How to Upgrade the Hard Drive in Your BeeStation

Why Would You want to change the hard drive in the Synology Beestation? Whether you are an existing owner of the Synology Beestation or a potential NAS buyer who is considering moving away from public cloud services onto your own personal cloud, the Beestastion and BSM provide a fantastically user-friendly alternative to the Synology Diskstation and DSM solutions that the brand has been releasing for almost 25 years. The Beestation can be set up in minutes, sets up all the apps, storage and services in 3 clicks and is BY FAR the most user-friendly NAS system I have ever used! However, it DOES have 1 weakness… one rather sizable Achilles heel… THAT 4TB hard drive inside! The Synology Beestation (At launch – so that might change as time goes on) arrives with a single 4TB Synology HAT3300/3310 5400RPM Hard Drive for storing all your data. This can lead to a lower glass ceiling when it comes to your long-term storage – fun fact, The latest iPhone Pro models supports upto 48MP Apple ProRAW images, which captures more dynamic range at the cost of much larger files, around 75MB for each image. That would still allow just under 60,000 images on a 4TB drives – but once you factor in video backups, PC backups and more, 4TB of capacity is actually going to run out quicker than you think, especially if you connect the maximum 8 supported users. Then there is the performance barrier of a single 5400RPM HDD. Hardware are not great for larger simultaneous input/outputs (e.g lots of individual write operation tasks happening at the same time) and the response times and smoothness of the BSM/BeeStation experience will be diminished. You are also losing out on RAID failover, something that is largely unavailable in a 1 bay, but short of using a dual drive cage adapter (more on that later on) this is unavoidable.

This brings us neatly back around to the subject of changing the HDD inside the Synology Beestation to something with a higher capacity, maybe a Pro series drive with 7200RPM and more cache. or perhaps even a faster SSD instead of an HDD? Synology has not allowed this system to support hot swapping or easy accessibility to the drive media (understandable, as a 1 Bay system). Synology have released this device as an entry-level product that is not designed for more specialized use, so providing the means to upgrade the media and migrate system processes over to a new drive is NOT a straightforward process. Additionally, we should also take some time to discuss the risks and Synology’s position on this.

IMPORTANT WARNING!

This is a really, really important point. Taking apart the Synology BeeStation runs a significant risk of not only damaging your data but also completely nullifying any hardware or software support that Synology will provide you. The BeeStation was designed to be a closed system and not targeted towards higher-end tech enthusiasts, and therefore does not allow the same easy dismantle procedure that you find in the DiskStation range. This Synology BeeStation was provided to me by Synology UK, and I am dismantling the system without their assurance or without their authorization to do so; the same needs to be applied to your own BeeStation system if you intend to follow the steps in this guide to tear down and dismantle it. This system was not designed to be taken apart, and taking it apart may result in the following:

• You might cause damage to the hard drive inside via static electricity, motion, or physical pressure
• The Beestation uses a passive cooling system and strategic heatsinks around the internal components, allowing the system to be low noise thanks to a lack of active cooling fan. But changing the storage media inside might compromise this passive cooling system and therefore lead to unpredictable internal system temps or a detrimental effect of the system as a whole.
• The BeeStation casing is an exceptionally tight-fitting enclosure, and dismantling it will almost certainly leave marks and clear indications that you have done so, which will invalidate any hardware support available to you as you have tampered with the system and performed actions that are not covered by the hardware warranty.
• You run the risk of scratching the internal motherboard, PCB, or delicate components during the dismantling of the BeeStation, which will result in complete system failure at worst and detrimental performance drops at best if this occurs.

Do not proceed with dismantling your Synology BeeStation unless you are happy to run the risk that it may be deemed inoperable or that your support by Synology may cease as a result.

Additionally, the Synology BeeStation includes numerous measures to back up the content of the system’s data and set up to the Synology C2 cloud, a connected USB drive, or at an object file/folder level to third-party cloud services. It is extremely recommended that you have an up-to-the-second backup in place before you attempt any of the steps in this guide. Any data loss resulting from following the steps in this guide is purely at your own discretion, and myself and NAS Compares cannot be held accountable. Bottom line, be aware that what you are doing right now is outside of what this system was supposed to do, and that you are doing so at your own risk. Understand? Good. Let’s get on with dismantling the BeeStation and tear down this cost-effective NAS.

Also, it is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED that you read through the steps completely first, before you begin dismantling your BeeStation NAS, as it’s decent bits more layered in the access compared with a normal Diskstation NAS system.

What Do You Need for this Guide

There are actually not too many things needed for upgrading your Synology BeeStation Drive. I recommend the following:

• A Synology BeeStation (duh?)
• A SATA HDD (or SATA 2.5″ SSD with 3.5″ physical Adapter – EXAMPLE)
• A crosshead Phillip screw driver – the longer the better!
• The Synology Assistant Client Tool for Windows, Mac or Linux (installed on a system that is on the same local area network as the Beestation) – HERE
• A downloaded copy of the latest Synology BSM Software .pat file – Download it HERE

The Firmware is optional, as it depends on the upgrade path you choose, but it doesn’t hurt to have it downloaded and ready.

BACKUP YOUR DATA FIRST – How To Backup Your Beestation Personal Cloud NAS

It is INCREDIBLY important that you backup any important data that is already on your Synology Beestation, as the process of installing a new HDD or SSD into the system will result in it replacing the original 4TB HDD. Luckily, there are a couple of great options for backing up your data for restoration when your new HDD/SSD is up and running. The most extensive (and large) one that will ultimately save you time later re-creating shares and folder structure is using the system backup in the System Configuration menu. This allows you to create a full system backup to either the Synology C2 Cloud (subscription cloud service, but does include a trial period) or to a connected USB drive. Later in the guide, I will explain how to restore a full USB backup.

Alternatively, if you are not especially fussed about the system configuration and want a more file/folder-specific backup that only backs up the core/important data (ie you don’t have/want a 4TB backup, but just want some select files/folders), you can use the USB Backup or Cloud Backup options in Beefiles. These are chiefly designed to backup an area of storage from a 3rd Party Cloud (Google Drive, Dropbox or OneDrive) or USB with a specific BeeFiles Folder (you can create multiple). This also has the feature of ensuring the data is 2 way synchronized, which means you CAN use this to copy data form the NAS to the Cloud/USB automatically.

Personally, I would recommend using the System level backup if you can ensure you have a large enough C2 Storage/USB. But also, you should have at least TWO copies of your data, as the system level backup will be in a Synology BSM/Beestation format and will only work in another Beestation system – it won’t be visible via a traditional DAS/Direct connect method.

The last thing to discuss before we begin the Hardware portion of this guide is how you wish to disconnect from the BeeStation system. Installing a new HDD/SSD will also require the system to be formatted. This will happen during the re-initialization when you install a new drive, so you have two options before this. The first is to unlink the Beestation from your Synology Account (as the system is connected via a serial number to your synology account). You will then reconnect with it later on during re-initialization. The main benefit of this method is that Unlinking with the system will KEEP your data on the 4TB hard drive inside – which means if you need to reverse all this (or even just want the old data as a OS-level backup of sorts), this process will be easier and ensure your data is still in place.

Alternatively, you can opt to just fully factory reset the whole device, which will not only disconnect your Synology Account but also delete all the data from the 4TB Hard Drive. After you have chosen the option that suits your needs. Safely power down the device via the GUI or after the system restore. Then you need to leave the system alone for a few minutes (to allow the 4TB HDD to spin down) and then disconnect all USB, Ethernet and power cables.

How To Upgrade Your Beestation HDD – The Start

First thing you need to do is disconnect all ethernet (LAN), power cables and USB devices and give the system sufficient time to allow the HDD inside to spin down. Then carefully turn the device up and have the base vent panel face up. Again, be CAREFUL as this system features a mechanical HDD inside and that can be susceptible to shock/motion damage.

Next you need to slowly and carefully peel back the rubber foot panel located at the base, at the front of the Beestation (i.e the single LED light side). It is held in place with strong adhesive, but you can replace it back after opening the case up later, as the rubber foot sits in a grooved panel and the adhesive has plenty of reuse!

Under the rubber panel are two Phillips/cross-head screws. There are the ONLY external means to open up the enclosure/casing of the BeeStation.

Remove each of these screws (keep them to one side and make sure to remember they are the base screws, as the system has 2 kinds of screws in it’s construction and mixing them up with rip the screw holes to pieces!

Removing these two screws will allow you to apply a small above of pressure to leverage the front panel of the BeeStation NAS to be removed. Important – do this carefully (that word again!) as the entire casing is made up of 2 pieces and it’s super easy to crack it in two!

The top part of the front panel is actually an L-shaped panel that has the fully ventilated dust panel attached. Mkae sure that your ease the panel off carefully enough not to break those 4 hooks at the top, as these are what align the top panel with the rest of the casing.

Slight side note, but for those that care about dust build up on 24×7 systems like the BeeStation, this can be quite useful to perform cleaning. Anyway, carrying on!

Next up os removing the Hard Drive that the Beestation Personal Cloud arrives with. The first thing you need to remove is the 2 smaller screws located around the edge of the casing. DO NOT REMOVE THE 2 LARGER SCREWS IN THE MIDDLE!!! These larger screws hold the HDD in place and you need to do this much later, or else risk the drive moving around during the dismantling.

Each screw will be easy to remove, however there are actually 3 more screw located around the base of the framework. They are tricky to reach, and a longer screwdriver would be recommended, but it can be done with an ordinary 15cm + screwdriver will get the job done.

At the front base area, you can find two black Phillips/cross-head screws that you need to remove. You will need to come at there from a slight angle if you only have a short screwdriver. Important – DO NOT USE AN ELECTRIC/AUTOMATIC SCREWDRIVER!!! Notwithstanding that you will tear the soft screw to pieces, you might cause vibration that will be damaging to the HDD next to the screw! Do it the OLD SKOOL way!

The last screw is much harder to spot and reach, it is located at the bottom-back of the enclosure, on the NON-Motherboard side. You will need to come at it from a slight angle, even with a longer screwdriver. Note, you COULD have removed the top panel attached to the HDD in order to get to the screw a little easier, but I personally would rather the HDD remains in an immobile cage throughout this part of the Beestaion teardown. It’s your call!

That is the last screw that you need to remove and , once it is done, you can begin the removal of the HDD clip/cage.

