Network storage for the home. We choose inexpensive network storage for the home and not only. DAS - ready, but inexpensive

About DAS drives, which means it's time to discuss full-fledged network storages - especially since NAS devices are currently not so expensive, and with their help it is easy to organize a kind of home "cloud". To do this, the equipment provides several baskets for hard drives and organized its own stuffing - a processor with RAM, a cooling system, a set of necessary interfaces and a separate power supply. Thus, you no longer need to store multimedia on your computer - you can distribute data to other devices from NAS storage. And no one canceled the backup.

Naturally, such a device must support all known file systems, have convenient management, configuration and operation indication. Finally, just look stylish to fit into both home and office environments. It would be nice to have multiple levels of RAID arrays and the ability to hot-swap hard drives. But it is better to purchase an HDD or SSD separately - this will reduce the cost of equipment, and you will be able to choose the optimal combination of performance and disk space. So, let's look at the budget NAS segment in order to refute the conventional wisdom about the high cost of network storage.

For only 6,134 rubles (all prices indicated are current at the time of publication of this review) you can purchase a desktop NAS with two 2.5" or 3.5" drive bays up to 20TB total. At the same time, support for RAID levels is declared: 0, 1, Basic, JBOD, that is, sequential distribution of disk space across disks, as well as support for the file system in EXT3 format, a universal Linux solution for storing large amounts of data. Simply put, D-link DNS-320L is compatible with any operating system. Since this is an independent network storage that does not require a permanent connection to the desktop, a gigahertz processor with 256 MB of RAM and 128 MB of flash memory is provided here.

Yes, this is not much, but more than enough for a simple NAS for the home, since gigabit Ethernet and USB 2.0 are provided here (however, it is not clear why the manufacturer did not use third-generation USB). The device has all the necessary operation indicators, consumes 26 W, weighs only 630 g and is offered in a matte plastic and metal case. Disadvantages - 3-gigabit SATA and not the most productive cooler. However, petty nit-picking is inappropriate - this is an excellent solution.

Synology has long been famous for its NAS, and this is one of the best options with the best combination of price and quality. True, it is intended for undemanding users who care that the storage fits on the desktop and looks presentable. Synology DS115j fully meets these criteria - it is very compact and at the same time has an efficient cooling system and can accommodate one drive up to 10 TB. One 6-gigabit SATA is used as an interface, and in addition to EXT3 and EXT4, FAT32, HFS + and NTFS are also supported. Given the presence of gigabit Ethernet and two USB 2.0, I would immediately place it next to the TV.

The filling is not the most productive, but the Marvell Armada 370 processor at 0.8 GHz with 256 DDR3 memory is enough for home tasks. The maximum power consumption is at 36W, and the noise level does not exceed 18.1dBA - all thanks to a low-speed 60mm CO fan. Will manage.

If you donate the appearance and pay about a thousand rubles, you can purchase a more productive solution. Thecus N2310 already accommodates two drives in 2.5- or 3.5-inch format with a capacity of up to 20 TB, supports their hot replacement and is based on the ARM APM 86491 mobile processor with 512 MB of RAM and a frequency of 0.8 GHz. In addition to Ethernet (1 Gb / s), there is USB of the third (progress!) And second generation, remote buttons for quick copying from external drives and JBOD support.

Disadvantages - not the most spectacular appearance, a meager set of operation indications and a budgetary CO cooler. But the NAS consumes only 36.2 W at maximum load, weighs 790 g and works with the EXT4 file system. At the same time, do not forget that in the latter, hard drives must be formatted so as not to be afraid that the device does not see them. However, this is not such a problem at the moment - there are plenty of corresponding utilities. Costs .

And this is already a decision, as they say, from the manufacturer. Western Digital with a complex index offers a ready-made NAS, in the bowels of which a 3-terabyte 3.5-inch drive is already hiding (if desired, it can be replaced with an HDD up to 10 TB). In general, a device for those who do not want to bother with revision. The device is quite compact and made in the style of "hi-tech", which is suitable for both home and office. For the sake of compactness, we had to sacrifice an active cooling system, so blocking the ventilation holes is highly not recommended.

