Maybe you’ve obtained one of many greatest gaming PCs or laptops and also you need one thing that may simply again up or switch all the valuable knowledge saved on it. It is perhaps geared up with a high SSD, otherwise you’ve obtained decently massive exterior onerous drives hanging round holding all of your important recordsdata, photographs, and different content material, however nothing compares to an important NAS (network-attached storage) drive, like our favourite, the Synology DiskStation DS224+.
TL;DR – These are the Best NAS Devices:
The greatest NAS drives include vital storage capability and hook into your private home community to shortly switch knowledge to and out of your units. Smartphones, tablets, desktops, and laptops might be linked to the identical community concurrently, and it is easy to sync them up, making NAS preferrred for digital media libraries. However, NAS doesn’t come low cost, so select rigorously. We’ve narrowed your search to eight wonderful choices for numerous use instances.
1. Synology DiskStation DS224+
Best NAS
Connection
Ethernet, USB 3.2
RAID Level
SHR, JBOD, RAID 0, RAID 1
Storage
2 x 3.5″/2.5″ bays
If you need to keep away from playing around with overly complicated software program or settling for easy {hardware}, the Synology DiskStation DS224+ will get you up and operating with a extremely succesful however simple NAS. It options two drive bays, letting you go for elevated storage – as much as 32TB, relying on the drive you choose – or a RAID 1 configuration to guard your knowledge by means of redundancy. The two Gigabit LAN ports enable for larger speeds with Link Aggregation or community failover help, although we want there have been a 2.5GB or 10GB LAN help for a fair faster connection.
Synology’s versatile apps and software program can be found on an easy-to-use interface. You can set it up for storing safety digital camera footage, use it as a Plex server, or maintain recordsdata and photographs protected and accessible. Even if you wish to transcode 4K media, shortly handle recordsdata, or easily stream movies, the DiskStation DS224+ is as much as process and blazing quick due to a strong Intel Celeron J4125 2.0GHz quad-core processor and 2GB of DDR4 RAM, which you’ll be able to all the time improve.
2. UGreen NASync DXP2800
Best Budget NAS
Connection
Ethernet, USB, HDMI
RAID Level
JBOD, RAID 0, RAID 1, Basic
Storage
2 x 2.5″/3.5″ bays, 2 x M.2 PCIe NVMe slots
Comprehensive OS and apps
The UGreen NASync DXP2800 is well-built, appears to be like nice, and gives high quality {hardware} for a midrange value. Running the present is an Intel N100 quad-core processor and a whopping 8GB of RAM. This NAS is prepared for a high-quality video library, and it breezes by means of {hardware} transcoding.
UGreen features a complete OS for a easy setup and community configuration, in addition to further safety features like two-factor authentication to maintain your content material protected. Backing up recordsdata and creating your individual cloud server for entry away from dwelling must be comparatively painless. Unfortunately, Plex isn’t native, nevertheless it’s straightforward sufficient to put in utilizing Docker, and the efficiency must be simply pretty much as good.
As for storage, twin SATA drive bays every help as much as 24TB, supplying you with loads of room for a number of media or letting you go for further safety by operating two drives in RAID for redundancy. UGreen even makes these drives straightforward to put in due to its distinctive toolless system. Additional quick space for storing is packed in by way of two M.2 slots prepared to carry NVMe SSDs as much as 8TB. Luckily, there’s a 2.5Gb ethernet for fast SATA file transfers. Other connectivity contains an HDMI port, USB-C, and USB-A for a variety of system help.
3. Synology DiskStation DS223j
Most Affordable NAS
RAID Level
Basic, JBOD, RAID 0, RAID 1, SHR
Lacks multi-gig ethernet port
Not all NAS choices are prohibitively costly and the Synology DiskStation DS223j, preferrred for NAS first-timers and people with easier storage wants, is the right instance. This NAS comes with Synology’s class-leading DiskStation Manager (DSM) OS for tons of complete purposes to make sure the method of storing and accessing all of your treasured recordsdata and knowledge is painless, it doesn’t matter what system you’re utilizing.
