FreeNAS vs UNRAID

FreeNAS vs. UnRAID: What are the Differences?

To the outside world, FreeNAS (TrueNAS) and UnRAID appear far more alike than different. In effect, they are. Both are operating systems that allow you to leverage your own hardware as a NAS (Network...
Five disks showing how RAID 5 handles your data via disk striping with parity

What is RAID 5? Good Speed, Safety through Parity

RAID (Redundant Array of Inexpensive Disks) is the combining of multiple disks to mimic a single physical storage device. Depending on the type, or "level", RAID can increase performance, capacity, fault tolerance, or combinations...
TrueNAS vs FreeNAS

TrueNAS vs. FreeNAS: What is the Difference?

Alas, dear reader, the title of this article is a bit misleading. There is no longer a NAS operating system named FreeNAS, nor one named simply TrueNAS. They exist under new monikers, but it's...
shielding your computer from malware during COVID-19

Shielding Your Computer From Malware During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Hackers are the bad eggs in the cyber world that try to make use of any opportunity to steal information or money. Characteristically, they latch onto vulnerabilities and security loopholes to exploit computer users....
Five disks showing how your data is handled with a JBOD (Just a Bunch of Disks) configuration

What is JBOD? Quick and Dirty Maximum Capacity

RAID (Redundant Array of Inexpensive Disks) is the combining of multiple disks to mimic a single logical storage unit, i.e., a single drive. Depending on the type, or "level", RAID increases performance, capacity, and...
Top Microsoft Office 365 Backup Solutions

Top 3 Microsoft Office 365 Backup Solutions

Mention data safety, and backup will instantly spring to mind. What is not immediately available, even to seasoned IT professionals, is information about what makes a good backup solution. With more businesses embracing Microsoft...
What is Thin Provisioning

What is Thin Provisioning? Use Only What You Need

No, we're not talking SlimFast here, or a forced hike on limited rations (don't ask). We're talking about yet another computer term that doesn't completely clue you in on the concept it represents. What is...
What is OPENZFS File System

What is ZFS? The File System other File Systems Aspire to

File systems are what make organized data storage possible, and quite a few have appeared over the years: FAT32, exFAT, NTFS, Ext2/3/4, Btrfs, HFS, APFS, etc. However, there's one file system that outshines them...
Signal Messenger Logo

Signal Messenger: Simple Security, Guaranteed Privacy, Great Functionality

In our hyper-connected, always-on world, privacy is in everyone’s thoughts. Instant messaging is the dominant tool for remote conversations. How can we use instant messaging and maintain our privacy? By using Signal. Signal Messenger Signal is...
Two disks showing how RAID 1 handles your data via disk mirroring

What is RAID 1? Simple, Safe, and Easy

RAID (Redundant Array of Inexpensive Disks) is the combining of multiple disks to mimic a single physical storage device. Depending on the type, or "level", RAID increases performance, capacity, or fault tolerance, or in...

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A Practical Guide to Small Business Network Security in 2025

This article provides a clear roadmap for implementing crucial cybersecurity measures to safeguard your company's digital assets.
What is BTRFS file system linux kernal

What is Btrfs? The Better (than most) File System

Btrfs may be a "better" file system next to everything except ZFS, but what Btr actually stands for is not "better", or "butter", but...
Mac floppy disks

A Brief History of the Floppy Disk

Ah, the floppy disk. How I miss thee. How I don't. There was a certain tactile pleasure to inserting you into your drive, and...
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How to Install ZFS and Create a ZFS Pool on Ubuntu

ZFS is a stable, robust, and fault-tolerant file system with built-in RAID-like properties and drive pools. We show you how to create a ZFS...
UnRAID array with parity and caching drives

What is UnRAID? Outstanding Capacity with Parity

There are a number of NAS operating systems out there, including several based on the BSD (Berkeley System Development) operating system. Most are proprietary...