Device Classification

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  • Device Classification

Popular network devices such as NAS, soft routers, Mac minis, and traditional routers are unified as “devices”. Users don’t need to focus on their naming or physical forms, but should primarily consider four aspects: processor, storage, networking, and application ecosystem.

The most important consideration for processors is architecture, with x86 and ARM being the most commonly used. Other architectures are not recommended for non-professionals due to their limited ecosystems which increase learning and usage difficulties.

You might hear people saying ARM is typically used in low-power devices suitable for home use, while x86 is used in high-performance devices suitable for enterprises. However, by 2024 this view is outdated. We should base our decisions on ecosystem considerations. Currently, the ARM ecosystem has become very rich with better cost-performance ratios, making it worth considering. For non-professionals, we recommend choosing ARM architecture devices - taking Alibaba Cloud as an example, ARM devices cost only half as much as x86 devices while providing sufficient performance for home use. Professionals can choose x86 architecture devices based on their specific needs.