Recommend a NAS box that won't break the bank

[ExtraSlow]

Avoiding hardware costs is appealing. For the cost of some of these NAS setups a guy could pay ten years of membership to something like idrive.

I guess you can use the NAS as a print server or media server or as a torrent device too. Is that the main drawback to going completely to the cloud?

[FixedGear]

Yes I too am curious about how well a cloud backup would work for streaming media files. And how would one connect various media player devices on your TV or whatever to this online backup?

[colsankey]

Cloud is great for a backup and long term storage, but most have a $ cost per TB download and some you have to advise them what files or mount you want so they can prepare it. I'm not sure what service the above suggestion for using cloud backups is for, but it's probably not ideal for streaming media, just a snap shot of your images or files you want to protect against fire, theft, etc.

[Stealth22]

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DiskStation DS216play Multimedia-Optmized 2-Bay NAS Server

Is there a reason you need the DS216play? The DS216j is ~$150 cheaper (mine was just over $200).

FWIW, I use my DS216j as a backup target, but it could easily do other stuff like hosting media. Mine also runs a VPN server, and even monitors the APC UPS I got from Costco, and sends me an e-mail when the power goes out, lol. (The UPS is a consumer line product, so the crappy APC software doesn't do anything with it...notifications being the glaring feature that's missing. Synology saved the day!)

But yeah, for anyone looking at a NAS, I can't recommend Synology enough. Their software is just awesome.

[ExtraSlow]

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Is there a reason you need the DS216play? The DS216j is ~$150 cheaper (mine was just over $200).

NO reason at all, I'm just picking stuff at random from the memex website. I don't know anything about these things.

[revelations]

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Yes I too am curious about how well a cloud backup would work for streaming media files. And how would one connect various media player devices on your TV or whatever to this online backup?

Some units are smart enough to talk to online data services - but for dumb units, you will need an interface of some kind (eg. apple TV, WD , old PC) between the cloud and the media device.

I wouldnt use a cloud personally to stream, local NAS is still best for this. Services like AMAZON GLACIER or Carbonite, are absolutely critical for offline/online cold backups and are very reasonably priced. (I pay 2$ /month to Amazon for glacier backup of 500gb-1Tb of data).

Most new, PROPER NAS devices support automatic (QNAP, SYNOLOGY) backups to a local external device or online backups as mentioned above.

Get a RAID 1 NAS for uptime, but definitely send the data to be cold stored elsewhere.

[schocker]

I believe back blaze has a decent cold storage price for nas as well. Had been looking into it but don't really need it currently.

[FixedGear]

I've been using backblaze for my work laptop backup for 4-5 years now and it's awesome. Can even access my files when I'm travelling overseas using a intnl travel machine, and don't have my personal laptop

[suntan]

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NO reason at all, I'm just picking stuff at random from the memex website. I don't know anything about these things.

The DS play models add on the fly transcoding.

[ExtraSlow]

The qnap TAS series looks intriguing because you could use it as your android media box too.

[ExtraSlow]

Can someone explain the benefits of the more expensive boxes?
Specifically the qnap ts-231 vs ts-251 for basically double the price. I see the pecs are different but what does that mean for the user experience?
https://www.memoryexpress.com/Products/MX64899
https://www.memoryexpress.com/Products/MX60453

[revelations]

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Can someone explain the benefits of the more expensive boxes?
Specifically the qnap ts-231 vs ts-251 for basically double the price. I see the pecs are different but what does that mean for the user experience?
https://www.memoryexpress.com/Products/MX64899
https://www.memoryexpress.com/Products/MX60453

From a quick look at https://www.qnap.com/en-us/product/c...2&cp%5B%5D=155

- it appears the 251 is more geared towards power users and those looking for more performance (eg. more simultaneous users, more connected video cameras) and specific features that might appeal to a power/corporate/business user, rather than a home user.

[pheoxs]

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Can someone explain the benefits of the more expensive boxes?
Specifically the qnap ts-231 vs ts-251 for basically double the price. I see the pecs are different but what does that mean for the user experience?
https://www.memoryexpress.com/Products/MX64899
https://www.memoryexpress.com/Products/MX60453

The latter has HDMI and can hook up to your TV and use it as a media box as well as run more apps within the linux environment such as torrent/usenet box.

If you're just looking for network storage then its negligible.

[ExtraSlow]

The idea of being able to set it up to torrent by itself without relying on another computer is appealing. Although I'm not sure if that's something I would actually do. Haven't torrented in years. Hmmmm. Was hoping to figure this out today so I'd be ready to pounce if anything showed up in the memex grand opening sale tomorrow evening.

[colsankey]

I wouldn't bother with the more expensive one unless it's got a feature you can't live without. Id suggest putting that money into bigger disks or even a 4 bay box and using a android box, laptop, nvidia shield or whatever to run your plex etc. Torrents usually just result in a nasty letter, but the way things are going, I wouldn't do it without a vpn any more.

[ExtraSlow]

Wouldn't an android box or shield on top of a lower end nas end up costing a lot more total?

[colsankey]

Yes but you can get android boxes fairly inexpensively. Odds are you already have a laptop or desktop that could run plex and any downloading anyways.

[ExtraSlow]

Memex grand opening sale has another twenty bucks off the wd red 4tb but nothing more on the nas boxes themselves.

[ExtraSlow]

Grabbed the qnap ts-231p for $268 after price match and two 4gb wd reds for $159 each. Guess I'll get that setup and see what I can extract from the old nas box that appears dead.

[Alterac]

wrong thread. delete me