloud provides Network File System (CFS), which allows multiple cloud servers to access shared files over a network, similar to traditional NAS.