Internet: since the emergence of computers and the rise of information and communication technologies (ICT) in recent times, man has taken on the challenge of inventing or perfecting devices and mechanisms that allow him to store data safely. Data.

The increase in the volume of information handled daily by companies contributed to the development of services that would make it easier for them to expand the storage capacities of their terminals interconnected to their local networks. Precisely from this activity, the most significant current challenges arise regarding data storage on the Internet.

The management of large volumes requires different online services that make it possible to expand the storage capacity of a personal computer that is connect to the network. In this way, it is possible to create a physical space that does not belong to a specific device; however, it can be use by user who are connect to the cloud to save or access certain information.

Nowadays, it is widespread that we all understand that we are talking about cloud services when using the term network storage or data storage on the Internet. However, it is worth emphasizing that the concept of Internet storage encompasses other alternatives in addition to cloud storage.

What Is Data Storage On The Internet?

Internet storage is understood, then, as the creation of new storage spaces that do not belong to the hard drive of computers connected to a network. Therefore, as a user of the web, through your devices, you will be able to use these new spaces to manage (save, create, modify or delete) your data.

In this way, network data storage is related to expanding the storage capacity of a computer or devices belonging to a particular network, as long as you have access to this storage through the local network.

Organizations and people use different platforms to store their data. The matter can be understood as connecting new hard drives in a network, and these can be accessed by the computers connected to a said network to manage their information.

In addition to your device storage, as a user, you have access to additional storage, which is shared by all devices linked to the local network.

Network Storage Systems

There are mainly three network storage systems: Network Attached Storage (NAS), Direct Attached Storage (DAS), and Storage Area Network (SAN). Below we detail what these system consist of.

NAS Storage Systems

Network Attached Storage, or network-attached storage, is a storage system that incorporates its connection scheme and processing of requests made by users to access information. Therefore, you do not need servers for it to work on a local network.

This is one of the reasons why some users and small companies use them, as it allows information to be stored in an orderly manner and backing it up by creating backup copies. Added to this, you will see that the system’s configuration is simple, so you can implement it in a few minutes, even if you have little experience.

The operating principle of NAS storage systems is as follows: they are connected to the network access point ( router ). The TCP/IP protocol is used for data access. Once configured, it can be accessed from all network points utilizing a browser.

They have a unique identification and address within the network, so they are independent of it. They have their operating system (usually a version of Linux). Its potentialities and functions vary according to its price. In addition, its functionalities can be add or disabled.

Among the actions that can be car out is the automatic creation of backup copies and downloads from P2P networks or Torrent. Likewise, they can be use as multimedia servers, FTP servers, print servers, and web servers.

DAS Storage System

In Direct Attach Storage, or direct connection storage system, a server is necessary to manage access to data in which one or more hard drives are connect. Having access to the local network, you will see the storage space provide by the system as if it were a device connect to your computer.

Setting up this storage system is usually relatively easy for home users. Making an analogy, it can be said that by using a DAS storage system, you have  same experience when connecting an external hard drive a computer or laptop.

When connecting a DAS storage device to a server, you will see new storage space in the computer’s file explorer. It only differs from the external disk drive. This system makes it possible to concatenate the storage of several hard disks by executing a RAID system that increases storage capacity and data access speed on a large scale and the security of the stored information.

Practical Example

You can get a network storage system if you connect an external hard drive or pen drive to the network router, as long as it has USB ports. Performing this operation will transform the external drive into a network drive.

To complete the system configuration, you have to activate the option to create a new network drive on your computer in the router configuration menu. Upon completing these actions, the computers connected to the local network will access the device’s content related to the router’s USB port.

SAN Storage System

The Storage Area Network or storage area network has some aspects in common with the DAS system. Precisely, the SAN system is consider an evolution of this.

This storage system has a more complex architecture than what we have explained to you previously. Similarly, private users find it more laborious to configure, manage and maintain them. For this reason, it is less use by them, but in large companies, it is widely accept.

With this network storage system. Multiple hard drives are interconnect to a controller responsible for concatenating their capacities, creating single storage space. The next step is to connect the system to a server to correctly manipulate and manage. The data stored in this shared space. It is necessary to secure the approach to the local network for all this to occur.

Although it has a high initial implementation cost. The SAN system is widely use by large companies since it provides high flexibility and scalability once install. Therefore it is possible to modify and expand your storage space whenever necessary. In addition, with this system. The data storage capacity is better optimize since another can use the space that one person does not operate.

At the same time. It offers you the possibility of creating. Data centres in different geographical locations that ultimately pay taxes to the same unit. So that the risk of information loss due to the occurrence of a natural or other catastrophe is minimize.

The SAN system enables people to access the same information regardless of their geographic location. Therefore, workers in a company with branches in different countries may be working in parallel and accessing the same data. No matter where their data centres are located.

SAN Systems And Cloud Storage

SAN network storage systems allow you to increase the storage space unlimitedly. In addition, once implemented, they allow access to authorize personnel from anywhere. These advantages are use to support cloud storage services.

In this way, by using the cloud. Users have the possibility of storing and accessing information through the Internet without using their computer’s hard drive; a person connects from any country and gains virtual access to a storage space. That is physically distribute in numerous data centres located in different places.

In summary, we can tell you that data stored on the Internet refers to systems. That allow the creation of an external storage space that offers access to computers connected to a local network. There are different types of network storage systems, and of these. Cloud services are based on the advantages provided by the SAN system.