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New Synology CC400W Camera Revealed

Par : Rob Andrews
29 novembre 2023 à 08:59

Synology Reveal a New CC400W Compact IP Camera for Surveillance Station

Synology has revealed a new, more compact entry, into its range of surveillance cameras, the CC400W. This less industrial alternative to the bulkier metallic PoE BC500 bullet and TC500 turret-style cameras that were launched earlier in 2023 is seemingly designed for more internal building and day to day use, though seemingly still IP67 weatherproof – so it’s not limiting itself much in terms of deployment. Sporting a similar 4MP and 30FPS recording maximum to the other two cameras, this camera has a slightly larger 125 degrees of view (vs 110 degrees of the other two high/ceiling placement cams) and is more desktop stylized. Additionally, it will definitely be a camera that does not require a license for use in surveillance station (i.e removing the need to use one of your inclusive 2x Synology licenses that 99% of all Synology NAS arrive with and/or just meaning you can expand your surveillance setup without costly $35-50 surveillance station camera licenses). Let’s discuss everything we know so far.

Hardware and Software Highlights of the Synology CC400W AI IP Camera

The Synology CC400W IP camera features a 4MP resolution at 30 FPS recording and a 125° HFoV wide-angle lens, providing clear recording images. It includes integrated 2-way audio with a microphone and speaker. The camera is IP67 certified, making it resistant to dust and water, and it also meets the US NDAA/TAA Act standards for recording data security and confidentiality.

  • Key Specifications:
  • 4 MP resolution with 30 FPS recording.
  • 125-degree Horizontal Field of View (HFoV) wide-angle lens.
  • Integrated 2-way audio with a microphone and speaker.
  • Includes 1 microSD card slot.
  • IP67 certification and compliance with US NDAA/TAA Encryption/Security.
  • Does not require a License in Synology Surveillance Station
  • Capability to detect people and vehicles.
  • Intrusion detection.
  • Instant search feature for quick incident investigation.
  • References to use/suitability for Suitable for meetings and conferences.
  • Possible integration with Synology Chat and references to ‘Synology Meeting’ – TBC
Credit to 張 舒豪 , on Facebook – https://scontent.fbqh1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/406319299_10230546092733381_8216619821148617916_n.jpg?stp=cp6_dst-jpg&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c42490&_nc_ohc=QUzMxeHdt_gAX8Ng9RU&_nc_ht=scontent.fbqh1-1.fna&oh=00_AfA_fTTqVVr1ts_p4cEriLkvSBJkA0PbXFA8fP2CMmLiZQ&oe=656BE72E

In terms of AI integration, the CC400W camera offers several functionalities. It can detect people and vehicles in its monitoring area, assisting in the identification of potential security threats. The camera’s intrusion detection feature alerts users to unauthorized access in the monitored area. Additionally, the instant search function allows users to locate specific video segments by time, subject, or event, facilitating efficient investigation of incidents. This would be the third camera that Synolgoy has rolled out, following the BC500 and TC500 PoE cameras that were launched in the first quarter of 2023. This camera, though still clearly having possible business applications, is a much more modest scaled system and although is IP67 weatherproof rated (TBC -conflicting reports)

Credit to Nhipsongkinhte.toquoc.vn – http://nhipsongkinhte.toquoc.vn/synology-va-chien-luoc-phat-trien-tai-viet-nam-20231129081801644.htm – HERE[/caption]

Synology Surveillance Station Software and Synology Cameras – Any Good?

The Synology CC400W camera is designed to work seamlessly with Synology Surveillance Station, version 9.1, offering advanced features compared to non-edge-AI-recognition and third-party cameras.

Used with Surveillance Station, the CC400W camera allows multiple camera feeds to be viewed simultaneously and offers side-by-side viewing of live and recorded footage.

Surveillance Station also supports privacy masks, watermarks, and integration with mapping services like Google Maps.

Beyond camera support, Surveillance Station controls IP speakers and other peripherals, accessible via mobile app or as an additional camera feed with Synology Live Cam. It offers alerts, push notifications, and analytical reports.

Additional add-ons include YouTube Live Streaming, video integrity tools, and IFTTT/Webhook services.

Key features include motion detection, missing object detection, and area tagging. Access is available through web, desktop, and mobile clients.

Smart Lapse creation condenses lengthy recordings, and cloud recording is available with Synology C2 Surveillance.

Home Mode automates camera schedules based on user presence.

The CC400W camera supports AI detection techniques like people, vehicle, and intrusion detection, and Smart Search for specific incidents.

Vehicle detection alerts for unexpected entries during off hours.

Advanced intrusion detection marks specific areas off-limits.

Crowd and loitering detection trigger alerts based on predefined criteria.

Smart Search focuses on specific areas within recorded feeds.

The CC400W camera, while advanced, does not support database storage for specific people or faces. For more advanced functionality, systems like Synology DVA1622 2-Bay or DVA3221 4 Bay are required.

Recordings are securely encrypted, and the camera is NDAA and TAA compliant. Despite limitations, the CC400W Camera’s unique features make it a valuable choice.

Which AI Services Are Included with the Synology CC400W, BC500 and TC500 Cameras (and which ones are not)?

Now, despite the Synology newer CC400W and older BC500 and TC500 Surveillance Cameras arriving with onboard hardware for AI-powered recognition tasks, it is worth highlighting that using them is NOT the same as using the Deep Video Analysis (DVA) series of NAS servers in Synology’s portfolio. These operations are managed from inside the camera and the alerts are handled and actioned by the NAS after the camera sends the appropriate alert – and these cameras so NOT have the same level of hardware as the DVA1622 and DVA3221 inside each of them! Additionally, whereas the DVA series manages multiple tasks internally from multiple cameras, only using the camera hardware as a life ‘feed’, these cameras cannot run deeper AI tasks that involve counting, internal database management and keeping records of AI referral data internally – they do not have the storage or processing power for that. So more complex people counting and specific facial recognition will not be immediately available to your PLUS series Diskstation, just because you are using the CC400W/BC500/TC500. Here is a breakdown of the services available to users with either Synology Cameras or a Synology DVA NAS:

AI Service Case Use CC400W / BC500 / TC500

DVA1622 & DVA3221

People / Vehicle/Loitering Detection Reduce false alarm and protect against loitering YES YES
Crowd Detection Monitor public safety or quality of service YES YES
Intrusion Detection Protect perimeter and restricted area YES YES
Instant Search Investigate incidents quickly after they happen YES NO
People/Vehicle Counting Calculate occupancy in shops, food courts, or parking lots with aggregated counting of people and vehicles entering and leaving NO YES
Face Recognition Automate personnel identification and prevent unauthorized access NO YES
License Plate Recognition Identify license plates and set up triggers based on configurable allow or block lists NO YES

If you are unaware of the Synology Deep Video Analysis NAS system, you can find out more about it in the video reviews of the hardware and software below from our YouTube channel:

When will the Synology CC400W Camera Be Released and the Price?

Synology did not give a particularly large amount of information on the commercial release of the WCC400W Camera at the time of writing, but the few indications online all seem to indicate ‘H1 2024’, so that means within the first three months of 2024. Not a particularly concise release window, but still – not hugely far away in the overall scheme of things. Expect pricing to be confirmed alongside bundle deals at launch.

What do you think of the Synology CC400W? Let us know below in the comments below. We pool the comments on this article and the videos that are featured in it to keep all the relevant comments in one place, so take a look and see if your POV is the same as everyone else’s.

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Synology RS422+ NAS – Should You Buy?

Par : Rob Andrews
3 janvier 2024 à 18:00

Synology RS422+ NAS Drive – Should You Buy It?

Should the RS422+ NAS from Synology be your next big tech purchase? With such a wide range of private server solutions on the market, it’s never been a better time to be a NAS buyer, looking to move your data away from a public cloud provider, or even to run them side-by-side as a 2-tier backup solution for your home or business needs! Synology has a tremendously diverse range of NAS solutions, but with the previous generation(s) of solutions in their portfolio now appearing on offer, as well as available at discount at 2nd hand eTailers – does the RS422+ deserve your data? We already made a massive review on the Synology RS422+ NAS HERE, but today I want to hit the Pros and Cons head-on and help you decide much quicker on whether this NAS is for you.

HARDWARE HIGHLIGHTS
CPU: AMD Embedded Ryzen R1600 2-Core 2.6-3.1Ghz
Memory: 2GB DDR4 ECC SODIMM (FIXED)
SATA Bays: x4 SATA 3.5/2.5″ Bays
M.2 NVMe Bays: No
Network Ports: 2x 1GbE
PCIe Upgrade: Yes, Only for 10GbE Upgrade (E10G22-T1-mini)
Software Platform: DSM
Warranty: 3yr Warranty

5 Reasons the Synology RS422+ is a Good NAS for You

So, first up, let’s discuss the high points! Here are the five reasons why the Synology RS422+ NAS drive deserves your money and your data!

Note – if you are in a hurry, you can watch my ‘Synology RS422+ – Before You Buy’ video below HERE

#1 – The RS422+ is Compact, Low Noise and has Low Power Use

The RS422+ is designed with a compact form factor, making it easy to fit in various environments, from small offices to crowded server rooms. The device’s low noise level ensures a quiet working atmosphere, making it suitable for noise-sensitive environments where maintaining a professional atmosphere is essential. Its low power consumption is not only beneficial for reducing energy costs, but it also helps minimize the environmental impact, contributing to a greener and more sustainable workspace.

#2 – Runs EVERYTHING in Synology DSM 7

Runs EVERYTHING in Synology DSM 7: The RS422+ is fully compatible with the latest Synology DSM 7 operating system, providing access to a wealth of applications, services, and features that simplify data management and enhance productivity. DSM 7 offers improved security, better performance, and a more intuitive user interface, ensuring an optimal user experience. With the extensive application ecosystem available through DSM 7, you can run a wide range of services, from backup solutions to multimedia streaming, all from a single device.

#3 – Fast/Easy Upgrade to 10GbE

The RS422+ supports easy upgrades to 10GbE network connectivity, enabling fast data transfer speeds and improved performance for bandwidth-intensive applications. This high-speed connectivity is crucial for businesses and professionals dealing with large volumes of data, such as video editors or data analysts. The ability to upgrade to 10GbE ensures that your NAS remains future-proof and adaptable to the evolving needs of your organization.

#4 – Includes ECC Memory

The inclusion of Error Correction Code (ECC) memory in the RS422+ helps prevent data corruption and ensures the integrity and reliability of your data. ECC memory automatically detects and corrects single-bit memory errors, reducing the risk of system crashes and data loss. This added layer of protection is particularly valuable in environments where data integrity is crucial, such as financial institutions or scientific research facilities.

#5 – Storage Advantages in SHR, BTRFS and Fast Repair

The RS422+ supports Synology Hybrid RAID (SHR), Btrfs file system, and fast repair features, offering flexibility in storage management, data protection, and quick recovery in case of drive failures. SHR automatically optimizes storage capacity and data protection levels based on the number and size of installed drives. The Btrfs file system enables advanced features such as snapshot replication, data deduplication, and file-level data integrity checks. Fast repair minimizes downtime and accelerates the recovery process when a failed drive is replaced.


