对于大多数家庭用户而言，购买NAS（网络附加存储(Network Attached Storage)）解决方案可能既昂贵又过度。更实惠的选择是获取外部硬盘驱动器或SSD ，并使用(SSD)USB端口将其连接到路由器。然后，您可以设置路由器与您的网络或互联网共享驱动器，以构建您自己的“云存储”。如果您有华硕(ASUS)无线路由器或华硕(ASUS)网状Wi-Fi系统，以下是使用USB硬盘或SSD将其变成NAS的方法：
步骤 1. 将外部存储驱动器插入华硕(ASUS)路由器或Mesh Wi-Fi
将您的外部硬盘驱动器或SSD插入华硕(ASUS)路由器或Mesh Wi-Fi系统上的USB 端口。(USB port)如果您的路由器有两个端口，请使用USB 3端口，以便您享受更快的速度。如果您的路由器上有USB 3端口，最好使用SSD而不是HDD。
通过USB(USB)将外部SSD连接到ASUS RT-AX58U路由器
但是，如果您的ASUS路由器较旧且仅配备USB 2.0端口，那么使用SSD就显得多余了，因为路由器上的USB端口无法达到利用快速存储驱动器所需的速度。因此(Therefore)，对于USB 2.0端口，经典HDD(HDDs)就可以了。
步骤 2. 登录华硕(ASUS)路由器或网状 Wi-Fi的用户界面
在您的 PC 上，打开您喜欢的 Web 浏览器并导航到router.asus.com或路由器的IP 地址(IP address)。在ASUS RT-AX58U(ASUS RT-AX58U)等现代型号上，默认 IP 地址为 192.168.50.1。在较旧的ASUS路由器上，IP 地址为 192.168.1.1。输入用于管理华硕(ASUS)路由器或网状Wi-Fi的用户名和密码，然后单击或点按登录(Sign In)。
登录(Sign)您的华硕(ASUS)路由器管理界面
注意：(NOTE:)如果您在登录华硕(ASUS)路由器的其他方式方面需要帮助，请阅读：如何登录华硕路由器：四种工作方式。(How to login to your ASUS router: Four ways that work.)
步骤 3. 配置USB模式并格式化存储驱动器
在许多带有USB 3(USB 3)端口的现代ASUS路由器和网状 Wi-Fi 系统上，您可以配置要用于刚刚连接的存储驱动器的USB版本。(USB)
为此，请转到Network Map，然后单击列出的USB设备。(USB)在右侧面板上，选择您想要的USB 模式(USB Mode)（请记住USB 3.0比USB 2.0快），然后单击或点击Apply。此步骤是必要的，因为在某些ASUS路由器型号上，即使对于USB 3.0端口，默认模式也设置为 USB 2.0。(USB 3.0)
在华硕(ASUS)路由器上配置USB 模式(USB Mode)
然后，在“外部 USB 磁盘状态”("External USB disk status")面板中，转到“格式”选项卡，在“(Format)格式类型(Format type)”下拉框中选择所需的文件系统，然后单击或点击“格式(Format)” 。如果您在网络中使用 Windows 10，最好使用NTFS作为您连接到华硕(ASUS)路由器的外部存储的文件系统。如果您使用Linux，HFS或FAT是更好的选择。
从您的华硕(ASUS)路由器格式化USB驱动器
步骤 4. 与网络共享华硕(ASUS)路由器的外部存储
下一步是转到USB 应用程序(USB Application)部分，然后单击或点击服务器中心(Servers Center)。
访问华硕(ASUS)路由器上的服务器中心(Servers Center)
您可以在此处配置与网络共享外部存储的方式。您可以让它充当媒体服务器、网络位置或FTP共享。大多数人都希望将其用作网络场所，我们将介绍这种情况。转到“Network Place (Samba) Share / Cloud Disk,"，并将启用共享(Enable Share)开关设置为ON。
在您的华硕(ASUS)路由器上启用USB网络共享
系统会要求您确认是否要与网络共享磁盘。单击(Click)或点击OK。几秒钟后，您的华硕(ASUS)路由器与网络共享存储驱动器。如果您希望网络中的任何人在没有用户名和密码的情况下访问路由器上的存储，请将“允许访客登录”("Allow guest login")的开关设置为ON，确认您的选择，然后跳到本教程的第 5 步(Step 5)。
允许访客在您的 USB 驱动器上登录
但是，假设您想要一种更安全的方法。在这种情况下，您需要添加可以访问存储驱动器、创建文件夹和设置权限的用户帐户。要添加用户，请单击有权访问您的驱动器的用户列表上方的 + 号。然后，键入帐户名称，设置其密码，然后单击或点击添加(Add)。要将文件夹添加到您的驱动器，请将其内容导航到要创建它的位置，然后单击右上角的 + 文件夹符号。然后，输入您要使用的文件夹名称。
将(Add)用户和文件夹添加到USB驱动器
创建文件夹后，导航到该文件夹，然后选择要为所选用户分配的权限：R/W（读取(Read)和写入(Write)）、R（只读(Read-only)）或否（无访问权限）。完成设置后不要忘记保存(Save)更改。
设置(Set)USB驱动器上文件夹的访问权限
现在您已完成设置路由器以与网络共享其USB存储。
步骤 5.从您的 Windows 10 PC访问USB存储(USB)
要访问连接到华硕(ASUS)路由器或网状Wi-Fi的(Wi-Fi)USB存储设备，请在 Windows 10中打开文件资源管理器(open File Explorer)，然后转到网络(Network)。在那里，在地址栏中输入路由器的 IP 地址，或单击路由器名称（如果显示）。如果您为访问USB存储设置了用户名和密码，请输入必要的凭据，然后单击或点击确定(OK)。
(Access)从Windows 10(Windows 10)访问您的网络存储