The HDD Clip/cage will slide out sideways (with a little resistance). BE CAREFUL with the removal of the HDD cage/clips, as the right-hand side will have the controller board (which has the heatsink on top of the CPU, and a bare PCB – which can be super susceptible to static and moisture!

One you have removed the HDD Cage tray, you will now have three components on the table:

Next, removing the Hard Drive from its plastic handles. The HDD is held in place by 4 screws that go directly into the same four screw holes that are usually used by HDD bays on Diskstastion NAS that utilize trays. Ther are four screw in each corner. Important note for later – Make a note of the clips and direction that are on either side of the HDD – whether you want to reassemble this Beestation to the factory build OR you are considering exploring larger HDDs, getting these clips the wrong way around or in the wrong direction will, at best, mean it won’t for back together and you need to redo them, or at WORST, you end up damaging the controller board and casing as you attempt to re-insert the drive.

Each screw uses a counter-sunk system and also arrives with a rubber washer between the screw head and the plastic. This means that you do not need to fully remove the screw, as there is a small % of space left. Regardless, just remove the four screws and each of the side panels should come off very easily.

Once again, make sure you keep track of which panel goes with each side of the HDD – As this will be a right pain during reassembly. An important area of note here is that IF you are considering adding larger/alternative drives to the Beestation and you have your heart set on an SSD, you are going to need a 2.5″ to 3.5″ HDD adapter, as the screw holes that the tray clips AND the PCB Backboard are not available on a 2.5″ SSD. This does also open the door to the potential for a Dual 2.5″ SATA SSD to 3.5″ SATA Adapter case, which would provide the performance benefits of 2x SATA SSD in a RAID 0, or the redundancy benefits of 2x SATA SSDs in a RAID 1, if the case supports internal RAID 0/1). Here are two options:

2.5″ to 3.5″ SATA Adapter ($7.99+) Find on Amazon HERE

SYNOLOGY ASSISTANT NOT CONFIGURED PICTURE Find on Amazon HERE

However, there is considerably more to adding a new hard drive to the BeeStation than just the physical injection!

The one we want to focus on is the HDD tray/cage. Carefully turn it around and lay the drive facedown on the table.

Once the drive is ‘face down’, you need to carefully (yes, THAT word again! Take a drink) remove the two silver screws, Try to touch the blue PCB controller board as little as possible.

Once you have removed those two screws, you need to either slide the controller board away from the Hard drive, or slide the hard drive away. You are doing this to disconnect the SATA connector that is soldered to the controller board. Do NOT leverage the hard drive upwards/downwards, as you run the risk of breaking the connector.

The controller PCB should come away very easily and with little resistance. But before we move forward, it’s worth checking the SATA connector is unharmed.

Place the controller PCB delicately to one side and then get your new storage media drive (your new HDD or SSD) unpacked and ready

Slot the new SATA drive into the PCB via the SATA slot.

Then flip the drive and board over, then screw in the two silver screws to attached the PCB to the HDD. Next, reattached the two tray clips to either side of the new HDD – gain, make sure you select the correct clips for either side and in the correct direction.

Then slot the drive cage back into the base Beestastion black plastic casing. It will be a very specific alignment and you will know it is correct, as the back ports will be completely flush with the rear port cavities on the casing

Screw the 3 base screws in place once again. plus then re-screw the two top placement screws

Then slide back into place the L-shaped top panel. Ensure the 4 hooks at the top slide in neatly and the LED cover at the front/base will meet flush with the other plastic panel.

Re-screw the two silver screws that hold the L-shaped panel in place and then re-attached the rubber foot panel.

Reconnect the local area network/internet connection, as well as the USB drive (if you have a USB backup) and finally the power cable. Then press the power button and now move over to your network connection PC/Mac/Linux desktop and we can start the reinitialization.

Re-Installing BSM on your BeeStation

When the device begins booting, after a few minutes you will hear the system beep. However, instead of heading to the usual Synology Bee Portal site page, you need to open up the Synology Assistant tool. It will scan the local area network and it will find the Synology BeeStation, but it will say that it is in the process of ‘Upgrading’

Now the amount of time this takes will depend on a lot of factors (drive size, download speed if the system is collecting the BSM software online. After some time has passed (10-20 mins tops), the system will reboot ( you will hear the drive spin down and the light on the system will change from a flashing orange light to a slow white light.

1 – UPGRADING

2 – REINITIALIZING

After a few minutes, the synology assistant should now show the message ‘Starting Services’. Don’t forget to click the ‘search’ button at the top left to rescan to see any new changes to the system status.

After a period of time, the system will now show a new message that indicates that the system needs configuration in the synology assistant:

Now you just need to double-click the Beestation listing on the Synology Assistant tool, and it will open up a new tab on your web browser that will guide you through the original BSM installation process, via the Synology Beestation Portal web site:

When you have logged into your Synology Account and have gone through the first 4 steps of the installation, you will be asked if the system is showing an orange light. If it does not, you will need to follow to on-screen restart prompts using the reset button, which will all the system to reboot into ‘find’ mode. Once you have the On-screen serial number prompt and the light on the BeeStation is Solid orange (not flashing) you can go through the usual system setup prompts and connect the BeeStation with your Synology account as normal and log in as you would have before.

What if my Synology BeeStation does not boot into the usual installer?

There IS a chance that your BeeStation will instead display a message saying ‘Not Configured’ upon the first power on after installing your new drive, typically caused by a lack of facility to download the latest firmware (i.e the network connection is not present or restricted on your network). This will result in the system booting into a similar system setup window as found on the Synology Diskstation/DSM devices.

If this occurs, double-click the BeeStation listing on the Synology Assistant tool, and it will open a new tab on your web browser that shows the manual installation steps for BSM on your BeeStation system via the LAN. Just follow the steps on the screen to select the downloaded BSM image you have on your PC/Mac machine, as well as begin the installation to the new HDD/SSD – This will wipe the contents of the drive, but that is normal and you should be using a new/blank drive anyway.

This will install the latest BSM software and the system will restart after 10 mins and you can follow the steps outlined in the previous section to setup the Beestation with your new HDD/SSD for the first time.

How to Restore Your Data to the Upgraded Drive BeeStation?

Now that your BeeStation is up and running, with your new HDD/SSD, you might have a backup of your data on USB or on the Cloud that you want to restore. If you want to use the BeeFiles Backup services for USB/Cloud, you can do this easily with the options in the BeeFiles tool and your cloud sync or USB that you created earlier can be re-connected and the data will be sent back to the Beestation. However, if you have opted to do the system-wide backup in the System settings menu, you will need to head in the system config page and select the Restore Tab on the left hand side of the page:

Next, select the Restore option, ensuring that you either have the USB Backup drive you used connected to the BeeStation system, or you have established a connection with your appropriate Synology C2 account.

Next, you need to go through the list of Backup Images (if you have multiple) and select the appropriate system backup image you want Then you need to select the backup and proceed with restoring this system image

It is worth noting that this process can take a great deal of time (depending on the size of the backup, whether it is cloud/local based and the filled % of the capacity that back was of the original 4TB drive. In my tests, it took 35 mins to restore the system that had 300-400GB of data – it is a slow by methodical process.

Once that is done, the system will reboot and when it has finished, you will need to re-enter and connect your Synology Account. After you log back into the system, you can go into the system setting and BeeFiles again, and you will see that not only is all the data restored, but also that the Synology BSM software has resized the partition to ensure that you are not losing any of the extra space that is available on your new possibly larger HDD (i.e it does not reinstall the 4TB system image, then ignore the extra HDD space – it expands the volume to the full available space of the drive)

And there you go! You have now installed a new HDD or SSD in your Synology BeeStation. REMEMBER, this is NOT authorized by Synology as use for the BeeStation system and will result in the brand not supporting you in the event of issues encountered as a result of installing non-recommended configurations such as this. The Beestation is a simplified cloud alternative to Synology DSM systems. If you want to experiment with more complex configurations, larger storage and faster systems, you should look at the Synology Rackstation and Diskstation systems.

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I hope you enjoyed this guide and found in useful/informative! REMEMBER, I did this to show you what the inside of your BeeStation Personal Cloud looks like, so YOU DON’T HAVE TO! If you have any further questions, you can reach out to me on robbie ( at ) nascompares.com, or use our free advice section located on the right hand side of the page. Alternatively, you can reach us on our Discord HERE, our community forum HERE, or for faster and more personal support over on KoFi Commissions HERE. If you use and/or share the content of this guide online, please help us spread awareness of our platform and the work we do by backlinking us appropriately! Thanks for reading!

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Synology BeeStation Personal Cloud Review – Quick Conclusion

READ THE FULL BeeStation Review HERE

Synology has clearly done their homework on the development and presentation of the BeeStation private cloud. They are targeting a whole new audience with this system, and therefore, criticisms based on experiences with their other hardware are likely to fall on deaf ears. The BeeStation is probably one of the best middle grounds I have ever seen between an easy-to-use and exceptionally easy-to-set-up private cloud system, while still managing to provide smooth and seamless features for accessing and sharing your private cloud’s storage securely. Looking at this system with a more network-savvy microscope kind of defeats the point, and I’ve tried to be fair in my assessment. The lack of LAN access by default seems a little odd, and launching the BeeStation series in this single-bay, 4TB-only fashion may be a bit of a marketing misstep, but overall, what you’re seeing here is an effectively priced and scaled private cloud system. It’s a fantastic alternative to third-party clouds and existing simplified NAS systems. With many users keeping an eye on their budgets and tightening costs, Synology, known for its premium position in the market, had a challenge scaling down to this kind of user. However, I have to applaud Synology’s R&D for creating a simple and easy-to-use personal cloud solution that still carries a lot of their charm and great software reputation. It may not be as feature-rich as DSM, but BSM does exactly what it says it will do, and I think the target audience it’s designed for will enjoy the BeeStation a great deal!