5 Reasons the Synology RS422+ Might NOT Be the NAS for You

While the Synology RS422+ NAS has numerous advantages, there are also some potential drawbacks that may dissuade certain users from investing in it. Here are the top reasons why you might want to consider alternatives to the Synology RS422+ NAS:

#1 – Default Memory is 2GB and Fixed

The RS422+ comes with a fixed 2GB memory, which may not be sufficient for some advanced applications or heavy multitasking. Upgrading the memory is not possible due to its fixed nature, limiting the potential for performance improvement as your needs evolve over time. This limitation can be particularly challenging for organizations with growing data processing requirements or those running memory-intensive applications.

#2 – 1GbE Default Network Connectivity

While the RS422+ can be upgraded to 10GbE, the default network connectivity is 1GbE, which may limit performance for users with high bandwidth requirements. This default connectivity may not be suitable for environments with multiple users accessing the NAS simultaneously or those transferring large volumes of data frequently.

#3 – Lack of Storage Expandability

The RS422+ has limited storage expandability, which could be a concern for users with growing storage needs. This limitation may necessitate the purchase of additional NAS devices or other storage solutions to accommodate increasing data volumes, potentially adding to the overall cost and complexity of the storage infrastructure.

#4 – Lack of M.2 NVMe SSD Slots

The RS422+ does not have M.2 NVMe SSD slots for cache or storage, which could limit its performance compared to other NAS devices that offer this feature. M.2 NVMe SSDs provide significantly faster data access and transfer speeds, enhancing overall performance and responsiveness, particularly for I/O-intensive tasks such as virtualization or large-scale file transfers. The absence of M.2 NVMe SSD support in the RS422+ may make it less attractive for users who require the highest possible performance from their NAS solution

#5 – The RS422+ is More Expensive than it should be!

Despite its numerous advantages and features, the RS422+ is priced higher than some of its competitors at £730 vs similar/better hardware in the desktop DS923+ at £550+, which may deter budget-conscious buyers. The higher cost may be difficult to justify, regardless of it being a rackmount and ‘business tax’, particularly for users who do not require all the advanced features offered by the RS422+ or for those who are not looking to scale up their storage needs significantly beyond older gens (many of which also still support traditional PCIe PCIe Cards). In such cases, more cost-effective NAS alternatives may provide better value for money, while still meeting the users’ storage and performance requirements. In conclusion, while the Synology RS422+ NAS has numerous strengths that make it a strong contender in the market, its lack of M.2 NVMe SSD slots vs the likes of the DS923+ and DS1522+, plus higher price point may be deal-breakers for some users. It is essential to consider your specific storage, performance, and budgetary requirements before making a decision, and to explore alternative NAS solutions that may provide a better balance of features and cost.

What We Said About the Synology RS422+ NAS in our FULL Review

Massive Synology RS422+ Review Article – HERE

YouTube Synology RS422+ Review – HERE

What Synology has produced in the RS422+ Rackstation NAS is an intriguing middle ground between their more cost-effective ARM-based rackmount solutions and their more expensive scalable and upgradable servers. On the face of it, you are getting a tremendously compact but capable 1U 4-Bay rackmount server that, as soon as you factor in the included DSM software and services, is very good value for businesses that want to move their data out of 3rd party cloud and into something they have full control over. Additionally, that CPU (though a fraction divisive when compared previously vs Intel chips in the desktop DS1522+) makes more sense here in this more affordable Rackstation solution. The lack of NVMe M.2 SSD slots, fixed 2GB memory and lack off rails I am less keen on here (and I am still a little on the fence about the way they have pursued 10GbE upgrades in this system) but you are still getting a very well built and small scale NAS solution here and Synology have found a good price point here for this complete solution. Additionally, the fact that Synology has not been so restrictive on HDD use in this system than in more enterprise solutions in 2022 is welcoming too, though they are still taking an odd stance on some drives nonetheless. Ultimately, I can recommend the Synology RS422+ Rackstation NAS to smaller business users, though looking for a compact and very easy-to-deploy NAS solution for surveillance, central business storage, additional backup layers and for DSM as a whole. Though multimedia users might want to give it a miss.

SOFTWARE - 10/10
HARDWARE - 7/10
PERFORMANCE - 8/10
PRICE - 8/10
VALUE - 8/10


8.2
PROS
👍🏻Remarkably compact rackmount server with a 10GbE Option
👍🏻Very quiet for a rackmount server
👍🏻Default ECC Memory will be hugely reassuring
👍🏻DSM 7.1 is still hands-down the best NAS software out there
👍🏻Storage services such as BTRFS/EXT4 Option, Synology Hybrid RAID Support and Fast RAID Rebuild
👍🏻Very high build quality and slick design
CONS
👎🏻Lack of M.2 NVMe slots
👎🏻No Expansion Support
👎🏻Odd brand position on HDDs and SSDs
👎🏻CPU Choice is divisive
👎🏻Default 2GB of memory cannot up upgraded


Where to Buy a Product
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DEAL WATCH Is It On Offer Right Now?

Synology 4-Bay Rackmount NAS RackStation RS422+ (Diskless),Black Amazon UK UK 52.62 OFF (WAS 1714) [LINK]
Synology 4 Bay NAS 1.4Ghz Quadcore CPU - RS422+ Rack Station, Black Amazon usa USA 36.93 OFF (WAS 896) [LINK]

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Need More Help Choosing the right NAS?

Choosing the right data storage solution for your needs can be very intimidating and it’s never too late to ask for help. With options ranging from NAS to DAS, Thunderbolt to SAS and connecting everything up so you can access all your lovely data at the touch of a button can be a lot simpler than you think. If you want some tips, guidance or help with everything from compatibility to suitability of a solution for you, why not drop me a message below and I will get back to you as soon as possible with what you should go for, its suitability and the best place to get it. This service is designed without profit in mind and in order to help you with your data storage needs, so I will try to answer your questions as soon as possible.

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This description contains links to Amazon. These links will take you to some of the products mentioned in today's content. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Visit the NASCompares Deal Finder to find the best place to buy this device in your region, based on Service, Support and Reputation - Just Search for your NAS Drive in the Box Below

Need Advice on Data Storage from an Expert?

Finally, for free advice about your setup, just leave a message in the comments below here at NASCompares.com and we will get back to you. Need Help? Where possible (and where appropriate) please provide as much information about your requirements, as then I can arrange the best answer and solution to your needs. Do not worry about your e-mail address being required, it will NOT be used in a mailing list and will NOT be used in any way other than to respond to your enquiry. [contact-form-7] TRY CHAT Terms and Conditions
If you like this service, please consider supporting us. We use affiliate links on the blog allowing NAScompares information and advice service to be free of charge to you.Anything you purchase on the day you click on our links will generate a small commission which isused to run the website. Here is a link for Amazon and B&H.You can also get me a ☕ Ko-fi or old school Paypal. Thanks!To find out more about how to support this advice service check HEREIf you need to fix or configure a NAS, check Fiver Have you thought about helping others with your knowledge? Find Instructions Here  
 
Or support us by using our affiliate links on Amazon UK and Amazon US
    
 
Alternatively, why not ask me on the ASK NASCompares forum, by clicking the button below. This is a community hub that serves as a place that I can answer your question, chew the fat, share new release information and even get corrections posted. I will always get around to answering ALL queries, but as a one-man operation, I cannot promise speed! So by sharing your query in the ASK NASCompares section below, you can get a better range of solutions and suggestions, alongside my own.

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Plex Tests – Synology DS423+ vs DS923+ NAS Comparison

Par : Rob Andrews
26 février 2024 à 18:00

Synology DS423+ vs DS923+ Plex NAS Comparison – Which Should You Buy?

Today I want to compare the hardware on offer inside the Synology DS923+ NAS (released in Dec 2022) and compare it with the newer and more lower powered, but hugely popular Synology DS423+ NAS (released inin Summer 2023). However, unlike previous comparisons of these two NAS (such as the hardware and software comparison HERE that I published a few months ago) today I want to compare how the DS423+ and DS923+ perform as a Plex Media Server, with a series of 720p, 1080p and 4K tests. I have already tested these two NAS devices individually, but never directly compared their performance side by side. Now that a number of prominent Synology NAS releases have arrived with AMD Ryzeen embedded processors (such as the AMD Ryzen R1600 and V1500), many are wondering if they should choose to buy the older and more affordable Synology NAS drives that still feature Intel embedded/integrated graphics, such as the DS423+ with it’s J4125 Celeron CPU. So, let’s get this test up and running. First, we need to take a quick look at the individual hardware of these two NAS devices.

Synology DS423+ NAS Synology DS923+ NAS

Synology DS423+ vs DS923+ Plex NAS Comparison – Internal Hardware

These 4-Bay Diskstation releases from Synology have always been one of the most interesting tiers of the brand’s desktop solutions. The reason for this is that all too often this scale of system serves as a bridging point between Prosumer & SOHO systems and the small/medium business hardware in their portfolio. This is demonstrated first in the scale of the available RAID 5/6 storage, but then more so in the scalability and upgradability of these two volumes system, allowing an expansion, greater network connectivity (arriving with 2x LAN ports) and better internal hardware than the more domestic targetted solutions – often with the internal hardware differing considerably between each periodic 2-3yr refresh by the brand. Let’s first look at the internal hardware of these two NAS’ to see how much they differ. The DS423+ NAS first arrived on the scene with some great hardware advantages over the rest of the plus series 2023/2024 systems (DS223, DS124, etc), arriving with a 4 Core Intel Celeron Processor that featured integrated graphics, 4GB of DDR4 2666Mhz memory and NVMe SSD upgrade slots. In the 3-4 years since this hardware configuration was firt released though (the DS920+/DS720+ released in summer 2020), Synology clearly decided to make some big changes in the base level architecture of the plus series and specifically in the DS923+ to make it considerably more scalable and general business/file-ops focused. The newer DS923+ features a dual-core AMD Ryzen embedded R1600 that, although arriving with half the cores of the Celeron in the DS423+, has a higher CPU frequency and total achievable frequency in turbo/burst when needed. That said, users will be surprised to learn that this CPU also does not feature embedded graphics, so therefore the DS923+ will be less CPU efficient at handling multimedia or VM deployment than the DS423+.

Though both systems feature DDR4 memory, the DS423’s maximum 8GB of memory is beaten by the DS923+ thanks to its use of much more impressive ECC (error code correction) memory to identify and repair any bit level write errors and can also be scaled to a considerably higher 32GB of memory (arriving with 8GB by default).

