If you have an internet outage—presumably not right now, because you’re more than likely reading this article on the internet—it’s a common misconception that the network part of your computer is completely out of use.
If you’re willing to go a bit more local than the entire global network of servers, though, there’s still a lot of use you can get out of your network even without Internet access.
Local network storage (NAS and file sharing)
Your NAS will still work
One of the most significant capabilities retained during an internet disruption is access to Local Network Storage, commonly facilitated through NAS devices or built-in operating system file sharing. A NAS operates essentially as a private, localized cloud. Because the data is stored on physical hard drives connected directly to the local router or switch, accessing these files requires only a local area network (LAN) connection. Computers, smartphones, and tablets can continue to read, write, and transfer files to and from the NAS at standard network speeds, completely independent of the external internet.
Quiz
Network Attached Storage (NAS)
From basement file servers to enterprise data vaults — test how much you really know about NAS technology.
HistoryHardwareUse CasesProtocolsSecurity
Which company is widely credited with introducing one of the first commercially successful NAS appliances in the early 1990s?
Correct! Auspex Systems released the NS3000 in 1989, widely regarded as one of the earliest dedicated NAS appliances. They pioneered the concept of a standalone file server accessible over a network, laying the groundwork for the modern NAS industry.
Not quite. The answer is Auspex Systems, which launched one of the first dedicated NAS appliances — the NS3000 — back in 1989. While companies like Synology and QNAP are household names today, Auspex was breaking new ground decades before them.
Which network file sharing protocol is primarily used by NAS devices to serve files to Windows-based clients?
Correct! SMB (Server Message Block) is the dominant protocol for file sharing with Windows clients. Originally developed by IBM and later popularized by Microsoft, SMB is what allows Windows machines to seamlessly browse and access NAS shares as if they were local drives.
Not quite. The answer is SMB (Server Message Block). NFS is the protocol of choice for Linux and Unix clients, iSCSI is used for block-level storage, and FTP is a general file transfer protocol not optimized for seamless file system integration.
What does the RAID level ‘5’ specifically require as a minimum number of drives to function?
Correct! RAID 5 requires a minimum of three drives. It stripes data and parity information across all drives, meaning it can tolerate the failure of one drive without any data loss — making it a popular choice for NAS users who want a balance of performance, capacity, and redundancy.
Not quite. RAID 5 requires a minimum of three drives. The parity data distributed across all drives allows one drive to fail without losing data. RAID 1 only needs two drives, while RAID 6 requires four — so options vary depending on your redundancy needs.
What is ‘media server’ functionality on a NAS most commonly used for in a home environment?
Correct! Media server functionality — often powered by software like Plex, Emby, or Jellyfin running on the NAS — allows you to stream your locally stored media collection to TVs, phones, tablets, and more. It essentially turns your NAS into a personal Netflix for your own content library.
Not quite. The core use of a NAS media server is streaming locally stored movies, music, and photos to other devices on your network. Software like Plex or Jellyfin handles the heavy lifting, including transcoding video on the fly for devices that need it.
What is the ‘3-2-1 backup rule’ that NAS users are often advised to follow?
Correct! The 3-2-1 rule means: keep 3 total copies of your data, store them on 2 different types of media (e.g., NAS and external drive), and keep 1 copy in an offsite or cloud location. This strategy protects against hardware failure, theft, fire, and other disasters that could wipe out local backups.
Not quite. The 3-2-1 rule stands for: 3 copies of your data, stored on 2 different media types, with 1 copy kept offsite. It’s a best-practice framework designed to ensure your data survives almost any disaster scenario, from a failed hard drive to a house fire.
Which protocol allows a NAS to present storage to a computer as if it were a locally attached block device, rather than a file share?
Correct! iSCSI (Internet Small Computer Systems Interface) transmits SCSI commands over IP networks, allowing a NAS to present raw block storage to a host computer. The computer then formats and manages that storage like a local disk — making iSCSI ideal for virtual machines and databases that need low-level disk access.
Not quite. The answer is iSCSI. Unlike SMB or NFS, which share files over a network, iSCSI exposes raw block storage — the host computer sees a NAS volume as though it were a physically attached hard drive, which is critical for workloads like virtual machine datastores.
Which of the following best describes a ‘surveillance station’ use case for a NAS?
Correct! Many NAS brands — including Synology and QNAP — offer dedicated surveillance station software that turns the NAS into a Network Video Recorder (NVR). It can connect to multiple IP cameras, record footage continuously or on motion detection, and store months of video locally without a subscription fee.
Not quite. A surveillance station on a NAS refers to software that connects to IP security cameras, records video footage, and stores it locally. This makes a NAS a powerful and cost-effective alternative to cloud-based security systems, since you own and control all your recorded footage.
Synology, one of the most recognized NAS brands today, was founded in which year and country?
Correct! Synology was founded in Taiwan in 2000 and has grown into one of the most beloved NAS manufacturers in the world. Their DiskStation Manager (DSM) operating system is frequently praised for its polished interface and rich feature set, making Synology a top choice for both home users and businesses.
Not quite. Synology was founded in Taiwan in 2000. Taiwan has become a major hub for NAS hardware development, with competitors like QNAP also headquartered there. Synology’s DiskStation Manager software helped set the standard for what a user-friendly NAS experience could look like.
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This is particularly advantageous for environments that rely on shared access to large files, such as video editing projects, extensive photo archives, or collaborative documents. Without an active internet connection, cloud-based synchronization services like Google Drive or Dropbox will halt, but local file sharing protocols, such as Server Message Block (SMB) or Apple Filing Protocol (AFP), will function without interruption. Users can continue to back up their machines over the network using built-in OS tools, ensuring data safety even when external servers are unreachable.
The router continues to assign internal IP addresses and route traffic between connected devices, meaning that moving a multi-gigabyte file from a desktop in the home office to a laptop in the living room will happen just as quickly and reliably as it would on a day with perfect internet connectivity. Understanding this distinction between local routing and external internet access empowers users to maintain productivity and data management regardless of their ISP’s status.
- CPU
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Intel x86 Quad-Core CPU
- Memory
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4GB
Streaming without the cloud
Another robust capability of a local network that persists through an internet outage is the streaming of locally hosted media. It’s all in your server, so you don’t really need to access the internet at any time. While an internet disruption immediately severs access to commercial streaming platforms, a properly configured local media server can provide uninterrupted entertainment. Systems built on platforms like Plex rely entirely on the local area network to deliver content from a host machine to client devices.
In this setup, a central computer or a Network Attached Storage device holds digital copies of movies, television shows, and music. The media server software indexes these files and transmits them over the local Wi-Fi or ethernet to smart televisions, gaming consoles, or mobile devices. Because the data never has to leave the physical premises to reach the playback device, the local router simply directs the video or audio stream from the server’s internal IP address to the client’s internal IP address.
It is important to note that some software, particularly Plex, requires specific settings to be adjusted beforehand to allow authentication without an internet connection, typically by specifying a list of IP addresses that are permitted to access the server locally. Conversely, open-source solutions like Jellyfin or standard DLNA servers are inherently designed to operate entirely offline by default. During an outage, these local streaming solutions not only continue to function but often deliver superior playback quality, as they are not subject to the bandwidth throttling or compression algorithms commonly utilized by external streaming services during times of high network congestion. Consequently, a curated local media library transforms a disconnected network from a point of frustration into a highly capable, private entertainment ecosystem.
Local printing and scanning
Make sure you have enough ink
Modern homes and offices frequently utilize wireless or Ethernet-connected multifunction printers that serve multiple computers and mobile devices. A common misconception is that sending a document from a laptop to a Wi-Fi printer requires an active internet connection. In reality, as long as both the sending device and the printer are connected to the same local router, the communication is strictly internal.
The router bridges the connection between the devices using local networking protocols such as the Internet Printing Protocol (IPP), Web Services for Devices (WSD), or Apple’s Bonjour service. When a print command is executed, the document data is transmitted directly across the local area network to the printer’s internal IP address. Similarly, scanning physical documents directly to a computer or a local network folder will function seamlessly, as the scanner simply transfers the digitized image file across the internal network.
However, we still need to distinguish between local network printing and cloud-based printing services. Features that require documents to be routed through external servers—such as proprietary cloud print functions or scanning directly to an external email address—will inevitably fail during an outage because they depend on an active connection to the wider internet to process and deliver the data. Provided users bypass these cloud-dependent features and rely on direct local network discovery, basic document management tasks remain completely unaffected. Therefore, a loss of internet access does not equate to a loss of productivity when it comes to finalizing, producing, or archiving physical paperwork, as the localized infrastructure required for these tasks operates autonomously.
It’s not the end of the world
Not having internet doesn’t have to be hell, as long as you’re properly prepared and have some servers of your own. It will almost be like you still have internet.
Stephan is the sports journalist for the Maple Grove Report.
