There are a lot of difference acronyms out there when talking about technology. One that we get questions about often revolves around the difference between NAS and NFS.
NAS is a type of network design.
NFS is a type of protocol used to connect to a NAS.
Network Attached Storage (NAS) is a device that allows users to access files through a network. It allows users to access and share files from their individual stations through a central server.
NFS (Network File System) is a protocol that is used to serve and share files on a network. Similar protocols include SMB (Server Message Block) and AFP (Apple Filing Protocol).
In short, a NAS system can use the NFS protocol to perform its task. However, a NFS is not a NAS.