NAS Model DS423+

DS923+

CPU Model Intel Celeron J4125 AMD Ryzen R1600
CPU Quantity 1 Embedded Ryzen
CPU Architecture 64-bit 64-bit
CPU Frequency 4-core 2.0 – 2.7 GHz 2-core 2.6 – 3.1 GHz
Hardware Encryption Engine (AES-NI) Yes Yes
Integrated Graphics Yes No
CPU Cache 4 MB cache 1 MB L2 cache, 4 MB L3 cache
Memory
System Memory 4GB DDR4 non-ECC SODIMM 4GB DDR4 ECC SODIMM
Memory Module Pre-installed (4GB On-board) 4 GB (4GB x 1)
TDP 10W 25W
Total Memory Slots 1 2
Maximum Memory Capacity 8GB 32 GB (16 GB x 2)
System Fan 92 mm x 92 mm x 2 pcs 92 mm x 92 mm x 2 pcs
Power Supply Unit / Adapter 65W External 90W External

You can find out more about the hardware-specific difference between the Synology DS423+ and DS923+ NAS in the video below OR via the article HERE. This video/article coves everything from the storage capabilities, ports & connections and extent to which they run/perform in DSM 7.1. Although this article is specifically tailored to look at Plex Media Server performance, I would strongly recommend checking out more information on either of these NAS before you make any decision.

Let’s carry on talking about these two NAS and Plex. What difference des the TYPE of media tha you play make on how these two NAS perform in Plex?

Synology DS423+ vs DS923+ Plex NAS Comparison – Understanding MEDIA!

Important Terms to Understand in Plex/NAS/Multimedia that will make the DS923+ or DS423+ NAS Plex Tests Easier to Understand.

  • SD, 160p, 240p, 480p, 720p, 1080p, 4K : This is the resolution that the media is being displayed at. The higher the resolution, the larger number of pixels that are available and depending on the original recording quality of the media in question. High resolutions, such as 1080p and 4K require more work to be done by the NAS hardware in order to playback the file. More often than not, a NAS with weak embedded graphics or no embedded graphics at all will be unable to play 4K very well or indeed at all. It is important to remember that just because a NAS brand like Synology says that their latest NAS can natively play back 1080p or 4K media (natively = played using their own NAS software, software client tools and/or DLNA), that does not mean that the DS423+ or DS923+ will play to the same standard in Plex, as Plex is a 3rd party tool
  • Transcoding, Encoding, Decoding : These are all different techniques/names for when a file needs to be changed in order to be better suited to the connected client device connection, strength or hardware. If you are accessing all your media on the local area network (i.e only accessing your plex media at home), then transcoding will rarely be something you will use (unless your media is largely H.265/HEVC based, see earlier). However, perhaps you are accessing your plex library on the train to work or from a sun bed whilst on holiday. Perhaps you have a smaller data bandwidth/allowed MB/GB, maybe a weaker internet connection, perhaps you are using a smaller phone device and you might not need to watch your 4K 50GB Blu-ray rip of the latest Marvel Movie – in these situations, you might well want to access the media on your Synology DS923+ or DS423+ Plex NAS at a lesser quality than the original version, so transcoding/re-encoding on the fly (as in, at the same time it is being played) is what you would want to do. Remember, transcoding is by far the most heavy-weight thing you will need to do on a NAS. It is also worth remembering that in order for Plex o be able to use the FULL resources of a NAS CPU (such as embedded graphics) that you will need to enable ‘Make My CPU Hurt’ in the Encoder Menu of the Plex NAS Settings menu – this also potentially requires a Plex Pass subscription, depending on the NAS in question

 

  • H.264, HEVC, H.265 :  These are compression techniques that are designed to allow large-scale media presentations that were made for a cinema to be viewable from your sofa (with H.265 being the more effective/powerful compression level). H.264 can largely be played by ALL devices, but many devices do not have permission or a license to play H.265/HEVC (they are the same thing). This is because, where H.264 is an easy license and comparatively free to use, H.265/HEVC licencing and patents are spread across multiple providers and allowing a device license to use this compression technique can be complex, expensive or simply impossible. Therefore HEVC/H.265 media will sometimes AUTOMATICALLY need to be converted/transcoded into H.264 etc in order to be played – therefore eating up more system resources. The DS923+, much like the rest of the Synology NAS range do not arrive with HEVC support by default
  • Bitrate : Bitrate is the amount of data encoded for a unit of time, and for streaming is usually referenced in megabits per second (Mbps) for video, and in kilobits per second (kbps) for audio. Higher quality and higher resolution media tends to be of a much higher bitrate

For more information on the most important terms to understand when discussing/researching a NAS as a Plex Media Server can be found in my video below:

Any further questions, you can use the free advice section at the bottom of the page and ask me and Eddie directly.

Synology DS423+ vs DS923+ Plex NAS Comparison – 720p h.264 3Mbps Video File

The first test was with a very low-end 720p media file:

Virtually no difference in performance and you can likely play a considerable number of these files before the system shows even a hint of difficulty.

Synology DS423+ vs DS923+ Plex NAS Comparison – 720p h.264 3Mbps Video File

Another 720p file for test two, similar bitrate to test 1:

Once again, both the DS423+ and DS923+ NAS performed near identically in Plex and zero issues were seen.

Synology DS423+ vs DS923+ Plex NAS Comparison – 720p h.264 3Mbps Video File CONVERT to 480p

Test three was our first transcoding/encoding test. Here I wanted to see how well the systems would cope with having a fle format/playback altered on the fly. If you are watching media on smaller devices, over limited internet connections or using a legacy client device that does not support the file format, compression, codec or scale (size), then transocding is going to be very important. This was 720p down to 480p

Both played the file and transcoded it very easily. Despite the lack of embedded graphics on the R1600 CPU inside the Synology DS923+ versus the Intel J4125 Celeron inside the DS423+, things were great on both in this test.

Synology DS423+ vs DS923+ Plex NAS Comparison – 720p h.264 3Mbps Video File CONVERT to 240p

Time for ANOTHER transcoding test, but this one was s much bigger and more extreme transcode/encode. I wanted to change a 720p file to a 240p file format. This is a pretty aggressive change and one that was mainly picked to simulate heavy Plex NAS use generally (not specific to this format of file/change).

This was the first (and not last) time that the clear advantage of an embedded graphics Intel Celeron CPU inside the DS423+ would prove much more effective in Plex versus the AMD embedded Ryzen R1600 CPU inside the DS923+ NAS. Both NAS devices did the job, but the R1600 / DS923+ had to work much, much hardware with software transcoding and raw power.

Synology DS423+ vs DS923+ Plex NAS Comparison – 1080p h.264 3Mbps Video File

On to 1080p Plex Tests on the DS423+ and DS923+ NAS. This was a fairly domestic HD 1080p file test, played native.

Once again, like the early 720p tests, the DS423+ and DS923+ performed perfectly well.

Synology DS423+ vs DS923+ Plex NAS Comparison – 1080p h.264 3Mbps

A slightly more dense 1080p file this time, using the Jellyfish test files.

Once again, very clear and even performance by both NAS systems in the 1080p 2nd test without any transcoding on the R1600 and J4125 CPU-powered devices. A clear draw.

Synology DS423+ vs DS923+ Plex NAS Comparison – 1080p h.264 3Mbps Video File CONVERT to 160p

Time for more transcoding! Transcoding/re-encoding the 1080p file in Plex to an incredibly lowly 160p. Again, I am aware that few users will actually watch 160p, but many will want this support for audio media equivalent workload and/or for large numbers of streams. Ultimately, we want to know the impact on the DS923+ and DS423+ NAS in plex with these.

Once again, the onboard/embedded graphics that the Synology DS423+ (Intel Celeron J4125) has over the non-integrated graphics DS923+ (AMD R1600) clearly resulted in the older 4-Bay NAS getting this job done with very little fuss. Whereas the Neewer 5-Bay NAS was unable to complete the task.

Synology DS423+ vs DS923+ Plex NAS Comparison – 1080p h.264 100Mbps

Switching things up to an incredibly DENSE 1080p file, I selected the 100Mbps file format (h.264) to see how the DS923+ and DS423+ would play this natively.

Very similar results on both NAS playing the file natively, which was very positive. The DS923+ used the tiniest bit more, but in the grand scheme of things, both of these NAS performed exceptionally well in Plex and this heavy-duty 1080P FILE.

Synology DS423+ vs DS923+ Plex NAS Comparison – 1080p h.265 – HEVC 10bit 10Mbps

Now we move towards a very different ball game. Although the next test was a 10Mbps bitrate 1080p file (remember, the previous test was 10x this density), this time we selected the H.265 / HEVC 10bit file. As mentioned earlier, HEVC (highly efficient video codec) requires licensing by the client hardware manufacturer and software provider (with many/most not including it, relying on the hardware to convert the file to H.264 by default). HEVC is much more space efficient than H.264 and alot more media in 2022+ is arriving in this format. However, converting it (aka Transcoding by another name technically) is a demanding task. Here is how the DS423+ and DS923+ performed:

Once again, the Synology DS423+ and it’s Intel Celeron J4125 CPU got the job done with little-to-no fuss, whereas the AMD embedded Ryzen R1600 CPU inside the DS923+ immediately hit 100% CPU Utilization and failed (taking longer to convert the file per second than an actual second!).

Synology DS423+ vs DS923+ Plex NAS Comparison – 4K h.264 120Mbps

Next one, time for some 4K PLAYBACK! Now, it is worth highlighting that we ARE looking at quite high-end 4K media here, at 120Mbps – so the odds of you having much media in this format/scale is quite small. Still, 4K TVs and the affordability of 4K media is growing, so we need to test 4K, as well as scale it up for years to come. I wouldn’t normally recommend either of these NAS for 4K Plex use (recommending at least an Intel Pentium, i3 or higher generally), but here is how they performed:

Yep, both NAS devices failed. But again, remember that this is a 120Mbps file. Had we tested 4K at the bitrate of many of the 1080p files, it would have been better. We have some 4K dedicated Plex content coming soon on these NAS devices, so stay tuned!

Synology DS423+ vs DS923+ Plex NAS Comparison – 4K h.265 – HEVC 120Mbps

Next we tested the same dense 120Mbps 4K files as before, but in the HEVC version. Again, due to the support of this compression level on each of these Synology NAS being limited, converting the file was needed by default. Here is how the DS423+ and DS923+ NAS performed.

Yep, thanks to the introduction of converting the 4K file being needed, the embedded graphics of the DS423+ CPU saved the day hugely and the result was that although it played (after a small delay) on the Intel-powered DS423+, the DS923+ and ADM Ryzen hit a wall very quickly.

Synology DS423+ vs DS923+ Plex NAS Comparison – 4K h.265 – HEVC 200Mbps

Our final test was a 4K file in HEVC, much like the previous test. However this was a HENCH 200Mbps – a herculean task compared with all other tests in this article. Here is the DS423+ and DS923+ tackled the task.

