ASK NC

QNAP 653D

2 x 4TB HDDs for general data, shared folders, mp3, video, photo surveillance with 4 x motion detection cameras
1 x 1TB SSD for VMs
1 x 500GB SSD for QTS OS (some suggest QTS saved across all drives so this irrelevant)

Two main users, limited creative content generated, occasional cad drgs

I want to use VM to access Autocad drawings currently on an old windows XP PC

This PC is not connected to the internet. I want to access the content and legacy XP programs

Can I create an image of this PC copy to the NAS to allow access with XP VM

4 others will use for additional storage photos, videos, backup

Raid not needed, I will not create enough changing content to warrant. A regular backup would suffice with separate external HDD

Raid not needed for surveillance, probability of failure at exact time some crucial footage is recorded would be miniscule

Can you please advise best storage set up

Your storage setup plan for the QNAP 653D looks quite solid. The allocation of the 2 x 4TB HDDs for general data, shared folders, and surveillance, along with dedicating the 1TB SSD for VMs and the 500GB SSD for QTS OS, seems well thought out. Creating an image of the old Windows XP PC and copying it to the NAS for access via a VM is a practical approach, especially for accessing Autocad drawings.

Your decision not to implement RAID for specific use cases is reasonable, considering your backup strategy. The regular backups for critical data, including separate external HDDs, provide an additional layer of security.