Simple Home Network / Server / NAS

[Pumpkin Patch]

Hello all

I was hoping you could help me decide on which NAS and, perhaps as an extension to this, what other components to get to build a relatively simple and straight forward home backup and media system.

Part of the problem is I can't really define what it is I'd like to do with the 'system' as I've never had one before and just plug drives into my TV directly to load movies and shows off. I also plug the drives into my router when I want to shift or transfer files onto them from various computers around the house.

Let's cut to the point:
I have been looking at a DS214+ and a QNap TS-251

From what I understand, they can both transcode media content though the DS214+ could handle maybe a single request at a time whereas the Qnap could potentially handle multiple requests with its much more powerful Celeron dual core.

I only intend to use transcoding for guests should they ever come to stay over now and then and bring their android or iOS tablets with them, then they can at least access my media content for entertainment.

However, I also have no htpc and only use my laptop at the moment to download and store media content onto.

So do I get a DS214+ or Qnap TS-251 and get say, 3 or 4 Fire TVs to pull content off the NAS and play directly onto the TV's they're plugged into and use either of those NAS on the rare occasion a guest comes round and wants to watch something on their tablets or phones?

OR

Do I get less powerful/other NAS box and just get really great HTPCs like an intel nuc and stick one behind each TV and then use one of those to transcode content if and when needed?

I'm so confused and really hope you can help so I don't over-spend on features and setups I don't need.

My home setup is:

1 TV in the lounge
3 TVs in each bedroom (future, I dont have the TVs yet)

As I said I am not accomplished in this and have never had or dealt with a home server or any setup more complicated than a single user PC so I'm really just looking for the most simple, plug n play solution.

Thank you

 

[LostCorpse]

My advice would probably replace the NAS with a HTPC / Storage Server with windows. something like the Gen 8 Micro server (if you can still find it on offer) is around £100

have this connected to your Main PC in the living room this gives you a lot of options going forward, you can then set up a simple file share to share with the other devices in the house. no transcoding required if your using the NUCs / other windows / Linux platforms as it will read it direct / raw from the server in the living room.

keep it simple is a good rule of thumb.

How much data do you currently have? I believe the Gen 8 can handle 6TB hard disk so potentially gives you 24TB of space if your not mirroring the drive.

I have a second machine of site I irregularly mirror from my main machine.

there's more than one way to skin a cat so to speak.