Through this blog, we will address some of the commonly asked customer questions on SQL Server and Network Attached Storage (NAS).

• Support for NAS database files with SQL Server
  You can configure SQL Server to store a database on a networked server or NAS storage server. You need to enable trace flag 1807 before you can achieve this. For more information on setting up NAS with SQL Server, refer to KB 304261.
   
• Are there any issues with NAS that I need to be aware of?
  Before you decide to run your database files on NAS, make yourself aware of the performance and database consistency considerations for using NAS. These considerations are documented in detail at KB 304261.
   
• What does Microsoft recommend – SAN or NAS?
  Because of the risks of network errors compromising database integrity, together with possible performance implications that may result from the use of network file shares to store databases, Microsoft recommends that you store database files either on local disk subsystems or on Storage Area Networks (SANs).
  
  Refer to KB 304261 for more information on this.
   
• Does Microsoft certify any hardware that works with SQL Server?
  Microsoft does not certify or validate that third-party products will work correctly with Microsoft SQL Server. Additionally, Microsoft does not provide any warranty, guaranty, or statement of any third-party product's fitness for use with SQL Server. This policy applies to hardware and software products. It is up to the third-party vendor of the product to provide any such warranty, guaranty, or statement of the product's fitness for use.
  
  For more information, please refer to KB 913945.
   
• If Microsoft doesn’t certify any third party hardware, how do I feel confident that I am running on good hardware?
  SQL Server 2005 software works on the hardware certified for use with the Microsoft Windows operating system. 
  
  Any such hardware that is certified to work with Windows is posted at Products Designed for Microsoft Windows - Windows Catalog and HCL. You can use these hardware products from third party vendors with SQL Server. 

Hope this helps!