New to NAS?
If you're still curious about the basic concept of a NAS itself, it's worth reading an introduction to what network-attached storage is first, then coming back here to decide which sharing protocol fits your setup.
Connecting a network drive
If you're wondering how to map a folder shared over SMB to a drive letter on your own computer, a guide to network drive mapping is worth checking as a follow-up to this page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I turn on SMB and NFS at the same time on the same folder?
Most NAS devices can have both SMB and NFS enabled on a single shared folder at once. That said, because the two protocols have different permission systems, enabling only the protocol you actually need is safer when multiple devices access the folder at the same time, to avoid permission conflicts.
Is the speed difference actually noticeable?
In a typical home setup with gigabit Ethernet, the difference is often hard to notice in practice. In a Linux server environment that frequently transfers large files, NFS's advantage tends to show up more clearly.