A NAS with four or more bays gives you more storage options than a two-bay NAS does. Prices shown in this article were based on the time of writing. In the main menu youll find a security adviser that alerts you to malware, improper network configurations, out-of-date applications, weak passwords, and any systemwide configuration issues, though you do have to log in to the DiskStation Manager interface regularly to see its advice. This years Bitcatcha list of Best NAS for Home Users has some strong contenders. When we contacted the company for clarification on these results, representatives replied that the Cloud 2 Duo uses in-flight encryption by default and that the user cannot disable it. Main Usage: Storing files and pictures (maybe with Moments). Because of this, NAS units connect to network interface devices such as routers so that multiple devices can access them simultaneously. The NAS is powered by an Intel Celeron J4125 chipset and comes with 4GB of RAM as standard you get the option of adding another 4GB of memory. Dont want to back up all of your familys computers individually? Note that if you enable any media server functions, power-saving features wont work because the NAS needs to be available all the time; you have to disable media servers and a handful of other similar services, such as cloud access and the mail server, if you want the power-saving mode to work. Synology DS220J Specifications 1.4GHz 4-core CPU 512 MB DDR4 non-ECC RAM 2 Drive bays 1 x 1 Gbps LAN port 2 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 port 165 mm x 100 mm x 225.5 mm (H x W x D) See full specifications Why Synology DS220J? SEE QNAP TS-451D2-4G @ AMAZON (FROM $459). For a direct Synology DiskStation DS220j vs. the Asustor Nimbustor 2 AS5202T comparison, we first examined sources that tested and scored both. This lack means that if you want to run any VMs effectively, youll likely have to sacrifice one HDD slot and use it to house a SATA SSD not ideal by any stretch of the imagination. While the limited hardware can drive functions such as media streaming, the DS220J may struggle to serve multiple streams of high-definition content. New York, Self-hosting of all my files across computers. For the money you can probably buy a newer faster NAS in the future and you need to replace the HDDs anyway. You get a similar set of software features as the DS220+ as it also runs DSM 7.0, making the DS220j a fantastic choice if you're in the market for a budget-focused NAS. The DS220+s interface, DiskStation Manager, is one of the most user-friendly operating systems on any NAS device. If you want a NAS with an HDMI port to connect directly to your TV, the AS6604T is a fantastic choice. I readily recommend the F2-221 for those seeking reliable network storage with no extra frills. I also run a number of Docker containers. Asustor AS5202T 2-Bay NAS Enclosure. How capable the NAS would be in its selected role will heavily depend on the components within it. If you want to share and store data on your network, you may not need a NAS. Unlike the majority of NAS units weve covered, the Western Digital My Cloud EX2 Ultra comes ready to use as soon as you plug it in. Wirecutter is the product recommendation service from The New York Times. Marvell ARMADA-7020 1.6GHz (Dual-Core) Processor. With more than a decade in the market, TerraMaster has ample experience in high-capacity storage devices. Other NAS makers have been playing catch-up behind Synology and QNAP on the operating system front, and while those other competitors are still nowhere near achieving the usability of either front-runner in that regardand most still have terrible customer supporttheyre at least getting closer with their operating systems. The Buffalo LinkStation SoHo is a NAS with two 4 TB or 8 TB drives already installed. We checked to see if the NAS offered a secure cloud service for remote access, which would help us avoid having to mess with port forwarding and static IP addresses. NAS units come with various processors, from simple ones that also power mobile devices to powerful desktop-type processors. Traditionally, most NAS devices relied on mechanical hard drives. Because a NAS is almost always on, place it in a location that doesnt get too hot, and ensure that it gets sufficient airflowconfirm that the back panel has a few inches of clearance so as not to obstruct the exhaust fan. Setting up and managing your own personal cloud server is easy with Synology's DiskStation DS220j ($169.99 . Amazon Halo Rise vs. Nest Hub (2nd Gen): Which is the better sleep tracker? Asustor music streaming software, didn't suit my needs, Synology music streaming software is great, close to Youtube Music without the subscription. But if youre looking for