From a portable HDD or SSD, a NAS is primarily different in size. This is a fairly large device, not designed to be carried. On the technical side, it is equipped with a network connection, which allows uninterrupted access to files via the Internet.
NAS is like a cloud, that is, a flexible storage solution that can be configured so that access to personal storage is available from anywhere in the world.
Why do you need personal network storage at all? If we talk about home use, then NAS is a way to free the main PC from unnecessary information, conveniently organize files and make them available to all family members with their personal devices. In corporate conditions, this is all the same centralized storage, as well as convenient teamwork on projects.
Typically, the home cloud functions only on the local network. But if you wish, you can configure access to it via the mobile Internet.
No one disputes the practicality of portable drives, but a personal cloud is in some ways safer, because it cannot be stolen like a flash drive. Physically, it can be placed in an apartment or office, there are no restrictions. Each computer on the local network defines the NAS as a data storage and can use it for backup. Thus, if at least one PC fails, you don’t have to worry about the files – they will be safe and sound.
Businessmen should consider placing the NAS outside the office. Then, in case of fire, flooding and any emergency situation, business information will not suffer.
Which NAS are the best? First of all, those that consist of several disks. They mirror information from one drive to another, greatly reducing the risk of data loss. Since price is a deciding factor for many buyers, remember that there are also diskless NAS: you can put unnecessary HDDs or SSDs from home stocks in them. You only need to consider the number of slots and connection methods.
1. WD My Cloud Personal NAS
- Memory: 2-4 TB
- Interfaces: USB 3.0, Gigabit Ethernet
- Functions: remote file access, DLNA, iTunes server
Price: 15,000 rubles
Western Digital has achieved significant success in the computer memory market thanks to its pricing policy. My Cloud series products are entry-level and aimed at a wide range of customers. They work with any DLNA-compatible device and connect via apps for Android and iOS.
A minimum capacity of 2 TB is enough for an ordinary family, where no one earns a living by video editing and does not download movies from torrents in batches. Otherwise, more space will be needed for projects and “file dumping” – 4 TB. Since there is only one drive bay, there will be no backup within the cloud itself (although this option can also be configured by adding an additional drive via the USB port on the rear panel).
Advantages:
- Clear connection and setup.
- Low price.
Disadvantages:
- Application limited in functionality.
2. Seagate Personal Cloud 2-Bay NAS
- Memory: 4-8 TB
- Interface: gigabit ethernet
- Functions: remote file access, media server software, RAID support
Price: 21,000 rubles
This Seagate-designed device takes a cue from My Cloud while offering more storage capacity as well as two drive bays. Here, the mirroring function works without dancing with a tambourine, which gives an advantage in terms of reliability.
Network storage is not a system unit, much less a game console, so it does not need bright design solutions. The personal cloud from Seagate is very inconspicuous, it will hide somewhere on the shelf along with the router and will not distract attention.
Seagate Personal Cloud syncs with Dropbox and Google Drive cloud accounts and streams content via Chromecast and Roku players.
Advantages:
- Easy setup.
- Inconspicuous look.
Disadvantages:
- Relatively low speed.
3. QNAP TS-251A NAS
- Memory: not specified
- Interfaces: 2 x Gigabit Ethernet, USB 3.0
- Functions: remote file access, HDMI, 4K transcoding, DLNA
Price: 31,000 rubles
This file station can rightly be called non-standard. Take at least the remote control – a rare network storage supports this control option. There are two Ethernet ports on the front, a TV output, and inside there is some very decent hardware centered around a 1.6GHz Intel Celeron and 4GB of RAM for transcoding media files.
You can easily install various applications on it, for example, the Plex media server, file sharing, karaoke, and even Ubuntu Linux. But there is one caveat: the compartments are empty. Hard drives must be purchased separately.
Advantages:
- Powerful hardware.
- Flexible connectivity and use.
Disadvantages:
- Hard drives are not included.
4. Buffalo LinkStation LS220D NAS
- Memory: 2-8 TB
- Interfaces: Gigabit Ethernet, USB 2.0
- Functions: double bay, WebAccess apps, Apple Time Machine support
Price: 57,000 rubles
For a device like a NAS, brand reputation is essential: it has to establish itself as a manufacturer of reliable products. This is exactly what Buffalo’s low-cost 2TB solution is (maximum 8TB memory, with 4TB and 6TB options in between). The same company produces advanced TeraStation NAS for business.
