Synology to Asustor (or not!) query

[swfarrington]

Hi Ed & Robbie

Love the channel, it's been a goldmine of information.

I've been running a DS216+II since it was new and am conscious that it's getting a little long in the tooth (although upgrading to 8GB RAM helped to get DSM 7 working to an acceptable level). That said I'm not sure how long before Synology make it EOL, hence looking for a modern upgrade, but seem to be spinning in circles trying to work out where to go from here.

It's used as a fileserver for my business (1 user) and backup for music and video production files (although I don't edit videos on it), photos and apple devices (iOs & Mac). With the recent news about Apple's ADP being removed in the UK it has made me think a little more widely about what data is held in the cloud versus just storing on my own NAS. Aside from backup apps and cloud sync (G Drive/Dropbox) I don't run much on it, although I'm not averse to looking into that at some point.

I'm thinking of moving to a 4 bay and have been looking at the 423+, 923+ as well as Asustor's Nimbustor 4 Gen2 which is currently a similar price to the 923+. Whilst I'm happy with DSM, I'm concerned about Synology's gradual move away from Home/Small Business as well as their comparatively weak hardware (1GBe networking compared to 2.5GBe with the Asustor) and really want a NAS that will last me for a good few years to come. Obviously sticking with Synology would have the advantage of being able to pull my disks straight over, although with my backups there's no reason why I can't setup a new system from scratch. 10GBe isn't really something I'd be getting close to saturating with mechanical disks, although the option of M2 drives in the Asustor might provide future proofing if coupled with the 2.5G ports.

I guess it's possible that with my lighter needs that this weaker hardware will be more than sufficient but I just would like some guidance in case I'm missing something.

Thanks!
Si

[ed]

Hi Si,

Thanks for reaching out, and we're glad you find the channel helpful! It's understandable that you're looking to upgrade your DS216+II, especially with the evolving landscape of NAS technology and data storage.

Here's a breakdown of the key considerations based on your situation:

Aging Hardware & EOL:
You're right to be proactive about upgrading. Older devices will eventually lose support, and staying ahead of that is wise.
Synology vs. Asustor:
It boils down to balancing familiarity with hardware power.
Asustor's Nimbustor 4 Gen2 offers compelling hardware advantages (2.5GbE, M.2 slots) for future-proofing.
Synology's strength is its mature DSM software. If you decide to stay with synology, the 923+ would be the best option for future proofing. The 423+ is a good budget option.
Network Speed & M.2:
2.5GbE is a worthwhile upgrade, and M.2 slots provide valuable flexibility.
Apple ADP:
It is very wise to bring more of your data onto local storage, and a NAS is a very good way to do this.
Recommendations:
If future-proofing is a priority, the Asustor Nimbustor 4 Gen2 is a strong option.
If you value staying within the synology ecosystem, then the 923+ is recommended.
Please check that your backup software is compatible with Asustor, before any purchase.
Also consider the power consumption of any new NAS.