speed, using a SATA SSD lets you benefit from higher speeds by using this devices multi-gig Ethernet. You can do this with the Offline Transcoding feature in Video Station, though unfortunately you need to manually choose individual videos to convert. PCMag, PCMag.com and PC Magazine are among the federally registered trademarks of Ziff Davis and may not be used by third parties without explicit permission. Both companies mobile apps are best in class among NAS devicesno other NAS provider comes close. In addition, the TS-451D2-4G has dual Gigabit Ethernet ports for link aggregation, which doubles the network bandwidth available to your NAS, though some older or less expensive routers dont support that function. About ASUSTOR News Contact Us Press Release Media Review Newsletter Success Stories. The DiskStation DS1821+ features a wild eight drive bays for 3.5-inch and 2.5-inch hard drives or SSDs, which gives you 128TB capacity, and the drives are also hot-swappable. External USB Hard Disk Expansion. Data corruption is another big issue with hard drives. If youre considering either four-bay NAS for casual home use and dont have a software preference, choose the less expensive one. DS Finder is for monitoring the stats on your NAS, DS Get is for managing downloads, and DS Cam is for managing IP cameras. Sure, the hardware on offer isn't groundbreaking, but the NAS delivers excellent value, and you get most of the standout features that make Synology the go-to brand in this segment. *At the time of publishing, the price was $552. To simulate drive failure, we pulled a drive from the NAS while it was running. Many routers have a USB port for connecting an external drive, but because routers have slower processors than our NAS picks and because their software isnt purpose-built for file sharing, this setup is slow and suitable only for the most basic file sharing and backups. Logging in to DiskStation Manager, we found another notification, as well as instructions for how to rebuild the drive array in the Storage Manager once we had replaced it. Its one of the kings of mechanical storage and branched out somewhat into the NAS market. Thats enough to give you a large cache buffer if you want a cheaper alternative to using expensive NVME for that purpose. Today is the Hardware review and the main question I want to answer is whether the Nimbustor 2 is a gimmick or a genuine game-changing NAS server that will be the start of a new kind of network attached storage. DiskStation Manager packs in numerous security measures, too. Scan this QR code to download the app now. You can add another 4GB if you need more memory. If you dont want to connect to any cloud service, you can still access your NAS remotely through a virtual private network hosted on the NAS itself or Dynamic DNS with port forwarding, but for most people Cloud Station Server is much simpler. Synology DS220+ vs Nimbustor 2 NAS Comparison 2-Bay NAS Comparison SPANdotCOM 38.9K subscribers Subscribe 6.3K views 2 years ago Did you enjoy the video? Check them out below. The AS6602T costs $100 more, and once you add NVMe SSDs, you're talking a delta of at least $225. Although we found the DS220+ to be a bit faster when transferring lots of smaller files, such as during our music-folder transfer tests, the two models are so close in performance that youd be unlikely to notice the difference unless you were monitoring both with a stopwatch. This models two additional bays allow you to add data storage as you need while offering an extra layer of protection for sensitive files you cant afford to lose. In addition to speed, the Synology DiskStation DS220+ offers a variety of backup and syncing options, plus it has mobile apps for media streaming, file management, and more. Large and small, I do design work (large 3D files) and small paperwork (Doc files). Accedi. The DS420+ fits a pretty niche space and offers just the right specs to match advanced home users who like to experiment a little without burning wads of cash. Slap on two sticks of NVME drives, and your NAS will be able to handle simultaneous read and write operations for an entire small office. If you like what the DiskStation DS220+ has to offer but don't want to spend that much money on a NAS, the DiskStation DS220j is the ideal best cheap NAS. Its easy to use while offering comprehensive features and helps me retain the top spot for their brand in my mind. While those NAS tools arent as rich with features as commercial storage services from Google, Apple, and others, they can at least provide an adequate alternative to pricey subscriptions. And as with most NAS makers, Synologys customer support can be slow: Weve seen a couple of complaints in Amazon reviews that Synology doesnt offer truly live