Other perks include 6 Gigabit SATA, white steel shroud, 3G USB, and Gigabit Ethernet. This one is worth it. At the same time, the lion's share of the cost falls on the hard drive.

ASUSTOR AS1002T is made in the corporate style of the line and will cost already. For this money, you get 2-disk network storage up to 20 TB, support for HFS + and NTFS, JBOD and Single disk, that is, a single local storage from two HDDs, and an efficient CO with a 70 mm cooler.

Under the hood of the device hides a gigahertz Marvell Armada 385 with 512 MB of RAM, which, by the way, can be expanded to a similar volume. Of the interfaces - Ethernet and two USB 3.0, that is, the exchange and download of information at a high level. At the same time, device management is also possible through the web interface, that is, remotely.

Disadvantages - the need to install 2.5-inch drives in a 3.5-inch rig, a minimum of operation indication and a kind of "square" design, more suitable for corporate style. The possibility of hot-swap HDD also hints at office use.

Let's get back to Synology. This solution significantly expands the functionality of its counterpart, as it already offers two baskets for both HDD formats connected via SATA, 6 Gb / s. At the same time, the NAS is built on a more efficient Marvell Armada 370 processor with 512 MB of RAM. The repository is made in the same style, but for obvious reasons it takes up more workspace. There is support for Synology's proprietary Hybrid RAID technology, designed to simplify the deployment of storage volumes, and work with HFS + and NTFS is also implemented. In short, setting up and optimizing the device will not be difficult even for an inexperienced user. Not without the possibility of hot-swap drives. Interfaces - Ethernet and two USB 3.0.

Of particular note is the efficient cooling system with a 92 mm cooler and its own power consumption of only 15 watts. By the way, as many as 250 logical volumes can be created on the HDD, since the total volume of drives can reach 20 TB. Thus, Synology DS216j is created either for a very demanding user or for the office. Network storage for this level is inexpensive - .

If you want something interesting in design, then you should pay attention to QNAP TS-212P. The device is made in a compact case with rounded edges and an unusual front panel with a vertical display a la "thermometer". And you don’t have to pay for beauty with performance and volume: there are two slots for 2.5- or 3.5-inch drives up to 20 TB and a Marvell 6282 processor, 1.6 GHz with 512 MB of RAM and 16 MB of internal memory for buffering. Also worth noting is NTFS support, two eSATA, two USB 3.0 and one USB second generation. Of course, there is also gigabit Ethernet.

Among the shortcomings - SATA (3 Gb / s) and work only with the zero and first levels of RAID arrays. But there is a low-speed 70mm CO fan and pre-installed Linux. Power consumption - only 25 watts. All in all, you get a completely self-contained NAS at a reasonable price.

NAS looks brutal and does not tolerate compromises. At the same time, the case is quite compact, but it can accommodate up to two HDDs of any format and a total capacity of 20 TB. The data reading speed is at the level of 200 MB / s, there is the possibility of hot-swapping disks. Powered by the time-tested 1.4GHz Cortex A15 processor and 2GB of RAM, you don't have to worry about NAS brooding. In addition, there is one eSATA for connecting external HHD, as many as three USB 3.0 and two Ethernet. Probably, you yourself understand what opportunities this opens up (yes, “local” and remote control through different channels).

It’s a pity that the levels of RAID arrays here are only zero and first levels, and the device weighs about 2 kg, but no one forces you to install a NAS within a walking distance. He has completely different tasks - which is only the presence of a door for quick access. This "serious comrade" is worth it.

ASUSTOR with the AS1004T index suggests installing four 3.5-inch drives with a total capacity of 40 TB and connecting them via 6-gigabit SATA. True, the set of interfaces for such a device is scarce - Ethernet and two USB 3.0, but under the hood there is a Marvell Armada 385, 1 GHz processor with 512 MB of RAM (it can be expanded, like the younger model).

Other benefits include JBOD and Single disk support, a 120mm fan, all the necessary LEDs, and web-based remote control with support for installing FireFox, Chrome, Safari, and Microsoft Edge browsers. Of course, the NAS works with all currently known operating systems. At the same time, it consumes only 24 W and, which is ridiculous for this level of devices.