DEAL WATCH – Is It On Offer Right Now? These Offers are Checked Daily

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Synology BeeStation Personal Cloud Review

What IS the BeeStation? Of all the products I’ve spoken about from Synology in nearly 25 years of solutions from the brand, the new BeeStation is possibly one of the most conventional yet surprising they have ever released. We first spoke about the BeeStation, otherwise known as the BST150-4T, halfway through 2023, when we started hearing rumors about Synology’s new entry-level solution that was shaping up to challenge the likes of WD My Cloud and My Book solutions. Synology has been providing impressively capable personal cloud solutions for a considerably long time, but it would be fair to say that for the majority of users who just want a simple cloud solution that is easy even for a child to set up, DSM isn’t quite as straightforward as they would like. The BeeStation and BSM hope to remedy this with Synology providing what is potentially the most user-friendly and easy-to-use personal cloud solution they have ever provided, as well as inviting positive comparisons against the likes of Google Drive and iCloud in terms of price. Roll in the fact that the system already arrives pre-populated with four terabytes of storage and is priced at just $199, and what you find here is one of the biggest brands in the world in network attached storage trying to reinvent the wheel that they themselves had a big part in designing! If you are reading this, it is because you are wondering whether the Synology BeeStation is the perfect fit for your simple, low-scale, and low-cost private cloud. So today, I want to tell you the five reasons why I can highly recommend the Synology BeeStation, as well as providing five reasons why you might want to give it a miss.

Note – You can watch the FULL YouTube Review of the Synology BeeStation HERE

Synology BeeStation Personal Cloud Review – Quick Conclusion

Synology has clearly done their homework on the development and presentation of the BeeStation private cloud. They are targeting a whole new audience with this system, and therefore, criticisms based on experiences with their other hardware are likely to fall on deaf ears. The BeeStation is probably one of the best middle grounds I have ever seen between an easy-to-use and exceptionally easy-to-set-up private cloud system, while still managing to provide smooth and seamless features for accessing and sharing your private cloud’s storage securely. Looking at this system with a more network-savvy microscope kind of defeats the point, and I’ve tried to be fair in my assessment. The lack of LAN access by default seems a little odd, and launching the BeeStation series in this single-bay, 4TB-only fashion may be a bit of a marketing misstep, but overall, what you’re seeing here is an effectively priced and scaled private cloud system. It’s a fantastic alternative to third-party clouds and existing simplified NAS systems. With many users keeping an eye on their budgets and tightening costs, Synology, known for its premium position in the market, had a challenge scaling down to this kind of user. However, I have to applaud Synology’s R&D for creating a simple and easy-to-use personal cloud solution that still carries a lot of their charm and great software reputation. It may not be as feature-rich as DSM, but BSM does exactly what it says it will do, and I think the target audience it’s designed for will enjoy the BeeStation a great deal!

DEAL WATCH – Is It On Offer Right Now? These Offers are Checked Daily

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Synology BeeStation Review – Packaging and Presentation

The BeeStation arrives in fairly modest packaging that, although is pretty comparable to the majority of other Synology NAS solutions in the market, I will highlight that it arrives with a four-terabyte hard drive pre-installed. Consequently, I’m a little surprised that the packaging was not just a little bit more robust.

As petty as this sounds, I appreciate that this is an affordable item and indeed, unlike a number of the other solutions which are going to be exclusively retail biased, this one has a higher possibility of being purchased over the counter and therefore protection isn’t quite as necessary for logistics as perhaps their other solutions are. Nevertheless, shock and motion damage in transit is a genuine real thing, and unlike a number of their other solutions that arrive in pre-cut foam packaging, this system is only held in place by a single-layer framework of cardboard. Not terrible, but not exactly great for a pre-populated NAS system. The kit arrives with the BeeStation system itself, a modest external power supply, an RJ45 Ethernet cable, and information on first-time setup and the inclusive 3-year warranty.

The external power supply is fantastically modest and comparable to that of other one by Synology NAS systems. This is an efficiently powered system that runs on an ARM 64-bit processor and with only a single hard drive inside, power consumption is going to be exceptionally low and therefore the max PSU power really doesn’t need to be that much. Additionally, the PSU features regional power clips. It’s a shame that they do not also include regional clips for other areas, as some people may be deploying this system in different places on the go because of its lightness and portability, but I understand why Synology probably doesn’t entertain this and continues to add further e-waste to the potential.

Overall, I can’t really fault the retail kit here; it’s providing everything you’re going to need to deploy this straight out of the box and up and running within 2 to 3 minutes. Even more so than any other Synology solution as this one even includes the storage media pre-populated with firmware already pre-configured for that specific drive. I do wish the retail packaging was a little bit more protective, but again this is a relatively minor point for a solution that’s $199 all in. Let’s discuss the hardware and design.

Specification	Details
Capacity	4TB
Processor	Realtek RTD1619B
Memory	1GB DDR4
LAN Port	1 x 1GbE RJ-45
External Ports	1 x USB-A 3.2 Gen 1, 1 x USB-C 3.2 Gen 1
Dimensions (HxWxD)	148.0 x 62.6 x 196.3mm
Weight	820g
Supported Browsers	Google Chrome®, Firefox®, Microsoft Edge®, Safari® 14+
System Requirements	Windows 10 64-bit (build 19041+), Windows 11, macOS 12.3+
Mobile Apps	iOS 15+, Android 8+
Certifications	RoHS, FCC, CE, BSMI, RCM, EAC, UKCA, KC, VCCI
Package Contents	BeeStation unit, AC adapter, RJ-45 cable, Quick start guide
Warranty	3 years

Synology BeeStation Review – Design and Connectivity

Synology could have easily reused one of their existing hardware chassis from the DiskStation series when creating the BeeStation. However, the BeeStation is a completely unique and new chassis to the Synology product family and is one of the smallest enclosures they have ever released, especially when you factor in that it’s arriving with a 3.5-inch SATA hard drive already pre-installed.

The device has the Synology Bee logo adorned on either side, with ventilation on the base and the top panels. Cooling isn’t too much of an issue on this rather modest specification system. And thanks to the absence of any kind of SSD internally, rising temperatures are not really going to be a tremendous amount of concern, even in 24/7 operations. Indeed, the top ventilation panel cannot be removed and has a metal panel underneath to filter air as it passes through the system. Synology states on numerous official pages that it is not possible to deconstruct this system without fundamentally damaging the external casing and undermining the ventilation and cooling system.

As the BeeStation only holds a single hard drive internally, there is a decent enough argument here that trays or features such as hot swapping are going to be largely useless, given the entirety of the system. Storage and services are running from that lone drive and its removal would immediately compromise the system. However, it is worth remembering that the HAT3300 or HAT3310 Synology 5400 RPM hard drive is the only drive you can use in this system and Synology does not endorse the usage of third-party drives in this system.

Indeed, the Synology software for this system that arrives with all of the packages pre-installed, after a little bit of digging, shows that it is seemingly locked to a Synology drive. No doubt more enterprising users will be able to migrate this over to a third-party hard drive, potentially undermining any hardware or software support by Synology, but you can largely guarantee there will be users doing this. 4TB is perhaps too low a glass ceiling for many users.

Returning to the subject of design, though. You really cannot fault the scale of this system. And thanks to its low power and low stature, it is largely silent when in operation any noticeable noise and not Synology’s sign of the BeeStation.

The front of the system displays a single LED that denotes when the system is powered on. It’s likely to announce whether the BeeStation is in setup mode, normal usage, or if there is an error that needs addressing (the system also has the expected audio beep for notifications and warnings). There’s no front-mounted USB, but the system does have USB ports and more on the rear. The rear of the system shows some fairly entry-level ports and connections, but for the $199 price point and rather modest audience this system is aimed towards, there isn’t too much to fault here.

The BeeStation features two USB 3.2 Gen. 1, 5 Gbps ports, including Type A and Type C. These ports can be used to connect external USB storage to the BeeStation, and access to this storage is immediately accessible via the Bee Files software user interface on desktop and mobile.

Additionally, BeeStation Manager also includes the means to backup the whole system storage to a connected USB via the system settings interface, as well as a more tactile and customizable individual object file finder backup option in Bee Files. Numerous USB backups can be created, scheduled, and several filters applied to ensure that only important or necessary files are backed up when needed.

Much like Synology DSM, there is also the option for a backup to be actioned automatically when a selected USB is connected to the system and auto-dismounted when the job is completed. The Beestation is a 1-Bay and the result is that although these USBs can be used to add external storage or backup storage, they cannot be used to add any kind of expansion and expand the original storage while maintaining existing share paths for remote access users.

The notable physical connection is the network connection, a 1GbE network port that serves as the only remote access point for this system. Previously, I have criticized Synology for continuing the use of 1 GbE network ports when the majority of their competitors, even at this price point, have started rolling out 2.5 GbE as standard, and given the 2.5x network performance bandwidth and relative inexpense at the production level between these two connections, it’s understandable that users may be annoyed. However, this is a system running on a single hard drive that is already going to suffer occasional drops in performance when simultaneous access is happening. Equally, the modest Realtek CPU inside this system is not really hugely well equipped to spread itself out across the hardware configuration on offer and still maintain that same level of efficiency and capability. Therefore, I’m not hugely surprised that Synology has opted for 1GbE on this modest BeeStation system, but do be aware that this will bottleneck the potential 180 to 200 megabytes per second performance that a hard drive like this is capable of.

Synology has clearly tried to differentiate the BeeStation series from their existing DiskStation range of prosumer and business devices, and the design we’re seeing here is certainly a great way to do this. Yes, we’re not exactly looking at hardware that will absolutely blow your mind, but for $199 once again, we are looking at a very well-put-together and quality feeling product from a brand that already has a well-established reputation for these things to maintain. Let’s discuss the hardware inside this device and what keeps this thing moving!

Synology BeeStation Review – Internal Hardware

Despite these Synology BeeStation arriving at a very modest scale, they equip this device with the same CPU found inside the majority of their Value and J series boxes. In the comparisons that I have previously made between the BeeStation and the WD My Cloud series, it is worth remembering that Western Digital was always quite conservative when it came to the hardware on their personal cloud systems. WD still provides exceedingly low-powered dual-core 32-bit ARM Marvell processors that, in 2024, are really showing their age. By comparison, this Synology BeeStation arrives with a 64-bit ARM processor, featuring quad-core and also coming with 1GB of DDR4 memory. This is the same CPU found in the one-bay DS124 and 2-bay DS223, but the way the BeeStation utilizes this hardware is notably different from that of its arguably more fully-featured DiskStation alternative.

This CPU is actually capable of doing a great many more things than what the BeeStation and BSM offer, but does provide a very robust and comparatively more powerful base for these more streamlined operations than what is found by other cost-effective alternatives on the market.