Yep, once again, that Intel J4125 Celeron CPU and it’s integrated graphics was able to get the converting/encoding done on the fly and win here. The AMD embedded Ryzen R1600 COULD have off-line transcoded for sure, but when it came on on-the-fly conversions, it just lacked the right tools on board. Want to watch more tests on either of these NAS drives IN PLEX? You can visit the links below to view the individual Plex Media Server tests for each of the DS423+ and DS923+ NAS. These videos and articles include several more tests and go into more detail on the difference between H.264 and H.265/HEVC media, as well as further 1080p and 4K testing:

Written Plex Test Articles YouTube Plex NAS Test Videos

Synology DS423+ vs DS923+ NAS – Conclusion and Verdict

Comparing the DS423+ from 2023 and DS923+ from late 2022 did seem a little unfair at first, as ALOT can happen in 1.5 years (technology moves FAST!). However, in terms of supporting multimedia, if you are looking at these two NAS drives SPECIFICALLY for Plex Media Server and Multimedia use, the older generation device with its Intel embedded graphics CPU just wins the day over the Embedded Ryzen R1600 from AMD. But either of these NAS devices presents a decent-sized financial investment and I think most users need to think about using them for MORE than just multimedia. Synology has clearly done a lot of thinking in the two years between the release of the DS423+ and DS923+, deciding to change the latter into something more ‘business-y’. When the DS423+ first arrived, it did so to mixed responses (Still 1GbE, an Intel Celeron but an older revision) and it has pretty much always been in the top 5 NAS since its launch for most users in terms of price and ability. Those with longer memories will know that the Diskstation portfolio used to be largely dominated by very much this kind of hardware architecture (i.e a file transfer focused CPU, more memory scaling, optional 10GbE, etc) and rather than building off the design of the 4-Bay DS920+ that came before it, the DS923+ seems to scale itself against the DS1621+. DS1821+ and more in it’s shape and abilities. If you were already looking at Synology NAS systems that being a heavy emphasis on scaling their architecture notably down the line in efforts to remain future proof, the DS923+ is going to tick ALOT of boxes for you. Whereas if you were looking at a Synology NAS for home use, a Plex Media server, low client/user use and generally as more of a setup-and-forget solution, then the DS423+ will likely suit your needs better and will have the added benefit of a more palatable price point in 2022. How far Synology will extend the build logic of the DS923+ towards other solutions in the diskstation/rackstation portfolio still remains to be seen. Most business users will want to opt for the DS923+ though. Cheers for reading!

NAS MODEL ID

Synology DS423+ NAS

Synology DS923+ NAS

Where to Buy:

 

Need More Help Choosing the right NAS?

Choosing the right data storage solution for your needs can be very intimidating and it’s never too late to ask for help. With options ranging from NAS to DAS, Thunderbolt to SAS and connecting everything up so you can access all your lovely data at the touch of a button can be a lot simpler than you think. If you want some tips, guidance or help with everything from compatibility to suitability of a solution for you, why not drop me a message below and I will get back to you as soon as possible with what you should go for, its suitability and the best place to get it. This service is designed without profit in mind and in order to help you with your data storage needs, so I will try to answer your questions as soon as possible.

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Need Advice on Data Storage from an Expert?

Finally, for free advice about your setup, just leave a message in the comments below here at NASCompares.com and we will get back to you. Need Help? Where possible (and where appropriate) please provide as much information about your requirements, as then I can arrange the best answer and solution to your needs. Do not worry about your e-mail address being required, it will NOT be used in a mailing list and will NOT be used in any way other than to respond to your enquiry. [contact-form-7] TRY CHAT Terms and Conditions
If you like this service, please consider supporting us. We use affiliate links on the blog allowing NAScompares information and advice service to be free of charge to you.Anything you purchase on the day you click on our links will generate a small commission which isused to run the website. Here is a link for Amazon and B&H.You can also get me a ☕ Ko-fi or old school Paypal. Thanks!To find out more about how to support this advice service check HEREIf you need to fix or configure a NAS, check Fiver Have you thought about helping others with your knowledge? Find Instructions Here  
 
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Alternatively, why not ask me on the ASK NASCompares forum, by clicking the button below. This is a community hub that serves as a place that I can answer your question, chew the fat, share new release information and even get corrections posted. I will always get around to answering ALL queries, but as a one-man operation, I cannot promise speed! So by sharing your query in the ASK NASCompares section below, you can get a better range of solutions and suggestions, alongside my own.

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A UPS Buyers Guide for NAS (Synology / QNAP / Asustor / Terramaster NAS)

Par : Rob Andrews
4 mars 2024 à 18:00

An Easy Guide to Buying the Right UPS for your NAS System

The popularity of uninterruptible power supplies (UPS) has risen significantly in recent years. Not just for businesses, but for home users as well, who often have limited power setups such as houseboats, pop-up offices, and mobile homes. The value of having a safety net for your power-consuming devices is undeniable. Additionally, for those whose data is critical and whose business or personal life relies on constant access and read/write operations, a UPS can provide peace of mind. In the past, power failure solutions were only accessible to large enterprises and high-level businesses, with prices starting in the five figures. However, with the rise of network-attached storage (NAS) in homes and the increased efficiency of mass production techniques, owning a UPS device to protect data in both homes and businesses has become more affordable. However, choosing the right UPS for your NAS device, such as a QNAP or Synology, and finding one that fits within your budget can be challenging. In this guide, we will address the three commonly asked questions by users considering a UPS but unsure of which device to choose: 1) How does a UPS work and how will I benefit? 2) How do I determine the right Watts, Volts, and Amps to choose the best UPS? 3) How much will a UPS cost? We hope this guide is helpful for NAS buyers looking at brands such as Synology, QNAP, Asustor, Terramaster, and others, and also for anyone looking to choose the right UPS for other devices.

Click HERE to Skip ahead to the Recommended UPS for different NAS drives

What Are the Factors I need to consider when buying a UPS for my NAS?

Choosing the right UPS (uninterruptible power supply) for your Synology or QNAP NAS (network-attached storage) can be a complex task, as there are many factors to consider. However, by following a few key guidelines, you can ensure that your NAS is protected against power outages and other issues that could cause data loss or corruption. The first thing to consider when choosing a UPS for your NAS is the amount of power that your NAS requires. Desktop NAS devices with external PSUs typically have a power consumption of around 60-120 watts and rackmounts generally 250W and above, although this can vary depending on the specific model and the number of hard drives that are installed. It is important to choose a UPS that can provide at least this much power, as well as a bit extra to account for any other devices that may be connected to the NAS. Another important factor to consider is the runtime of the UPS. This is the amount of time that the UPS can keep your NAS running in the event of a power outage. The runtime of a UPS is typically measured in minutes, and you should choose a UPS that has a runtime that is long enough to allow you to properly shut down your NAS in the event of a power outage.

Another important feature to look for when choosing a UPS is the ability to communicate with the NAS. Some UPS’ have built-in USB or serial ports that allow them to communicate with the NAS and provide status information. This can be very useful in case of power outage, as it can allow you to monitor the status of the UPS and take appropriate action. Finally, you should also consider the size and weight of the UPS, as well as its overall design. A UPS that is smaller and lighter may be more convenient to deploy, but you should also make sure that it is well-designed and built to last. When choosing a UPS for your NAS, it is important to consider the amount of power that your NAS requires, the runtime of the UPS, the ability to communicate with the NAS, compatibility and the size and weight of the UPS. By following these guidelines, you can ensure that your NAS is protected against power outages and other issues that could cause data loss or corruption.

What is a UPS and Why Should I Buy One for my NAS?

The most frequently asked question about UPS is typically “What exactly is a UPS and what does it do?” UPS stands for Uninterruptible Power Supply and many users believe that purchasing a UPS means they can run their devices and access data from their NAS, DAS, or SAN for hours after a power failure. While this is technically true, it would require a significant financial investment in the form of a 5-figure sum. In reality, most users do not require hours of protection for their read/write data operations on HDD media. Instead, what is often needed is enough time to safely shut down the server or RAID storage. This can be achieved by spending only hundreds of pounds, not thousands, as it depends on the number of devices drawing power, their specific needs, and the efficiency of the chosen UPS. For more information on UPS and how to choose one, please watch the video below.

How Does a UPS Draw Power and How Do I Connect My Devices?

This topic can be challenging for some, so we will break it down and explain it in a simple way. Before delving into technical terms like Watts, Volts, and Power, let’s use an analogy that’s easy to understand. Imagine receiving electricity to your device as drawing water from a tap.

 

To understand this concept, we can use an analogy of a tap and water. Just like a tap needs water and pressure to deliver it through the pipe, an electrical circuit needs electrons and voltage to deliver electricity to a device. The water represents the electrons that carry electricity from the power source to the destination device, like a NAS, DAS, or PC. The tap represents the destination device and the water/electrons are going around in a circuit back to the water/power source, which is mostly unseen in the cables.

The pressure in the analogy represents the VOLTAGE, which is the strength of the electricity being pushed by the electrons in the circuit. It’s important to measure this as some devices are designed to only accept a specific amount of voltage. If the voltage is too high or too low, the device will not function correctly.

AMPS represent the amount of electrical charge that passes a given point in a second, similar to how much water passes through the pipe per second.

So, now we need to know the WATTS of the device. This is compiled with the following equation:

 

AMPS x VOLTS = WATTS

or

Water Volume x Water Pressure = Water Power

How a UPS works with your NAS smartIf you’ve ever experienced weak water pressure in a shower while living in an apartment on a higher floor, this is likely due to the water pressure not being strong enough to deliver the water to the destination device. Similarly, a smaller battery pack is often measured in milliampere-hours (mAh), which represents the amount of charge available, rather than time. Using the analogy of water, this would be like a large drum of water. The amount of water and how fast it travels from the drum is not as important as the available water that can be carried over to the tap. The output and result is heavily affected by the AMPS and VOLTS, similar to the pressure of water and the maximum or minimum amount of water the tap can receive.

Choosing the right UPS Battery for your Home or Office

The majority of UPS devices have a similar setup. You connect one end to your main power outlet (3 Pin, 2 Pin, etc) and the UPS has multiple ports for connecting your destination devices (PC, NAS, etc). Inside the UPS chassis, there is one or more batteries that are charged from the wall plug, while your devices are powered directly from the wall and not drawing from the batteries unless there is a power failure. In the event of a power failure in your home or business, the destination devices will switch to drawing power from the batteries, giving you time to save your data and shut down your devices safely, protecting your digital storage from corruption or loss. It’s worth noting that when buying a UPS, there are many figures to consider, but the power drawn by computing equipment is typically measured in Watts or Volt-Amps(VA).

How a UPS works with your NAS diagram

BUT

The power in Watts is the real power drawn by the equipment.Volt-Amps are called the “apparent power” and are the product of the voltage applied to the equipment times the current drawn by the equipment.

Inexpensive UPS devices typically have a shorter running time because they don’t provide as much charge. Mid-range UPS devices, on the other hand, offer longer charge times, more features, and additional functionality such as network alerts, internet alerts via SMS or email, an LCD display, USB connectivity for maintenance, and the ability to automatically save or shut down certain NAS or PC machines in the event of a power failure, eliminating the need for manual intervention.

There is more to choosing the right UPS than matching the WATTS of your destination device and that of the UPS

UPS capacities are giving in VOLT-AMPS , not WATTS

Remember again,

VOLTS x AMPS = WATTS

Well, Resistance present in electrical load means that the WATTS cannot be matched Like for Like. So:

How long does a UPS lastHow do I Choose the Correct VA for the Watts on my NAS, PC and more?

You will need to consider a UPS with a VOLT-AMP 50-70% higher than the WATTS present on your destination device. Don’t forget to factor into your consumption any other devices that are drawing from the UPS, as this consumption is not per device, but TOTAL.

What is Line Interaction on a UPS?