A performance model at a reasonable price - you get a stylish 2-drive solution up to 20 TB with a powerful Intel Atom D2700 processor and 2 GB of RAM. Thus, the NAS is optimal for both home and office. There is also one USB 3.0 and second generation USB, eSATA that does not require additional power, two LANs, HDMI and VGA. Why not a multimedia or workstation with local and external connection?

Of the shortcomings - only mediocre CO, otherwise everything is fine.

Thus, in order to buy an optimal and productive NAS, it is completely optional to overpay. In addition, do not worry that you are buying "Chinese" - well-known brands are now interested in medium and small budgets.

The more hard drives in the NAS, the more data you can store. During our tests, we evaluate which HDD arrays support drives, the ability to backup to the cloud, and also explore server options. The more server functions on board the device, the better. In the end, it is from this that the score for the functionality of the device is formed, which is 45% of the total score in .

The biggest advantage of 4-disk NAS is the ability to install, creating an impressive 40 TB of storage (in the case of 10 TB HDDs) in simple JBOD array mode. You can also combine hard drives into a RAID array. In the case of 4-disk systems, these can be RAID levels 0, 1, 5, and 10. For high performance and fault tolerance, we recommend using RAID 5.

First place: QNAP TS-451+-8G

The NAS RAID is based on the Intel Celeron J1900 processor with a frequency of 2.0 GHz and is equipped with a convenient QTS 4.0 operating system. The device is suitable for both home use and office needs: NAS allows you to back up data, synchronize files, organize a media library and create a personal cloud. Remote access is provided for accessing files.

QNAP TS-451+-8G enables on-the-fly transcoding of 1080p video into digestible formats supported by computers, media players, TV panels and mobile devices. At the same time, the same video can be viewed on several devices at once, including those that do not have much computing power and, accordingly, cannot perform the transcoding process themselves.

Peculiarities:

• Memory expandable up to 8 GB
• Support for video surveillance systems (license for 2 cameras included)
• Built-in media center
• Quiet cooler
• Apple AirPlay support
• Support for 7.1 channel surround sound

Average retail price: 51 600 rubles

Second place: Asustor AS6104T

The compact NAS drive is powered by 4-core Intel Braswell platform with ADM (ASUSTOR Data Master) software interface, which is convenient and easy to learn. Supported RAID modes (Single disk, JBOD, RAID 0, 1, 5, 6, 10) allow you to use the device as a high-capacity storage or high-performance server for data backup.

Asustor AS6104T will receive a high-quality and durable case with a metal frame. The HDD mounting rails are also made of metal and equipped with rubber pads that minimize HDD vibrations. But there are no locks on the sled, so you should not leave this NAS storage within the reach of children who can accidentally pull the drive out of the server.

Peculiarities:

• Hot-swap HDD available
• Automatic fan speed control
• Customizable backlight
• Support for drives with a total capacity of up to 40 TB
• Intuitive Russian-language OS
• Built-in firewall

Average retail price: 36 600 rubles

Third place: QNAP TS-453mini-2G

Like the leader of our rating, the mini-server is equipped with an Intel Celeron J1900 2.0 GHz CPU and, despite its compactness, provides a wide range of capabilities. Based on it, you can create a 24-hour video surveillance system with IP-based storage, organize video streaming on any device via DLNA, AirPlay and Plex, set up a VPN and a web server, a RADIUS server, etc.

The design of the network drive involves the vertical installation of hard drives, which made it possible to reduce its dimensions and the area it occupies on the desktop. The top cover is attached with magnets, blocking access (for example, from children) to the sled with installed HDD. At the same time, it provides quick access to the drives, without requiring the use of tools to dismantle the aforementioned hatch.

