

Some NAS devices have wifi, and some allow the use of wifi if you connect a dongle to a USB port on the device.

#WHAT IS A NAS FOR MAC MAC#
Your NAS could connect to your Mac via an Ethernet cable, and could be in the same room as your computer or it could be in any location as long as it can access your network. To set up and manage a NAS, you connect to it over a network. What sets a NAS apart from a small computer such as a Mac mini is the fact that it doesn’t need a display in fact, NAS devices don’t have video cards, so you can’t connect a display to it. It can be as small as a single hard drive in an enclosure, or it can be a rack-mounted device with a couple dozen drives or more. What’s a NAS?Ī network-attached storage device is a computer with one or more drives designed to store files.

Here’s why it can be convenient and practical to use a NAS for backups, and as a personal cloud. You can use an online backup service if you have the bandwidth, but a practical way to back up your Mac locally is to use a NAS: a network-attached storage device. It’s easy to connect an external hard drive to your Mac to back it up, but if you use a laptop, you might forget to do this regularly. Even if you only access your NAS through your home network, encryption will protect you if someone steals the device.We all know how important it is to back up your Mac.
#WHAT IS A NAS FOR MAC PASSWORD#
Encryption, which puts password protection on your data, is primarily important if you use your NAS to back up sensitive data that you don’t want anyone to access. NAS devices that include hardware-level encryption are much faster than devices that rely on software.
#WHAT IS A NAS FOR MAC PC#
Some NAS devices even include an HDMI port and a remote, so you can plug right into a television without using a media center PC or streaming device as a middleman. You can use most NAS devices to stream media, but some are better at it than others. This setup is ideal, as it allows you to expand the storage capacity of the NAS over time, and even swap out defective drives without losing data in some models. Many NAS devices come with one or more additional drive bays. What to Look For in Network Attached Storage Additional Drive Bays However, if you need more advanced capabilities and the support for a whopping 48TB of storage, the DS918+ ( view at Amazon) is worth the considerable extra cost. It’s easy to use and includes most of the major features you want in a NAS at a reasonable price point. The Western Digital My Cloud EX2 ( view at Amazon) is the NAS device we recommend to most people. Processor: Marvell ARMADA 1.3 GHz | Storage Capacity: 8TB (included) to 36TB | Compatibility: Windows, macOS | Ports: Gigabit Ethernet, 2x USB 3.0 We think it's the best NAS for the average person who wants a straightforward device. Unusually for a device that’s just about as easy to set up as an ordinary external hard drive, it also comes with advanced security features.

Other handy features include the ability to easily schedule backups from multiple devices and share files with others by creating private links. It also comes with Plex Media Server built-in, a digital media player that makes it easy to stream your favorite media to all of your devices. The My Cloud Ex2 is pretty much plug-and-play and comes with 8TB of storage capacity, which is plenty for home use. The Western Digital My Cloud EX2 is far from the most advanced NAS, the fastest, or the most versatile, but it wins its place as the best overall for most people because it’s affordable and hassle-free.
