The DAM application, database, and asset files all live on the same machine. The application reads and writes files directly on local disks, with no network in between. This is the classic setup for teams that want maximum speed and stability.

Pros:

• Faster — imports, previews, and search work quicker, especially with many users
• More reliable — no network share issues (lost connections, file locks, permission errors)
• Everything in one place — the DAM app, database, and files work together with no network delays

Cons:

• Expansion takes planning — when disks fill up, adding capacity to a server is less trivial than adding a drive to a NAS
• Everything on one machine — a hardware failure affects both the app and the files