Peculiarities:

• RAM modules can be upgraded
• Compact size thanks to vertical HDD arrangement
• Low power consumption
• A sufficient number of modern connectors, despite the mini form factor
• Storage for IP-based video surveillance systems

Average retail price: 55 200 rubles

Fourth place: QNAP TS-451-4G

The fourth position is equipped with an Intel Celeron N3060 processor with a nominal frequency of 1.6 GHz and the ability to automatically overclock to 2.48 GHz. Let's immediately pay attention to the USB Quick Access technology used here, which allows you to quickly configure the NAS out of the box and start it up even without network access.

Also, thanks to this option, the server can be connected to a computer via a USB cable (it connects to the USB Quick Access connector on the NAS case) and access all data on the server through the proprietary Qfinder Pro utility. To work with network devices, you can use the classic connection via an Ethernet port. In this case, the QNAP TS-451-4G will work as a traditional NAS.

Peculiarities:

• USB QuickAccess port for direct data access
• Hardware support for UHD video decoding and transcoding
• Ability to run virtual machines directly on the NAS server
• Virtual JBOD Mode (VJBOD)
• Multimedia control via remote control

Average retail price: 44 500 rubles

Fifth place: Asustor AS5004T

The fifth position in our ranking is occupied by the model. At the time of this writing, this device has been discontinued, but it can still be found on sale. This NAS server loses to the leaders of our rating in terms of total capacity: the device supports the installation of four hard drives of 8 TB each, which gives a total of 32 TB of space. Recall. that our leader supports the installation of drives with a total capacity of up to 40 TB.

If you choose this NAS device and decide to upgrade it with RAM, you should be careful: the limitations of the AS5 platform dictate their own rules. So, when using memory modules with a capacity of 8 GB, it is allowed to install only one RAM bar, while the original modules must be removed. Installation of two high-capacity modules at once is not possible.

Peculiarities:

• Ability to integrate with cloud storage
• Bidirectional backup
• The NAS server is able to automatically enter standby mode
• Automatic fan control
• Application Dr. ASUSTOR evaluates drive health and provides recommendations for settings
• Quiet operation and low power consumption

Average retail price: 30 600 rubles

Top 10 Quad HDD NAS

1.

FTP server

: Yes

Web server (HTTP)

: Yes

Backup server

: Yes

Audio/Video Server

: Yes

Print server

: Yes

Overall score: 95.3

Value for money: 71

2.

FTP server

: Yes

Web server (HTTP)

: Yes

Backup server
Audio/Video Server
Print server

: Yes

Overall score: 99.1

Value for money: 85

3.

FTP server

: Yes

Web server (HTTP)

: Yes

Backup server
Audio/Video Server
Print server

: Yes

Overall score: 96.3

Value for money: 71

4.

FTP server

: Yes

Web server (HTTP)

: Yes

Backup server

: Yes

Audio/Video Server

: Yes

Print server

: Yes

Overall score: 95.3

Value for money: 71

5.

FTP server

: Yes

Web server (HTTP)

: Yes

Backup server
Audio/Video Server
Print server

: Yes

Overall score: 94.4

Value for money: 72

6.

FTP server

: Yes

Web server (HTTP)

: Yes

Backup server

: Yes

Audio/Video Server

: Yes

Print server

: Yes

More recently, I began to think about purchasing a network attached storage system (NAS). But since I don’t make such purchases on a boom, I decided to deal with the technical issues and delve into the intricacies of modern network storage. Information technology is developing quite rapidly, but it is this pace that makes you keep your finger on the pulse and delve into the essence in order to make the right choice. As it turned out, choosing a network storage for home and office is not difficult, but not everyone needs it.

Many ordinary users do not feel the need for such network devices, and even more so do not wonder how to choose a NAS for the home. In most cases, they solve problems with information storage by adding a hard drive to the system unit, purchasing or connecting using WebDAV technology. All this has the right to life and in some cases is a good solution. For example, you can upload captured media content from a camera, camcorder or smartphone to the network cloud and continue shooting.

But if you want to have your own server for storing and encrypting confidential information or flexible data backup and at the right time get remote access to them from any device (computer, tablet, smartphone ...), then NAS in this case will be an indispensable solution. In addition, while traveling or working far from home and office, you can upload the captured photo and video material via the Internet to a personal network storage and play it in stream (continuous stream) mode on any device from anywhere in the world where there is sufficient bandwidth internet channel capability. Also, this device helps to offload the computer from multi-threaded downloading of files from torrent trackers, taking these functions upon itself.