现在，您可以像访问本地驱动器一样访问连接到华硕路由器的存储，(ASUS)复制、粘贴(copy, paste)文件等。
提示：(TIP:)如果Windows 10告诉您它无法访问网络资源，您可能需要将网络位置从公共更改为私有。以下是它的完成方式：如何将 Windows 10 网络位置更改为私有（或公共）(How to change the Windows 10 network location to private (or public))。
奖励：将USB(USB)存储连接到我的华硕(ASUS)路由器或网状Wi-Fi时，我可以获得什么速度？
华硕路由器上(ASUS)USB存储的速度取决于以下几个因素：
- 如果您的USB驱动器是HDD或SSD。当然，SSD的速度要快得多。
- 如果您的华硕(ASUS)路由器或网状Wi-Fi具有USB 3端口或 USB 2.0 端口。USB 3更快。
- 您的华硕(ASUS)路由器使用什么USB模式。
- 如果您以无线方式或通过以太网电缆连接到路由器上的(Ethernet)USB存储设备，则速度会有所不同。电缆连接往往比无线连接快得多。为了给您一个想法，我们在我们非常喜欢的带有Wi-Fi 6的路由器上使用了SSD驱动器： (SSD)ASUS RT-AX58U。然后，我们进行下面的测试来测量使用以太网(Ethernet)连接时的速度。如下所示，我们达到了 745.16 Mbps 的下载速度和 371.65 Mbps的(Mbps)上传速度。
在华硕 RT-AX58U(ASUS RT-AX58U)上使用SSD时获得的速度(SSD)
你(Did)把你的华硕(ASUS)路由器变成了一个迷你NAS吗？
与网络共享USB外部存储、使用华硕(ASUS)路由器的固件或网状 Wi-Fi 系统是拥有自己的NAS的一种经济实惠的方式。所涉及的程序不是很复杂，尽管它需要一些时间。但是，几分钟后，您应该可以开始了。在结束本教程之前，请告诉我们您是否喜欢使用此功能以及设置它的体验。下方评论(Comment)，一起讨论。
How to turn your ASUS router into a NAS -
Buying a NAS (Network Attached Storаge) solution can be exрensive and ovеrkill for most home users. A more аffordable option is to get an externаl hard drivе or ЅSD and connect it to your router using the USB port. You can then ѕet up the router to share the drive with your network or the internet to build your own "cloud storage." If you have an ASUS wireless router or an ASUS mesh Wi-Fi system, here's how to turn it into a NAS using a USB hard disk or SSD:
Step 1. Plugin the external storage drive to your ASUS router or Mesh Wi-Fi
Take your external hard drive or SSD and plug it into the USB port on your ASUS router or Mesh Wi-Fi system. If your router has two ports, use the USB 3 port so that you can enjoy faster speeds. If you have a USB 3 port on your router, it is a good idea to use an SSD instead of an HDD.
Connecting an external SSD to an ASUS RT-AX58U router via USB
However, if your ASUS router is older and comes only with a USB 2.0 port, using an SSD is overkill because the USB port on your router can't reach the speeds necessary to take advantage of a fast storage drive. Therefore, for USB 2.0 ports, classic HDDs are just fine.
Step 2. Log in to the user interface of your ASUS router or mesh Wi-Fi
On your PC, open up your favorite web browser and navigate to router.asus.com or the IP address of your router. On modern models like ASUS RT-AX58U, the default IP address is 192.168.50.1. On older ASUS routers, the IP address is 192.168.1.1. Enter the username and password used to administer your ASUS router or mesh Wi-Fi, and click or tap Sign In.
