NAS vs. Microserver

I have been mulling over amicroserver or building my own roof to use mainly as a download/storage device and Plex server. Is this basic gen 8 capable of this? Looks like the chip is quite weak and it only has 2 gig ram?
 
Synology rules in all honesty.

Had them all before I moved to my synology, Microservers are too much faff, for their intended purpose (usually just hosting files and downloads + DLNA). Still makes me laugh when peeps buy Microservers and stick a haxored version of the synology OS on them (no disrespect to anyone btw). Microservers suit those with
A)- The time
B)- The expertise to faff.

Synology > QNAP as they release updates quicker and support their models for much much longer. Worth the premium tbh.
 
zoomee said:
Still makes me laugh when peeps buy Microservers and stick a haxored version of the synology OS on them (no disrespect to anyone btw). Microservers suit those with
A)- The time
B)- The expertise to faff.

Synology > QNAP as they release updates quicker and support their models for much much longer. Worth the premium tbh.
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So have Synology dropped the 3 year cut off for major version upgrades on DSM even when the hardware is more than capable of supporting it? If not I suspect the micro server owners will be having the last laugh, if you ask nicely they'll probably help you install a hacked DSM on your Synology product.

Personally I prefer un-raid, i've spent longer typing this on my phone than faffing with my un-raid installs over the last 2 years. It just works.
 
Get the Microserver for £150 after cashback. It'll smash any similarly priced consumer NAS unit as far as performance is concerned, plus you'll have at least two extra drive bays.
 
zoomee said:
Synology rules in all honesty.

Had them all before I moved to my synology, Microservers are too much faff, for their intended purpose (usually just hosting files and downloads + DLNA). Still makes me laugh when peeps buy Microservers and stick a haxored version of the synology OS on them (no disrespect to anyone btw). Microservers suit those with
A)- The time
B)- The expertise to faff.

Synology > QNAP as they release updates quicker and support their models for much much longer. Worth the premium tbh.
Click to expand...

I totally agree with this, I've been down the build your own server etc and I have used the likes of unRaid which always seemed to be in beta supported by a temperamental developer. I have just purchased a Synology and it is in a different league to the Microservers and home built servers in my opinion.
 
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Avalon said:
Personally I prefer un-raid, i've spent longer typing this on my phone than faffing with my un-raid installs over the last 2 years. It just works.
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I used to think UnRaid was a good choice but when the developer is sulky and disappears for months on end then I think 3 years worth of support off Synology is a better bet. Buying a server and then paying for the unraid license is not much cheaper than buying a dedicated nas.
 
Avalon said:
So have Synology dropped the 3 year cut off for major version upgrades on DSM even when the hardware is more than capable of supporting it?
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I have a 712+ which i believe is now over three years old and still going strong with the latest dsm and updates.

Love its simplicity - it just works, packages and upgrades are so easy to manage, email alerts for disk scan results, etc. Well worth the extra cost.
 
With one exception I am aware of where DSM upgrades were pushed out as a good will gesture following OSX changing its backup requirements for a NAS, you get 3 years major upgrades. The issue I personally have with forced obsolescence is if the hardware is easily capable of running the OS it's not even a chargeable option. Imagine if MS introduced a 3 year support cycle that ran from product launch, after that you just get security updates, now imagine you buy the product a year after launch so only get 2 years but no new product was available at the time.
 
Which solution would be best for a photographer?

been looking at Gen8 but now not too sure.
 
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Mp4 said:
Which solution would be best for a photographer?
been looking at Gen8 but now not too sure.
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That depends what you want to do and what you want to spend. Neither in its own right is a backup solution, they're fault tolerant storage and with the micro server you have a lot more options including XPOLOGY or things like Un-raid/free NAS or one of the many other supported NAS distro's for free/cheap. Don't write off Synology though, for all I dislike it's life cycle policy they make decent products.

For true backup it really needs multiple local and off site copies on independent devices that can withstand at least a total site loss. For example a supplier I use recently burnt down due to a fire in an adjoining unit. As well as loosing financial data they also lost every historic job file over 3 years old, when they depend on repeat work based on those jobs that's not fun for them, me or the end user. I'd suggest a home user may have similar issues if the wedding photo's, family video's etc went up in smoke.
 
As ive said in my other post that I have 4 external drive and am looking at a back solution to cut down on the drives i have on my floor+ plug sockets and was hoping a NAS would be the way forward.

2TB - 1.81
4TB - 3.63
4TB - 3.63
500GB - just files and hardly use.



At the moment using LR(Lightroom) on C: Drive and the catalogue+DNG's are stored on my 2TB drive.

I use Syncback SE (v7) to (Sync) to do a Continuous (Incremental) backup on another 4TB drive.

What I have not done so far is cloned my C: to one of the 4TB's

I am half tempted to get another 1TB just for my C: to save room on one of the drives.

But i do like the Synology (Synology ds414j as it wwould be the same price as the Gen8 £140 after cashback but then limited with 2 bays) unit just not sure 2 bays isn't enough, but then the drives are getting bigger again :)

As some people have said before I need an off site backup and was thinking of getting a NAS and leaving it at in-laws or something.
and was looking at Code42? Crashplan but didn't like the idea of moving the data to USA

Looked more and maybe I just need a DAS?? I could use the GEn8 as one??
 
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Do the nas have more or less or same/none problems with supporting newer generation drives like 8TB? Ive never had a problem pluggin any sata drive into a motherboard sata port, but i have conoatability issues with appliances...
 
Microserver = More Options and Flexibility
NAS = Much more simpler

Ive been down the microserver route etc and after many years i am bored sick and just keep it simple with Enterprise Class NAS's.
 
Euphoria said:
Microserver = More Options and Flexibility
NAS = Much more simpler

Ive been down the microserver route etc and after many years i am bored sick and just keep it simple with Enterprise Class NAS's.
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I do not understand this you got bored of microserver what do you want from it? you set it up then it does the job and some people that state microserver isn't simple I also do not understand WHS is easy so you just install that.
 
Went from HP microserver to synology 1813. The synology is amazing and no matter how much tinkering it won't be as good as the synology is. Great piece of kit.
 
And they are over £700, without disks... perspective is required here.

And then there is running the Synology OS on the MS... all the features at a fraction of the cost.
 
I have just moved from an unraid system to a Synology DS1513+ which cost me £450 and I absolutely love it. I wish I hadn't bothered with the unraid system.
 
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