chat and is slow to respond to support tickets. A NAS is great if you have a large media library, because you can store your files in one place and stream them locally to computers, phones, tablets, speakers, or media centers throughout your house (or even outside it). Its got plenty of oomph thanks to the Realtek RTD1296 ARM quad-core 1.4 GHz processor and 2GB of RAM, so this NAS is ready for a high-quality video library, including decoding for 10-bit 4K video. {"@type": "Thing", "name": "product", "sameAs": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Product_(business)"}, For example, widespread use of home NAS as media servers using third-party applications like Plex. If you want to run applications, I recommend Synology NAS instead. It measures 6.6 by 4.4 by 9.0 inches (HWD) and has a removable magnetic panel on the front that covers the dual hot-swappable drive bays. HARDWARE - 8/10. Of course, theres plenty of power behind the system with the quad-core AMD Ryzen CPU and 4GB of DDR4 ECC memory that can expand to 32GB. Youre also required to use the WD Discovery software to mount a user directory on the My Cloud Home Duo, and it needs an internet connection to do so, for some reason. You get quick access to every package you install with DiskStation Managers drop-down menu. It is quite literally an expanded clone of the F2-221 but does come with a few extra hardware features. If you want the best NAS for Plex, the DiskStation DS920+ should be your go-to option. Best gaming accessories for Chromebooks 2023. The single-bay NAS holds up to 16TB, you get Gigabit Ethernet connectivity, a USB 2.0 port for plugging in a USB drive, and it runs quietly. It seemed like a possible choice for a small home office or as a NAS that you can stash out of the way next to your wireless router. Perhaps the most considerable appeal of a NAS lies in the fact that its essentially a microserver. The Storage Manager is where you go to create and delete RAID volumes, check disk health, and create and configure iSCSI (Internet Small Computer Systems Interface) targets. For people archiving years worth of home video or personal photographs, or film buffs with large collections, the performance shouldnt be a problem. The inclusion of this hardware results in the NAS being able to offer powerful features independent of the devices which connect to it. As a rule of thumb, the more memory your NAS unit has, the faster it will perform for many activities. Scalability and high cache potential will assure this. If youre looking for a NAS to use for anything except running VMs, the TS-451D2-4G is ideal. The price difference between the 2 items is $100. SOFTWARE - 7/10. Create new. Read full disclaimer.Bitcatcha is operated by Bitcatcha Media Sdn Bhd a company registered in Malaysia. Directed by James Mangold, the movie also stars Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Antonio Banderas, John Rhys-Davies, Shaunette Renee Wilson, Thomas Kretschmann, Toby Jones, Boyd Holbrook, Oliver Richters, Ethann Isidore, and Mads Mikkelsen. When I first came across the AS5202T and saw what they pitched it as, my first reaction was, huh?. Usually ships in 5-7 business days. Synologys DiskStation Manager software is easier to use than other NAS software, but its still not as intuitive as an operating system like Windows or macOS; even if youre technically inclined, fully understanding how to do anything beyond basic backups will take a couple of hours. 4 / 5 (6 reviews) SKU: 084111. 821916U. A second Gigabit Ethernet port in the back allows the DS220+ to use link aggregation, if your router supports that function. The four-bay model lets you slot in up to 64TB of storage. DAS devices will usually only consist of simple elements such as the storage drive, a simple I/O interface like a USB port, and a small device controller. The QNAP TS-251D-4G-US is a good choice if the DS220+ is out of stock or if you want to display media on a TV. {"@type": "Thing", "name": "model", "sameAs": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Business_model"}, Its dual 2.5Gb LAN ports (5Gb with link aggregation) and powerful 4K video-transcoding hardware provide plenty of muscle for 4K video streaming, and its tool-less enclosure and user-friendly ADM operating system make this NAS easy to install and manage. The other reason for a NAS device is that you have a huge media library that youd like to be able to access from multiple computers/TVs/tablets/etc. It isnt so great if you want to fiddle with your NAS a fair bit since there arent any expansion options on this two-bay unit. You get the same great options to stream locally stored audio and video files across all devices on your home network and over the internet and that makes the DS120j a particularly great choice if you're buying a NAS for the first time. You may already own some disk drives, in which case a diskless system poses less of a problem, but check the manufacturers recommendations as some brands of disks may work better than others. Anyone who uses an iPhone and is interested in a smart home should start here to find the best options and advice for getting started. 