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+--- Thread: First time NAS user (/showthread.php?tid=10275)
First time NAS user - Enquiries - 01-03-2024
Good evening, I am looking into getting a NAS system for the first time after years of frustration with cloud services due to cloud service data caps and subscription costs. I have minimal server/IT experience but am eager to learn the ins and out of NAS. I am hoping to get a system that is capable of secure remote access from my personal laptop and Iphone as well as remote access from family members phones and computers to share and store photo and video data. I hope to still utilize the google suite for file creation and editing (drive primarily for school). I plan on having a dedicated google account for a cloud backup of photos and videos (under 15 GB) and a offline failsafe backup SSD to backup to from the NAS on a monthly basis. I am hoping to understand which brand to go with (Synology or QNAP) to replace cloud photo storage and gain a streamlined remote access via multiple IOS devices. I look forward to hearing from you and thank you for the amazing information already.
RE: First time NAS user - Hondo - 01-03-2024
(01-03-2024, 02:00 AM)Enquiries Wrote: Good evening, I am looking into getting a NAS system for the first time after years of frustration with cloud services due to cloud service data caps and subscription costs. I have minimal server/IT experience but am eager to learn the ins and out of NAS. I am hoping to get a system that is capable of secure remote access from my personal laptop and Iphone as well as remote access from family members phones and computers to share and store photo and video data. I hope to still utilize the google suite for file creation and editing (drive primarily for school). I plan on having a dedicated google account for a cloud backup of photos and videos (under 15 GB) and a offline failsafe backup SSD to backup to from the NAS on a monthly basis. I am hoping to understand which brand to go with (Synology or QNAP) to replace cloud photo storage and gain a streamlined remote access via multiple IOS devices. I look forward to hearing from you and thank you for the amazing information already.
Felt inclined to respond since I was there myself once. I have been using a Synology NAS for the past 13+ years starting off with nothing. I started off with a 2-bay NAS DS209 needing to organize my life. Had 2 2GB drives mirrored (RAID1). Then I bought another one and another one. Due to my smallish storage requirements by some of these youtubers I only have like 7-8GB of data, so I have stuck with a 2 bay (currently DS218+), but keep increasing the size of the drives as I fill it up. Went from 2GB, to 6GB, to 8GB. Remember in RAID1 you only get about 7.2GB out of 2 drives.
If you decide on Synology I highly recommend a + model, which will allow you to get into Docker containers and Virtualization Machine Manager later on. Trust me you will want this sooner than later. If I was new to the NAS world a simple DS224+ would be a good fit for you. I run a Plex server, many docker containers, some VMs, a HD Homerun for TV thru it, not to mention manage all of my files with it. To be honest, its more important to me than my phone!
For backups, you can try cloud storage service, but I eventually bought a 2nd NAS when I had older drives to use and put it a a neighbors house. The built in Hyperbackup is a breeze to setup and is failsafe. Remember RAID1 is not a backup rather redundancy for drive failure. You could even repurpose an old PC for backups.
Synology has the best software O/S out there and the desktop and mobile apps to support it. All free. It has changed my life as far as how I manage my day to day. The operating system and apps is the main reason I would suggest using Synology as a first time NAS user. It's the best out there and not even close, especially for a novice user.
I'd be happy to help you with any questions. As I read your post, guessing you have more to ask.