04-17-2025, 10:36 AM
Thanks for reaching out — it’s great to see you're planning to implement a 3-2-1 backup strategy. You’re already doing well with Hyper Backup and an external drive, and adding a secondary NAS as a dedicated backup target is a smart move.
1. Upgrading to DS423+
Since you're planning to upgrade to a 4-bay NAS like the Synology DS423+ within the next 12 months, that's a solid choice. It’ll give you more flexibility and performance for your growing storage needs. The DS423+ would also provide a better balance of redundancy and speed, especially if you're looking to move to a RAID setup in the future.
2. Reusing the DS224+ as Backup in RAID 0
Once you’ve upgraded to the DS423+, you can repurpose your DS224+ as a secondary NAS for backup. Since it’s only going to be used for backup purposes, you can configure it in RAID 0 (striping) to maximize the storage space available. RAID 0 won’t offer redundancy, but since it’s only a backup, you won’t be relying on it as the primary data source — just a fail-safe.
This would be a cost-effective way to repurpose the DS224+ and keep your backup process running smoothly. With this setup, you'd still be following the 3-2-1 backup strategy by maintaining multiple copies of your important files across your NAS, external drive, and a second NAS.
3. Budget-Friendly Backup NAS Options
If you want to implement your second NAS sooner, here are a few cost-effective NAS options that will serve as a backup target:
Terramaster F2-212 – A simple, budget-friendly 2-bay NAS that works well as a dedicated backup solution.
QNAP TS-233 – Affordable and compatible with Hyper Backup, this is another solid option for your backup purposes.
Asustor Drivestor 2 Pro (AS3302T) – A more polished UI, still affordable, and works well with backup software.
These options will keep you within budget and support your 3-2-1 strategy while offering flexibility for future upgrades.
1. Upgrading to DS423+
Since you're planning to upgrade to a 4-bay NAS like the Synology DS423+ within the next 12 months, that's a solid choice. It’ll give you more flexibility and performance for your growing storage needs. The DS423+ would also provide a better balance of redundancy and speed, especially if you're looking to move to a RAID setup in the future.
2. Reusing the DS224+ as Backup in RAID 0
Once you’ve upgraded to the DS423+, you can repurpose your DS224+ as a secondary NAS for backup. Since it’s only going to be used for backup purposes, you can configure it in RAID 0 (striping) to maximize the storage space available. RAID 0 won’t offer redundancy, but since it’s only a backup, you won’t be relying on it as the primary data source — just a fail-safe.
This would be a cost-effective way to repurpose the DS224+ and keep your backup process running smoothly. With this setup, you'd still be following the 3-2-1 backup strategy by maintaining multiple copies of your important files across your NAS, external drive, and a second NAS.
3. Budget-Friendly Backup NAS Options
If you want to implement your second NAS sooner, here are a few cost-effective NAS options that will serve as a backup target:
Terramaster F2-212 – A simple, budget-friendly 2-bay NAS that works well as a dedicated backup solution.
QNAP TS-233 – Affordable and compatible with Hyper Backup, this is another solid option for your backup purposes.
Asustor Drivestor 2 Pro (AS3302T) – A more polished UI, still affordable, and works well with backup software.
These options will keep you within budget and support your 3-2-1 strategy while offering flexibility for future upgrades.