Good home NAS recommendation

In the digital age, managing data at home has become increasingly important. I've personally built and used various NAS (Network Attached Storage) brands and solutions, ultimately choosing multiple Synology NAS devices to establish automated syncing and remote backup across multiple locations. Although more advanced blade servers exist, they typically exceed the scope of home use and are therefore not discussed in this article.

In recent years, domestic NAS brands have risen rapidly, eyeing the growth potential of the private cloud market for homes. There's a saying that goes, "peace of mind doesn't save money, and saving money doesn't give peace of mind." From a household perspective, I believe the principle for selecting a NAS should prioritize peace of mind over saving money.

I. Key Points for Selecting a Home NAS

The price range of NAS systems varies from a few hundred to tens of thousands of yuan, with configurations ranging from basic to lavish depending on individual needs. According to industry practice, the price of a NAS generally does not include hard drives. Now that hard drives have become relatively cheaper, purchasing a complete NAS set also requires the addition of at least 1-2 hard drives, with prices ranging from about 2,000 to 10,000 yuan, offering consumers a wide selection.

The increased cost across different price points is mainly reflected in:

An increase in the number of NAS bays.
An increase in the number of equipped hard drives.
The number of bays refers to the maximum number of internal hard drives a NAS can accommodate, also known as the number of drive slots. This fixed number serves as an external indicator that quickly reflects the price and positioning of a NAS.
For instance, a single-bay NAS is usually an entry-level model that is quite affordable, with prices around 700-800 yuan. For Synology NAS, it is often said that each bay is valued at approximately 1,000 yuan.
As for hard drive configurations, if your budget is limited, there is no need to purchase all at once. For example, if you buy a 4-bay NAS, you can start with 1-2 hard drives and add more later. Currently, hard drive capacities are increasing, with 8TB and 10TB becoming common, and 16TB and 18TB models also hitting the market.

II. Home NAS Recommendations

Around the Chinese New Year, NAS models are usually stable. The first recommendation is Synology NAS, a leading brand in the home NAS sector, known for "buying software, getting hardware for free." Synology's DSM operating system holds an absolute leading position in terms of usability, stability, reliability, and flexibility.

There's a saying, "Start with a black group (DIY NAS with cracked or pirated DSM), then fall into the white group (switching to a genuine Synology NAS)." It refers to users building their own NAS and using unauthorized versions of Synology's DSM system; however, as they gain experience, they find that buying a genuine Synology NAS is the most hassle-free with the best experience.

For household users, the DS224+ with two bays is recommended, featuring an Intel quad-core processor, standard 2GB RAM (up to 6GB supported), and support for large volumes up to 36TB (18TB*2). The JD.com price is 2,849 yuan. For better prices, other platforms may offer deals.

If more bays are needed, the 4-bay DS423+ is suggested, with a quad-core processor and M.2 storage support, offering up to 72TB of space (18TB*4), priced at 4,099 yuan.

For future expansion, consider the DS923+, which has a built-in 4-bay but can be expanded with an additional 5 external hard drives through an expansion unit, priced at 4,950 yuan.

It's worth noting that the above models end with a plus sign, indicating they belong to the plus series that supports Docker and provides a wealth of resources for installation, offering more possibilities for usage.

For 2-bay models, QNAP offers the DH2100 and DH2600; the former was released earlier, with a JD.com price of 899 yuan, while the latter has a nicer appearance and is priced at 1,499 yuan.

If the goal is to pursue lower hardware costs, DIY might be the only option. However, for general home users, I do not recommend this approach unless they particularly enjoy tinkering.