Some UPS devices have a “Line Interactive” feature that can strengthen a weak or inconsistent power supply, particularly useful for those in remote areas where maintenance may be less frequent. When it comes to sizing a UPS, it’s important to note that equipment nameplate ratings are often in VA which can make it difficult to determine the Watt rating. To avoid oversizing the UPS, it’s recommended to configure the system such that the VA rating of the load is no greater than 60% of the UPS VA rating. This will prevent exceeding the Watt rating of the UPS. However, this approach may result in an oversized UPS and a longer run time than expected.

– Battery Packs, Listed in VOLTS and can be added to an existing UPS

– Replacement Battery Cartridges, an Internal Upgrade, RANGE specific

– Available in Desktop or Rack mount

What Are the most popular brands in the UPS Market?

There are many brands that provide UPS (uninterruptible power supply) devices in the market, but some of the most popular ones include:

  1. APC (American Power Conversion) – APC is a well-known brand that has been providing UPS devices for many years. They offer a wide range of UPS devices, including standalone units, rack-mount units, and network-grade units. They also offer a variety of software and accessories to help manage and monitor their UPS devices.
  2. Tripp Lite – Tripp Lite is another well-known brand that provides UPS devices. They offer a wide range of UPS devices, including standalone units, rack-mount units, and network-grade units. They also offer a variety of software and accessories to help manage and monitor their UPS devices.
  3. Eaton – Eaton is a well-established brand that provides UPS devices. They offer a wide range of UPS devices, including standalone units, rack-mount units, and network-grade units. They also offer a variety of software and accessories to help manage and monitor their UPS devices.
  4. CyberPower – CyberPower is a brand that provides a wide range of UPS devices, including standalone units, rack-mount units, and network-grade units. They also offer a variety of software and accessories to help manage and monitor their UPS devices.
  5. Schneider Electric – Schneider Electric is a brand that provides a wide range of UPS devices, including standalone units, rack-mount units, and network-grade units. They also offer a variety of software and accessories to help manage and monitor their UPS devices.
  6. Liebert – Liebert is a brand that provides a wide range of UPS devices, including standalone units, rack-mount units, and network-grade units. They also offer a variety of software and accessories to help manage and monitor their UPS devices.

These are just a few examples of the many brands that provide UPS devices in the market. There are many other brands available, each with their own set of features, specifications, and pricing options, so it is worth researching different options to find the one that best suits your needs.

How Do Synology, QNAP, Asustor and Terramaster NAS work with a UPS?

Almost all NAS drive brands support the use of a smart UPS, connected via USB for monitoring or via the network. That said, how each NAS system reacts to a power cut and switching to the UPS battery does differ. I recently tested the CyberPower 1500 system with a selection of 4-Bay UPS systems to see how each NAS brand’s hardware and software react. Below is the video for each brand. Just click the video, or you can open them up in a separate tab by clicking the title.

Synology NAS UPS Test

 

QNAP NAS UPS Test

 

Asustor NAS UPS Test

 

Terramaster NAS UPS Test

Recommended UPS for Different NAS Drives from Synology, QNAP, Asustor or Terramaster

Below are a number of tiered UPS systems for your individual power needs and budget. These are based on the Watts you need to cover and based on a single NAS  of different size each. This, of course, is just the tip of the iceberg and for more precise advice based on a whole office or server room of hardware, we recommend getting in touch with us directly using the Free Advice section (no commitment and the advice is totally impartial) so we can save you money as well as provide you with a solution that will help you sleep at night! All solutions that I recommend below have to arrive with at least 2 Years of Manufacturers’ Warranty, 2 Years of Battery Warranty/Replacement Coverage, USB and/or Network Support, NAS compatibility, provides at least 10-20mins of continued client operation in a power-cut, support of line interaction and AT LEAST 6x mains power points for devices

Budget/Basic UPS (No Frills!) for Value and/or ARM-Based NAS

For much more modest Synology or QNAP NAS setups, as well as factoring in additional home/office equipment I would recommend the following UPS Device.

  • 1-4 HDD NAS Drive with 90-120w PSU
  • 1x Desktop PC with 250W PSU and Laptops/tablets
  • 1x Router 30W internal PSU
  • + Misc Other Office Equipment (50W avg)
  • Floor or Tower Versions
  • No LCD available

Option – The Amazon Basics UPS, Available in different versions that cover 400VA to 1500VA,  6-8 Ports – Starts at $49

Find it on Amazon HERE


 

Best UPS for a 1-2-Bay NAS Drive for Home or Home Office Use

For much more modest Synology or QNAP NAS setups, as well as factoring in additional home/office equipment I would recommend the following UPS Device.

  • 1-2 HDD NAS Drive with 60-90w PSU
  • 1x Desktop PC with 250W PSU
  • 1x Router 30W internal PSU
  • + Misc Other Office Equipment (50W avg)

Option – The APC BE600M1 , Available in different versions that cover 550VA to 850VA, 7 Ports – Starts at $99

Find it on Amazon HERE


 

Best UPS for a 1-2-Bay NAS Drive for Business

For much more modest Synology or QNAP NAS setups, as well as factoring in additional home/office equipment I would recommend the following UPS Device.

  • 1-2 HDD NAS Drive with 60-90w PSU
  • 1x Desktop PC with 250W PSU
  • 1x Router 30W internal PSU
  • + Misc Other Office Equipment (50W avg)

Option – The APC BE650G2, Available in different versions that cover 185W to 520W, 8 Ports – Starts at $169

Find it on Amazon HERE


 

Best UPS for a 4-8-Bay NAS Drive for Prosumers

For much more modest Synology or QNAP NAS setups, as well as factoring in additional home/office equipment I would recommend the following UPS Device.

  • 4-8 HDD NAS Drive with 100-250W PSU
  • 2x Desktop PC with 250W PSU
  • 1x Router 30W internal PSU + Switch with 25W PSU
  • + Misc Other Office Equipment (100W avg)
  • Battery/Coverage Insurance ($500,000 Connected Equipment Guarantee)
  • Tower Style

Option – The CyberPower CP1500PFCLCD PFC Sinewave UPS System, Available in different versions that cover 850-1500VA (1000W), 10-12 Ports – Starts at $389

Find it on Amazon HERE


 

Best UPS for an 8-12-Bay NAS Drive for Medium Large Business and Video/Photo Editors

For much more modest Synology or QNAP NAS setups, as well as factoring in additional home/office equipment I would recommend the following UPS Device.

  • 8-12 HDD NAS Drive with 250-350W PSU
  • Rackmount entry point (factor in dual/Redundant PSUs)
  • 3x Desktop PC with 250W PSU
  • 1x Router 30W internal PSU + 10GbE Switch with 90W PSU
  • + Misc Other Office Equipment (400W avg)
  • Rackmount Style (Desktop alternatives available, but cap at 2000VA)

Option – The Tripp Lite SU3000RTXL3U Sinewave UPS System, Available in different versions that cover 750-3000VA (2400W), 7-9 Ports – Starts at $799

Find it on Amazon HERE


How Long do UPS Batteries Last?

The lifespan of a UPS (uninterruptible power supply) battery can vary depending on several factors, including the type of battery, the quality of the battery, the usage, and the environment in which the UPS is used. However, on average, a UPS battery should last between 3-5 years with proper usage and maintenance. Lead-acid batteries, which are commonly used in UPS systems, have a typical lifespan of 3-5 years. However, this lifespan can be shortened or extended depending on the usage and maintenance of the battery. For example, if the battery is frequently discharged to a low level, this can shorten its lifespan, whereas proper charging and maintenance can prolong it.

It’s important to note that the lifespan of UPS batteries can also be affected by environmental factors such as temperature, humidity and the amount of use. High temperatures and humidity can shorten the battery life, while keeping the UPS in a cool and dry environment can extend it. It’s also worth noting that most of the UPS batteries have an end-of-life indicator, which will alert you when the battery is no longer performing as well as it should. This will give you an idea of when the battery needs to be replaced.

In conclusion, the lifespan of a UPS battery can vary depending on several factors, including the type of battery, the quality of the battery, the usage, and the environment in which the UPS is used. On average, a UPS battery should last between 3-5 years with proper usage and maintenance. Keeping an eye on the end-of-life indicator and maintaining the battery in a cool and dry environment can help to extend the battery’s lifespan.

 

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This description contains links to Amazon. These links will take you to some of the products mentioned in today's content. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Visit the NASCompares Deal Finder to find the best place to buy this device in your region, based on Service, Support and Reputation - Just Search for your NAS Drive in the Box Below

Need Advice on Data Storage from an Expert?

Finally, for free advice about your setup, just leave a message in the comments below here at NASCompares.com and we will get back to you. Need Help? Where possible (and where appropriate) please provide as much information about your requirements, as then I can arrange the best answer and solution to your needs. Do not worry about your e-mail address being required, it will NOT be used in a mailing list and will NOT be used in any way other than to respond to your enquiry. [contact-form-7] TRY CHAT Terms and Conditions
If you like this service, please consider supporting us. We use affiliate links on the blog allowing NAScompares information and advice service to be free of charge to you.Anything you purchase on the day you click on our links will generate a small commission which isused to run the website. Here is a link for Amazon and B&H.You can also get me a ☕ Ko-fi or old school Paypal. Thanks!To find out more about how to support this advice service check HEREIf you need to fix or configure a NAS, check Fiver Have you thought about helping others with your knowledge? Find Instructions Here  
 
Or support us by using our affiliate links on Amazon UK and Amazon US
    
 
Alternatively, why not ask me on the ASK NASCompares forum, by clicking the button below. This is a community hub that serves as a place that I can answer your question, chew the fat, share new release information and even get corrections posted. I will always get around to answering ALL queries, but as a one-man operation, I cannot promise speed! So by sharing your query in the ASK NASCompares section below, you can get a better range of solutions and suggestions, alongside my own.

☕ WE LOVE COFFEE ☕

 

 

Cybersécurité : durcir la configuration de Windows et Windows Server avec HardeningKitty

11 mars 2024 à 18:00

I. Présentation

Dans ce tutoriel, nous allons effectuer le durcissement de configuration de machines sous Windows à l'aide d'un outil open source nommé HardeningKitty. Autrement dit, nous allons analyser la configuration de notre machine pour voir si elle répond aux bonnes pratiques en matière de sécurité.

Ceci est nécessaire car la configuration par défaut d'un système d'exploitation, que ce soit Linux ou Windows, n'est pas en adéquation avec les bonnes pratiques de sécurité. Certaines recommandations peuvent être trop contraignantes et la configuration doit être adaptée en tenant compte du contexte et des besoins de l'entreprise. Ainsi, c'est à l'administrateur système de faire le nécessaire pour améliorer la sécurité des postes de travail et des serveurs. Le hardening, ou durcissement, va permettre de réduire la surface d'attaque d'une machine.

Dans cet exemple, nous allons durcir la configuration d'un serveur Windows Server 2022, mais la procédure est identique pour une machine Windows 10 ou Windows 11 (d'ailleurs Windows 11 est utilisé pour la vidéo), ainsi que pour des versions plus anciennes de Windows Server. L'essentiel étant de récupérer l'image ISO d'installation depuis le site officiel de l'éditeur, en l'occurrence ici : Microsoft.