The system also arrives with 1GB of DDR4 memory that, again, is double that found in the majority of more budget NAS systems, and given this system only supports up to eight simultaneous active users, 1GB of DDR4 memory is definitely more than enough to handle the comparatively simplistic photo, file management, and backup operations largely associated with this system. This memory is not upgradable, delivered via direct-soldered chips on the internal motherboard, but the CPU is not especially good at handling memory in larger quantities anyway (I believe the maximum supported memory by the processor is 4GB), and thus, this good base level memory and CPU are only really let down by one thing about this system – the single SATA hard drive inside!

As mentioned earlier, this system running from a single SATA hard drive presents quite large challenges with regards to multiple operations at any given time. Those eight maximum simultaneous users have plenty of CPU processing power and memory to divide between them, but a single SATA hard drive is going to struggle massively with up to eight users and their individual file processing demands at any given time. This is precisely the reason that users migrated away from hard drives for running operating systems, favoring the use of SSDs, as hard drives simply do not stand up well to the rigours of simultaneous input/output in 2024. So, once again, a complete bummer!

Examining the internal hardware on the BeeStation feels a little overzealous, given the target audience. This system is designed for being by their very nature, less tech-spec interested. I have to give Synology tremendous credit for constructing a much more powerful option in the personal cloud space than the majority of other vendors competing for this tier of the market. Now, I just wish for storage options, RAID options, and just generally better scaling options for buyers at launch. But it’s not about what you’ve got, right? It’s about what you do with it! Let’s discuss the software and services of the BeeStation.

Synology BeeStation Review – BSM Software, BeeFiles and BeePhotos

Synology has impressively reimagined their premium DSM software experience, streamlining it to introduce the more user-friendly BeeStation Manager (BSM) package. At launch, BSM offers a complete web-based GUI accessible via web browsers, a downloadable client tool for Windows or Mac systems for synchronized OS file management, and two mobile applications: BeeFiles and BeePhotos.

The user experience and software suite available for engaging with their private cloud on the BeeStation are categorized into three main areas: system management, file management, and photo management, starting with system management, which can be the most daunting aspect for users transitioning from public cloud services.

System Management

The setup process is notably user-friendly, marking one of the best NAS experiences in my extensive data storage career. Initially, you activate the device, connect it to a network, and proceed to the Synology online BeeStation portal to create a user account. This process, which includes entering the device’s serial number, downloading the latest firmware, and creating a user account, is streamlined and efficient, enabling a fully operational personal cloud setup in under three minutes.

The web management interface, although simpler compared to Synology’s DSM, emphasizes simplicity for home users and individuals moving away from cloud services, making it deliberately sparse yet functional.

Main Command Interface

The initial interface displays available storage and the allocation of storage types, offering features such as inviting additional users to your shared space. With hardware not designed for heavy-duty use, akin to Synology’s J series NAS, it supports adding up to eight users through an invitation system via the online portal.

Backup and Support

BSM includes simplified system backup options, using either a local USB drive or Synology’s C2 cloud service for offsite backups, with additional backup capabilities through BeeFiles. This feature underscores the importance of data security and system configuration preservation.

Alert settings for system events, such as unauthorized access attempts and storage issues, are standard, ensuring users are informed of system status and security. For hardware issues, BeeStation allows remote device access by Synology support, requiring user-generated unique keys, ensuring user consent before support can intervene.

Technical and LAN Access

The system defaults to disabling LAN access, a point of contention given its implications for local network performance versus internet-based access. This decision, aimed at simplifying security for less technical users, may limit user experience under certain conditions.

BeeFiles and BeePhotos

BeeFiles offers a straightforward approach to accessing storage, akin to services like Google Drive or Dropbox, with apps for web, mobile, and desktop use, enabling easy file management and sharing among up to eight users.

BeePhotos provides a dedicated platform for photo and video management, incorporating AI for facial and object recognition to enhance photo cataloging and search functionality, though it has room for improvement in object recognition specificity.

Performance and Optimization

The system’s reliance on a single 4TB 5400 RPM hard drive limits its performance, especially in high-demand operations like indexing and thumbnail generation. This highlights a potential area for future optimization and hardware upgrades to enhance user experience.

In summary, while the BeeStation system demonstrates a polished software experience and presents a functional and cost-effective alternative to cloud services, its performance and hardware limitations are areas poised for future improvements. As Synology expands the BeeStation hardware lineup, users can anticipate enhanced functionality and value from these tools.

Synology BeeStation Review – Verdict and Conclusion

The Synology BeeStation marks a significant shift in Synology’s product line, targeting a new segment of users with its simplified yet functional design. This device stands out as an excellent middle ground between ease of use and a comprehensive private cloud system, providing secure and seamless access to stored data. While it is incredibly user-friendly and easy to set up, the lack of LAN access by default and its single-bay, 4TB-only configuration at launch might limit its appeal to more tech-savvy users or those seeking greater flexibility and expandability. The BeeStation’s unique selling point is its simplicity, making it a compelling choice for those new to NAS systems or for users who prioritize ease of use over extensive customization options. However, its simplicity also means that it lacks the extensive app support found in Synology’s DSM platform, potentially disappointing users accustomed to the richer application ecosystem offered by Synology’s more advanced models.

For users concerned about security, the BeeStation still upholds Synology’s reputation for secure data handling, with encrypted data transmission as a standard feature. However, experienced users who prefer a more hands-on approach to their NAS setup might find the BeeStation’s lack of advanced configuration options and its reliance on internet access for setup somewhat restrictive. In terms of market positioning, the BeeStation fills a gap left by other brands like WD and Seagate in offering ‘Easy NAS’ systems. Its competitive pricing, particularly considering the included 4TB of storage, makes it an attractive option for users seeking a private cloud solution without the recurring costs associated with third-party cloud services. Despite these potential drawbacks, the BeeStation is a solid entry-level NAS solution, especially for those seeking a personal cloud with minimal setup and maintenance. It may not be as feature-rich as Synology’s DSM-based NAS devices, but for its intended audience, the BeeStation provides a well-balanced combination of functionality, ease of use, and affordability. Synology’s move to cater to a broader, less technically inclined audience with the BeeStation demonstrates their understanding of market trends and user needs, offering a solution that balances simplicity with the reliability and quality Synology is known for.

In the end, the Synology BeeStation is an ideal choice for users seeking a straightforward, reliable, and cost-effective personal cloud solution. It represents Synology’s commitment to diversifying their product range, catering to the evolving needs of different user segments. While it may not suit everyone, especially those looking for advanced features and customization, it excels in its role as a user-friendly, secure, and affordable entry-level NAS device.

 

Taking the Synology Beestation Apart to See What is Inside…

Synology is approaching a whole new kind of user with the release of the new BeeStation personal cloud simplified NAS system. For all of the years that we have discussed the Synology NAS platform, very few solutions from the brand have been this hassle-free and easy to use. A lot of this simplification by Synology in BeeStation, DSM, and the system’s approach to storage stems from the system being a far more closed platform than previous DiskStation and rackmount solutions that have come before it. Many more experienced storage veterans and IT specialists wonder about how the Synology BeeStation is put together, how its internal hardware and components differ from traditional DiskStation alternatives, and how exactly the system is managing that inclusive 4TB of storage. So in today’s video, I got my screwdriver out and decided to take apart and completely disassemble the Synology BeeStation 4TB model. If you are reading this article, that is likely because you are either a user on the fence who is considering buying this system and wants to know about how to take it apart in the event of maintenance, or you are a fellow reviewer or tech specialist who wants to use this guide as the means to understand how to take the BeeStation apart. Regardless of who you are, I hope you enjoy this guide and attribute and share it if you find it helpful. Before we delve further, we need to discuss a few disclaimers.

Synology Beestation Disasembly – IMPORTANT WARNING!

This is a really, really important point. Taking apart the Synology BeeStation runs a significant risk of not only damaging your data but also completely nullifying any hardware or software support that Synology will provide you. The BeeStation was designed to be a closed system and not targeted towards higher-end tech enthusiasts, and therefore does not allow the same easy dismantle procedure that you find in the DiskStation range. This Synology BeeStation was provided to me by Synology UK, and I am dismantling the system without their assurance or without their authorization to do so; the same needs to be applied to your own BeeStation system if you intend to follow the steps in this guide to tear down and dismantle it. This system was not designed to be taken apart, and taking it apart may result in the following:

• You might cause damage to the hard drive inside via static electricity, motion, or physical pressure.
• The BeeStation casing is an exceptionally tight-fitting enclosure, and dismantling it will almost certainly leave marks and clear indications that you have done so, which will invalidate any hardware support available to you as you have tampered with the system and performed actions that are not covered by the hardware warranty.
• You run the risk of scratching the internal motherboard, PCB, or delicate components during the dismantling of the BeeStation, which will result in complete system failure at worst and detrimental performance drops at best if this occurs.

Do not proceed with dismantling your Synology BeeStation unless you are happy to run the risk that it may be deemed inoperable or that your support by Synology may cease as a result.

Additionally, the Synology BeeStation includes numerous measures to back up the content of the system’s data and set up to the Synology C2 cloud, a connected USB drive, or at an object file/folder level to third-party cloud services. It is extremely recommended that you have an up-to-the-second backup in place before you attempt any of the steps in this guide. Any data loss resulting from following the steps in this guide is purely at your own discretion, and myself and NAS Compares cannot be held accountable. Bottom line, be aware that what you are doing right now is outside of what this system was supposed to do, and that you are doing so at your own risk. Understand? Good. Let’s get on with dismantling the BeeStation and tear down this cost-effective NAS.

Also, it is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED that you read through the steps completely first, before you begin dismantling your BeeStation NAS, as it’s decent bits more layered in the access compared with a normal Diskstation NAS system.

Dismantling the Synology BeeStation Persona Cloud – A Step By Step Guide

First thing you need to do is disconnect all ethernet (LAN), power cables and USB devices and give the system sufficient time to allow the HDD inside to spin down. Then carefully turn the device up and have the base vent panel face up. Again, be CAREFUL as this system features a mechanical HDD inside and that can be susceptible to shock/motion damage.

