NAS

[Enquiries]

I'm have a Synology DS413j used as a simple NFS/SMB share for an OSMC media centre (Kodi) and for accessing media files from a Linux desktop and Windows laptops.

The NAS is running SHR with 4xWD HDDs giving 3.6TB at 64% utilisation.

I have a separate cheap (crappy) NVR with 2 IP cameras which will increase to 4. The NVR is next to useless for reviewing footage, especially searching for events, and I want rid.

The DS413j is 12 years old and I'm of a mind to replace it with once which combines the roles of a simple media server and surveillance station. I am considering QNAP given the 8 included camera licenses.

Does this make sense? I am leaning towards the TS-264 but could you please give me your thoughts. Also any guidance on drive configuration (HDD/SDD) would be appreciated.

Thank you.

[ed]

Thank you for your message! Your plan to upgrade to a modern NAS that combines media server and surveillance station functionalities makes perfect sense. Based on your requirements, here are my thoughts and recommendations:

NAS Recommendation: QNAP TS-264
The QNAP TS-264 is an excellent choice for your needs. It offers:

Powerful Hardware: Intel Celeron N5095 processor, great for media serving and surveillance tasks.
Surveillance Station: Includes 8 free camera licenses, which is a big advantage over Synology (2 free licenses). It will handle your 4 IP cameras well, allowing for better event tracking and review functionality.
Media Server: Supports Plex and works smoothly with Kodi (OSMC). Its hardware transcoding capability is perfect for most media formats.
Futureproofing: Dual 2.5GbE LAN ports and expandability via M.2 NVMe SSD slots for caching or additional storage.
Drive Configuration
Given your budget and use case, here’s what I recommend:

Primary Storage (HDDs):

Use 2x 6TB or 8TB Seagate IronWolf drives in RAID 1 for redundancy.
This will give you 6–8TB of usable space, ideal for your media and surveillance needs.
Caching (Optional, SSD):

If your workload involves frequent file access or intensive surveillance, consider adding 2x M.2 NVMe SSDs for read/write caching. This can improve performance for both media streaming and camera recordings.
Recommended models: Samsung 970 EVO Plus or WD Blue SN570.
Alternatives to Consider
If you’d like to stay in the Synology ecosystem, the DS723+ is another strong contender. While it only includes 2 camera licenses, it offers excellent software (DSM), expandability, and robust surveillance tools. However, QNAP’s TS-264 is more cost-effective with its included licenses.

Budget Breakdown
QNAP TS-264: ~£400
2x 6TB or 8TB HDDs: ~£300–£400
Total: ~£700–£800