II. Les guides de bonnes pratiques pour Windows

Vers qui se tourner pour obtenir des informations sur ces fameuses bonnes pratiques de configuration pour améliorer la sécurité de Windows ?

A. Microsoft Security Baselines

Tout d'abord, il faut savoir que Microsoft propose un ensemble de documents baptisés "Microsoft Security baseline" et correspondants à chaque version de Windows, Windows Server, et certaines applications comme le navigateur Microsoft Edge.

À chaque fois, Microsoft propose une documentation pour lister chaque paramètre à configurer et de quelle façon. Celle-ci est accompagnée par des modèles de GPO, ainsi que des modèles d'administration pour ces mêmes GPO (ADMX), et des scripts PowerShell.

Windows Server 2022 - Security Baselines
Security Baseline pour Windows Server 2022 - Aperçu

Vous pouvez télécharger ces documents via ce lien.

B. Les guides du CIS Benchmark

Le CIS (Center for Internet Security) propose un ensemble de guides de bonnes pratiques pour de nombreux produits et services : Windows, Windows Server, Debian, Cisco, Apache, Fortinet, Google Chrome, Google Workspace, Kubernetes, SQL Server, VMware, Azure, etc... Ces guides, maintenus à jour au fil des versions, ont une excellente réputation. Ils sont très souvent utilisés comme référence lorsque l'on souhaite durcir la configuration d'un système ou d'une application.

Vous pouvez télécharger ces guides gratuitement, après avoir complété un formulaire où l'on vous demandera quelques informations vous concernant.

Si l'on prend l'exemple du guide dédié à Windows Server 2022, il contient 1065 pages. Pour chaque paramètre de configuration à modifier, vous avez une description, des notes, une explication (quel est l'intérêt d'activer / configurer tel paramètre), et les impacts potentiels. Il existe également des versions estampillées STIG (Security Technical Implementation Guide) où il y a un focus supplémentaire sur la partie cybersécurité.

Très intéressant, mais rapidement chronophage.

CIS Benchmark - Windows Server 2022

Vous pouvez télécharger ces guides via cette page.

C. Les autres ressources

Au-delà des ressources proposées par Microsoft et les guides du CIS, nous pouvons compter sur ceux d'autres organisations et entités : l'ANSSI en France, la BSI en Allemagne (l'équivalent de l'ANSSI), la CISA aux Etats-Unis, etc...

Mais à chaque fois, vous ferez surement le même constat :

  • Comment comparer les recommandations d'un guide avec la configuration d'un serveur ou d'un poste de travail ?
  • Comment configurer un serveur ou un poste de travail afin de respecter les bonnes pratiques sans devoir y passer "un temps fou" ?

C'est exactement pour répondre à ces deux problématiques que vous devez vous intéresser à HardeningKitty.

III. Découverte de HardeningKitty

A. HardeningKitty, c'est quoi ?

HardeningKitty est un outil gratuit que vous pouvez utiliser à la fois pour auditer la configuration de votre système et effectuer le durcissement de celle-ci. HardeningKitty est capable de s'appuyer sur la liste de recommandations de l'auteur de l'outil, mais également d'autres "security baselines" comme celles de Microsoft et du CIS. Ainsi, vous allez pouvoir automatiser le hardening de Windows 10, Windows 11, Windows Server, etc.

Le durcissement va modifier différents composants et services de votre système d'exploitation dans le but de réduire la surface d'attaque (ASR), configurer les journaux d'audit de Windows, configurer le pare-feu Windows Defender, activer / désactiver / configurer certaines fonctionnalités, etc. Dans une grande majorité des cas, HardeningKitty modifie le Registre pour effectuer la configuration.

Pour accéder au projet HardeningKitty sur GitHub, il y a deux liens. Un lien vers le projet source d'origine, et un lien vers un autre dépôt où vous pouvez retrouver chaque version stable signée par le certificat de scip AG. Ceci signifie que le script PowerShell d'HardeningKitty peut être exécuté sur une machine Windows même si elle autorise uniquement l'exécution de scripts signés (ceci fait écho à la stratégie d'exécution PowerShell).

B. Prenez des précautions

Avant d'effectuer des modifications en masse sur votre machine Windows, il est primordial d'assurer vos arrières. Autrement dit, prenez les précautions habituelles : testez les modifications sur un environnement de tests et vérifiez vos sauvegardes.

Au-delà de permettre l'audit de la configuration d'une machine, HardeningKitty peut déployer la nouvelle configuration durcie. Forcément, ceci peut être à l'origine d'un ou plusieurs effets de bords. Nous verrons également qu'il y a une fonction de "backup" dans HardeningKitty.

Remarque : vous pouvez aussi envisager d'effectuer une sauvegarde de la base de Registre Windows, et même créer un snapshot s'il s'agit d'une machine virtuelle.

IV. Utilisation d'HardeningKitty sur Windows

A. Télécharger HardeningKitty

Commencez par télécharger la dernière version signée depuis GitHub. Pour ma part, il s'agit de la version 0.9.2. Vous obtenez une archive ZIP qu'il suffit de décompresser afin d'obtenir un ensemble de fichiers, notamment le module PowerShell correspondant à HardeningKitty.

Télécharger HardeningKitty Windows

Notez également la présence du dossier "lists" qui contient un ensemble de fichiers CSV : un fichier CSV par liste de bonnes pratiques supportées par l'outil.

HardeningKitty - Dossier lists

Nous avons à chaque fois deux fichiers CSV : un pour les paramètres de l'ordinateur (machine) et un pour les paramètres de l'utilisateur (user).

B. Sauvegarde de la configuration actuelle

Avant même d'auditer notre configuration ou d'effectuer la moindre modification sur le système, nous allons sauvegarder l'état actuel. Attention, quand vous utilisez HardeningKitty, vous devez effectuer une sauvegarde correspond à la liste ou aux listes que vous envisagez de "déployer" par la suite.

Dans cet exemple, nous allons utiliser ces deux listes :

  • CIS Microsoft Windows Server 2022 (Machine) - 22H2 - 2.0.0
    • Soit le fichier : finding_list_cis_microsoft_windows_server_2022_22h2_2.0.0_machine.csv
  • CIS Microsoft Windows Server 2022 (User) - 22H2 - 2.0.0
    • Soit le fichier : finding_list_cis_microsoft_windows_server_2022_22h2_2.0.0_user.csv

Ouvrez une console PowerShell en tant qu'administrateur afin de pouvoir utiliser l'outil.

Positionnez-vous dans le répertoire d'HardeningKitty et importez le module :

cd C:\users\Administrateur\Downloads\HardeningKitty-v.0.9.2\
Import-Module .\HardeningKitty.psm1

Pour effectuer la sauvegarde des paramètres machines et utilisateurs pour les listes évoquées ci-dessus, utilisez ces commandes :

# Paramètres machine
Invoke-HardeningKitty -Mode Config -Backup -BackupFile ".\Backup_$($env:COMPUTERNAME)_$(Get-Date -Format yyyyMMdd-hhmm)_Machine.csv" -FileFindingList ".\lists\finding_list_cis_microsoft_windows_server_2022_22h2_2.0.0_machine.csv"
# Paramètres utilisateur
Invoke-HardeningKitty -Mode Config -Backup -BackupFile ".\Backup_$($env:COMPUTERNAME)_$(Get-Date -Format yyyyMMdd-hhmm)_User.csv" -FileFindingList ".\lists\finding_list_cis_microsoft_windows_server_2022_22h2_2.0.0_user.csv"

À chaque fois, nous obtiendrons un fichier de "sauvegarde" au format CSV dont le nom sera constitué de la façon suivante :

  • Backup_<nom de l'ordinateur>_<Date et heure actuelle>_<Machine ou User>.csv

Quelques secondes ou minutes sont nécessaires pour effectuer la sauvegarde.

HardeningKitty - Sauvegarde de la configuration

Quand c'est fait, nous obtenons deux fichiers :

HardeningKitty - Fichiers CSV de backup

C. Auditer la configuration de la machine

La sauvegarde de la configuration étant effectuée, nous allons pouvoir auditer notre machine. Là encore, nous allons bien spécifier les noms des listes que nous souhaitons utiliser comme référence.

HardeningKitty doit être utilisé en mode "Audit" :

# Audit des paramètres machine
Invoke-HardeningKitty -Mode Audit -Log -Report -FileFindingList ".\lists\finding_list_cis_microsoft_windows_server_2022_22h2_2.0.0_machine.csv"
# Audit des paramètres utilisateur
Invoke-HardeningKitty -Mode Audit -Log -Report -FileFindingList ".\lists\finding_list_cis_microsoft_windows_server_2022_22h2_2.0.0_user.csv"

À chaque fois, HardeningKitty indique une note globale ainsi que le nombre de paramètres vérifiés et les résultats associés. Ici, nous pouvons qu'il y a eu 459 paramètres vérifiés et qu'il y en a 312 points de configuration à améliorer. L'idée étant de se concentrer en priorité sur ceux considérés comme "Medium" et "High". Imaginez un instant effectuer toutes ces corrections manuellement...

Your HardeningKitty score is: 3.57. HardeningKitty Statistics: Total checks: 459 - Passed: 147, Low: 43, Medium: 269, High: 0.

Le résultat dépend clairement de la liste utilisée. En effet, sur une même machine, mais avec la liste de vérification par défaut de l'outil (qui est le fruit de l'expertise de l'auteur de cet outil - Elle est estampillée Windows 10 !), le score obtenu est totalement différent :

Your HardeningKitty score is: 3.22. HardeningKitty Statistics: Total checks: 391 - Passed: 79, Low: 68, Medium: 243, High: 1.

Si l'on s'appuie sur la liste de Security Baseline de Microsoft pour Windows Server 2022, en prenant la configuration adaptée pour les contrôleurs de domaine (ici, l'outil est utilisé sur un DC), le résultat est encore différent :

# Exécuter l'audit :
Invoke-HardeningKitty -Mode Audit -Log -Report -FileFindingList ".\lists\finding_list_msft_security_baseline_windows_server_2022_21h2_dc_machine.csv"

# Résultat obtenu :
Your HardeningKitty score is: 3.2. HardeningKitty Statistics: Total checks: 328 - Passed: 74, Low: 27, Medium: 227, High: 0.
  • Nommer le rapport d'audit

Afin de pouvoir effectuer une analyse et avoir un bon aperçu de l'état actuel de la configuration du serveur, il est préférable de générer un rapport d'audit. Ceci est déjà le cas avec le paramètre "-Report". HardeningKitty va générer un fichier CSV que l'on pourra exploiter dans Excel.

Pour créer un rapport avec le nom de votre choix, ajoutez le paramètre "-ReportFile" suivi du nom du fichier. Nous allons réutiliser la même logique pour le nom du fichier de rapport. Voici un exemple :

Invoke-HardeningKitty -Mode Audit -Log -Report -FileFindingList ".\lists\finding_list_msft_security_baseline_windows_server_2022_21h2_dc_machine.csv" -ReportFile ".\Audit_$($env:COMPUTERNAME)_$(Get-Date -Format yyyyMMdd-hhmm)_Machine.csv"

En sortie, le fichier suivant est obtenu :

Audit_SRV-ADDS-01_20240228-1259_Machine.csv

Si nous l'ouvrons avec Excel, nous pouvons appliquer différents filtres, un tri, etc... pour analyser les résultats.

