Each client device is backed up to a separate folder in the user's NAS home. It backups up the selected local PC/Mac folders. You can run Cloud Station Backup on PC/Mac with the Drive NAS package.A Mac mini can't offer any of these requirements. A NAS, by definition, provides uptime, high storage capability and redundancy. In most homes today you’ll find a plethora of desktops, laptops and mobile devices – so a central repository for your important files makes sense.I don't think it's a good purpose for a Mac mini to serve as a NAS. But network-attached storage isn't just for big businesses. Unlike Buffalo Tech Products, which, judging by its software and customer support, seems to be on the edge of going out of business, Synology seems to be a healthy company that makes good products and cares about customers.If you're a business owner, it makes perfect sense to invest in the best NAS drive you can afford.NAS: Network-Attached Storage – a storage device that is attached to a local network. We're here to steer you towards the best NAS drives on the market right now, but before we do, here's a guide to unscrambling the acronyms and choosing the best NAS appliance for you.READ NEXT: Best cloud storage solutions How to choose the best NAS drive for you What do all the acronyms mean?Before we begin in earnest, here's a brief index of confusing acronyms and what they mean (for the newcomers out there): More so, the brand provides the best NAS storage for photographers due to their huge and scalable storage to accommodate big image sizes with its massive capacity.No matter what your needs, a NAS can help. Better still, modern NAS appliances can also run all sorts of useful network applications, from media servers to databases, wikis and security camera management systems.Most Mac users love this network attached storage because Synology seems to emulate apple astoundingly well. And, if one of your hard drives fails, it’s good to know that a multi-disk RAID array is keeping your data safe.What type of NAS should I buy? And how many bays do I need?NAS drives all come with a different number of drive bays, with consumer models generally coming in one, two, three or four-bay variants.A sensible minimum is a two-bay system, using two matching hard disks in a mirrored RAID1 configuration. These levels are too complex to go into here: if you want to know more, Tech Target has a good, complicated explainer. JBOD allows you to take drives of varying sizes and combine them into a single volume.All of the NAS drives on this list support JBOD and various RAID levels, from RAID 1 to RAID 10. JBOD: Just a Bunch Of Disks – no, seriously. RAID: Redundant Array of Independent Disks – a method of storing the exact same data on multiple disks – in case of hardware/software failure – that also benefits performance.
What connections should I look out for?Most NAS appliances offer one or more USB 3 ports, meaning you can hook up an external hard disk and share files over your network. But they’re naturally noisier and more power-hungry – as well as generally quite a bit more expensive. For example, with four 1TB drives, you can store up to 3TB of data, and if any single drive should fail, you can simply drop in a replacement and carry on working.Four-bay NAS appliances also tend to have additional features, such as more ports and LCD displays. In this arrangement, a portion of each disk is reserved for parity data from the other three drives (which makes it possible to rebuild the array in the event of a failure). With four disks, you can set up a RAID5 array, which offers a better balance of capacity and data security. Don’t be tempted to rely solely on JBOD or RAID0 configurations, however: these offer more capacity, but lack fault tolerance – if one drive fails, all your data is lost.If you’re willing to spend a bit more, a four-bay NAS drive is more versatile. ![]() ![]() Best Synology Nas Install With AThese invariably include a selection of media server apps, enabling your NAS to stream audio and video to smart devices in your home. Most units come with a built-in “app store”, offering dozens or even hundreds of apps that you can install with a click. They’ll also integrate with Apple’s Time Machine backup service, and for corporate roles, many support Active Directory and iSCSI, too.On top of this, it’s well worth having a browse at the apps available, as these can greatly extend the capabilities of your NAS appliance. What do I need to know about add-on apps?Most modern NAS systems include all the basic services you need to work with Windows, macOS and Linux clients. Can I access my files remotely?With the correct setup, you can access your NAS appliance from anywhere in the world. If you’re not sure how much headroom you have, there’s normally an activity monitor within the appliance’s web interface, exposing what’s using its CPU and RAM, so you can spot any services that might be overtaxing your hardware. If that’s a concern for you, pick a model with a powerful Intel processor and plenty of RAM, or one where you can fit extra memory as needed. Win cleaner for macMany NAS systems come with integrated support for offsite backup systems such as Amazon S3 or ElephantDrive, although these aren't free. Your NAS box could be fried by a serious electrical fault or stolen in a break-in. Is the data on my NAS completely safe?Even RAID isn’t infallible. This is handy if, for example, you want to use a printer or scanner that features Dropbox integration, as it saves you having to mess around moving files back and forth between services. Every provider offers a bespoke service, typically web-based, which makes it effortless to securely access your files from a web browser.Many providers also offer some degree of integration with third-party cloud services, meaning files in a certain folder on your NAS appliance can be automatically synchronised with your Dropbox account – and vice versa. It has space for four drives, and supports a wealth of RAID configurations you'll even find an HDMI port on the back for those days when you really badly want to use it as a Linux desktop PC.With dashing good looks (for a NAS drive) and onboard software that's perfect for developers, our only complaint about the AS5304T is the price – if you have the cash to blow on a stunningly good media streaming NAS, this is the device for you.Key specs – CPU: Intel Celeron J4105 (1.5GHz to 2.5GHz, quad-core) RAM: 4/8GB Drive bays: 4 RAID modes: JBOD, RAID0, RAID1, RAID5, RAID6, RAID10 Gigabit Ethernet connectors: 2 x 2.5GbE Data connectors (rear): 2 x USB3.2 Data connectors (front): USB3.2 Other connectors: HDMI Dimensions (WDH): 174 x 230 x 170mm Warranty: 3yr RTBThe AS6404T is a high-end appliance with a two-line LCD display on the front and a powerful quad-core Intel Celeron J3455 inside. But if you’re looking for a great four-bay NAS for streaming, media and more, the AS5304T is the best by a country mile By looking beyond the usually conservative NAS market, Asustor has produced something really special.Powered by a blazingly quick quad-core Intel Celeron J4105 supported by up to 8GB of RAM, the AS5304T aced our 4K media benchmarks, even when running over a standard gigabit ethernet network. That goes for all the other computers in your home, too – we’ve seen PC-based ransomware that specifically targets NAS appliances and you definitely don’t want to get caught by that.READ NEXT: Best external hard disks The best NAS drives to buy 1. Asustor Nimbustor AS5304T: Best NAS drive for streamingPrice: £459 (diskless) | Buy now from AmazonIf you’re looking for a NAS for business or mainstream home use, consider any of the other NAS drives on this list. Install system updates as soon as they become available – most NAS appliances can do this automatically in the middle of the night to minimise disruption – and make sure your apps and services are up to date.
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