What is one characteristic of direct attached storage?

Direct attached storage (DAS) is a data storage device that is directly attached to a computer or server, rather than being accessed over a network. One of the key characteristics of DAS is that the operating system and its corresponding data exist independently on the storage device as long as it is connected to the specific compute resource.

When an operating system is installed on direct attached storage, it is tied to that particular compute resource. If the compute resource is disconnected or powered down, the operating system resides on the DAS and remains intact; however, access to it is only available when the compute resource is actively using that storage. This relationship highlights why it can be said the operating system lasts only as long as the compute resource is connected. When the compute resource is powered down or disconnected from the storage, the direct access is lost, reinforcing the notion that the operational lifespan of that system's use of the attached storage is contingent upon its connection.

This characteristic emphasizes the nature of DAS as a dedicated, localized storage solution. It's not like networked storage systems where multiple compute resources can simultaneously access and share the operating system and data.