Next you need to slowly and carefully peel back the rubber foot panel located at the base, at the front of the Beestation (i.e the single LED light side). It is held in place with strong adhesive, but you can replace it back after opening the case up later, as the rubber foot sits in a grooved panel and the adhesive has plenty of reuse!

Under the rubber panel are two Phillips/cross-head screws. There are the ONLY external means to open up the enclosure/casing of the BeeStation.

Remove each of these screws (keep them to one side and make sure to remember they are the base screws, as the system has 2 kinds of screws in it’s construction and mixing them up with rip the screw holes to pieces!

Removing these two scews will allow you to apply a small above of pressure to leverage the front panel of the BeeStation NAS to be removed. Important – do this carefully (that word again!) as the entire casing is made up of 2 pieces and its super easy to crack it in two!

The top part of the front panel is actually an L-shaped panel that has the fully ventilated dust panel attached. Mkae sure that your ease the panel off carefully enough not to break those 4 hooks at the top, as these are what align the top panel with the rest of the casing.

Slight side note, but for those that care about dust build up on 24×7 systems like the BeeStation, this can be quite useful to perform cleaning. Anyway, carrying on!

Next up os removing the Hard Drive that the Beestation Personal Cloud arrives with. The first thing you need to remove is the 2 smaller screws located around the edge of the casing. DO NOT REMOVE THE 2 LARGER SCREWS IN THE MIDDLE!!! These larger screws hold the HDD in place and you need to do this much later, or else risk the drive moving around during the dismantling.

Each screw will be easy to remove, however there are actually 3 more screw located around the base of the framework. They are tricky to reach, and a longer screwdriver would be recommended, but it can be done with an ordinary 15cm + screwdriver will get the job done.

At the front base area, you can find two black Phillips/cross-head screws that you need to remove. You will need to come at there from a slight angle if you only have a short screwdriver. Important – DO NOT USE AN ELECTRIC/AUTOMATIC SCREWDRIVER!!! Notwithstanding that you will tear the soft screw to pieces, you might cause vibration that will be damaging to the HDD next to the screw! Do it the OLD SKOOL way!

The last screw is much harder to spot and reach, it is located at the bottom-back of the enclosure, on the NON-Motherboard side. You will need to come at it from a slight angle, even with a longer screwdriver. Note, you COULD have removed the top panel attached to the HDD in order to get to the screw a little easier, but I personally would rather the HDD remains in an immobile cage throughout this part of the Beestaion teardown. It’s your call!

That is the last screw that you need to remove and , once it is done, you can begin the removal of the HDD clip/cage.

The HDD Clip/cage will slide out sideways (with a little resistance). BE CAREFUL with the removal of the HDD cage/clips, as the right-hand side will have the controller board (which has the heatsink on top of the CPU, and a bare PCB – which can be super susceptible to static and moisture!

One you have removed the HDD Cage tray, you will now have three components on the table:

The one we want to focus on is the HDD tray/cage. Carefully turn it around and lay the drive facedown on the table.

Once the drive is ‘face down’, you need to carefully (yes, THAT word again! Take a drink) remove the two silver screws, Try to touch the blue PCB controller board as little as possible.

Once you have removed those two screws, you need to either slide the controller board away from the Hard drive, or slide the hard drive away. You are doing this to disconnect the SATA connector that is soldered to the controller board. Do NOT leverage the hard drive upwards/downwards, as you run the risk of breaking the connector.

The controller PCB should come away very easily and with little resistance. But before we move forward, it’s worth checking the SATA connector is unharmed.

Take a closer look at the SATA connector. It should look like this:

This is what the storage side of the Synology Beestation BST150 looks like:

The underside of the controller board is where we find a large black heatsink panel that covers the HDD and 1GB DDR4 memory. IMPORTANT – I still have numerous tests to perform on this device for the review, comparison videos and guides for this device. Therefore I am not going to remove this heatsink, as it might result in detrimental performance that will undermine future content.

However, for those that want to know, underneath this heating panel is the Realtek RTD1619b quad core 64bit ARM processor that runs the Synology Beetstation and BSM services, as well as 1GB of DDR4 memory that arrives in presoldered modules on the main PCB. Ther is NOT an kind of SODIMM slot and, given the price and CPU choice in terms of efficiency, this is not a huge surprise.Therefore, memory upgrades on the Synology BeeStation are not possible.

The system software package is delivered via a smaller component that arrives pre-labeled at the factory with the software revision that the BeeStation arrives with. It is worth noting that, as time rolls on, Synology are going to be rolling out numerous firmware updates and (as is the case with the Synology Diskstation/DSM systems) it will update the installer and bootloader package on this chip no doubt.

Each of the physical connections (1GbE RJ45, Power delivery, USB Type A+C and physical buttons) are soldered to the PCB and are not provided on any kid of sister board.

Interesting, Synology have not just cloned and reused the DS124 hardware configuration here (though there are certainly areas of cross over) and instead have designed a whole new PCB layout and scale. The board (model ID and serial identification below) need to factor in the absence of any active cooling system (i.e a fan) on the Beestation, that was present on Diskstation systems like the DS124 and DS223j that arrive with a similar hardware configuration. Equally, this system changes one of the USB ports to Type C and has a very different back port arrangement to spread out.

Next, removing the Hard Drive from itsplastic handles. The HDD is held in place by 4 screws that go directly into the same four screw holes that are usually used by HDD bays on Diskstastion NAS that utilize trays. Ther are four screw in each corner. Important note for later – Make a note of the clips and direction that are on either side of the HDD – whether you want to reassemble this Beestation to the factory build OR you are considering exploring larger HDDs, getting these clips the wrong way around or in the wrong direction will, at best, mean it won’t for back together and you need to redo them, or at WORST, you end up damaging the controller board and casing as you attempt to re-insert the drive.

Each screw uses a counter-sunk system and also arrives with a rubber washer between the screw head and the plastic. This means that you do not need to fully remove the screw, as there is a small % of space left. Regardless, just remove the four screws and each of the side panels should come off very easily.

Once again, make sure you keep track of which panel goes with each side of the HDD – As this will be a right pain during reassembly. An important area of note here is that IF you are considering adding larger/alternative drives to the Beestation and you have your heart set on an SSD, you are going to need a 2.5″ to 3.5″ HDD adapter, as the screw holes that the tray clips AND the PCB Backboard are not available on a 2.5″ SSD. This does also open the door to the potential for a Dual 2.5″ SATA SSD to 3.5″ SATA Adapter case, which would provide the performance benefits of 2x SATA SSD in a RAID 0, or the redundancy benefits of 2x SATA SSDs in a RAID 1, if the case supports internal RAID 0/1). Here are two options:

2.5″ to 3.5″ SATA Adapter ($7.99+) Find on Amazon HERE

2x SATA 2.5″ SATA to 1x 3.5″ SATA Adapter RAID Caddy (19.99+) Find on Amazon HERE

However, there is considerably more to adding a new hard drive to the BeeStation than just the physical injection!

This reveals the drive in all it’s glory (in this case, a Synology HAT3300 which is a Seagate Ironwolf NAS HDD with Synology Firmware, but yours might well be the HAT3310, which is a Toshiba N300 drive with Synology FW). At launch, the Synology BeeStation arrived with just a single 4TB option, but no doubt in the further (perhaps when you are reading this) Synology have rolled out bigger HDD options or RAID equipped multi-bay versions.

But, there you go! That is the disassembly of the Synology BeeStation. I hope you enjoyed this guide and found in useful/informative! REMEMBER, I did this to show you what the inside of your BeeStation Personal Cloud looks like, so YOU DON’T HAVE TO! If you have any further questions, you can reach out to me on robbie ( at ) nascompares.com, or use our free advice section located on the right hand side of the page. Alternatively, you can reach us on our Discord HERE, our community forum HERE, or for faster and more personal support over on KoFi Commissions HERE. If you use and/or share the content of this guide online, please help us spread awareness of our platform and the work we do by backlinking us appropriately! Thanks for reading!

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Synology BeeStation Personal Cloud Review – Quick Conclusion

READ THE FULL BeeStation Review HERE

Synology has clearly done their homework on the development and presentation of the BeeStation private cloud. They are targeting a whole new audience with this system, and therefore, criticisms based on experiences with their other hardware are likely to fall on deaf ears. The BeeStation is probably one of the best middle grounds I have ever seen between an easy-to-use and exceptionally easy-to-set-up private cloud system, while still managing to provide smooth and seamless features for accessing and sharing your private cloud’s storage securely. Looking at this system with a more network-savvy microscope kind of defeats the point, and I’ve tried to be fair in my assessment. The lack of LAN access by default seems a little odd, and launching the BeeStation series in this single-bay, 4TB-only fashion may be a bit of a marketing misstep, but overall, what you’re seeing here is an effectively priced and scaled private cloud system. It’s a fantastic alternative to third-party clouds and existing simplified NAS systems. With many users keeping an eye on their budgets and tightening costs, Synology, known for its premium position in the market, had a challenge scaling down to this kind of user. However, I have to applaud Synology’s R&D for creating a simple and easy-to-use personal cloud solution that still carries a lot of their charm and great software reputation. It may not be as feature-rich as DSM, but BSM does exactly what it says it will do, and I think the target audience it’s designed for will enjoy the BeeStation a great deal!

DEAL WATCH – Is It On Offer Right Now? These Offers are Checked Daily

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Synology BeeStation – Should You Buy? (Short Review)

Of all the products I’ve spoken about from Synology in nearly 25 years of solutions, the new BeeStation is possibly one of the most conventional yet surprising they have ever released. We first spoke about the BeeStation, otherwise known as the BST150-4T, halfway through 2023, when we started hearing rumors about Synology’s new entry-level solution that was shaping up to challenge the likes of WD My Cloud and My Book solutions. Synology has been providing impressively capable personal cloud solutions for a considerably long time, but it would be fair to say that for the majority of users who just want a simple cloud solution that is easy even for a child to set up, DSM isn’t quite as straightforward as they would like. The BeeStation and BSM hope to remedy this with Synology providing what is potentially the most user-friendly and easy-to-use personal cloud solution they have ever provided, as well as inviting positive comparisons against the likes of Google Drive and iCloud in terms of price. Roll in the fact that the system already arrives pre-populated with four terabytes of storage and is priced at just $199, and what you find here is one of the biggest brands in the world in network attached storage trying to reinvent the wheel that they themselves had a big part in designing! If you are reading this, it is because you are wondering whether the Synology BeeStation is the perfect fit for your simple, low-scale, and low-cost private cloud. So today, I want to tell you the five reasons why I can highly recommend the Synology BeeStation, as well as providing five reasons why you might want to give it a miss.

