How should I configure storage for saving multimedia and work data on my NAS?
Last modified date:
2025-11-03
Applicable Products
NAS with QTS operating system
Overview
QNAP NAS allows you to organize data by creating shared folders on data volumes:
- Data volume: An isolated storage space created from your storage pool. Each can have independent settings.
- Shared folder: A logical folder inside a volume, used to organize files and assign user permissions.
Note: This article applies to QNAP NAS running QTS. In QuTS hero, each shared folder is created as its own data volume.
There are two main ways to separate media and work data:
- Create multiple shared folders within a single volume
- Create multiple volumes, each with its own shared folder
Comparison: Multiple Shared Folders vs. Multiple Volumes
| Shared folders in one volume | One shared folder per volume | |
|---|---|---|
| Description | All data stored in one volume, separated by folders | Each data type on its own isolated volume |
| Typical use case | Home/media users and small offices; simple management | Advanced users with specific needs for isolation, different RAID, or file system settings |
| Storage efficiency | High efficiency; pooled storage capacity | Less flexible; must allocate fixed size to each volume, which can result in unused space |
| Management complexity | Simpler setup and maintenance | More complex; each volume needs individual setup and monitoring |
| Performance | Best for most users; minimal resource overhead | Slightly higher overhead if you create many volumes, especially on entry-level NAS models |
| Flexible permissions | Can set permissions per shared folder | Can set permissions per shared folder within each volume |
| Advanced isolation | Logical separation only | Physical isolation; needed if you want different RAID levels or file system types (e.g., one volume on SSD, one on HDD) |
Recommendation
For most users, especially for organizing media and work data, creating multiple shared folders within a single volume is easier to manage and more efficient.
- Choose multiple shared folders in one volume if you do not need different RAID/file system types or physical isolation.
- Choose multiple volumes only if you require independent settings, physical separation, or different performance/protection levels for each data type.
This approach keeps your NAS setup simple, allows you to maximize storage space, and makes it easy to assign permissions per folder.
Procedure: Creating Multiple Shared Folders on One Volume
- Go to Control Panel > Shared Folders.
- Click Create and enter a folder name (e.g., "Media", "Work").
- Choose the volume to store the folder (select your main volume).
- Assign permissions as needed.
- Repeat for each data type you wish to separate.
