Synology NAS servers are available in different configurations and each model can accept a different number of hard drives, the smallest generally being a two bay (two hard drive) unit. Installing the drives is extremely easy and takes almost no time. Installing an incorrect drive into a NAS Server can result in data corruption and or device failure. Traditional Desktop Hard Drives (from any manufacturer) should not be used in a NAS Server because they aren’t designed for this type of use. Seagate NAS or Enterprise Hard Drives are designed to be used in these types of devices, so use these. Hard Drives should be purchased from a quality manufacturer like Seagate. For the most part, all that’s needed to get going is for the user to purchase and install the correct hard drives for the unit, since most NAS Servers are disk-less (they don’t come with hard drives). Not everyone has the time or know how to tinker and try and figure out a “custom NAS solution”.Ī company like Synology, has taken and done all that work for you, they produce pre-built NAS servers that are easy to use.

Building a NAS server on your own, requires careful planning, a bit of time, some know-how, and requires a lot of configuration to get it to do exactly what you want. NAS servers can be built or purchased, but for most users, a pre-built NAS server will probably be the best option. Depending on the NAS device, a personal cloud may be setup in order to access files on the go. Another great feature of a NAS device, is that multi-drive and multi-bay NAS server units, give the user the ability to mirror files or back them up, so data won’t be lost if one of the drives fail. Security measures can be put in place to restrict file and folder access based upon user defined settings.Ī NAS device should be considered when multiple computers/devices in an environment need to share and access data. Another great option, is to use a NAS (Network Attached Storage) device because it’s not ideal to store files on multiple devices all over the place.Ī NAS device, can essentially store your files in one location and allow the devices in your home, office, and/or building to access this data through the network. I previously discussed how important it is to keep all your data safe and secure, along with some different ways to store and backup your files.

Best nas for home users 2016