Sign into your ASUS router admin interface
NOTE: If you need help with other ways to log in to your ASUS router, read: How to login to your ASUS router: Four ways that work.
Step 3. Configure the USB mode and format the storage drive
On many modern ASUS routers and mesh Wi-Fi systems with USB 3 ports, you can configure the USB version you want to use for the storage drive that you just connected.
To do that, go Network Map, and then click on the USB device listed. On the panel on the right, choose the USB Mode that you want (remember that USB 3.0 is faster than USB 2.0) and click or tap Apply. This step is necessary because the default mode is set to USB 2.0 even for USB 3.0 ports, on some ASUS router models.
Configure the USB Mode on your ASUS router
Then, in the "External USB disk status" panel, go to the Format tab, choose the file system you want in the Format type drop-down box, and click or tap Format. If you use Windows 10 in your network, it is a good idea to use NTFS as the file system for the external storage that you connected to your ASUS router. If you use Linux, HFS or FAT are better choices.
Format the USB drive from your ASUS router
Step 4. Share the external storage from your ASUS router with the network
The next step is to go to the USB Application section and click or tap Servers Center.
Access the Servers Center on your ASUS router
This is where you configure how you want to share your external storage with your network. You can have it act like a media server, a network place, or an FTP share. Most people will want to use it as a network place, and we will cover this situation. Go to "Network Place (Samba) Share / Cloud Disk," and set the Enable Share switch to ON.
Enable USB network sharing on your ASUS router
You are asked to confirm that you want to share the disk with the network. Click or tap on OK. In a couple of seconds, the storage drive is shared by your ASUS router with the network. If you want anyone from your network to access the storage on your router without a username and password, set the switch for "Allow guest login" to ON, confirm your choice, and skip to Step 5 from this tutorial.
Allow guest login on your USB drive
However, suppose you want a more secure approach. In that case, you need to add user accounts that can access the storage drive, create folders, and set permissions. To add a user, click the + sign above the users' list with access to your drive. Then, type an account name, set its password, and click or tap Add. To add a folder to your drive, navigate its content to the location where you want to create it and then click the + folder sign on the top-right. Then, enter the folder name that you want to use.
Add users and folders to the USB drive
After the folder is created, navigate to it and then select the permissions that you want to assign for the selected user: R/W (Read and Write), R (Read-only), or No (No access). Don't forget to Save your changes when you are done setting things up.
Set access permissions for the folders on your USB drive
Now you are done setting up your router to share its USB storage with the network.
Step 5. Access the USB storage from your Windows 10 PCs
To access the USB storage attached to your ASUS router or mesh Wi-Fi, open File Explorer in Windows 10, and go to Network. There, enter the IP address of your router in the address bar, or click on the router's name if it’s displayed. If you set a username and password for accessing the USB storage, enter the necessary credentials, and click or tap OK.
Access your network storage from Windows 10
Now, you can access the storage attached to your ASUS router as if it were a local drive, copy, paste files, etc.
TIP: If Windows 10 tells you that it can't access the network resource, you may need to change the network location from public to private. Here's how it is done: How to change the Windows 10 network location to private (or public).
Bonus: What speed do I get when connecting USB storage to my ASUS router or mesh Wi-Fi?
How fast the USB storage is on your ASUS router depends on several factors:
- If your USB drive is an HDD or SSD. Of course, an SSD is much faster.
- If your ASUS router or mesh Wi-Fi has a USB 3 port or a USB 2.0 port. USB 3 is faster.
- What USB mode your ASUS router uses.
- If you connect to the USB storage on your router wirelessly or through a Ethernet cable connection, the speed is going to be different. Cable connections tend to be a lot faster than wireless ones. To give you an idea, we used an SSD drive on a router with Wi-Fi 6 that we like a lot: ASUS RT-AX58U. Then, we wan the test below to measure the speed when using an Ethernet connection. As you can see below, we reached a download speed of 745.16 Mbps and an upload speed of 371.65 Mbps.
The speed you get when using an SSD on ASUS RT-AX58U
Did you turn your ASUS router into a mini NAS?
Sharing your USB external storage with the network, using the firmware of your ASUS router, or mesh Wi-Fi system can be an affordable way to have your own NAS. The procedure involved is not very complicated, even though it requires a bit of time. However, in a couple of minutes, you should be good to go. Before closing this tutorial, let us know if you enjoy using this feature and how it was the experience of setting it up. Comment below, and let's discuss.
