Why Enabling Both NFS and SMB on Your NAS Enhances Compatibility and Performance

When it comes to configuring network-attached storage (NAS) for home or small business use, the debate between Server Message Block (SMB) and Network File System (NFS) as file-sharing protocols often becomes a focal point. But what’s sometimes overlooked is the practical reality that using both—rather than picking one over the other—can unlock significant advantages for today’s multi-device, multi-user environments. Having run TrueNAS, Synology, and DIY solutions across diverse LANs containing everything from Windows laptops and gaming PCs to Linux servers and Android devices, I’ve seen firsthand that choosing both is not just wise but essential for seamless, secure, and robust file sharing. Here, we’ll explore four compelling reasons to enable both NFS and SMB on your NAS, based on established technical standards, user experience, and critical analysis of platform trade-offs.

The Role of File-Sharing Protocols in Modern NAS Environments​

Understanding why running both SMB and NFS can be practical requires a quick look at what these protocols were built for and how they perform in real-world scenarios.

• Server Message Block (SMB): Originating on DOS and Windows platforms, SMB is deeply integrated into the Windows ecosystem. It’s the default network file sharing protocol for Windows and is supported extensively by network appliances, enterprise solutions, and recent versions of macOS and Linux. Its strengths include native support for Windows ACLs, file locking, “shadow copies” (previous versions), and Active Directory integration.
• Network File System (NFS): Developed for UNIX-based systems, NFS is the standard for Linux distributions and is tightly integrated with system permissions and user mappings (UID/GID). It’s lightweight, supports high throughput, and generally introduces less protocol overhead compared to SMB, which can translate to better performance, especially for virtualization and high-IO workloads.
• Platform Agnosticism: Today’s NAS appliances like Synology, QNAP, and even Windows Server recognize—and leverage—the advantages of supporting both, particularly in heterogeneous networks.

1. NFS Is Essential for Linux, macOS, and Virtualization​

While SMB support exists on most platforms, NFS remains a clear winner for storage and file sharing among Linux and UNIX-based systems, including macOS. Here’s why:

• Performance and Overhead: NFS, particularly in its version 3 and later (such as NFSv4), carries lower protocol overhead compared to SMB. This makes it ideal for applications demanding sequential read and write operations, like virtual machine storage, media streaming, and automated backups on UNIX hosts.
• Seamless UID/GID Mapping: NFS maps server-side file permissions directly to UNIX client users/groups, allowing native integration with Linux authentication and security models.
• Hypervisor Adoption: Industry-trusted hypervisors such as Proxmox and VMware ESXi recommend or even require NFS for VM storage due to its ease of integration and efficiency, especially for tasks like live migrations and snapshot-based backups.
• Cross-Compatibility: On macOS, NFS is favored for large file transfers, backup targets (such as Time Machine), and integration with UNIX tools.

Critical Note: While SMB can technically be used from Linux and macOS clients (and vice versa), configuration can get cumbersome, especially regarding file permissions and complex ACLs. NFS “just works” in UNIX-native environments.

2. SMB Remains King for Windows and Office Productivity​

Trying to create a Windows-friendly file-sharing environment without SMB is a losing battle. Here’s what SMB brings to the table:

• Windows ACLs, File Locking, and AD Integration: Windows users count on SMB for advanced permissions management, user-by-user file locking (essential for collaborative editing), and integration with Active Directory for seamless SSO and group policy enforcement.
• Feature Set: SMB provides native support for Windows features like offline files, shadow copies, and file versioning, all critical for protecting user data against accidental overwrite or ransomware attacks.
• Cross-Platform Writing: Many multimedia and backup services running on Linux or within VMs (such as Jellyfin or Immich) may need to write data to NAS folders. By configuring NFS as read-only and SMB as read/write, you can avoid integrity conflicts and reduce risk of corruption during simultaneous access.
• User Experience: SMB shares appear directly in File Explorer without third-party software, making them significantly easier for non-technical users to discover and use.

Important Caveat: Recent Windows updates (including 24H2 and beyond) continue tightening SMB security defaults, meaning that some legacy devices or misconfigured NAS appliances can become “invisible” or inaccessible. Ensuring both server and client are using compatible SMB versions (while disabling SMBv1 for security) is essential. However, these issues do not affect NFS clients.

3. Redundancy and Reliability: Avoiding Single Points of Failure​

One of the golden rules of IT is not to rely on a single channel for data access—and this applies doubly to home and SMB NAS deployments:

• Redundancy: If an update breaks SMB connectivity (as documented with recent Windows 11 cumulative updates), you can instantly switch to NFS on UNIX-based systems and keep data accessible.
• Ease of Maintenance: Enabling both protocols lets you take down one service for upgrades or troubleshooting without halting all access, preserving uptime and reducing maintenance-related disruption.
• Migration and Segmentation: For households or offices migrating from Windows to Linux/macOS (or vice versa), dual-protocol sharing allows a smooth, staged transition. It also supports VLAN-esque segmentation: SMB for desktop users and NFS for app and backup servers.
• Data Recovery: In disaster recovery situations, being able to mount shares via whichever protocol your rescue environment supports increases your chances of quick, reliable file retrieval.

