NETGEAR Stora MS2110 NAS

I don’t get over to eHomeUpgrade often enough.  An article about the Netgear Stora NAS device has been on their site for a week or so, but better late than never.  Considering that a Windows Home Server machine could be considered a NAS device, it is always nice to see what else is out there.

How can one consider WHS to be an NAS device?  According to Wikipedia:

A NAS unit is essentially a self-contained computer connected to a network, with the sole purpose of supplying file-based data storage services to other devices on the network. The operating system and other software on the NAS unit provide the functionality of data storage, file systems, and access to files, and the management of these functionalities. The unit is not designed to carry out general-purpose computing tasks, although it may technically be possible to run other software on it. NAS units usually do not have a keyboard or display, and are controlled and configured over the network, often by connecting a browser to their network address. The alternative to NAS storage on a network is to use a computer as a file server. In its most basic form a dedicated file server is no more than a NAS unit with keyboard and display and an operating system which, while optimised for providing storage services, can run other tasks; however, file servers are increasingly used to supply other functionality, such as supplying database services, email services, and so on.

A general-purpose operating system is not needed on a NAS device, and often minimal-functionality or stripped-down operating systems are used. For example FreeNAS, which is Free / open source NAS software designed for use on standard computer hardware, is just a version of FreeBSD with all functionality not related to data storage stripped out. NASLite is a highly optimized Linux distribution running from a floppy disk for the sole purpose of a NAS. Likewise, NexentaStor is based upon the core of the NexentaOS, a Free / open source hybrid operating system with an OpenSolaris core and a GNU user environment.

The solutions offered by companies such as HP, Tranquil, Acer, Lenevo and others definitely qualify, hardware-wise, to be an NAS device.  Windows Home Server is a stripped-down version of Windows SBS 2003, which meets the second criteria.  I believe that when one thinks of an NAS, a Linux solution is usually associated with it.  Either we are limited in our thinking or MS wants us to believe WHS is step up from a “simple” NAS.

I prefer to think a little bit of both.  I also prefer to think that a WHS is at the high end of NAS devices, but I might be considered prejudiced.

Anyway, I have digressed immensely.  The Netgear Stora has

… been designed for “non-technical” users. The consumer-friendly NAS provides remote file access and music streaming from any Internet location via MyStora.com, is DLNA / UPnP compatible (works with DLNA-enabled photo frames, media adapters, game consoles), has the ability to export photos to online services like Flickr, can automatically backup network PCs, and is able to provide mirrored RAID storage when an optional second drive is used. Out of the box NETGEAR Stora (MS2110) comes with a single 1TB hard drive and retails for $229. NETGEAR Stora is compatible and accessible with Windows, Mac, Linux PCs and Smartphones.

Right price, right terminology, and right graphics along the side bar.

Looks like a cheesy version of a MS WHS webpage!  Or perhaps vice-versa…  However, what more could you ask for?  I really like what these NAS devices can do and if marketed correctly (consumer-friendly NAS), they do have appeal to the right population sector.

I am just somewhat under thrilled by 2 items.

• Minimal storage expandability
• You gets what you get for an OS.  There is no/little customization allowed

NAS devices extol the virtues of RAID.  I much prefer the method of a WHS with the mentality of throw in any ole disk.  RAID just seems, well, ….so limiting.

But it is hard to ignore the target audience that Netgear is going after.  Only a “true” WHS enthusiast needs 40Tb’s of storage capacity.  1 or 2 terabytes that you get in a Stora would be quite sufficient for the average consumer.  The price is at a point that the average consumer would actually consider.  And it is hard for the average consumer to muck-up the underlying Linux OS.

I hope Netgear has success with such a device.  When the average consumer outgrows this device, he/she just might take a look at the next step up, a WHS!