Question There's something I'm still not getting about network drives

[nbartolo7]

Complete PC and network n00b here. I know a few things but I think I'm misunderstanding due to some english words. Please be patient with me. Thanks.

I've heard (probably not a good start...) that one of the simplest ways one can backup (albeit perhaps poorly) a system, is to copy files and folders to a network drive. Simple copy, just like how one would do to send a photo to a friend.

Now, I'm not 100% positive I understand the term "network drive". When people talk about network, are they talking about my network, as in, my internet setup at home, or ar they talking about something else?

Then, are they saying they back up important data manually, by copying and pasting (seems like a terrible way to do things), their files to an external or internal hard drive that they then share in their network? Or are they talking about a NAS? What exactly is considered a "network drive"?

Many thanks.

 

[Eximo]

A couple of things to go over.

Network Attached Storage
Storage Area Network
Cloud Storage

A network drive in the context of Windows/MacOS/Linux is any drive that is not directly connected to the physical computer. That means you are sending data over a network to another device.

In the case of some home internet routers, they have USB ports that allow you to plug in an external drive. This would be a type of Network Attached Storage and would be a folder or drive letter accessible (mapped) on your computer.

A more traditional NAS is a purpose built light computer that simply hosts multiple drives, or a typical PC made from standard parts running either a normal OS or a bespoke NAS software that acts as a file server.

Storage Area Network is more typically found in large enterprises and is transparent to the user. They see a directory or drive letter, but that data can be on multiple redundant systems of storage.

Cloud storage is basically uploading your files to a third party. Microsoft One Drive, DropBox, CarbonCopy, etc. You can specify which files and folders get backed up automatically.

 

[USAFRet]

Some drive not internal or USB connected in your PC.

Anything from an eternal HDD connected to your router (don't do this(, to a NAS, or maybe 'the cloud'.

 

[USAFRet]

Then, are they saying they back up important data manually, by copying and pasting (seems like a terrible way to do things), their files to an external or internal hard drive that they then share in their network? Or are they talking about a NAS? What exactly is considered a "network drive"?

In my realm, every system and physical drive gets a full drive Image, or Incremental Image...nightly/weekly, or whatever schedule is applicable to that system.

Full drive...