New NAS

[Enquiries]

Looking for a recommendation for a new NAS, hardware and hard drive selection. The current NAS is running fine, but I want a backup of my NAS. That being said, the New NAS would most likely be my main NAS and the current NAS would become the backup NAS. Lastly, I would like an inexpensive third copy of my data that I can create snapshots and store off-line. The main NAS and third copy would remain in my home, the second NAS would be at my daughters home (aka off-site). Of course besides buying new NAS I am open to any software and backup strategy best for my needs. This is not for a business. It is for home use. I want my children to have secure access and I want to be able to access my data when traveling.

I am contemplating the UGREEN NASync DXP4800 Plus 4-Bay Desktop NAS, but should I stick with Synology, or consider Ubiquity UNAS Pro-7?

[ed]

For your main NAS, the UGREEN NASync DXP4800 Plus is actually a very capable choice in this price range. It has a strong Intel CPU, 2.5GbE networking, and good future software potential, though the UGOS platform is still maturing. If you’re comfortable with a newer ecosystem and plan to use standard protocols like SMB, NFS, or rsync for backups, it can perform very well as your main unit.

If you want a more established platform with long-term stability, Synology DS1525+ or DS923+ are the safer picks. DSM offers extremely polished remote access, snapshots, and multi-site sync via Hyper Backup and Synology Drive ShareSync. It would make your cross-home setup with your daughter much simpler and more automated.

The Ubiquiti UNAS Pro-7 is also promising, but it’s more suited to users already deep in the UniFi ecosystem. Its software still lacks the depth of DSM for versioned backups and snapshots.

For drives, use Seagate IronWolf Pro or WD Red Plus 8TB models in RAID 5 or RAID 6. They strike the best balance of reliability, noise, and lifespan. Your secondary NAS can use the same capacity drives to mirror your main unit with scheduled backups. For the third offline copy, an external USB drive or an inexpensive DAS enclosure you can power up occasionally for snapshot transfers would complete your 3-2-1 setup.

If your focus is simplicity, cross-site backup reliability, and long-term support, stick with Synology. If you want better hardware value and don’t mind some DIY and future updates, UGREEN is a strong modern alternative.