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Personal storage for the family - Enquiries - 03-10-2025
I am looking to set up a personal cloud system for my family and myself, I have a large amount of historical data from my work histry that i do not need to access every day, however I do need to access it infrequently for reference purposes or for templates. I am currently carrying around 2no. 1TB hard drives with this information.
Further to this both myself and my wife have a considerable amount of Photo's on our phones and tablets we would like to archive but have the ability to access when we need to.
Thank you
Barry
RE: Personal storage for the family - ed - 03-14-2025
Thanks for reaching out again! Based on your needs and budget, here are some newer models that could be a great fit for your personal cloud setup:
Synology DS223+
The DS223+ is an excellent option for personal storage, with a powerful dual-core processor, 2GB RAM (expandable), and support for 2.5GbE networking. It’s perfect for photo and file backup with easy access through Synology’s mobile app (DS Photo) and web interface. This model supports both RAID 1 and SHR configurations, making it great for redundancy as well. It can be expanded up to 32TB with larger drives, allowing you to scale as your needs grow.
QNAP TS-464
The TS-464 offers more flexibility with its 4-bay configuration, allowing you to expand your storage in the future. It also comes with 2.5GbE networking, which is becoming a standard for fast data transfer speeds. This NAS runs on QNAP's QTS operating system, which offers great app support, including mobile access for your photos and files. It’s a bit more powerful than other options and supports more demanding tasks in the future.
Western Digital My Cloud EX4
For those looking for a more straightforward solution, the My Cloud EX4 is a 4-bay NAS that offers simple setup and mobile access. It’s a great choice if you don’t need as much complexity and prefer a plug-and-play experience. With four bays, you can easily grow your storage as your needs increase, and it supports RAID for redundancy.
Asustor AS5304T
The AS5304T is a powerful 4-bay NAS with 2.5GbE networking and great multimedia capabilities. It supports a wide range of apps, including photo management tools, and can be accessed remotely through the Asustor EZ Connect app. With 4 bays, it gives you room to expand your storage capacity easily, and the hardware is quite capable for future-proofing your setup.
All of these models will let you store and access your historical work data and photos securely, with the flexibility to scale in the future. Based on your 4TB storage requirement and budget, these are solid choices that should serve you well.