To maybe help clear up some confusion before it hits, most block level storage can be divided up like so:
- Internal - a drive inside the computer, directly attached to some controller or bus.
- External.
- DAS. Direct Attached Storage. A USB drive, eSATA-connected drive or RAID enxlosure, and an entire midtower-size case of hard drives in a rack, all qualify, though they aren't generally called that. They're attached to a controller, and used as block devices, but not internal. In the case of server storage, it's generally due to needing more room for many drives, though that's getting less common (the most common reason for more drives was more IOPS, but SSDs typically aren't expensive compared to a 2U or 4U rack of hot-swap SAS HDDs, if you needed IOPS but not space).
- SAN. Storage Area Network. The drive, or array, are still used as block devices, with either SCSI or ATA, typically, but over a network. More NICs can be used to increase bandwidth and peak IOPS. Typically, this is done when there's no other better option. Many servers can boot straight from a SAN, and the SAN is typically a COTS server itself, or many of them, offering lots of features for administration, like snapshots and backup, RAID-like redundancy at machine and rack levels (IE, whole sets of computers can go down without causing downtime), and more...for a price.
Now, you'd think DAS would be coupled with NAS, in the vocabulary, but I guess NAS had already been taken. NAS just means file server. You don't care about the block level, or even file system level, but the file level.
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Now, on to more directly on-topic matters:
They're called routers. They include a firewall and a switch, in a little box, and nowadays also include wifi as a standard feature. The firewall part gives you a LAN (home network) separate from the WAN (the internet). The switch let's you hook up several devices (including more switches
🙂) to your local network, all sharing the same internet connection.
If you do not use a router now, get one, and set it up. A firewall, at its most basic, blocks incoming connections from the internet. If you were to check a firewall's logs: D: It's a basic security measure anyone should have, even with just one PC, IMO. Some programs may need incoming ports opened to work correctly, but as long as whatever program or device you're using is sufficiently documented, that's generally not much of a problem, though may induce a bit of a learning curve for you, if you run up against it (it's also less common today than ever, with home routers being very common).
My preference as of late has been the
Netgear WNR3500L (without flashing it), typically available at Staples and Best Buy. In a pinch, a WNR2000 is alright, too, I just can't see good reason to not get GbE LAN ports, today, for a device that will likely last 3+ years (longer, if you don't do much with wifi). If you're in the U.S. (RCN looks like it's in NJ, so I'll go with yes), and ordering online, check out the
Buffalo WZR-300HP, which a reliable unit, as well.
Hey! Responded to this last nite or early this AM, aaaaaand, when I hit submit, site told me it was doing maintenance......so now, will do it all over.
Dense technical knowledge of storage above!
🙂
I think we must never forget, that what a given individual uses their computers for is foundational; we are each unique and, I think, each must work to learn and own as many available options within that foundation as we can.
I chose internal backup from my second desktop on…..when I began buying my beloved Optiplexes, and, given I only choose the big, ATX tower configuration, empty bays are hardly a problem (Nor is excellent engineering & thermal flow.)
After setting up my primary drive, I clone it to my backup drive using XXclone, a unique app which does not employ imaging, and, the pro version, affords incremental backups. XX also affords dual boot, of course.
This has always worked perfectly for me, and, on one or two occasions, it’s also saved my butt when I messed something up in whichever drive I was booted into…all I did was do a reverse clone. And, I put the backup drive to sleep using amazing little German app I came upon way back: Revosleep. My backup drive is asleep right now as I type.
Not crazy about online backup, and I have no need to integrate my devices via some cloud technology.
When I do go solid state, I plan to retain the above strategy, which, again, works perfectly for me.
Now, of course I know about routers! I just forgot about the WIRED ones, prolly because I’ve been sleeping almost never. I have very decent Netgear wireless router, but I only use it to download ebooks.
I live in Manhattan….in a pre war building whose construction nobody could afford to replicate (it’s also maintained like the inside of a Patek), and yet I know more than a couple of people who’ve had their wireless hacked here.
I have always chosen software firewalls. From the time I was using freewares, i.e., Comodo, thru my current choice: Norton IS (to me, the best suite ever, well, the current build, at least) And this too has proven the right choice for me.
Bet if I looked on eBay, I could find a decent wired router for no money! And, given I have fast coaxial broadband (RCN’s hardwiring setup is amazing, from the lobby to the PH, unlike Time Warner’s which we also have in the other service stairwell), if I used just, say, two ports, maybe the signal would not be too compromised? Would it be? Compromised, I mean.