The Synology DiskStation DS223j’s construct high quality is nothing to put in writing dwelling about. It’s principally plastic and should be disassembled utilizing a screwdriver to mount the 2 3.5” SATA drives it helps. However, you shouldn’t have to open the chassis usually, so it’s not a serious trouble. Space is proscribed to 32TB, as no M.2 slots are included for caching or storage, and overlook a couple of multi-gig ethernet port for sooner switch speeds. Still, on the subject of simplicity, reliability, and affordability, this NAS can’t be crushed.
4. Asustor Lockerstor 2 AS6602T
Best NAS for Power Users and Professionals
Connection
Ethernet, USB 3.0, HDMI
RAID Level
JBOD, RAID 0, RAID 1
Storage
2 x 3.5″/2.5″ bay, 2 x M.2 PCIe NVMe slots
Size
9.06″ x 4.25″ x 6.44″
Dual M.2 PCIe NVMe slots for extra storage
Supports 10-bit 4K {hardware} decoding
Drive set up is extra concerned
For a NAS that you may go wild with, the Asustor Lockerstor AS6602T is what you’re on the lookout for. It comes kitted out with an Intel Celeron quad-core processor and 4GB of RAM, however for those who’re one to tinker, you may improve that to 8GB of RAM. You’ll discover two easy-access drive bays that help 2.5-inch or 3.5-inch SATA drives, and whether or not that be large 18TB onerous drives or speedy SSDs is as much as you. If you don’t need to accept SATA speeds, you don’t need to, thanks to 2 further M.2 PCIe NVMe slots.
Once you type out the {hardware}, you may get your community sorted. The Asustor Lockerstor AS6602T is prepared for pace with twin 2.5Gb ethernet ports that may be mixed utilizing hyperlink aggregation for a wild 5Gb connectivity. It’s easy to arrange the NAS for fast backups, virtualization, or perhaps a highly effective media middle, and it’s additionally obtained an HDMI 2.0 port on the again and helps 10-bit 4K {hardware} decoding to ship a 4K HDR expertise.
5. Synology DiskStation DS1821+
Best Multi-Bay NAS
Connection
Ethernet, USB 3.2
RAID Level
JBOD, RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 5, RAID 6, RAID 10, Synology Hybrid RAID (SHR)
Storage
8 x 3.5″/2.5″ bay, 2 x M.2 PCIe NVMe slots
Size
18.2″ x 14.4″ x 12.5″
Do you will have a boatload of recordsdata, knowledge, and different content material you need on NAS for safekeeping and easy accessibility on a number of units? Then a correctly chunky storage answer just like the Synology DiskStation DS1821+ is for you. This one comes at a excessive value, north of $1,000, however you will be prepared for the long run with loads of expandability.
The DiskStation DS1821+ encompasses a wild eight drive bays for 3.5-inch and a pair of.5-inch onerous drives or SSDs, which supplies you 128TB capability, and the drives are additionally hot-swappable. If you want much more storage, the DS1821+ helps enlargement items to bump as much as 18 drive bays, and also you additionally get M.2 2280 NVMe slots permitting for high-speed caching. Of course, there’s loads of energy behind the system with the quad-core AMD Ryzen CPU and 4GB of DDR4 ECC reminiscence that may increase to 32GB.
6. QNAP TS-264-8G
Best NAS for Media Streaming
Connection
Ethernet, USB 3.2, HDMI
RAID Level
RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 5, RAID 6, RAID 10, JBOD
Storage
2 x 3.5″/2.5″ bay, 2 x M.2 PCIe slots
Software is more durable to grasp
A NAS gives a central location for all of your units to entry your media library, and the QNAP TS-264-8G is designed particularly with streaming in thoughts. This NAS system avoids a giant networking bottleneck by providing twin 2.5Gb ethernet ports, so it ought to have greater than sufficient throughput to carry up even when a number of persons are making an attempt to entry these massive media recordsdata. You also can set it up subsequent to your TV, because it has a 4K-capable HDMI output built-in.
The QNAP TS-264-8G gives two 3.5-inch drive bays you may load up with tons of storage, whereas two further PCIe Gen 3 slots brings the potential for some quick caching or faster community speeds. Powering this NAS is an Intel Celeron N5105/N5095 quad-core processor with 8GB of DDR4 reminiscence to maintain it operating easily. With these internls, you are even prepared for clean 4K video streams with {hardware} transcoding.