A key feature of the LinkStation LS220D is direct integration with BitTorrent: the system continues to download files even when the PC is turned off. The functionality does not depend on the platform, the storage can even be used as an iTunes server.
At the time of writing, the product is available exclusively to US and UK residents. As an alternative, consider the Seagate Personal Cloud 2-Bay.
Advantages:
- High level of reliability.
- Mobile app available.
- Streaming is supported.
Disadvantages:
- Few premium features.
5. Synology DiskStation DS1817 NAS
- Memory: there is no data
- Interfaces: 2 x 1GbE LAN, 2 x 10GbE LAN, 2 x USB 3.0, 2 x eSATA
- Functions: quad-core processor, 4 GB RAM, up to 8 drives, 1.577 MB/s sequential read speed
Price: 80,000 rubles
Among any electronics, from time to time there are products that challenge the main difficulties in their industry. The DS1817 file station is just one of them. Most NAS-devices from the category of expensive, as a rule, are characterized by some significant drawback: either the hardware power is rather weak, or there are few bays.
But this device was an attempt to give users what they miss most – namely storage. The case has as many as 8 compartments, which in the future may result in a memory capacity of more than 10 TB. This is enough for business, and even more so in everyday life.
Advantages:
- Gigabit Ethernet support.
- You can add a lot of memory.
Disadvantages:
- Few USB 3.0.
- External drives are connected via eSATA.
6. WD My Cloud Mirror NAS
- Memory: 4-16 TB
- Interface: gigabit ethernet
- Functions: automatic copy, two-bay, My Cloud app
Price: 27,000 rubles
When there are two separate drives, the device creates a mirror copy of the data from one drive to another. This is the RAID 1 configuration – the simplest of the RAID arrays. In consumer devices, it is considered advanced, and therefore the price assigned by the manufacturer for this device is above average.
The station comes with memory, with a minimum capacity of 4 TB and a maximum of 16. Medium capacity options are available in 6 and 8 TB. Declared integration with Dropbox.
Advantages:
- Simple and secure backup.
- RAID 1 support.
Disadvantages:
- Expensive relative to analogues.
7. Synology DiskStation DS1517 NAS
- Memory: up to 60 TB (or up to 180 TB with expansion module)
- Interfaces: 4 x 1GbE LAN, 4 x USB 3.0, 2 x eSATA
- Functions: quad-core processor, up to 15 drives connected
Price: from 70,000 rubles
The cheapest version of the DiskStation DS1517 is a diskless version with a starting price of 70 thousand rubles. Because of this, it is difficult to recommend it for home use, and, frankly, the performance in everyday life is excessive. But in a creative studio or small business, it would show itself as a trouble-free station with high power: with 8 GB of RAM and a 4-core processor, sequential write speeds reach 111.4 MB / s, and reads of 110.3 MB / s.
Advantages:
- There is a PCIe expansion slot.
- High level performance.
- The maximum RAM is 8 GB.
Disadvantages:
- Expensive expansion modules.
- RAM 2 GB by default.
8. WD My Cloud EX2 Ultra NAS
- Memory: 4-16 TB
- Interfaces: Gigabit Ethernet, USB 3.0
- Functions: remote file access, RAID, My Cloud OS 3
Price: 27,000 rubles
With the RAID configuration typically found on more expensive and sophisticated NASes, as well as Microsoft Active Directory support, this device is recommended for small businesses. It can act as a file server, FTP server, backup server and P2P download server.
If all these functions are not needed, feel free to choose a simpler option – MyCloud Mirror.
Western Digital’s EX series is also available in discless format.
Advantages:
- Dual core processor.
- Two compartments.
- RAID support.
Disadvantages:
- Primitive operating system.
9. Western Digital DL4100 NAS
- Memory: 8-24 TB
- Interfaces: 2x Gigabit Ethernet, 2x USB 3.0, USB 2.0
- Functions: Dual LAN, 2GB RAM (expandable to 6GB), NTP client
Price: 40,000 rubles
If the priority is the backup option, pay attention to the DL4100 model. Here, data duplication is implemented using Dropbox and Box cloud services. In addition, it is possible to set up SMS and email alerts in case the system fails.
The minimum amount of memory is 8 TB, and there are 4 bays in total. Despite some problems with wireless data transfer, overall performance is kept at a good level even with the default amount of RAM.
Advantages:
- Compact and semi-portable.
- Easy setup.
Disadvantages:
- No computer-to-NAS connection via USB.
- Complex web interface.
Source: www.techradar.com
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