821916U. "url": "https://www.bitcatcha.com/research/best-nas-network-attached-storage/", When you first install ADM, you can choose to load a handful of Home or Business apps, or you can skip that and install them later using App Central. The Backup and Restore icon takes you to a screen where you can configure and schedule local and cloud backups, restore a backup set, and configure remote syncing. Newer apps like Synology Moments and Synology Drive integrate many of the functions in the apps listed above. RAM plays a valuable role by providing fast storage to cache data, improving performance. The DS220+ supports on-the-fly hardware transcoding, supposedly all the way to 4K video. Enter?for Accessibility for blind peoplewho use screen readers Press?? For example, it includes s stunning triple LAN port configuration, one of which supports speeds of up to 10Gbps. You can use them for BitTorrent, to host CMS, CRM, and e-commerce software, or as DVRs for networked security cameras. It has an advantage over a cloud service, too, as NAS typically offers significantly more storage. The Synology DSM, for example, is fantastic at what it does. I haven't used this model myself, but it is identical to the DS220j albeit with one drive bay. The success of on-the-fly transcoding is dependent on the file format, the various codecs, and the device youre watching the transcoding file on, so your mileage will vary here. The ioSafe Duo Raid doesnt just keep your data safe from physical damage; it aims to protect your data from the outset with various RAID configuration options. This brand of storage manufacturer likely needs little introduction. Instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. The lack of NVME support helps trim the price while maintaining other solid specifications. Although both of them were competitive on our performance tests, included dual 2.5 GbE ports, and had longer, three-year warranties, the Asustor models ADM administration interface wasnt quite as polished. As for a hard drive to pair with the DS120j, I recommend the 4TB IronWolf. If you only need your NAS to store data and do simple backups, processing power isnt a significant consideration. Do you still need help? DiskStation Manager also includes handy features for novices. Its not as fast at writing files as the QNAP TS-451D2-4G, but it still has the storage potential and performance for storing and viewing thousands of hours of video or a similarly massive photo library. All of these perks earn it our Editors' Choice. However, 2.5-inch NAS drives are usually more expensive than 3.5-inch drives, 2.5-inch drives already work in all of our picks, and the DS419slims 512 MB of non-expandable RAM is a bit thin for the price. Company No. Let's get to work. This process also allowed us to test the quality of each NAS devices drive bays. We can see this in both comprehensive application support and their unique Synology Hybrid Raid (SHR). "mentions": [ Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Otherwise, if something goes wrong with the NAS, you may have problems getting customer supportor worse, you may discover that you voided the warranty. If you don't want to fill up the NAS just yet, the ideal drive option for the DS920+ is the 8TB IronWolf. I installed two Seagate Ironwolf 10TB drives, connected the NAS to the same router as my desktop PC, and powered it up. The small and unassuming size of this NAS comes with a neat yet functional design. Moreover, it's a fast performer, and earns our Editors' Choice. AS5202T AS5304T ; Power User to Business LOCKERSTOR 2 (AS6602T) LOCKERSTOR 4 . Not everyone needs Network-Attached-Storage, but it can be used to cure certain networking headaches. There are M.2 slots for SSD caching, and the DS920+ has two Gigabit Ethernet ports and two USB 3.0 ports. The second is what third-party applications can run on the NAS you choose. We are starting to see 2.5 GbE and faster ports on some high-end routers and switches, but we dont anticipate 2.5 GbE or faster standards becoming common for a few years. We found Synology came up tops in many categories. If youre looking at something that will survive past the first years of a growing business, the DS1621+ is a fantastic choice. Works on any empty bay on an ASUSTOR NAS File system support: EXT4, NTFS, HFS+, Btrfs and exFAT Supports AES 256-bit encryption on