Q: What are the pros and cons of NAS vs. Microsoft Windows Server 2003?

A: Purchasing a dedicated NAS appliance has many advantages over rolling your own file server. It should be simpler to administer and have less risk of instability from additional software being deployed on it. Also, with NAS, you get vendor support rather than having to support the file-serving application on a standard server yourself. In the long run, it's probably cheaper than doing it on your own.

The argument holds true whether you're using Unix-type operating systems or Microsoft Windows Storage Server 2003, both of which are sometimes used as an underlying NAS system.

In short, when you compare the price of a NAS system with a standalone file server, think of it as a complete storage system with characteristics of performance, reliability, support, price and function. If you compare only specific characteristics or price, that may distract you from seeing the system as a complete product.

--Randy Kerns, independent storage consultant