HardeningKitty - Rapport audit CSV dans Excel
  • Affiner l'audit avec un filtre

Si vous souhaitez effectuer un audit en tenant compte uniquement des points dont la sévérité est élevée, vous pouvez ajouter un filtre comme ceci :

Invoke-HardeningKitty -Filter { $_.Severity -eq "High" } -FileFindingList ".\lists\finding_list_cis_microsoft_windows_server_2022_22h2_2.0.0_machine.csv"

Lorsque la phase d'audit est terminée, vous pouvez passer à l'action : demander à HardeningKitty de durcir la configuration de votre machine.

Remarque : comment est calculé le score d'audit ? Sachez que la formule utilisée pour calculer le score d'HardeningKitty est la suivante : (Points obtenus / Maximum de points) * 5 + 1.

D. Durcir la configuration de la machine

Pour durcir la configuration de la machine Windows Server 2022, nous utilisons le mode "HailMary" (Ave Maria). A ce sujet, la documentation officielle précise : "La méthode HailMary est très puissante. Elle peut être utilisée pour déployer une liste de résultats sur un système. Tous les résultats sont placés sur ce système selon les recommandations de la liste. Le pouvoir s'accompagne de la responsabilité. N'utilisez ce mode que si vous savez ce que vous faites. Assurez-vous d'avoir une copie de sauvegarde du système."

Le mode HailMary va nous permettre de déployer tous les paramètres de configuration contenus dans les deux listes que nous avons choisi d'utiliser.

  • Voici la commande à exécuter pour déployer les paramètres ordinateurs :
Invoke-HardeningKitty -Mode HailMary -Log -Report -FileFindingList ".\lists\finding_list_cis_microsoft_windows_server_2022_22h2_2.0.0_machine.csv"
  • Voici la commande à exécuter pour déployer les paramètres utilisateurs :
Invoke-HardeningKitty -Mode HailMary -Log -Report -FileFindingList ".\lists\finding_list_cis_microsoft_windows_server_2022_22h2_2.0.0_user.csv"

Sachez qu'avant d'effectuer des modifications sur votre machine, HardeningKitty va créer un point de restauration. Si le point de restauration ne peut pas être créé, ce qui sera le cas sur Windows Server car il faut utiliser la Sauvegarde Windows à la place, l'opération est arrêtée immédiatement. Nous devons donc réexécuter les commandes avec le paramètre "-SkipRestorePoint".

Invoke-HardeningKitty -Mode HailMary -Log -Report -FileFindingList ".\lists\finding_list_cis_microsoft_windows_server_2022_22h2_2.0.0_machine.csv" -SkipRestorePoint

À chaque fois, et puisque nous avons précisé les paramètres "-Log" et "-Report", un fichier journal et un fichier de rapport (CSV) seront générés. Le fichier de log reprend toutes les lignes visibles dans la console. Voici un extrait du fichier journal "hardeningkitty_log_srv-adds-01_finding_list_cis_microsoft_windows_server_2022_22h2_2.0.0_machine-20240228-113957.log" :

[*] 28/02/2024 11:40:15 - Starting Category Administrative Templates: Windows Components
ID 18.10.89.1.1, HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WinRM\Client, AllowBasic, Registry key created
ID 18.10.89.1.1, HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WinRM\Client, AllowBasic, Registry value created/modified
ID 18.10.89.1.2, HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WinRM\Client, AllowUnencryptedTraffic, Registry value created/modified
ID 18.10.89.1.3, HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WinRM\Client, AllowDigest, Registry value created/modified
ID 18.10.89.2.1, HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WinRM\Service, AllowBasic, Registry key created
ID 18.10.89.2.1, HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WinRM\Service, AllowBasic, Registry value created/modified
ID 18.10.89.2.2, HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WinRM\Service, AllowAutoConfig, Registry value created/modified
ID 18.10.89.2.3, HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WinRM\Service, AllowUnencryptedTraffic, Registry value created/modified
ID 18.10.89.2.4, HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WinRM\Service, DisableRunAs, Registry value created/modified

Mais, priorisez la lecture du rapport avec Excel, ou un autre outil, pour l'analyse post-hardening. Ce rapport permet d'avoir une liste exhaustive des changements de configuration effectués.

Par la suite, si vous avez besoin de revenir en arrière, vous pouvez restaurer la configuration via cette commande (en adaptant le nom du fichier CSV) :

Invoke-HardeningKitty -Mode HailMary -Log -Report -FileFindingList ".\Backup_SRV-ADDS-01_20240228-1128_user.csv" -SkipRestorePoint

V. Conclusion

Si vous souhaitez durcir la configuration de vos machines en vous appuyant sur les recommandations de Microsoft, du CIS, du BSI, ou du DoD, alors HardeningKitty est probablement l'outil qu'il vous faut ! L'utilisation de cet outil devrait vous permettre de gagner énormément de temps. Néanmoins, vous devez prendre le temps d'analyser le contenu de ces guides et devez avoir une bonne connaissance de votre infrastructure et de ses particularités. Ceci vous permettra d'anticiper les éventuels effets de bords.

D'ailleurs, si vous envisagez de déployer la configuration recommandée par le CIS Benchmark, vous devez parcourir chaque guide afin d'avoir un aperçu des fonctions et services de Windows qui seront affectés lorsque le déploiement sera fait avec HardeningKitty. Cette recommandation s'applique également pour les autres guides.

Le seul bémol, c'est le fait qu'il soit nécessaire de l'exécuter machine par machine : ce qui pourra s'avérer utile lors de la création d'un master (image de référence) pour vos postes de travail ou serveur. En effet, ceci vous permettra de créer une image durcie.

HardeningKitty intègre bien un paramètre mode "GPO" (-Mode GPO) permettant de convertir une liste de résultats en une stratégie de groupe (GPO). Toutefois, ceci semble encore expérimental : "Pour l'instant, seuls les paramètres de registre peuvent être convertis et tout n'a pas encore été testé."

The post Cybersécurité : durcir la configuration de Windows et Windows Server avec HardeningKitty first appeared on IT-Connect.

Synology DS Video and Video Station VS Plex Media Server

Par : Rob Andrews
11 mars 2024 à 18:00

Plex Media Server Vs Synology Video Station on a NAS

One of the most popular reasons that users choose to buy a network-attached storage (NAS) device is for use as a media server. The appeal is pretty clear. With most users now owning decades of media (either in digital form or ripped from optical media at home), the ability to enjoy these box sets and Movies on the latest devices can be complicated. Despite this, streaming all of your multimedia from a NAS to all of your TVs, phones, tablets and other devices are growing increasingly popular and a lot of this is thanks to the increasing affordability of NAS from brands like Synology and QNAP and free software from companies like Plex and Emby. The most popular NAS for home media tends to be Synology, with its support of numerous media server applications and its own premium video service app too. This combined with the oversaturation of third-party online streaming services that ask you to pay a subscription (such as Netflix) with little control or right to ownership of the media you watch means that many users just want to enjoy their own unique media collections. So now that a lot of users are choosing to switch from the likes of Netflix and Prime Video towards an in-house media server, the next question is which piece of software they should choose.

The most popular private media server app right now worldwide to counter the likes of Netflix is Plex Media Server, software available in host and client form that allows you to transform your media collection into a glossy, slick and informative UI that genuinely rivals big online streaming platforms. Synology on the other hand would likely prefer users to stick with their own fully-featured media server application, Synology Video Station, which they have invested well in and developed to an impressive standard that easily rivals that of Plex. So today I want to compare these two media server choices and help you decide which one is the ideal media server choice for you.

Important – ‘Free’ Vs Paid Media Server Services on a NAS

Before going any further, it is worth addressing the elephant in the room, namely that a number of key media server services that are included with Plex Media Server are locked behind a paid subscription service known as Plex Pass. Whereas Synology Video Station is an application that is included with your NAS on Day 1 at no additional cost. All that said, neither service can technically be called free, as both still require you to purchase a Synology NAS. Additionally, it is still worth highlighting that some more recent Innovations in Plex online services and utilisation of hardware transcoding (the ability to use the CPU’s embedded graphics or an available graphics card to adapt files on the fly to make them better suited to a client) is not available on the free tier of Plex, but ARE available by default in the Synology Video Station application. You can still utilise software transcoding on Plex for free and this will deal with a large degree of transcoding requirements, but the fact that you have to pay extra within the Plex app to utilise the hardware already available on your NAS is something a number of users find difficult to accept. Throughout this article, any feature that is only available as a paid Plex Pass feature will be highlighted as such.

Plex VS Synology Video Station – Installation and First Time Setup

Installation of either the Synology Video Station or Plex Media Server application is near enough identical. Both are readily available in the Synology app centre and can be installed within two clicks. Both media server applications do not require your multimedia files to be stored in a pre-designated/directory location and the sources for TV shows, Movies and more can be scanned and indexed by each media server application after they are installed. In fact, the initial installation on both is incredibly straightforward and there is really only one main difference between them. That difference is that whereas the Synology Media application uses your original NAS login credentials, Plex will require you to set up an account with them online in order to use the software, even if you only intend to use your Plex Media Server on the local network/DLNA. As Plex is a third-party application, this is a little understandable if a tiny bit annoying for some. 

It is also worth highlighting that both media server applications will receive regular updates during their lifespan and this is treated slightly differently too. As Synology Video Station is a first-party app, as soon as an update is available, you will be notified immediately in the app centre and even have the opportunity to apply these firmware updates automatically. Plex updates on the other hand will almost always need to be installed manually, as the available default Plex application on the Synology app centre is updated considerably less frequently and as soon as you setup Plex for the first time, it will ALWAYS inform you that there is a new update available straight away. The Plex Media Server application itself will tell you when an update is available regularly at the top right and in the settings menu, but requires you to download the latest Plex server update to a connected computer and then you need to upload this update directly to the Synology NAS app centre manually. It is only a small inconvenience really, but does mean that regular updates on your media server of choice are handled more easily and with likely more frequency on Synology Video Station rather than Plex.

Plex VS Synology Video Station – GUI, Media Support and Browsing

The user interface of Synology Video Station and Plex Media Server are quite similar when viewed on a client device, such as a console, TV and Amazon Fire TV stick. With all of your available Movies and Boxsets clearly shown and the metadata collected by each media server application creating a great user interface for your connected users. 

However the back end/server view of each media server application is considerably different and where the Synology Video Station application is designed exclusively around video media options and configuration (as Synology have a wide range of applications for different Media types and general NAS server maintenance already available), Plex, on the other hand, is a far better equipped tool for a complete server, with the bulk of server maintenance and customisation options built into the single Plex GUI. If you are something of an IT novice, the wide range of options that Plex Media Server throws at you for system maintenance can be a touch intimidating and because Plex is designed around many different kinds of media support (something we will touch on later) it’s configuration needs to be noticeably broader than the video-centric options in the Synology official video application. These additional options, if you take the time to go through them, will definitely lead to a better media server user experience and a far better multimedia streaming system overall, it’s just a question of how bespoke and how elaborate you want your media server to be.