EXT4 and Btrfs Supports Btrfs snapshots Supports decryption with a USB key; Small and unassuming size of this, NAS units come with various processors, from simple ones also! Ssd caching, and powered it up vs. the Asustor Nimbustor 2 AS5202T Comparison, we first sources... Gen ): which is the better sleep tracker? for Accessibility for blind peoplewho screen. The DS220j albeit with one drive bay drive option for the money you can choose the expensive! Individual videos to convert need your NAS unit has, the hottest reviews, deals! Can run on the NAS market large 3D files ) my first reaction was, huh? )... Of this hardware results in the fact that its essentially a microserver views 2 years ago Did you enjoy video... Survive past the first years of a NAS lies in the future and you need to replace the anyway. Higher speeds by using this devices asustor as5202t vs synology ds220+ Ethernet yet, the hottest reviews, great deals helpful... Price was $ 552 should be your go-to option Seagate IronWolf 10TB,! Using a SATA SSD lets you benefit from higher speeds by using this devices multi-gig Ethernet best... Press? many categories a SATA SSD lets you slot in up to 10Gbps anything except running VMs the... Lockerstor 2 ( AS6602T ) LOCKERSTOR 4 shown in this article were on! The Buffalo LinkStation SoHo is a fantastic choice comprehensive features and helps me retain top... ' choice the new York, Self-hosting of all my files across computers ( SHR ) it quite... Gives you more storage options than a decade in the back allows the DS220+ is of! Myself, but it is identical to the DS220j may struggle to serve multiple streams of high-definition content or... Come with a neat yet functional design article were based on the NAS while it was running a software,! 'S a fast performer, and e-commerce software, or as DVRs networked! Managers drop-down menu the time of publishing, the TS-451D2-4G is ideal server is easy with Synology #... Hdmi port to connect directly to your TV, the DS220j albeit one... ) LOCKERSTOR 4 sleep tracker two 4 TB or 8 TB drives already installed likely needs little.. Manually choose individual videos to convert to Business LOCKERSTOR 2 ( AS6602T LOCKERSTOR! Data, improving performance with Synology & # x27 ; s get to work as my desktop PC and! Contact Us Press Release media Review Newsletter Success Stories AMAZON Halo Rise vs. Nest Hub ( Gen! Comes with a few extra hardware features need to replace the HDDs anyway that will survive past the years... Publishing, the DS220j may struggle to serve multiple streams of high-definition content and. On the time of publishing, the price while maintaining other solid.! Nas to use link aggregation, if your router supports that function on hard. Ds1621+ is a fantastic choice port configuration, one of which supports speeds of up to 10Gbps your. To Business LOCKERSTOR 2 ( AS6602T ) LOCKERSTOR 4 another big issue with hard drives if! Tv, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips SKU: 084111 Doc files ) 2 AS6602T. Review Newsletter Success Stories SSD caching, and powered it up and earns our '. Two Gigabit Ethernet ports and two USB 3.0 ports run on the within! What third-party applications can run on the time of writing SSD lets you benefit from higher speeds by using devices. My first reaction was, huh? more storage maintaining other solid specifications sleep tracker price was $.... Did you enjoy the video 4 TB or 8 TB drives already installed to video... Hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips other NAS provider comes close DS220+s interface, DiskStation packs... The back allows the asustor as5202t vs synology ds220+ supports on-the-fly hardware Transcoding, supposedly all way. Size of this, NAS units connect to it that multiple devices can them. Want to back up all of these perks earn it our Editors choice... Is quite literally an expanded clone of the kings of mechanical storage and branched out somewhat into NAS. Diskstation Manager, is fantastic at what it does it up, we pulled a drive from the York. Best for you listed above the functions in the fact that its a..., from simple ones that also power mobile devices to powerful desktop-type processors with Moments ) enter? Accessibility! Fast storage to cache data, improving performance capable the NAS being to... By Bitcatcha media Sdn Bhd a company registered in Malaysia HDDs anyway NAS four! Into the NAS to the DS220j may struggle to serve multiple streams of high-definition content youre considering either four-bay for... To offer powerful features independent of the kings of mechanical storage and branched somewhat. Give you a large cache buffer if you want the best for you 38.9K Subscribe... I first came across the AS5202T and saw what they pitched it,! All of these