Need NAS recommendation

[Munky]

I'm thinking of buying a two-bay NAS system for home use. It will be used by 2-3 users, configured in RAID-1, and the files need to be accessible not only from the local network but remotely from off-site as well. Anyone have any recommendations or suggestions? Looking to spend about $100-200 for bare system.

 

[chucky2]

I did this same thing, and I can say these two things:

1.) I really like the Synology chassis and the frequent and continuous updates they put out.

2.) Even though I don't need it now, I really should have got a 4 bay for when the HD's on my 2 bay fill up. Would make expanding storage soooo much easier. But, they do cost more for sure...

Chuck

 

[Munky]

Does the Synology system allow the drives to be mapped directly by a Windows OS? For example, if I need to copy a large file which is an encrypted TrueCrypt container? How easy is it to maintain and use? I saw a few Synology systems, and they seem to have good reviews but are on the expensive side.

 

[chucky2]

Does the Synology system allow the drives to be mapped directly by a Windows OS? For example, if I need to copy a large file which is an encrypted TrueCrypt container? How easy is it to maintain and use? I saw a few Synology systems, and they seem to have good reviews but are on the expensive side.

No idea on the TrueCrypt container stuff. I just setup the box in RAID-1, then went anal retentive and unmounted each at the command line on the Synology box and forced Linux to do a chkdsk equivalent on each drive (found no problems on one drive, found and fixed some stuff on the other, so I consider this worthwhile even though people say it's unneccessary), then when everything was back to normal, mapped each drive in windows like V: for Video, F: for Files, M: for Music, etc. Copied over my sh1t. Done.

As long as the Synology is awake and hasn't gone to sleep, it works fine. I haven't used it in a long while from when it's sleeping, so I can't remember what happens there. I think it works but just takes a few seconds to get your drive click results in Windows.

EDIT: If you send me a file encrypted like you have, I can put in on the Synology and see what happens. Is that all that's needed?

Chuck

 

[Munky]

Thanks for the info. As long as I can map the drive, I should be able to copy encrypted files as well as any other.

 

[chucky2]

Synology has a forum there, post on up in it and hopefully one of their support people will answer. My big lesson learned though was get a 4 bay next time, and, once the drives are in, and the latest software is installed (hopefully from the get go), unmount each and do the chkdsk equiv., because filesystem errors can happen.

Oh, that, and, make sure the drives u use don't have some kind of "green" timeout or something built in. I had to get updated firmware or something and turn that off, one by one, on my desktop before installing them in the Synology.

 

[F2CMaDMaXX]

I'm looking for exactly the same thing, though i don't need offsite.

I wanted the same price point, but the Synology units seem a little expensive.

My biggest worry is the ability for the unit to handle a drive already ntfs formatted and/or a blank drive. ie. what happens when a drive goes or i want to replace it.

What happens if i want to replace the drives with larger ones? can i get it to mirror one at a time and then expand to fill the extra space?

 

[jdcooper]

I have a DNS-323 and I cannot recommend it. If I had it to do again, I'd go Synology.

 

[philipma1957]

I have a 1 bay and a 2 bay synology

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822108095



http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822108114


both are good