UPDATE – You can watch the FULL YouTube Review of the Synology BeeStation HERE

Or Read the FULL Massive Beestation Review HERE

Please note – This review is being conducted on a BeeStation 4TB NAS system with pre-launch software, so there is every opportunity that a number of the criticisms below may be addressed at launch on March 6th 2024. It is recommended that you read our full and extensive deep-dive review on the Beestation when it is live.

Synology BeeStation Personal Cloud Review – Quick Conclusion

Synology has clearly done their homework on the development and presentation of the BeeStation private cloud. They are targeting a whole new audience with this system, and therefore, criticisms based on experiences with their other hardware are likely to fall on deaf ears. The BeeStation is probably one of the best middle grounds I have ever seen between an easy-to-use and exceptionally easy-to-set-up private cloud system, while still managing to provide smooth and seamless features for accessing and sharing your private cloud’s storage securely. Looking at this system with a more network-savvy microscope kind of defeats the point, and I’ve tried to be fair in my assessment. The lack of LAN access by default seems a little odd, and launching the BeeStation series in this single-bay, 4TB-only fashion may be a bit of a marketing misstep, but overall, what you’re seeing here is an effectively priced and scaled private cloud system. It’s a fantastic alternative to third-party clouds and existing simplified NAS systems. With many users keeping an eye on their budgets and tightening costs, Synology, known for its premium position in the market, had a challenge scaling down to this kind of user. However, I have to applaud Synology’s R&D for creating a simple and easy-to-use personal cloud solution that still carries a lot of their charm and great software reputation. It may not be as feature-rich as DSM, but BSM does exactly what it says it will do, and I think the target audience it’s designed for will enjoy the BeeStation a great deal!

DEAL WATCH – Is It On Offer Right Now? These Offers are Checked Daily

Reasons You Should Buy the Synology BeeStation

Synology has done an incredible job here of changing a number of core tenets about their existing large NAS series to produce the far more streamlined BeeStation system. Here are five reasons why it certainly gets my recommendation. Before we go further though, what about those hardware specifications? What keeps this system going?

Specification	Details
CPU	Realtek RTD1619B
RAM	1GB DDR4
Storage Capacity	4TB built-in HDD
Networking	Gigabit Ethernet; No Wi-Fi capability
Ports	1 x USB-A 3.2 Gen 1, 1 x USB-C 3.2 Gen 1
Operating System	BeeStation Manager (BSM)
Cloud Integration	Supports Google Drive, OneDrive
Remote Access	Via mobile apps and web interface
Number of Simultaneous Users	Up to 8 people
Supported Operating Systems	Windows, macOS, iOS, Android
Apps and Tools	BeePhotos for mobile, other integrated tools for photo and file management
Physical Dimensions	148 x 63 x 196mm; Weight: 820g
Security Features	Encrypted data transmission; SSH not enabled by default
Local Access	Available post initial setup
Additional Features	Built-in AI for photo recognition, Facial and Object recognition speed boosts

So, with that out the way, why should you consider the Beestation as your ideal private cloud solution?

The EASIEST Synology NAS You Will Ever Own

I really cannot stress enough how straightforward and easy it was to set up the Synology BeeStation, especially when compared to any other Synology NAS that I’ve utilized here on the channel or on the blog. Just to put it into perspective, here’s how setting up a normal Synology DiskStation NAS and setting up the Synology BeeStation compare. Setting up an ordinary Synology NAS takes around 15 to 20 minutes minimum, if you know what you are doing. You need to first install the appropriate storage media of hard drives and/or SSDs into the individual slots. Then, connect the device to your local area network and the power supply and boot up. You need to wait 2 minutes for the system to fully initialize, whereupon you begin the initialization process and download the latest operating system manually via the on-screen prompts in your web browser on a device connected to the local area network. Then, provide your login credentials and go into the storage manager to begin setting up your storage area, including your storage pools, volumes, and shared folders to distribute your data effectively. If you want to take advantage of services such as cloud synchronization, manage your backups, and create an online access account with Synology services, these will add something like 20 to 30 minutes to setup (even longer if you are factoring in more complicated RAID pools such as RAID 5 or 6).

Here is a 40+ minute video showing how to Setup a Synology DSM NAS (so NOT the BeeStation), to give you some idea of how long it takes Synology Diskstation systems:

Now, what about setting up the BeeStation? Well, you take the device out of its box, plug it into the internet, use absolutely any device, mobile or desktop, with an internet connection, and visit the Synology online portal. Then, enter the system serial number for the assistant to be found remotely to set up an account, and the device is genuinely ready to go in around 90 seconds.

Here is a 1-minute gif showing the Beestation setup in Realtime:

The system storage, sync, and backup applications, and creating the Synology account needed for remote access to the system are either all included in that first initialization or will add upwards of 30 more seconds to the installation. We are talking about one of the most foolproof cloud systems I have ever seen, with the added benefit that you can set the device up from cold boot in anything from 2 to 3 minutes. The logic for this extends to the general use of the system, with the BeeStation Manager software being extraordinarily straightforward and easy to use. We will get on to later the extent to which this software can be utilized, but if what you are looking for is easy-to-use, straightforward, and uncomplicated cloud management, the BeeStation definitely has your back!

Surprisingly Reasonable Pricing…Especially for the Included 4TB Storage

The $199 price point that the BeeStation arrives at, especially once you factor in exactly what you are getting for your money long-term, is extraordinarily impressive. Keep in mind, you’re not just getting the system on its own, but a ready-to-go remote access NAS cloud that also arrives with four terabytes of internal storage right out of the gate. To put this into perspective, if you were to utilize popular cloud services such as Google Drive, Dropbox, iCloud, and OneDrive, you would pay around $80 to $100 a year for two terabytes of storage on average. So, if you double this to cover the same 4TB of storage included with the Synology BeeStation, you find that the BeeStation costs within one year exactly as much as popular cloud storage providers, and, in the case of iCloud, actually costs less than the Apple cloud alternative in just one year.

Note – Prices for the 3rd party cloud services below may include other cloud services, but are also often limited to cost-per-user

But it does not stop there. Remember, with those cloud services, after one year, if you do not keep paying, you lose that storage area and will either have to accept its inevitable deletion or spend money on a storage device to pull that data off the cloud. The BeeStation, on the other hand, for that $199 is yours to keep long-term and, alongside arriving with 3 years of manufacturer’s hardware warranty, also comes with an effective lifetime support warranty covering updates, security, and feature improvements. Add to that the myriad of client applications and potential synchronization with larger Synology DiskStation devices down the line, and what you have here is extraordinary value for money when compared with third-party cloud alternatives, but also generally for the cost of a 4TB NAS device in general.

Sync with 3rd Party Cloud, NOT Just Synology C2

This is a very minor point for those out of the loop, but if you have been following Synology in recent years and the development of their NAS solution platform, you’ll know that they’ve been shifting focus towards first-party services and tools across their hardware lineup. You can understand the logic in them prioritizing their own hardware upgrades, storage, media, and even their own Synology software services when developing their own NAS hardware. While Synology’s platform does support a number of third-party hardware and software providers, it’s fair to say that in recent years they have definitely shifted focus towards prioritizing their own options first (for reasons of compatibility, synergy, and profitability almost certainly).

However, huge credit to them for how they have handled cloud synchronization on the BeeStation. For those unaware, cloud synchronization is when your physical NAS solution (commonly referred to as your bare metal) is synchronized with an internet-accessible cloud platform, either for use as a secondary access point for lower priority users or as a secondary backup location between your physical bare metal NAS and an off-site location. Synology has had their own cloud platform, Synology C2, for a number of years now, and it’s been growing in popularity and scale year on year. It would have been easy to limit cloud synchronization on the BeeStation to only their cloud platform, and given the price and target audience, many would not have been surprised. HOWEVER, the Synology BeeStation supports a number of third-party cloud platforms such as Google and OneDrive for cloud synchronization natively, without requiring any additional app or add-on. Full credit to Synology for still supporting synchronization with other cloud platforms when they already have their own in play. Of course, you can use Synology C2 if you wish, and there’s also an argument that Synology provided this to make it easier for users to migrate from those third-party cloud platforms to their own. Nevertheless, I really do have to give them credit for maintaining third-party cloud sync on this device.

REALLY Quiet Operation and Small Impact

Another thing that is going to be music to the ears of people who are simply looking for an alternative to third-party cloud providers in the form of a physical solution in their office or home with remote access, is that the BeeStation is phenomenally low impact in practically every way. The internal hardware configuration of the Realtek RTD1619B and 1GB DDR4 memory is a great middle ground between efficiency and system capability. Synology has been experimenting with this configuration of a 64-bit ARM processor and gigabyte memory for a number of years, with other solutions already arriving for more than a year with this hardware configuration.

This ensures that they’ve had ample time to make the most of what this config can do. Add to that, this system is tremendously small, small enough to fit in a big coat pocket or a laptop bag while barely being noticed, and well under a kilo in weight, making it surprisingly portable if need be. Finally, the system is almost completely noiseless and, thanks to the more modest 4TB hard drive inside (a Synology branded Plus Series value drive), the system is incredibly low noise when in operation. The casing that the BeeStation arrives with is a completely unique design compared to the rest of their hardware solutions and is easily one of the smallest they have ever produced. Ultimately, the point I’m making is that the BeeStation is going to be almost unnoticeable when deployed, even at close proximity.

The BeeStation Fills the Gap Left by WD and Seagate in ‘Easy NAS’ Systems

Let’s be honest, although Synology has certainly retooled their existing NAS solutions to provide a far more streamlined private cloud solution here, they were not the first to design a product like this. When Synology first made it big all those years ago, they didn’t do it because they were the first in the market to provide this kind of solution; they became popular because, unlike alternatives from the likes of Seagate and WD at the time, Synology was providing a personal cloud solution that was also exceptionally capable and feature-rich compared to the more rudimentary options in the market that were effectively hard drives connected to the internet. Fast forward to now, and although Synology has continued to innovate, improve, and expand upon what is included in Synology DSM and their other bigger NAS systems, there are quite a lot of users who desire a more simplified private cloud solution as they don’t want to waste time or energy learning how to utilize their equipment – they just want it to do what it says it will do, and do it well! Over the years, brands like WD with their My Cloud and My Book systems have persisted. However, the personal cloud and small scale simplified NAS market has changed rapidly in recent years, and Western Digital has lost a lot of its market share for numerous reasons. The simpler-to-use WDOS that their My Cloud systems arrive with has struggled to find a balance between simplicity and rich features, leading to inconsistencies that have either annoyed the more technically aware or befuddled the more amateur. This on its own would probably not be so bad, but things got really bad for Western Digital.

