Hi!
I´m thinking about buying a network-attached storage (maybe the BUFFALO TeraStation 1000GB, 1 GBit). The purpose of it would be:
- to make daily backups from 1 server;
- to make short time backups from workstations (linux and Windows) before making OS upgrade;

I read that NAS work sometimes with OS sometimes without, and that the Buffalo network-attached storage series work with linux.
what I would like to know is how does it work exactly? Is it just like any linux machine? Does it work with a special embedded version from Linux? Is it preinstalled? Do you configure a NAS through SSH or through internet?

Can any NAS work with both linux and windows?

thanks.

mostly they'll run linux, yeah as it's the perfect tool for the job. Basically they have a cut down version of samba, and ftp server, nfs maybe... whatever connectivity the vendor wants to provide, in a flash booted system. you would only ever interact via a web interface or something similar.

Most of vendors gives Web access to their boxes and you will be able to configure it with the help of a very easy to use GUI, but sometimes they will give you a box with CLI prompt access only and you will have to learn a few commands which will be very similar to linux commands.
There are some vendors who provides both GUI and CLI, in those boxes you will use GUI for normal work and CLI is used as a backup only in case if you are not able to connect it from GUI(web browser).

Regards,

Harinder Singh.

Tanks for the answers. Seems quite simple and user's friendly. I'll give a try then.

Theres a couple distros designed for the purpose of making an old PC operate like a NAS appliance.. Heres the links so you can take a look.. obviously one of those little store bought appliances will cost less, and draw less power, but it may also be limited in functionality..

Clarkconnect - http://www.clarkconnect.com/
NasLite - http://www.serverelements.com/
FreeNAS - http://www.freenas.org/
SME Server - http://contribs.org/
OpenFiler - http://www.openfiler.com/

enjoy !!

but what about security? if it works with internet connecty, isn't exposed like any computer?