4. Universal Compatibility: Fewer Tech Support Headaches​

As households and small offices diversify their device pools, multi-protocol sharing future-proofs your NAS for whatever tech walks through the door next.

• Multi-Platform Access: Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, and even IoT devices can all connect with minimal setup. SMB is even supported by smart TVs, Xbox consoles, and a range of consumer devices. NFS covers a broad spectrum of embedded and open-source hardware.
• Reduced Support Requests: With both protocols enabled, family members, guests, or staff can access files without needing walkthroughs or additional software or scripts.
• Simple Share Mapping: Upload a file with your Windows laptop, access it natively from your Android phone (many file manager apps support both SMB and NFS), or move photos from a Linux server—all without jumping through compatibility hoops.
• Enhanced Platforms: Modern NAS appliances like TrueNAS and Synology streamline the process of managing multiple user accounts, defining permissions, and automating backups regardless of protocol. This means administrators spend less time troubleshooting and more time innovating.

Security, Performance, and the Risks of Multi-Protocol Sharing​

Of course, enabling both SMB and NFS is not without its pitfalls. Here’s an honest appraisal:

Security Considerations​

• Attack Surface: Each protocol you run potentially exposes another attack surface; make sure all services are up-to-date, properly segmented by firewall rules (never publicly exposed), and configured to require strong authentication where possible.
• Protocol-Specific Risks: SMBv1 is notorious for vulnerabilities, and should always be disabled. Use SMBv2 or preferably SMBv3. NFSv3 has no built-in encryption or authentication; consider NFSv4 with Kerberos for improved security, or restrict NFS shares to trusted VLAN segments.
• Guest and Anonymous Access: Avoid enabling guest/anonymous logons for either protocol unless absolutely necessary. Always configure per-user access and strong, regularly-updated passwords.

Performance and Data Integrity​

• File Locking and Permissions: Never share the same directory via both protocols unless your NAS system fully supports cross-protocol locking and ACL synchronization (TrueNAS is one solution with mature handling; some Linux/DIY setups are not).
• Potential for Corruption: Simultaneous access to the same directory from both SMB and NFS clients (especially with misaligned permission management) can lead to data corruption, versioning errors, and loss of ACLs.

Practical Guidance​

• Separate Folders: Use different shares/folders for each protocol where possible, or ensure your NAS supports proper ACL handling for multi-protocol shares.
• Regular Updates: Keep the NAS firmware and both Samba (for SMB) and NFS daemons updated to the latest stable versions.
• Backups and Snapshots: Use snapshotting and regular backups (on NASes supporting Btrfs or ZFS) to guard against accidental loss or corruption.

Real-World Use Cases: NAS, Home Labs, and the Prosumer Edge​

The push towards hybrid setups is not theoretical—it is increasingly common in prosumer and homelab environments:

• DIY and Small Business: Users running Ubuntu Server, Windows Server, and FreeBSD often expose both SMB and NFS shares to accommodate both office workers and automated scripts or VMs.
• Home Media Servers: Using Plex or Jellyfin on Linux makes NFS preferable for media storage, while keeping SMB available for Windows-based editing and upload workflows.
• Continuous Backups: With Time Machine (over NFS) and Windows File History (over SMB) both supported, users can provide reliable, hands-off backups for every device on the network.
• Migration Support: When retiring Windows Home Server or an old Windows 7 box, running dual-protocol NAS services smooths the transition for both old and new devices.

Future-Proofing Your Digital Home​

While cloud-based sharing via Google Drive, Dropbox, or OneDrive continues to improve, concerns over privacy, cost, and control keep the self-hosted NAS relevant—especially for power users and families with complex needs. And as more integrated smart devices and hybrid cloud services enter the scene, dual-protocol sharing is likely to become the minimum standard for robust home IT.

• Edge Computing and AI: Modern NAS devices are increasingly hosting AI microservices, advanced media indexing, and home automation platforms—many of which run best with direct NFS access to storage.
• Hybrid Cloud: Synology and similar vendors now support synchronization with public cloud while offering local SMB/NFS-based shares for fast, private access and disaster resilience.

Final Thoughts: Best-of-Both-Worlds Is No Longer Optional—it’s the Baseline​

The debate is over: enabling both NFS and SMB on your NAS isn’t a luxury or an advanced trick—it’s just good practice in any household or small business with diverse computing needs. The key is to implement both protocols thoughtfully, mindful of security, data integrity, and the unique quirks of each platform.
Pro Tips for a Trouble-Free Experience:

• Segment critical shares and consider assigning separate folders for each protocol.
• Regularly review NAS access logs for unusual activity.
• Keep all devices updated; apply NAS OS, Samba, and NFS patches promptly.
• Test failover scenarios so you’re ready when a Windows patch breaks SMB or a Linux kernel update changes NFS behavior.

By following this strategy, you not only maximize compatibility and uptime but also shield yourself from the inevitable curveballs of future updates, device upgrades, and platform changes. In the evolving digital home—where Windows, Linux, macOS, smartphones, and smart TVs all jostle for a piece of your storage pie—having both SMB and NFS enabled is the difference between “it just works” and “why doesn’t this work?”
Choose both. Your future self—and your family—will thank you.

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Source: xda-developers.com 4 reasons I use both NFS and SMB on my NAS for file sharing