In government institutions, organizations or in the office of companies of various levels, you can use the NAS, for example, as a mail server with support for the SMTP, POP3 and IMAP protocols or a web server to host a small website or some applications using MySQL and PHP ( content management systems, CRM, e-commerce…), as well as using the application to manage IP cameras that monitor the office, record and view video in real time…

Low power computer or Network Attached Storage (NAS).

Before you start choosing a NAS model, you need to clearly define for what purposes and tasks you want to buy network storage. It's no secret that the availability of features and the quality of components ultimately affect the pricing of any IT device. Some guys offer to save money and use a low-power computer assembled from certain components instead of network storage.

It consists of a processor with integrated graphics, good cooling and a set of programs for system configuration. However, this approach, for a number of reasons, seemed unjustified to me. The fact is that when assembling a computer, inexperienced users may have difficulty with the selection of components, subsequent installation and maintenance.

For example, certain difficulties may arise when replacing a hard drive in a “hot” mode, and specially selected software for home-made storage is much more difficult to administer than a proprietary platform written by developers for a specific model line. If you have the skills and like to spend time solving non-trivial tasks, then you can build a network storage for your home, but this approach is not acceptable for an office and enterprises.

Technical features of network attached storage (NAS).

My attention was more drawn to the finished models. By type (form factor), they are classic and rack-mount. The latter are very efficient, functional and high performance with large storage capacity (minimum 4 drives) for home, small office and workgroups. These types of NAS can have two power supplies, which improves overall fault tolerance. As a rule, these devices are not cheap pleasures that help solve a wide range of problems.

Classic models are also very flexible and functional, but unlike rack-mount models they have a wider range of models. It is generally accepted that the more slots a network storage has, then it belongs to a higher class. Conventionally, the NAS class can be divided as follows:

• Home users and small office.
• Home users and business work groups.
• Small and medium businesses.
• Manufacturing and corporate office.

Some manufacturers do not focus on the number of slots for a certain class and produce, for example, NAS for home users with four slots, and models for medium business with two bays. To a greater extent, the number of bays in a NAS device is influenced by design, feature set, and software. Things to consider when choosing a NAS with multiple hard drive bays:

• Is it possible to hot-swap a drive (while the device is running).
• The drive is installed in the shaft directly or by mounting in the form of a skid.
• Which drive sizes (2.5″ or 3.5″, or both) support bays or skid mounts. Sometimes suppliers use the abbreviation SFF and LFF (this is an abbreviation of the phrases Small Form Factor and Large Form Factor, respectively).
• Is there a built-in cooling system for disk slots.
• There is a door and a lock to close the compartments.

Many modern NAS can work correctly with hard drives offered on the market, but some network storage models have capacity limits for each installed drive. Pay particular attention to the RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disks) option.

The fact is that a RAID array is a hardware and software solution that allows several installed disks in a NAS to be perceived by the system as a single unit for storing information. RAID according to the described standards has 7 basic (RAID 0 - RAID 6) and 3 additional (RAID 10, RAID 50, RAID 60) types of arrays. Each of them has its own purpose. Here are some examples:

• RAID 0 - The array combines the space of all disks with an increase in access speed by a factor of two, without fault tolerance (minimum 2 HDDs).
• RAID 1 is an array of two or more disks on which information is written in a mirror way to increase system fault tolerance, which in turn increases read speed (no more than 2 HDDs).
• RAID 5 is a disk array with data striping, which has a positive effect on fault tolerance (at least 3 HDDs).

Thanks to the duplication of information, if one of the hard drives fails, you can continue working without losing important data. After you replace the broken disk, the system will automatically create a copy of the previously lost data.