Over the course of the last 4 to 5 years, WD has been beset by numerous failings across the different NAS solutions they have provided. One of the earliest and loudest was their use of SMR drives in their WD Red series, which led many to question whether WD had the right idea about what a NAS solution was supposed to do and offer. Then, a couple of years later, WD NAS solutions were hit by a remote hack targeted at deleting users’ data, caused by infrequent firmware updates that users were not actioning, and also because WD was not adequately updating users. However, the worst example was when WD in 2023 was hit by an enormous cybersecurity incident which led to WD My Cloud systems being completely taken offline with remote access inaccessible. Because of the rudimentary design of these systems, users were ill-equipped and poorly informed about what was going on, and this hurt the reputation of the WD My Cloud and My Book systems extensively. The point I am making here is that there has been a gap in the market for a while that needs to be filled for those looking for simple yet reliable private cloud solutions, and Synology already has a big reputation in the world of premium NAS. So, this is a perfect time for them to produce a streamlined alternative to their own solution portfolio that fills the void left by the likes of WD in recent years, and the BeeStation is ideally suited in terms of price, hardware, and software to do this.

However, nothing is perfect and if you think the BeeStation is the same as any other Synology NAS solution, you may be in for disappointment. Let’s go through all the reasons why you might want to give the Synology BeeStation a miss.

Reasons You Should NOT Buy the Synology BeeStation

The majority of reasons why the Synology BeeStation may not suit your needs largely fall under the umbrella of ‘simplicity’. Synology has clearly targeted a very new and more entry-level audience with this product. So, if you are an existing owner of a Synology DSM NAS system or someone who is a bit more tech-savvy, these reasons why you might not want to buy the BeeStation will resonate with you.

It’s very, VERY Basic Compared with Other Synology NAS with DSM

Huge credit to Synology for retooling and reinventing the presentation of their existing NAS platform to create the more streamlined BeeStation system, but we have to acknowledge that the BeeStation and BSM are incredibly basic compared to DiskStation Manager. Earlier, I touched on how simple it is to set up the first time, and while that is true, the more simplified user experience also means that options for configuration, customization, and general upgradability are significantly limited. The BSM user interface consists of only around five different windows, each dedicated to the more rudimentary features of this system. If what you care about is general storage, there is a lot to enjoy here, and the baseline applications from Synology DSM for file management, backup management, and folder management are all present.

However, the BeeStation and BSM platform are more storage-only systems that provide a small toolkit for maximizing that storage for backups and general access. Additionally, likely in order not to confuse or overwhelm the user with configuration, the actual options for sharing this system are also more limited than a normal DSM NAS. The number of maximum supported users is much lower, features such as read/write permissions are absent, sophisticated native storage file system choices such as iSCSI are absent, and even the options for connecting this to another NAS system at launch are quite limited. Again, if you are just looking for your own private cloud with no bells and whistles and easy day-to-day use, this device is perfect. But it is not an alternative to Synology DSM in terms of overall scope.

Not Available Unpopulated or in Other Capacities (at Launch)

One can appreciate that Synology almost certainly has a larger launch campaign for the Synology BeeStation up its sleeve, but it was perhaps a little short-sighted to only launch a single device in a single capacity. In its 25 years of business, Synology has produced numerous scales of systems in terms of system power and storage capacity, so it is a little unfair to criticize them for not going at it with the same level of thrust when launching a whole new arm of their business. However, there is valid criticism to highlight that the system is only available in a four-terabyte capacity (likely with larger capacities to be fair), but also that there is no 0TB/Empty option. Synology solutions have always arrived unpopulated, allowing flexibility in choosing storage. No doubt, in the interest of simplicity, Synology has rolled this solution out with their own branded drives as compulsory. If you dig into the Synology download area for manual system updates, you also find that the firmware updates for the BeeStation are much larger than those found in traditional DSM despite those systems not having storage media by default. This is because BSM arrives with applications for backup and storage management pre-installed and pre-allocated to the 4TB Synology hard drive configuration, meaning the firmware is locked to the 4TB model, and more specifically, to a Synology hard drive. So, long-time Synology veterans might not be huge fans of the fact that this system is only available in a 4TB capacity and that there is no means to install alternative hard drives or get the system without one. However, realistically, they are not the target audience for this product.

Additionally, there is no avoiding that the system OS and a single 5400RPM HDD (if it is the HAT3300 inside) definitely adds up to system slowdown during even vaguely busy periods of use. Numerous times during the testing of the device, during backups, indexing or client synchronization the poor multi-tasking of a single HDD resulted in slower responses. Synology are clearly aware of this too, as on numerous occasions the BeeStation GUI would warn me to expect responsiveness to decrease during these periods. I appreciated that the system was warning me, but nonetheless this does not excuse the overall slow response that is clearly the result of the hardware on offer here.

The Beestation is Only Available as a 1-Bay – No RAID (at Launch)

Going further on the subject of the 4TB storage, it’s also surprising to see Synology roll out this system in a single-bay configuration. If you had told me that Synology was rolling out a new low-powered alternative to the likes of the WD My Cloud, I would have bet that the first solution would be a 2-Bay/RAID 1 ready solution. However, the BeeStation only features a single 4TB hard drive, meaning the redundancy/failover/safety net of RAID is not available here. The system does feature two USB ports, allowing you to connect USB storage and set up an automated backup to those external drives, and with its gigabit network connectivity, you can backup off-site or to another system in your local area network, which are all great backup options. But the fact that the system’s core storage does not have any kind of failover in this launch product is quite disappointing for a brand that takes storage seriously, and I would much rather have seen at least a two-bay version of this product at launch. It kind of has an all-eggs-in-one-basket feel about it that, if you do not have up-to-the-second synchronized backups off-site, could lead to hot data being lost very easily.

No App Centre = No Popular 1st/3rd Party Apps

Once again, this is a criticism that stems from more experienced Synology DSM NAS users, and arguably one that won’t arise from Synology’s new target audience for this product, but the lack of any kind of app center for tailored add-ons on BSM and the BeeStation is really disappointing. Synology has a phenomenal catalog of applications and services in its app center that allow users to curate, categorize, and access files in very tailored ways. You’re missing out on a video application for streaming your media with scraped metadata and transcoding, an audio application to share your albums and curate your playlists, and support for third-party multimedia tools for seamless access to third-party clients – these are just the multimedia options you’re missing out on in the BeeStation due to its lack of an app center or any kind of app store, as you would find in DSM.

Digging a little deeper, you suddenly realize the full range of applications and services Synology has offered for years that are just not available here to be downloaded conveniently at your whim from an app center. There is no denying that Synology is going to improve BSM over time and likely roll a number of these key first-party applications into the base BSM package. But if you are someone used to a Synology NAS and one of the reasons you chose it was because of the more application-rich experience compared to WD NAS OS, QNAP’s QTS, or even the Seagate NAS OS (which might well be EOL now), the Synology BeeStation is not going to be for you.

Requires a Synology Account to Set Up, and LAN is OFF by Default

This is a relatively minor point, but in some circumstances, it’s incredibly crucial for some. When setting up the Synology BeeStation for the first time, it’s important to note that you are not setting it up over the local area network in the majority of cases. Setting up the BeeStation requires the system to be plugged into an internet-accessible network, and then setup is conducted via an online portal using your serial number. A Synology account needs to be created during its setup, and by default, the system is accessible via the internet, through Synology’s servers. To Synology’s credit, it still manages to be one of the most secure NAS platforms out there, with data transmission encrypted by default via the remote access service, and features such as SSH are not enabled by default. But there are users who prefer using their NAS system exclusively offline, limiting access to only the local area network, and manually injecting updates from their client system. I was surprised during my first experimentation with the device to find that local area network (LAN) access is disabled by default.

Again, I understand that Synology wants to remove any tricky customization or configuration choices for users who might want a simplified and streamlined cloud experience. However, local area network access I would consider to be a base-level requirement. In the event that you lose access to the system via the internet, or if you lose access to the system despite being in the same room as it, the fact that LAN access is disabled by default may prove extraordinarily tricky. A great example would be the WD security incident I mentioned earlier. One reason users were particularly impacted by WD turning off the My Cloud servers was that WD My Cloud NAS devices have LAN disabled by default. This meant those users could not access the system during that internet outage unless they used a complicated client tool method to enable it. Although this method seemed relatively straightforward to the more tech-savvy, it proved overwhelming and complicated to the less storage and network-savvy audience these products are targeted towards. You are likely able to use Synology Assistant to log into the system via local area network access and reconfigure this option via a client application, but even then, it’s by no means a streamlined process. Nevertheless, I do think disabling LAN access on the system by default is perhaps a little shortsighted and overzealous.

Synology BeeStation Personal Cloud – The Final Verdict

The Synology BeeStation marks a significant shift in Synology’s product line, targeting a new segment of users with its simplified yet functional design. This device stands out as an excellent middle ground between ease of use and a comprehensive private cloud system, providing secure and seamless access to stored data. While it is incredibly user-friendly and easy to set up, the lack of LAN access by default and its single-bay, 4TB-only configuration at launch might limit its appeal to more tech-savvy users or those seeking greater flexibility and expandability. The BeeStation’s unique selling point is its simplicity, making it a compelling choice for those new to NAS systems or for users who prioritize ease of use over extensive customization options. However, its simplicity also means that it lacks the extensive app support found in Synology’s DSM platform, potentially disappointing users accustomed to the richer application ecosystem offered by Synology’s more advanced models.

