ASK NC

I'm a loyal follower of your Youtube channel. Best NAS source out there! Congratulations!

Would love to know how to setup a 2.5Gbps or 10Gbps computer / router / switch / NAS combo. For instance, do I need a router that supports over 1Gpbs, or is it OK to only have a switch that supports that, and connecting the computers and NAS through the switch? Could you recommend a switch?

Can I expand a DS 923+ (which I intend to buy) with an add-on card for higher speeds? Does it need to be from Synology or can I buy from a third party? If so, is there a model you could suggest?

What about a QNAP TS-453Be (which I own)?

I would prefer to have a single ethernet cable connected to each device, instead of bonding LANs. Since I have these 2 NAS devices, bonding would require 4 cables. And 2 more cables for my main computer. That would make 6 already. It becomes very complicated quickly, specially with router/switch configuration and model selection.

Thank you so very much!

Thank you for your kind words and being a loyal follower! Setting up a 2.5Gbps or 10Gbps network can significantly enhance your data transfer speeds. To achieve this, you'll need compatible hardware. If you're looking for a switch that supports higher speeds, I recommend checking out this list of 10Gbe switches. Keep in mind that if you're connecting just a NAS and a PC, you can directly connect them without a switch using 10Gbe network cards on both devices and a Cat6a cable. If you plan to expand to more computers, getting a switch is a great idea.

Regarding the DS923+, it supports its own 10Gbe LAN card, but there's also an interesting option using a USB 5Gbe LAN adapter from QNAP. This can offer you additional flexibility if you're looking for alternatives. Please note that for the DS923+, only their own 10Gbe LAN card is officially supported, but you may be able to use a third-party USB 5Gbe adapter with a little hack.

As for the QNAP TS-453Be, it's more flexible in terms of compatibility with PCIe cards. However, it's generally recommended to use PCIe cards from the same brand for the best compatibility and performance. QNAP has a good reputation for offering flexible options, which might suit your needs.

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