Which term describes a storage solution that provides centralized storage over a network and is accessed as a file-level storage by multiple clients?

Which term describes a storage solution that provides centralized storage over a network and is accessed as a file-level storage by multiple clients?

• A. DAS
• B. SAN
• C. Cloud storage
• D. NAS

Answer: (D)

The concept being tested is centralized storage that is accessed over a network at the file level. This is what NAS provides: a dedicated storage device or appliance on a network that shares files with multiple clients using standard file protocols like SMB/CIFS for Windows or NFS for Unix/Linux. Because it presents shared folders that multiple machines can mount and access, it fits the description of centralized, network-accessible file-level storage. Direct-attached storage stays connected to a single machine and isn’t shared over a network, so it doesn’t meet the “centralized over a network” criterion. A SAN focuses on giving servers block-level storage (LUNs) rather than file-level shares, so it’s not described as file-level access. Cloud storage lives off-premises and is accessed over the internet, which isn’t the same as a NAS appliance providing centralized file shares on a local network.

The concept being tested is centralized storage that is accessed over a network at the file level. This is what NAS provides: a dedicated storage device or appliance on a network that shares files with multiple clients using standard file protocols like SMB/CIFS for Windows or NFS for Unix/Linux. Because it presents shared folders that multiple machines can mount and access, it fits the description of centralized, network-accessible file-level storage.

Direct-attached storage stays connected to a single machine and isn’t shared over a network, so it doesn’t meet the “centralized over a network” criterion. A SAN focuses on giving servers block-level storage (LUNs) rather than file-level shares, so it’s not described as file-level access. Cloud storage lives off-premises and is accessed over the internet, which isn’t the same as a NAS appliance providing centralized file shares on a local network.