===== Network Attached Storage (NAS) Server =====

A Network Attached Storage (NAS) server provides file storage to multiple clients on a network. You can get a Drobo or a Synology device to provide an out-of-the-box experience, but I prefer to have absolute control over both the hardware and software that provide a centralized source of file storage. My choice of software allows me to combine both SAN and NAS functions into one device. If you are asking what is the difference between a SAN and NAS, you can think of it this way. A NAS storage appears to the client as a file server that the client can map drives to. SAN storage appear to the client as a disk that can be managed and treated just like directly-attached storage (DAS)disk. I get iSCSI, NFS, SMB/CIFS features for my workstations, laptops, and virtualization servers. My choice for the operating system is FreeNAS. More information related to the software and management can be found under the [[bsd:start|Unix section]] of this web site. As of January 2016, the hardware cost of these systems range from $700 for the entry-level system to $1800 for the high-performance system. 


I have three recommendations for motherboard and storage based on the level of performance needed however all use the same case and power supply:

=== Case ===
  * [[http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811219029|Norco RPC-30 Black 4U Rackmount Server Case]]
  * [[http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139027|CORSAIR Builder Series CX500 500W ATX12V v2.3 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC Power Supply ]]

=== Motherboard ===

== Entry-Level Performance ==
  * [[http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157512|ASRock H97M Pro4 Micro ATX Motherboard ]]
  * [[http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819117301|Intel Celeron G1840 Haswell Dual-Core 2.8GHz Desktop Processor]]
  * [[http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820233299|CORSAIR Vengeance 16GB (2 x 8GB) 240-Pin DDR3 Desktop Memory ]]

== Standard Performance ==
  * [[http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813182819|SUPERMICRO MBD-X10SLL-F-O uATX Server Motherboard]]
  * [[http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819117447|Intel Core i3-4160 Haswell Dual-Core 3.6 GHz Desktop Processor]]
  * [[http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA0ZX2C41351|Kingston 8GB 240-Pin DDR3 ECC Server Memory]] x 4

== Higher Performance ==
  * [[http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157419|ASRock C2550D4I Mini ITX Server Motherboard]]
  * [[http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820239756|Kingston 16GB 240-Pin DDR3 ECC Server Memory]] x 4

=== Storage ===

== Entry-Level Performance ==
  * [[http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820173033|SanDisk Ultra Fit 16GB USB 3.0 Flash Drive]] for the OS
  * [[http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?item=N82E16822178338|Seagate STBD4000400 4TB SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive]] x 4

== Standard Performance ==
  * [[http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820173033|SanDisk Ultra Fit 16GB USB 3.0 Flash Drive]] for the OS
  * [[http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?item=N82E16822178338|Seagate STBD4000400 4TB SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive]] x 4
  * [[http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820147372|SAMSUNG 850 EVO 2.5" 250GB SATA III 3-D Vertical Internal Solid State Drive]] for the L2ARC (Read Cache)
  * [[http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820147371|SAMSUNG 850 EVO 2.5" 120GB SATA III 3-D Vertical Internal Solid State Drive]] for the ZIL (Write Cache)

== Higher Performance ==
  * [[http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820173033|SanDisk Ultra Fit 16GB USB 3.0 Flash Drive]] for the OS
  * [[http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?item=N82E16822178338|Seagate STBD4000400 4TB SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive]] x 6
  * [[http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820147372|SAMSUNG 850 EVO 2.5" 250GB SATA III 3-D Vertical Internal Solid State Drive]] for the L2ARC (Read Cache)
  * [[http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820147371|SAMSUNG 850 EVO 2.5" 120GB SATA III 3-D Vertical Internal Solid State Drive]] for the ZIL (Write Cache) x 2