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Forum Discussion
MattRDude
Aug 07, 2019Follower
usb capabilities of RN424
Hello, I am interested in purchasing a Netgear RN424 Storage Cabinet. However, I don't want to use it as a NAS or SAN. I want to direct connect via usb3 cable to one computer. If I first insert 4...
schumaku
Aug 07, 2019Guru - Experienced User
No, a NAS does not make an external RAID disk enclosure - and no for various reasons:
- The USB ports - even if USB 3.0 does sometimes use USB-C type ports - are still requiring a USB host and a USB device. The ReadyNAS is always USB host, and two hosts can't be interconnected.
- A USB storage device is always a USB client, and does make use of the USB Mass Storage Protocol - this requires direct "block" access to the volume. This isn't available on ReadyNAS.
- ReadyNAS does put up a RAID and runs a one or multiple volume(s) with a file system (BTRFS), or some iSCSI accessible block devices only - the access to a ReadyNAS must be always IP based either way.
- Some vendors have a USB direct attach option (e.g. QNAP) - this is implemented as a 1Gb Ethernet, and the access is again IP based (over the USB data link).
- Latest developments in the NAS arena are capabilities to use a NAS as true DAS/SAN - but this is based on FiberChannel (and again an industry first by QNAP).
Disclaimer: Yes, I have some relations to QNAP, but I'm not an employee.
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