<Li> Embedded system based NAS--Using an ARM or MIPS based processor architecture and a real - time operating system (RTOS) or an embedded operating system to run a NAS server . The power consumption of this NAS type is fair, and functions in the NAS can fit most end - user requirements . Marvell, Oxford, and Storlink make chipsets for this type of NAS . Max FTP throughput varies from 20 MB / s to 120 MB / s . </Li> <Li> ASIC based NAS--Provisioning NAS through the use of a single ASIC chip, using hardware to implement TCP / IP and file system . There is no OS in the chip, as all the performance - related operations are done by hardware acceleration circuits . The power consumption of this type of NAS is low, as functions are limited to only support SMB and FTP . LayerWalker is the only chipset manufacturer for this type of NAS . Max FTP throughput is 40 MB / s . </Li> <P> NAS is useful for more than just general centralized storage provided to client computers in environments with large amounts of data . NAS can enable simpler and lower cost systems such as load - balancing and fault - tolerant email and web server systems by providing storage services . The potential emerging market for NAS is the consumer market where there is a large amount of multi-media data . Such consumer market appliances are now commonly available . Unlike their rackmounted counterparts, they are generally packaged in smaller form factors . The price of NAS appliances has plummeted in recent years, offering flexible network - based storage to the home consumer market for little more than the cost of a regular USB or FireWire external hard disk . Many of these home consumer devices are built around ARM, PowerPC or MIPS processors running an embedded Linux operating system . </P> <P> Open - source NAS - oriented distributions of Linux and FreeBSD are available, including FreeNAS, NAS4Free, CryptoNAS, NASLite, Gluster, Openfiler, OpenMediaVault, EasyNAS, Rockstor and the Debian - based TurnKey File Server . These are designed to be easy to set up on commodity PC hardware, and are typically configured using a web browser . </P>

A nas solution is most appropriate for what type of data environment