As processors, manufacturers can use simple Intel Atom in budget versions, and in top models Intel Xeon, Intel Core, Intel Atom (four cores). There are also Intel Celeron, ARM Cortex-A9 processors in different variations of NAS ... Some NAS models have soldered ARM processors. Devices based on such processors are suitable for use at home or in a small office, where the number of connections to network storage drives is nothing. However, I would not recommend focusing on such network devices. People who don't know this leave comments like this:

In addition to the processor and network controller, the overall performance and the number of simultaneous connections are affected by the amount of RAM. It should be said that NAS built on the ARM processor is more difficult to upgrade or repair yourself, due to the fact that the RAM memory and the processor are soldered on the motherboard, and do not use special slots. People who do not know this leave reviews like this in online stores:

As an advantage, NAS on the ARM platform can only be noted for low power consumption. But if we proceed from the fact that network storages work twenty-four hours and seven days a week (24/7), then in a sense this is a significant indicator.

The software platform is responsible for the convenience of NAS administration, the availability of functions and capabilities. Many modern NASes use a browser to access the control panel. NAS software platforms can be proprietary or third-party. By proprietary, I mean a platform written by the developers of the manufacturing company, for example, DiskStation Manager from Synology, and by third-party operating systems from companies and corporations that are not involved in the configuration and subsequent release. Typically, such developers mean companies such as Microsoft.

I would like to draw your attention to the fact that some platforms require the installation of utilities for clients that will use the network storage. This is not convenient for everyone and when choosing a device, be sure to consider this. Many proprietary and third-party platforms allow you to connect various modules that expand the capabilities of the NAS. When choosing such a device, be sure to pay attention to what file systems the platform can work with, what network protocols and management methods it supports.

Ask if there are software features that enable the NAS to be used as an FTP server, WEB server, station and video surveillance server with the ability to store material from security cameras, share it with cloud services, manage and provide access for tablets, smartphones. Perhaps some of the functions are unnecessary for you, which means you should not overpay.

Depending on the model range, the availability and number of interfaces and ports in the NAS is different. For example, USB ports of different versions in the network storage can be from 2 to 6, and sometimes more. Depending on the model, solid-state SSDs, additional hard drives, Wi-Fi adapters, flash drives, printers, and the like can be connected to these ports. Ethernet ports can be placed on the device panel up to four, and possibly more. In addition, some models have HDMI, FireWire…

Some NASes already have a built-in Wi-Fi router to connect to the network, and for those who do not have such a module, the NAS needs to be connected via a Wi-Fi router.

Thus, you can combine all devices (NAS, Smart TV, computer, tablet) into one local network, and if you have the Internet, access your personal storage from the global network. All NAS models are designed to provide round-the-clock and uninterrupted operation, regardless of class.

Therefore, manufacturers of some network storage devices worry about good ventilation and build several fans into the device to reduce the temperature of hard drives. In addition, the NAS is complemented by several power connectors that can be used to connect to an uninterruptible power supply (UPS).

Manufacturers such as Buffalo, D-Link, LenovoEMC, Seagate, Netgear, Synology, Thecus, QNAP and WD are well known on the market. They regularly update the lineup and expand the "up" line (produce more powerful and multi-drive solutions for large companies), and "down" (complement the line for home and small office). That's all. We are always open to constructive comments and welcome good and useful additions.

Continuing the topic of drives raised in posts about wireless drives and flash drives, I want to move on to the topic of NAS. This thing is quite interesting, especially in the era of tablets, laptops and many family devices. I will specifically focus on home use, because corporate NAS is the topic of a separate large article.

Why do you need a NAS at home? It seems to be a simple question, and most will answer it like this - to store data and access it for all family members. But this is not at all the case, because then it will be easier and quite enough to take a normal router and connect an external drive to it via USB.

Why then do you need a NAS?

1. You are a photographer and you store a lot of pictures in RAW
2. Are you a movie buff or audiophile and store a lot of BluRay or FLAC images on a drive.
3. You have 3 or more computers in your family and make regular disk backups, including system partitions.
4. You have a video surveillance system and you need to store a large video archive for a month, for example.
5. You need access to a large amount of data over the network, but you are afraid of cloud storage.

Maybe I forgot something, but in most other cases, you will need a regular external screw.

What kind of NAS do you need?