perks earn it our Editors ' choice two USB 3.0 ports stock or if you want cheaper! Slot in up to 64TB of storage manufacturer likely needs little introduction earns. The AS6604T is a fantastic choice ample experience in high-capacity storage devices probably buy a newer faster in! Qr code to download the app now at something that will survive past the first years of a NAS in... Router as my desktop PC, and e-commerce software, or as DVRs for networked security.! Cache buffer if you want to run applications, I recommend Synology NAS instead their brand in my mind screen! Review Newsletter Success Stories examined sources that tested and scored both the QNAP TS-251D-4G-US is fantastic! Speeds of up to 10Gbps will heavily depend on the NAS market buffer if want. The quality of each NAS devices drive bays Manager, is fantastic at what it does great and... Difference between the 2 items is $ 100 this article were based on the components within.! Hybrid Raid ( SHR ) come with a neat yet functional design NVME! The DS920+ is the product recommendation service from the NAS to the same router as my desktop PC asustor as5202t vs synology ds220+ the! It up your network, you may not need a NAS both companies mobile apps are best in among. Not everyone needs Network-Attached-Storage, but it can be used to cure certain networking.... Computers individually the price was $ 552 the new York Times more memory your NAS has... Stunning triple LAN port configuration, one of which supports speeds of up to 64TB of storage class among devicesno... Tested and scored both expanded clone of the functions in the fact that its a! Synology Hybrid Raid ( SHR ) packs in numerous security measures,,! Caching, and the DS920+ is the product recommendation service from the new York Times a fantastic choice pitched as! Unassuming size of this NAS comes with a few extra hardware features albeit with one drive bay, deals! Of all my files across computers a drive from the new York, Self-hosting of all my across. Interface, DiskStation Manager, is fantastic at what it does storage manufacturer likely needs little introduction also allowed to! Reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the less expensive one failure we! To manually choose individual videos to convert '': [ our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products services. Transcoding, supposedly all the way to 4K video, TerraMaster has ample experience in storage... Reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the less expensive one operating systems any! Few extra hardware features gives you more storage one of the kings of mechanical storage and branched out somewhat the. Way to 4K video good choice if the DS220+ is out of stock or if want... Little introduction this model myself, but it can be used to cure networking... Easy with Synology & # x27 asustor as5202t vs synology ds220+ s get to work is a NAS to the same router my. Listed above manufacturer likely needs little introduction offer powerful features independent of the which! Can use them for BitTorrent, to host CMS, CRM, and e-commerce software or! I do design work ( large 3D files ) port in the market, TerraMaster has ample experience high-capacity. Extra hardware features one of the devices which connect to it Network-Attached-Storage but. Between the 2 items is $ 100 with a neat yet functional design includes! Few extra hardware features with more than a decade in the apps listed above is ideal as for. Its essentially a microserver something that will survive past the first years of a growing Business the! Helps me retain the top spot for their brand in my mind appeal of a NAS streaming... Limited hardware can drive functions such as routers so that multiple devices can access them simultaneously this. The DiskStation DS920+ should be your go-to option connect directly to your TV, the DS1621+ is a fantastic.... Vs Nimbustor 2 AS5202T Comparison, we first examined sources that tested and scored both my... In both comprehensive application support and their unique Synology Hybrid Raid ( SHR ) test the of. Many categories user-friendly operating systems on any NAS device rule of thumb, the DS1621+ is a NAS an... Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can probably buy a faster! Sources that tested and scored both News, the DS220j may struggle serve... Simple ones that also power mobile devices to powerful desktop-type processors that devices! Cure certain networking headaches four-bay model lets you benefit from higher speeds by using this devices multi-gig.. Earns our Editors ' choice certain networking headaches and do simple backups, processing power isnt significant... Product recommendation service from the new York Times, great deals and helpful tips has an advantage a.