Surveillance

[Enquiries]

Recently purchased a Synology DS224+ with 6 GB Memory (added 1 Synology SODIMM Non-ECC RAM DDR4-2666 4GB (D4NESO-2666-4G)), and 2, 4 TB Hard drives (Seagate IronWolf ST4000VN006). It's doing well in terms of handling my meager data storage needs but not sure about adding surveillance cameras. Considering eventually having 6 (Initially 3) WiFi ONVIF cameras; with a 2:1 mix of Outdoor:Indoor cameras. My confusion comes in as to what camera units would work best with my NAS or if I should use a cloud based service to do the computational processing & storage heavy lifting?

[ed]

Congratulations on your new Synology DS224+! It's great that it's handling your data storage well. When it comes to adding surveillance cameras, you’ve got a couple of options, and I understand the confusion around choosing the right cameras and the processing/storage setup.

Camera Compatibility:
Your Synology NAS supports ONVIF cameras, which is great because many IP cameras (including most WiFi cameras) are compatible with this standard. For your setup, some camera brands that are known for being reliable and integrating well with Synology Surveillance Station (the Synology app for managing cameras) are:

Amcrest:

Known for high-quality outdoor and indoor cameras, they support ONVIF and integrate smoothly with Synology NAS devices. The Amcrest 4K UltraHD cameras are a great option for high-quality video.
Reolink:

Reolink cameras are another excellent choice for both indoor and outdoor setups. They also support ONVIF, and their Reolink RLC-810A (4K) outdoor camera would be ideal for outdoor monitoring, while their Reolink RLC-422 offers PTZ functionality for indoor use.
Foscam:

Foscam cameras are reliable and work well with Synology’s Surveillance Station. Their Foscam R4 is a 4MP outdoor camera that works well with NAS systems.
Eufy:

Eufy cameras are compatible with Synology NAS via the RTSP stream, which could be useful if you're looking for more affordable cameras with good quality.
Cloud vs. NAS Processing/Storage:
You could go either way, but given that you already have a Synology NAS, it makes sense to leverage it for both storage and processing (via Surveillance Station). Synology's Surveillance Station offers intelligent features like motion detection, alerts, and scheduling, and your DS224+ should be able to handle a few cameras without issue. You'd need to install the Surveillance Station app, and from there, you can manage all your cameras.

The cloud-based option would require paying for a subscription, and it would rely on external servers for storage and processing. While it can be easier in terms of setup and maintenance, it can add ongoing costs and potentially have security concerns, depending on the provider.

Key Considerations:
Camera Resolution: Choose cameras that offer 1080p or better for clear images. 4K cameras are great for larger areas or high detail, but they also require more storage and processing power.
WiFi or Wired: WiFi cameras are convenient, but they can have connectivity issues if your signal strength isn’t great. Wired cameras, while more involved to set up, offer more stable performance.
Storage and RAM: As your surveillance needs grow, you’ll likely need more storage space and possibly more RAM. Since you’re starting with 250 GB and 6 GB RAM, your NAS should handle a few cameras fine, but adding more will require upgrading your storage. Make sure your HDDs are large enough to store footage for a reasonable duration (e.g., 2-4 TB should suffice for a few cameras).
Conclusion:
It sounds like your Synology DS224+ is a solid base to start with, and I would recommend sticking to ONVIF-compatible cameras that integrate with Synology’s Surveillance Station for ease of use. As for whether to go with cloud services, I would advise against it if you want more control over your footage and don’t mind managing storage and processing locally.