7. Synology DiskStation DS923+
Best Network Attached Storage for RAID Configurations
Connection
Ethernet, USB 3.2, eSATA
RAID Level
RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 5, RAID 6, RAID 10, Synology Hybrid RAID (SHR), Basic, JBOD
Storage
4 x 3.5″/2.5″ bay, 2 x M.2 PCIe slots
Offers numerous RAID ranges
Expandable storage and RAM
A key perk of getting a NAS is the flexibility to again up your knowledge and to be further safe; it is smart to think about using a RAID configuration. The Synology DiskStation DS923+ is a wonderful possibility for each, because it options 4 drive bays, so you can’t solely load it up with storage but additionally run it with redundancy. The system really gives a number of RAID sorts, together with RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 5, RAID 6, RAID 10, Synology Hybrid RAID (SHR), Basic, and JBOD, so you may select the perfect configuration to maintain your knowledge protected.
The DiskStation DS923+’s 4 bays are constructed for 3.5-inch and a pair of.5-inch drives, nevertheless it contains two M.2 2280 NVMe SSD slots to equipment out the NAS with quick caching. You may need that further pace, too, because the NAS options two 1Gb ethernet ports that help Link Aggregation or Failover, and there’s an possibility so as to add 10Gb connectivity. Running the entire shebang is a high-performing dual-core AMD Ryzen processor paired with 4GB of upgradable DDR4 RAM and the easy-to-use DSM working system, so you should not have any drawback getting it up and operating.
8. ioSafe Duo Pro
Best Rugged NAS
RAID Level
RAID 0, RAID 1, JBOD, SPAN
Storage
2 x 3.5″/2.5″ bays
Size
11.50″ x 5.91″ x 9.06″
Fireproof and waterproof
Offers two sturdy, long-lasting drive bays
Using a NAS to again up your recordsdata and units is essential to holding your data protected, however that safety is circumvented if one thing damages your NAS drive. The ioSafe Duo Pro drive is constructed with these considerations in thoughts, so it’s fireproof and waterproof. Its IP68 score even gives safety in opposition to full submersion in water as much as 10 toes for 72 hours.
The ioSafe Duo Pro doesn’t simply maintain your knowledge protected from bodily harm; it goals to guard your knowledge from the outset with numerous RAID configuration choices and sturdy, long-lasting drive bays. ioSafe even gives knowledge restoration providers for purchasers. Just word that this direct-attach storage system is not particularly made to be a NAS drive, so if you wish to set it up for community storage, you will have to share it with your private home community by means of an always-on pc or connect it on to your router by way of USB.
What to Look for in NAS
Not everybody wants NAS, however it may be used to treatment sure networking complications. Do you and your loved ones/housemates all share the identical community? A NAS system means that you can share recordsdata with all of these computer systems from one central unit. Don’t need to again up your entire household’s computer systems individually? A NAS system provides you a method to do all of it on one drive.
What are you utilizing it for?
If both of the above eventualities resonates with you, a NAS system could also be value contemplating. If you end up in a state of affairs the place a number of units in your house have to entry the identical instruments or recordsdata, a NAS system can do this. It’s not nearly storing issues, however accessing them too.
The different motive for a NAS system is that you’ve an enormous media library that you simply’d like to have the ability to entry from a number of computer systems/TVs/tablets/and many others. You may flip your NAS right into a Plex server, so everybody within the dwelling has swift entry to the identical motion pictures, TV exhibits, and music.
Go diskless? How many bays?
You’ll discover that the majority NAS units come with out disk drives, which suggests you’ll have to buy them individually.
In many instances NAS makers don’t make onerous drives, so that they’ll promote their system with none disks included. You could already personal some disk drives, wherein case a diskless system poses much less of an issue, however verify the producer’s suggestions as some manufacturers of disks may match higher than others.
Bays are what the disk drives go into, so the upper the variety of bays the NAS has, the extra potential capability there may be. Generally, two or extra bays are greatest; multimedia programs will usually have extra.
Danielle Abraham is a contract author and unpaid music historian.