I’m just starting out looking into a NAS and need help knowing where to start and what are good options that will fit my needs. I don’t have a ton of data that I need to store. All of it is either music or files. I built a full ubiquity network with switches and APs. All of the gear was free/highly discounted so I couldn’t say no to it. I would like to have a shared file location for my whole family to use. We use both Mac and Windows as well as iPhone and Android, so I would like something that will work across platforms. I also would like to have at least 2 bays to use one of them as the primary backup/storage location and the other as a backup of that. Do you have any advice on where to start and which NAS will fit those needs?

Hi
Listing down some of the use cases.

1. I would be storing some family videos and Photos (650 GB approx) with the possibility of some more in the future.
2. Movies and TV shows. Would like to stream both Movies/Shows and Family videos via Plex/Jellyfin.
3. Time Machine backup for 2 MacBooks, 2 Windows Laptops(Only important files), a few Mobile Phones.
4. Would like to create and mount a few volumes to a Mini PC/Server for setting up a few databases, storing logs from different services running in containers/VMs.
5. A simple shared volume maybe to share files on the network.
6. Other typical homelab use cases.

What would be the best NAS and Drives combo for these use cases?
I have budget constraints and I am confused between choosing raw performance vs extra capacity as in should I go for a more powerful 2 Bay NAS vs a less Powerful 4 Bay NAS.
The pricing here in India is on the higher side for everything ( Synology DS220+ costs ~$511 here compared to ~$299 in the US)

Hi guys, thanks for your time on this!
I am hoping to set up a PLEX server at my home for video and audio media, as well as store backups for my home security (EufyCAM) cameras, and hopefully replace my dropbox subscription.
I have watched many of your vids, and it looks like Synology is the best way to go, and I think a 4 bay NAS is best for me to provide room for future expansion.
Which NAS or brand would be best for me? I found the synology DS923+ or 920+ or 9 series seems to be the best, but I wonder if that is more than I need for just streaming video for my home, and friends and family to be able to access PLEX online. There is a synology DS420 or 418 that are almost half the price and seem like they may have lots of power/speed for what I want to to.
I am also open to other NAS brands if you think there is something else more cost effective that will do what I need.
I also didnt know if the iron wolf or WD reds are the best drives to use?

I would appreciate any insight.

thx!

i wrote to you, got a response but i could not reply your forum unresponsive
i have homed in on these two but i cannot decide
as much as you review and cannot push one device in preference to another
i you had the choice of one of these two
what would you both go for out the two
before i asked about qnap but your response only mentioned 220+

should i stay away from the qnap
i know synology has best software

so confused

thanks

brian

Hello everyone,

I have a Synology ds918+ (4x8tb) connected to a dx517 (2x16tb) with one volume spanning over both of them in SHR. When I first set it up that way I thought that was the best solution for me but now I both wish to eventually upgrade the ds918+ and the potential risks of having one volume over multiple hardware has always been a concern.

Now I need to expand the storage pool to archive last years data, but before I do that I would really like to separate the volume in to one on each hardware.

From what I understand I can never remove a hard drive from a Synology Nas. (For example my first thought was to move the 2 16tb drives to the ds918+, hotswap the remaining two 8gb to 16tb and then have enough space there to just remove the remaining drives of the dx517. In doing so Isolating the volume on the 918+)

Also as far as i know I can't jus "split" a volume either, correct? 

What would the my best option to stop having one volume spanning over 2 hardware and instead have to separate volumes on each?

The only options I can think of is either backing up all the data on hard drives and simply remove the existing volume. Then make 2 new ones.
Or go for the upgrade now, buying for example a ds1522+ filling it with 16tb hard drives, creating one volume, moving all the data there and later adding the dx517 and creating a new volume.

I'd love to hear your input. Bare in mind I have very limited knowledge of network but I gladly read up on it since the storage is a necessity in my work

I have purchased a QNAP TS-464 with 4 Gb RAM, which I intend to upgrade to 16Gb.
My question is what is the advantage/disvantage of dual-DIMM configuration (2 x 8 gb) as opposed to 1 x 16 gb SODIMM

Regarding Ram upgrade on 718+
No plex, no VM, just normal storage and SS CAMERAS. (13 so far)
Presently at 6GB RAM.

Will I see enough speed increase with a Ram upgrade to consider doing it?
Should I go from 6 to 10, or replace both and go to 16???

My useage is just normal file storage and surveillance cameras (set for 2930x1080/30 fps — due to USA location.

I found your thread on + series NAS where you provided links, but on 718+ link the mfg links did not come across.

Thanks
Jan Janowski
Waynesville NC. USA

Should be able to work with android phone as back up solution (contact, photos, etc) and replace Google cloud. For local computer as network backup of relevant data. Sharing space for i. e. Photo sharing of trips/events with friends (link sent for access and easy upload). Synology came in mind for this as a solution, 4 bay, raid 5.

I live in a very small town. I think I’m probably the only full out IT in this town. The town, City Hall and police department are merging into the same building. They have been taking quotes from other IT‘s as well as myself on upgrading all of the hardware desktop server switches routers all of it on the police side they have body cam footage that has to be uploaded and interacted with, but it’s not done all the time. The City Hall side they do their work on their machine back it up at the end of the night to either the server or NAS, which I have not decided which one I want to set up yet probably going to go with a server so that I could use active directory to split up the privileges using DHCP logins to prevent people from accessing files they not meant to access. I would say this building is roughly 1500 ft.² for the area that will have the network all in one floor. What type of switch and networking, would you recommend that I run for this setup to maximize storage access?

Hello. I just got fiber internet installed at my home, and I have a few questions about it. I'm paying for 1GB speed for my fiber so my question is, can I get a 10 GBE switch even though my fiber speed is 1GB? I currently have a 5 port 10/100/1000 switch but does getting a 10 GBE switch improve my speeds?

Thanks Brent