For users concerned about security, the BeeStation still upholds Synology’s reputation for secure data handling, with encrypted data transmission as a standard feature. However, experienced users who prefer a more hands-on approach to their NAS setup might find the BeeStation’s lack of advanced configuration options and its reliance on internet access for setup somewhat restrictive. In terms of market positioning, the BeeStation fills a gap left by other brands like WD and Seagate in offering ‘Easy NAS’ systems. Its competitive pricing, particularly considering the included 4TB of storage, makes it an attractive option for users seeking a private cloud solution without the recurring costs associated with third-party cloud services. Despite these potential drawbacks, the BeeStation is a solid entry-level NAS solution, especially for those seeking a personal cloud with minimal setup and maintenance. It may not be as feature-rich as Synology’s DSM-based NAS devices, but for its intended audience, the BeeStation provides a well-balanced combination of functionality, ease of use, and affordability. Synology’s move to cater to a broader, less technically inclined audience with the BeeStation demonstrates their understanding of market trends and user needs, offering a solution that balances simplicity with the reliability and quality Synology is known for.

In the end, the Synology BeeStation is an ideal choice for users seeking a straightforward, reliable, and cost-effective personal cloud solution. It represents Synology’s commitment to diversifying their product range, catering to the evolving needs of different user segments. While it may not suit everyone, especially those looking for advanced features and customization, it excels in its role as a user-friendly, secure, and affordable entry-level NAS device.

 

A Guide to the Best Plex NAS Drives to Buy Right Now

In 2024, if you’re considering a Synology or QNAP NAS drive for setting up a Plex Media Server, it’s probably because you’re tired of subscribing to multiple online streaming services, OR you have a vast collection of physical discs at home that you’d like to enjoy conveniently on devices like Amazon FireTV, Roku Box, or a gaming console, without the hassle of discs. Isn’t that a reasonable desire? Remember the days when watching movies and series from your couch was straightforward? You had a collection of DVDs or Blu-rays, chose a disc, and watched. Sure, it was a bit more involved than services like Netflix, Hulu, Prime Video, and Disney+, BUT you owned your media and decided what to view. The supremacy of subscription-based streaming seemed undisputable, offering easy access to a broad range of content, often viewed only once or twice, all for a modest monthly fee of $5-10 per service. But things got complex. The number of streaming services exploded from a handful to HUNDREDS, with movies and series being exclusively available on certain platforms (sometimes even splitting TV seasons across different services). This led to shorter availability periods for TV shows on streaming platforms as content owners realized the profitability of timed exclusivity and platform hopping. Consequently, streaming services lost their convenience and value, with most homes subscribing to 3-4 different services (typically Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+, and a cable TV/Sky service) and spending $400-500 annually without owning any media or controlling availability. The biased search features on these platforms, promoting ‘recommended’ content, only add to the longing for the simpler days of choosing a DVD from the shelf. This nostalgia and desire for control are why many are switching to Plex Media Server. To learn more about Plex, a Plex Media Server NAS, and their functions, watch the accompanying video:

Best NAS of the Year (Honourable Mention) Terramaster F2-424/F4-424/F4-424 PRO $379 / $499 / $699  – Buy Here on Amazon – Buy HERE on B&H (Entry Level 4K Plex NAS) Synology DS224+ $299  – Buy Here on Amazon – Buy HERE on B&H (Best All Round Value) Asustor Lockerstor 4 Gen 2 AS6704T $499+ – Buy Here on Amazon – Buy HERE on B&H (Best 8K Plex NAS) QNAP TVS-h874 $2000-2500-3000 – Buy Here on Amazon – Buy HERE on B&H

What Have All the Best Plex NAS Drives Have in Common?

It’s essential to note that despite the wide range of Plex NAS drives available, they are not all of equal quality! The market is teeming with ultra-affordable brands, and while they might seem appealing compared to premium NAS brands, often these too-good-to-be-true solutions disappear before your warranty even expires. So, whether you’re considering the three top Plex options I recommend below, or exploring other Plex NAS models found on sale or suggested elsewhere, the best NAS systems consistently include these software and services:

• Integrated Hardware & Software Package – This means you’re not just buying the hardware; it also comes with a web browser GUI, mobile and desktop client apps (including backup, media, streaming, surveillance, and file management software).
• Compatibility with Windows, Mac, Android, and Linux operating systems in all NAS systems covered in this guide.
• Warranty coverage of 2-3 years, with the option to extend to 5 years.
• Local and secure remote network access, supported by brand services at no extra cost.Support for the latest 20TB NAS hard drives, such as Seagate Ironwolf 20/22TB and WD Red 20/22TB
• Support for multiple drive configurations (RAID) for drive failure protection and performance improvements.
• Regular updates for security, features, and services.
• Connectivity and synchronization with cloud services (Google Drive, DropBox, OneDrive, etc.) and Business/Enterprise services (AWS, Azure, Backblaze, and more).
• Ability to host a shared drive on your PC/Mobile/Laptop that syncs with the NAS over the network/internet, integrated into your native file manager (e.g., Mac Finder or Windows Explorer).
• Direct access via an ethernet/network cable from your PC/Mac to the NAS for 100MB/s and higher connectivity.
• Backup and sync tools for local client computers to regularly backup files and system data.
• Ensure any NAS solution you’re considering, even if it’s not listed below, encompasses all these features. These are key areas where brands often cut corners to produce cheaper, but ultimately inferior NAS servers for home and business use.

Explore a free/low cost service that lets you stream your personal media collection, complete with polished graphics, an intuitive graphical user interface, detailed descriptions, trailers, thumbnails, reviews, and more. Today, I aim to highlight the top three NAS drives ideally suited for a Plex Media Server. The market is flooded with thousands of NAS options compatible with Plex (which is not overly demanding in its basic setup), yet the way you plan to utilize it, the number of users you intend to share with, the size of your media library, and the quality of your content (like 4K, 1080p, etc.) play a critical role in determining the most suitable NAS for your Plex Media server. Therefore, my five Plex NAS recommendations for 2023 focus on the optimal Budget 1080p Plex NAS, the premier 4K Plex NAS, and ultimately, the Best ALL-AROUND Plex NAS for 2023/2024. Let’s dive in.

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Honourable Mention: The Terramaster F2-424, F4-424  and F4-424 PRO NAS in 2024

Arriving in Early 2024 for $379 / $499 / $699

Although this list of Plex NAS systems are all picked for their suitability to power, budget and performance, I wanted to quickly give a nod to three solutions that are arriving in the first quarter of 2024. So, although they are not technically in the ‘top 3’, I think at least two of these are going to be very popular for low price 4K Plex NAS solutions in 2024. TerraMaster, arguably the value/affordable tier of the private NAS market, have revealed three new solutions that form the beginning of their 2024 series of devices – the Terramaster F4-424 Pro, F4-424 and F2-424 NAS. Arriving before their main competitors Synology, QNAP and Asustor, these new solutions are arriving with a more recent Intel N95 and N300 CPU series and will be available in 2-Bay and 4-Bay configurations.

At the core of the F2-424 and F4-424 models is the Intel Celeron N95 processor, a choice that balances power and efficiency. The F4-424 PRO, on the other hand, steps up the performance with the Intel Core i3 N300 processor, catering to more demanding tasks. Memory-wise, the F2-424 and F4-424 are equipped with 8 GB of DDR5 non-ECC SODIMM, while the F4-424 PRO quadruples this capacity to 32 GB, enhancing its multitasking capabilities. Storage options vary across the models, with the F2-424 featuring two disk slots, suitable for personal or small office setups, and the F4-424 and F4-424 PRO offering four disk slots, providing more flexibility and capacity for intensive data storage needs.Here is a comparison table for the TerraMaster F2-424, F4-424, and F4-424 PRO NAS devices with the correct CPU specifications:

Feature/Specification	TerraMaster F2-424	TerraMaster F4-424	TerraMaster F4-424 PRO
Processor Model	Intel® Celeron N95	Intel® Celeron N95	Intel® Core i3 N300
Processor Architecture	X.86 64-bit	X.86 64-bit	X.86 64-bit
Processor Frequency	Max burst up to 3.4 GHz	Max burst up to 3.4 GHz	Max Turbo Frequency 3.80 GHz
Total Cores	4	4	8
Total Threads	4	4	8
System Memory	8 GB DDR5 non-ECC SODIMM	8 GB DDR5 non-ECC SODIMM	32 GB (Max, dependent on memory type)
Memory Slot Number	1 (DDR5 SODIMM)	1 (DDR5 SODIMM)	1
Maximum Supported Memory	32 GB DDR5 non-ECC SODIMM	32 GB DDR5 non-ECC SODIMM	16 GB
Disk Slot Number	2	4	4
Compatible Drive Types	3.5″ SATA HDD, 2.5″ SATA HDD/SSD	3.5″ SATA HDD, 2.5″ SATA HDD/SSD	3.5″ SATA HDD, 2.5″ SATA HDD/SSD
Maximum Internal Raw Storage Capacity	44 TB (22 TB x2)	88 TB (22 TB x4)	88 TB (22 TB x4)
Drive Hot Swap	Yes	Yes	Yes
External Ports	2x RJ-45 2.5GbE, 2x USB3.2 Gen 2 (10Gb/s), HDMI 4K 60FPS	2x RJ-45 2.5GbE, 2x USB3.2 Gen 2 (10Gb/s), HDMI 4K 60FPS	2x RJ-45 2.5GbE, 2x USB3.2 Gen 2 (10Gb/s), HDMI 4K 60FPS
Dimensions (HWD)	222 x 119 x 154 mm	222 x 179 x 154 mm	222 x 179 x 154 mm
Weight	2.2 kg	3.4 kg	3.4 kg
System Fan	80 x 80 x 25 mm	80 x 80 x 25 mm	120 x 120 x 25 mm
Noise Level	19.0 dB(A)	19.0 dB(A)	21.0 dB(A)
Power Supply	40 W	40 W	90 W
Power Consumption	22.0 W (active), 11.0 W (hibernation)	22.0 W (active), 11.0 W (hibernation)	33.0 W (active), 13.0 W (hibernation)
Operating Temperature	0°C to 40°C	0°C to 40°C	0°C to 40°C
Supported OS	Windows, Mac, Linux	Windows, Mac, Linux	Windows, Mac, Linux
Supported Browsers	Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge	Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge	Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge
Supported Mobile OS	iOS14.0+, Android 10.0+	iOS14.0+, Android 10.0+	iOS14.0+, Android 10.0+
Networking	TCP/IP, IPv4/IPv6, