How to set up a home NAS local area network using network cables?

How to set up a home NAS local area network using network cables?
To create a home NAS local area network, the main goal is to achieve stable, high-speed, and multi-terminal data sharing. Based on the number of devices in the home and the transmission requirements, there are mainly three mainstream networking solutions. You can choose the one that suits your situation:
Solution 1: Basic Direct Connection Scheme (suitable for beginners and light usage)

If your NAS is mainly for personal use and there are not many devices in the home, this is the simplest and least costly method.
Connection method: Use a single gigabit (or 2.5G) network cable to directly connect the LAN port of the NAS to the LAN port of the router.
Network settings: Ensure that the NAS and the router are on the same network segment. It is recommended to set a static IP address for the NAS (for example, 192.168.1.100), to avoid IP changes causing the device to be unfindable after each restart.
Sharing protocol: Enable the SMB service (for Windows), AFP (for Mac), or NFS (for Linux) in the NAS system. Other devices can access files by entering the IP address of the NAS.
Solution 2: Switch Expansion Scheme (suitable for multi-device, high-concurrency homes)
If there are 3 or more devices (such as computers, TVs, projectors) in the home that need to access the NAS frequently, or if you need to edit 4K videos, it is strongly recommended to add a gigabit or 10G switch.
Connection method: Connect the NAS, desktop computers, smart TVs, etc., to the switch uniformly, and then use a single network cable to connect the switch to the LAN port of the router.
Core advantages: The router mainly handles IP allocation and external network connection functions, while the high-bandwidth data exchange between internal network devices is completed directly within the switch (with millisecond-level low latency), avoiding congestion and lag caused by CPU processing in the router.
Device selection: For ordinary families, an "8-port all-gigabit non-networked non-managed switch" can be selected for plug-and-play; if there are higher requirements, a 2.5G or 10G switch can be chosen.
Solution 3: SMB3 Multi-Channel Direct Connection Scheme (suitable for video editors, geeks)
If both your NAS and the main computer have dual network ports (such as 2.5G ports), you can double the speed by using an additional network cable, and there is no need to purchase a switch.
Connection method: Connect one network port of the NAS to the router (responsible for full-house access), and use a single network cable to directly connect the other network port of the NAS to the 2.5G port of the computer.
Network settings: Set a separate IP range for this direct connection channel (for example, the main network is 192.168.1.x, and the direct connection channel is set to 192.168.60.x), isolating it from the main network.
Core advantages: Utilizing SMB3 multi-channel technology, the two network cables are stacked for transmission, and the measured speed can directly soar to over 560MB/s, which is very suitable for transferring large materials, and the direct connection network port will automatically enter sleep mode when the computer is turned off to save power.
?? Networking Pitfalls and Optimization Suggestions
Prioritize wired connections, be cautious about wireless: Even if the Wi-Fi signal is full, its actual transmission speed and stability are far inferior to wired gigabit networks, especially when reading data from the NAS mechanical hard drive, wired connection is necessary.
Network cable specifications should meet standards: It is recommended to use Category 5e (Cat5e) or higher standard network cables to ensure full gigabit or even 10G bandwidth.
Note on hard drive selection: If you are building a RAID array, prioritize traditional magnetic recording technology (CMR) hard drives, avoiding using staggered disks (SMR), to ensure stable performance during array reconstruction. Security Settings: It is essential to set a strong password for the NAS and enable two-factor authentication (2FA); if there is no need for external network access, it is recommended to disable unnecessary ports and remote access functions to ensure the security of local network data.