As mentioned, there is a clear difference in the multimedia types supported in Plex Media Server or Synology Video Station. In terms of handling of video Media, they are near enough identical with some exceptions with regard to specialist audio handling for certain dense Media. However, much like the back-end server control mentioned earlier, Synology Video Station only handles video media and relies on alternative applications such as Synology moments, photo station, Synology photos, audio station and download station to play and obtain other kinds of multimedia. Plex Media Server is a much more diverse multimedia tool with support of your photo collections (AI-assisted too), album collections, podcast streaming and several online video streaming services included. In both cases, it makes a lot of sense why they are designed this way, but some users may prefer their media server to be more of a Swiss army knife and others may want their video streaming, music streaming and photo streaming to be different services for different devices and clients. Neither Plex or Synology Video Station really gain any advantage here but simply show how they are different in their architecture. If you want simplicity in the user interface, go with Synology Video Station. If you want simplicity in your media server as a whole, go with Plex Media Server.

Plex VS Synology Video Station – Meta Data Scraping

The scraping of metadata in a media server is precisely what separates a bog-standard selection of files and folders on your screen from a slick graphical user interface that is engaging, informative and a joy to use. When we talk about metadata, we are talking about thumbnails, box art, media descriptions, cast listings, review scores, trailers and more. When we say scraping, that is the process of the software accessing numerous online databases to retrieve and store this information locally to the NAS. The result is your years of TV and movie collection being transformed into something near identical to Netflix and Amazon Prime video in presentation. Metadata ultimately benefits connected users and their client hardware devices, with both Plex and Video Station being very similar in how they look to a client device, albeit with a few branded differences in colour and config.

However, on the server-side, both Synology Video Station and Plex have gone a different way with metadata scraping at a setup level. Of the two, Synology Video Station is definitely the less option-heavy and although this is thanks in many ways to a lot of key options being found in the general server GUI outside of the app, it is still pretty thin on the ground for configuration of your video media server. This is not an enormous surprise given how Synology have generally erred towards keeping things as user-friendly as possible and this is often done by simplifying configurations and sitting numerous settings to system default. The options for scraping metadata on the Synology are surprisingly thin on the ground and some more advanced options require you to sign up to some resource database websites to obtain a two-way key. Despite this, Synology still manages to scrape a tremendous amount of metadata without this key and resource linking. Indeed, although the number of supported databases for metadata listed on the Synology Video Station app is few and far between, it was still able to find the same level of metadata found on the Plex Media Server application and displayed all of the test media perfectly. 

Plex Media Server has access to significantly more online databases and although the system will generally ask you to select which one individually you wish to scrape for metadata in each library, it does do it with a high degree of accuracy. It also manages to scrape this metadata for more than just your Movies and applies this also to your music collection and podcast collection too within the app. Metadata scraping via Plex Media Server also does not require any kind of log-in to these individual databases and is largely automated off the bat, with users being able to switch designated databases for each Media type and folder on the fly. Of course, this all doesn’t guarantee accuracy and will still always be based on the format and layout of your Media in many cases (tv shows listed as S01E01 for season 1, episode 1, etc), but nevertheless, it has to be said that with more available resources and less configuration required for each of them, that Plex Media Server has the broader and more likely to succeed position on metadata scraping.

Plex VS Synology Video Station – Playback and Transcoding

This is one of the most important parts of any media server in the grand scheme of things – multimedia playback and transcoding. This is typically the action of changing a media file into a version that is more acceptable to the client device that you are enjoying it on (TV, Phone, Console, etc). This extends to but is not limited to, changing the resolution, changing the bitrate, changing the file format and ultimately compressing a file into a smaller version in most cases. Because Plex and Synology Video Station are available on the same NAS system, it means that media variations with regard to codecs, compressions and file types will be equally supported at the default level. If a file can be played back in its original version on Plex, it can be played back on Synology Video Station. However, it is when these files need to be adapted with transcoding that we see clear distinctions between each of them. Transcoding is something that remote accessing client users will likely use without even realising it, as they might well be on a limited data connection (speed or coverage at the time) or using a smaller device (such as a phone) to playback a monster 4K 60FPS movie that is overkill on that hardware. So, transcoding is at its best when you do not notice it is being done OR it is adaptable in as many ways as possible to cover all your likely scenarios.

When the NAS needs to perform a transcode on a file on the fly (eg, so you need to convert a video file into a better-suited version for the client watching device upon request and without delay) it will typically do it with software transcoding or hardware transcoding. Software transcoding is when the system uses the raw resources of the CPU and memory inside the NAS to convert the file. Hardware transcoding is when the NAS system features a graphical component (such as embedded graphics featured on a CPU) or an available graphics card that is installed – as these are designed for handling video files and/or graphical manipulation tasks, and will therefore utilise considerably fewer resources. Plex Media Server only provides hardware transcoding in the paid subscription service Plex Pass and then needs to be enabled in the encoding section by selecting the option ‘make my CPU hurt’. Software transcoding is available for the free version of Plex Media Server but is far less efficient and will result in much higher-end Media in 4K and 1080p playback consuming the majority of hardware resources to transcode or will simply not play at all. 

Synology Video Station on the other hand, because it is a native first-party app, has full access to the hardware transcoding element of the NAS and therefore allows users to take advantage of it easily and immediately, and at no additional cost. This has been one of the driving forces behind the popularity of Synology Video Station application, as although the majority of NAS brands have their own video player, Synology is the only one that manages to merge the slick meta-data supported graphical user interface found in Plex but still manages to provide the free and unlimited limited access to the hardware resources you would expect after spending several $100s on a NAS. That said, the way that Synology handles the subject of transcoding in its user interface is a little peculiar, especially for users who are trying to balance the best possible playback vs the most appropriate transcoding level on the fly/manually. 

When you wish for the NAS system to transcode a file in the Video Station user interface, you are presented with the options for adjusting the picture quality to high, medium, low, very low, etc. This is exactly what one might expect from a brand that wants to consistently keep things as simple as possible, however, for those who want to select a specific quality level to playback the file or want a better idea of the best quality level in future should be for other files, this will be extraordinarily limiting. Plex Media Server on the other hand allows you to switch between an automatic transcode option that changes the file to the recommended quality level for the client and connection, or you can specifically switch one of numerous video quality levels that break down into both resolution and bitrate in several places. Overall, the ability for Video Station to be able to take advantage of hardware transcoding at no additional cost and with little or no intervention from the end-user is still ultimately the best thing here. I just wish they gave uses a better degree of control and choice as found in Plex Media Server.

Plex VS Synology Video Station – Client Support

Having a slick and well-performing media server is always good, but if you cannot watch the media inside it on the devices you regularly use, then it’s all a bit pointless. Most people are already well aware that the multimedia collections they have on a NAS can easily be streamed over the local area network via popular methods such as DLNA and UPnP (digital living network alliance and universal plug and play). However, they are much more file and folder, breadcrumb level streaming and in order to enjoy the pretty GUI of Plex and Synology Video Station, an official client app needs to be available on the respective app centre or made unofficially and manually installed. This is an area where Plex Media Server almost completely wins over Synology Video Station, as it simply cannot compete with the variety and accessibility of the Plex client availability in popular app centres. 

Full credit to Plex, they have really taken the time to make sure their platform is available on pretty much any modern device, in what multiple client or media server application forms. They also take the time after an official update of services and then push these updates across each available downloadable client. This is largely impossible for Synology to compete with and they instead opt for a much more targeted client support regime, supporting all modern mobile phone OS’, desktop operating systems and some of the major sofa accessible app centres on TVs and streamers like Amazon fire TV. In  8 out of 10 cases, your device will support both Plex and Synology Video Station, but this is by no means total and sometimes a hardware client (such as an off-brand Android phone, tablet or media box) that you hope to support Video Station will sadly not. 

It is once again worth mentioning that Synology separates different multimedia types towards their own individual client apps, for example, DS Audio or Audio Station for music and DS Photo for photography. Indeed, some of these apps are quite advanced with practically unique connectivity to the likes of Amazon Alexa (something currently impossible on any other NAS platform without a 3rd party application like ‘my-media’ Alexa skill. But this, unfortunately, does not make up for being truly overshadowed by the wider degree of support available on Plex across numerous clients and smart Home devices – though the latter does require a Plex Pass. For sheer volume of connectivity on the clients, Plex wins by an absolute landslide.

Plex VS Synology Video Station – Conclusion

Throughout this comparison of Plex Media Server and Synology Video Station, it has become abundantly clear that one tool is designed around being a Swiss army knife of features and functions, whilst the other performs a smaller but key range of services exceptionally well. Those who have been using Plex Media Server for a number of years are highly unlikely to make the jump to Synology Video Station, as it may feel less feature-rich and perhaps a tad bare-bones. However, those users who are new to the idea of private NAS based multimedia streaming would do very well to try out Synology Video Station first, as I genuinely believe when it comes to concentrating on video streaming services, it is genuinely one of the best platforms out there – albeit clearly restricted to just Synology NAS devices. Plex Media Server attempts to do many things in its pursuit of being the go-to media server of choice for those jumping ship from Netflix and succeeds in most cases, it is just worth remembering that in recent years the platform has perhaps tried to diversify a tad too much. 

PLEX MEDIA SERVER

Synology Video Station

Best for Mixed Media

Best for Ease of Access on Client Hardware

Best for Transcoding Control

Best for Add On Services

Best for Metadata Sources

Best for Price

Best Performance for Transcoding

Best for Ease of Use

Best for Ease Setup

Best for Updates & Firmware Revs

Thanks for reading and I hope this guide helps you choose the perfect multimedia server for streaming with your friends, family and colleagues. If you are still lost on the right NAS, multimedia software or ideal backup system for your needs, then take advantage of the free advice section below. This is a completely free and unbias service to help work out their ideal data storage solution for you. It is manned by my myself and EddieTheWebGuy, so although replies may take an extra day or so, we will answer your email and have your best interests in mind! Have a great week.

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Apple, Google, Nintendo : AliExpress baisse le prix des grandes marques et n’y va pas de main morte [Sponso]

Par : humanoid xp
18 mars 2024 à 09:32

Cet article a été réalisé en collaboration avec AliExpress

Jusqu’au 27 mars à 23 h 59, AliExpress lance une flopée de promotions sur une sélection de produits tech de grandes marques. Apple, Samsung, Xiaomi ou Nintendo, de nombreuses références de produits premium voient leur prix chuter drastiquement. Attention, les quantités sont limitées. On vous aura prévenus.

Cet article a été réalisé en collaboration avec AliExpress

Il s’agit d’un contenu créé par des rédacteurs indépendants au sein de l’entité Humanoid xp. L’équipe éditoriale de Numerama n’a pas participé à sa création. Nous nous engageons auprès de nos lecteurs pour que ces contenus soient intéressants, qualitatifs et correspondent à leurs intérêts.

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