Network-Attached Storage (NAS)

 

Block Diagram

 

 

 

 

 

Design Considerations

 

Network Attached Storage (NAS) products are widely used in consumer and enterprise applications for electronic information storage. In addition to traditional direct attached data storage for computers, NAS also have the capability of storing data over wireless networks. Files, photos, and other media are stored in hard disks through Serial ATA ports, and are uniquely encrypted to protect user privacy. Additional SATA ports may be added to the system for increased data storage with the inclusion of a SATA multiplier.

 

Other peripherals such as printers or external hard drives could be connected to NAS using the USB interface. SuperSpeed USB 3.0 host controllers and interface devices are available at TI and can boost USB data rates to a maximum of 5 Gbps. ESD protection is available for various interfaces to protect the end product itself from being destroyed. An optional external RAID controller provides additional storage functionality and reliability by building redundancy into the system for security or other high-reliability data-storage applications. A touch-screen LCD display could be added to a NAS to provide a better user experience.

 

In addition to offering processors well suited for the primary data storage function, TI also offers processors that can integrate streaming media functionality into the end product. These processors are ideal for encoding/decoding media files for higher end products such as media players/servers.

 

The core system includes:

• Processor – An ARM based processor is used for data transmission and encryption, while an optional video accelerator performs media decoding, transcoding/encoding as well as media stream packetization. With the streaming media capability, NAS could play any stored media without connecting to a PC.

 

• User Interface - Allows the user to access the stored files and communicate with other applications in the network.

 

• Network Interface - Allows wired/ wireless data transmission and storage, through either Gigabit Ethernet or a cable modem, or 802.11 interface.

 

• Power Management - Including AC-to-DC conversion and regulation to create the main power for core and I/O power for the main processor, DDR memory, as well as power for the storage hard disk drives. TI offers all power solutions to meet stringent energy conservation mandates.