Let's just say, the NAS needs to be two-disk in order to be able to set up RAID 1, which mirrors the data on the disks. A larger number of houses is unlikely to be needed, a smaller one - there is a pretty good chance of losing all the data.

What are the manufacturers of NAS? Actually, there are only two companies that make luxury collapsible NAS for slightly more demanding users. This is Synology, which once blogged on Habré and Qnap. We will not touch on a separate topic of NAS-s from companies such as Lacie or Buffalo, since this is already quite for professionals from audio / video and lovers of “everything is ready and beautiful” solutions (although they have absolutely nothing in the wireless Fuel series).

Until recently, I advised most of my acquaintances to the Synology DS213 or the more recent DS214. They were pretty good. But today I would call QNAP Turbo NAS TS-251 ideal.

It is very fast in terms of copying files over the network (about 100 MB/s in read and copy mode), it has a fast processor (dual-core Intel Celeron 2.41GHz). It has a huge amount of memory (the cheapest version comes with 1 gigabyte, but you can insert up to 8 gigs yourself). There is a USB 3.0 connector for quick file backup (for example, I plugged a USB flash drive from a DSLR and quickly merged all the photos into an archive). It also has an HDMI port that allows you to connect it directly to your TV and allows you to make a sickly home theater. Support for transcoding video to any format on the fly is announced, but for Full HD it works every other time, so it's better to watch in native format.

It also has an excellent operating system and many mobile applications that allow you to access data from anywhere in the world. Those. For example, you are a photographer and you come to a meeting with a customer. In the process of discussion, some special Wishlist comes out, you go to your NAS from your tablet via the network and look for some ancient, but important photo shoot.
This happiness costs 320 bucks without disks.

Dap-dap? That's right, 320 US dollars, or 30 thousand rubles if you buy it in Russia. Isn't it cheaper? Yes, back to DS214.

It costs about 2 times cheaper, but it has a more slow-witted dual-core processor Marvell Armada XP MV78230 with a frequency of 1.066GHz. And the memory is only 512 megabytes. Those. 16 times less than the maximum for Qnap.
It does not affect the access speed so critically.

But it becomes essential when you use a large number of services (the same iTunes family music server, for example, a torrent downloader, and so on). And yes, the DS214 does not have an HDMI output.

Damn, why is it so expensive?

To be honest, in both cases, you don’t even pay for hardware, but for a fairly convenient and advanced operating system with a lot of goodies (the same mobile applications, the ability to deploy music servers, and so on).
If you don't need it, you can make a self-assembly computer and download FreeNAS. Good operating system, many convenient settings and so on.

But there is one thing - such a system loses in power consumption and noise isolation to specialized NAS. Well, FreeNas compared to the OS from QNAP and Synology, it's like Mac and Linux. The first is beautiful and intuitive to everyone. The second allows you to configure everything very finely, but you must understand what is happening under the hood.

A small digression - I do not want to humiliate FreeNas and, especially, Linux. But you must understand that these are different weight categories.

Can you eat fish and enjoy?

Can. You are quite able to buy inexpensive hardware and install operating systems from the giants on it. For example, there is an excellent OS clone from Synology with the telling name Xpenology (I'm not joking, that's what it's called). It is easy enough to roll it onto an HP Microserver, which can be found used at a price of 7-9 thousand rubles (again, without disks). There are already 5 slots for discs (the fifth one can be inserted instead of DVD)

Since the operating system will be, let's say, unlicensed, some of the services accessing the Synology server will not work. For example, cloud synchronization with Dropbox or Google Drive will not work. A thing, frankly, useful.

Damn, is it even cheaper?

Can. For limited NAS, I would recommend my favorite WD My Cloud at or 3 terabytes (review on Giktimes). Well, or something similar from Seagate.

They cost about 9 and 12 thousand together with the disk (yes, there is only one disk, which dramatically increases the risk of data loss). What they can do is to quickly transfer and write data over the network (about 50-60 Mb / sec). They contain a beautiful interface (do not be lazy, go to the review link above, it's really beautiful). They have the ability to share access to data (son, here's 1 gig for your images of toys and that's it). Allows access to data over the network from outside. There are mobile applications (for example, to scroll through photos from a tablet or watch a series from a phone in the kitchen). Recently added support for the Plex media server.

