Synology 1 bay NAS DiskStation DS118 (Diskless)

Synology is, without a doubt, the best NAS system and is almost always a wise investment. The web- The best available graphical DSM software is web-based and updated on a regular basis. Link Aggregation is provided by the dual LAN ports on the DS418 line. This allows you to transfer data at up to 226 MB/s over two Ethernet lines (each line's maximum speed is around 110 MB/s, which is the fastest Gigabit Ethernet can go). br>br>However, if you're thinking about getting a DS418, spend the extra $50 and get the DS418play at the very least. The marketing information provided by Synology can be perplexing when it comes to determining the differences between the models (i. e. What exactly do you get for the suffixes "j", "play", and " "? In the side-by-side comparison of products, When compared side by side, they all demonstrate similar abilities. All of the DS418 models, for example, show that they will play the same media. The DS418, on the other hand, does not support hardware transcoding of media files (you'll need the DS418play for that). Even if you don't care about DLNA transcoding, the DS418 is powered by a Realtek ARM CPU, which means it won't run Plex, Dockers, or most future server software. The DS418play and higher models use Intel CPUs that can hardware transcode, run Plex, VMware, and Dockers, and are far more future-proof. proof. The Intel CPUs also give you a little more power for encryption and other server tasks. If you're going to spend the money, get the DS418play at the very least. If multiple users need to stream 4K videos simultaneously or you want to use the eSATA port to connect the 5-inch hard drive, the DS918 can stream two 4K videos simultaneously, whereas the DS418play can only stream one. If multiple users need to stream 4K videos simultaneously or you want to use the eSATA port to connect the 5-inch hard drive, the DS918 can. If you want to expand your DX517 NAS, you'll have to spend a lot of money on the DS918 NAS. Aside from that, the DS418play is the best value for money.

Jeffery Anthony

| Aug 20, 2021

Synology devices are generally my favorites, and I frequently recommend and defend them. However, the prices of some of their devices have always been a source of frustration for me, and I am rarely satisfied unless I can purchase them used or refurbished. When comparing the DS118, DS218 and DS418, for example, you'll notice that they're all basically the same unit with the same system board inside. Realtek RTD1296 Quad-Core core 1. 4 GHz processor, 1 or 2 GB RAM, USB 3. 0 From a manufacturing standpoint, the 2 and 4 bay models are essentially the same as the 1 bay model with a little extra plastic and a longer backplane board, but the 4 bay model is more than double the price!! Synology is clearly taking advantage of customers who mistakenly believe that the 4 bay model should be much more expensive. No, we're talking about a few extra dollars in plastic and PCB, as well as a RAM chip and a couple of extra backplane connectors and trays. Aside from that, you'll have to spend a few more dollars on a larger box and shipping, etc. Sorry, but $200 more for the 4 bay versus the 1 bay is a complete rip-off. br>br>Since their inception, they have had the same problem with their expansion units. The 5-bay expansion unit, which contains almost no electronics, costs nearly $500! At typical manufacturing prices, this is more than $100 worth of goods, but Synology knows that no one will notice and that people will be in a hurry regardless. You know there's something fishy going on when it's cheaper to just buy another Synology rather than the expansion unit.

Emmalynn Golden

| Jan 04, 2021

I had tried a few different storage solutions for my home and my family's small business, but none of them seemed to work or meet my needs the way they were advertised. In all honesty, it was due to my decision to try to find a low-cost solution because $400 for a NAS and then another $400 for a router was prohibitively expensive. 500 dollars, at the very least, for drives to install is a significant sum of money. However, I can't begin to express how grateful I am that I was able to complete this task. I can't speak to its utility as a media server because I haven't had the opportunity to test those features, but I can speak to its utility as a storage solution. Not only because I'm a computer science major, but this NAS makes backups, data storage, and file sharing a breeze. Setup is incredibly simple, even for those who aren't computer savvy, and the web interface is simple and intuitive. Setup on a local network is also incredibly simple. While setting up remote access for multiple users is still much easier than setting up an Ubuntu server, it will almost certainly necessitate some technical and networking expertise. You'll need to make exceptions for the remote IP address if you're using an antivirus and/or firewall. You'll also need a static IP address or a domain name and a DDNS service to create a remote network drive. br>br>Overall, I couldn't be happier with the product so far and am glad I decided to spend a little more money on something that works well, is simple to manage, and meets all of my needs. When I get a chance to text some of the media server features, I'll try to come back and update. br>br>UPDATE: br>br> br>As a result, I've had the chance to put some of the features to the test by using it as a media server. I loaded some movies onto it and was able to watch them online. I've come to the conclusion that I have both good and bad news for you. First and foremost, let's get the bad news out of the way. br>br>Bad News: br>If you're a Plex fan, you might be disappointed. Except for those with an Intel processor, Synology appears to have dropped support for Plex on all models of NAS servers. According to the Plex forums, some older DS418 models have Intel processors, but almost all of the newer models have Realtek quad core processors. But have no fear, I've discovered a workaround that I'll share with you. Another thing I discovered is that if you try to stream HD video while other services are running, you may experience some stuttering due to background uploading or downloading. I'm not sure if it's because of the processor or because of the limited amount of RAM, but I plan to add more RAM in the near future. I've also recently enabled ethernet port aggregation and will see if that makes a difference. **Note: True port aggregation can only be used if your router supports it. They do have load balance bonding, but it is different from port aggregation. After these changes, I'll retest and provide another update. br>br>Exciting News: br>The good news is that, while there is some stuttering, you can easily work around it by pausing some of the backup services you may have running while trying to stream video, which, while not ideal, I don't think is a big deal given the price point compared to other options. This issue might be resolved thanks to the port aggregation I enabled recently, as well as my plans to increase RAM. The other good news is that, if you don't want to use Plex, there is an app called Archos for the Amazon FireStick that, in my opinion, works quite well. You can look through all of your server folders, view photos, listen to music, and watch videos. So far, I've only tested this while streaming on my local network; I haven't tried remote streaming with this app. I'll report back with another update once I've had a chance to think about it.

Kyrie Patton

| Aug 21, 2021