Another plus is that, after digging into the kernel, you can install a torrent downloader. For example, we put such a thing to one of my acquaintances in the country so that he could slowly pump out films at night, because during the day the channel was thoroughly clogged. Those. this is such a relatively fast network screw, which has the rudiments of adult NAS functionality. If you don't need more, this is a great option. If this is not necessary, pay attention to the router. If the router does not know how, believe me, it's time to change it. And the point here will not be in the functions of the NAS.

Afterword from iCover:
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For a wide range of users - from home offices to large corporations.

Services like Netflix, Spotify, and Dropbox offer convenient ways to access content (movies, music, files), but they have their limitations. Imagine that you could create your own cloud server with instant access to data from anywhere. The first thing you will come across is the choice of NAS system.

By and large, these are network-attached drives that users can access from anywhere in the world. They are similar in functionality to cloud services, but offer several advantages over them, including more control, higher capacities, and significantly lower long-term rents.

If you're in the market for cloud storage, here are the best NAS drives for a wide variety of use cases, from home offices to large corporations.

The best personal NAS systems

Not all users need storage with astronomical capacities and sophisticated management functionality. If you plan to use the NAS for your personal purposes or in a small office, then you should pay attention to the following drive models:

WD My Cloud Mirror Gen 2

If you're looking for a drive with easy syncing, decent performance, and low cost, WD My Cloud Mirror Gen2 is probably your best bet. On top of that, it is made in a very stylish case that will not stand out too much from your interior.

WD My Cloud Mirror Gen 2 Specification:

RAM: 512MB DDR3;

Drive bays: 2 hot-swap bays;

RAID support: 0, 1, JBOD;

Price at the time of the review: $350.

Order WD My Cloud Mirror Gen 2website

Qnap TS-853A-8G

This unusual drive has high performance, good data protection and Linux support. It also includes 2 microphone jacks and supports karaoke applications.

Specification of Qnap TS-853A-8G:

Processor: 1.6GHz Intel Celeron N3150;

RAM: 8GB DDR3L-1600;

Drive bays: 8 hot plug bays;

RAID support: 0, 1, 5, 6, 10, hot swap, JBOD

Price at the time of the review: $2260.

You can order Qnap TS-853A-8G in our online storewebsite

Order Synology DiskStation DS916+available in our online storewebsite

Qnap TVS-EC1280U-SAS-RP

Qnap TVS-EC1280U-SAS-RP is an excellent enterprise storage solution at a low price. It supports various backup applications, has a built-in SAS 3 expansion port and an excellent management console.

Specification Qnap TVS-EC1280U-SAS-RP:

- processor: 3.5GHz Intel Xeon E3-1246 v3;

RAM: 16GB DDR3;

Price at the time of the review: $10,900.

Order Qnap TVS-EC1280U-SAS-RPavailable in our online storewebsite

The features of this storage are a high level of data protection and integration with cloud storages. Synology RackStation RS2416RP+ features fast snapshot data recovery. Of course, this is not a competitor to modern corporate NAS systems, but for small businesses it is what you need.

Specification of Synology RackStation RS2416RP+:

- processor: 2.4GHz Intel Atom C2538;

RAM: 2GB DDR3;

Drive bays: 12 hot-swap drive bays;

RAID support: 0, 1, 5, 6, SHR, hot swap, JBOD;

Price at the time of the review: $2920.

Order Synology RackStation RS2416RP+available in our online storewebsite

Qnap TS-1263U-RP

What really sets the TS-1263U apart from the competition is its 10GbE support. Even though the transceiver has to be purchased separately, very few competitors offer systems with similar functionality in the same price range.

Specification of Qnap TS-1263U-RP:

- processor: 2GHz AMD GX-420MC;

RAM: 4GB DDR3;

Drive bays: 12 hot-swap drive bays;

RAID support: 0, 1, 5, 6, 10, hot swap, JBOD;

Price at the time of the review: $2220.

You can order Qnap TS-1263U-RP in our online storewebsite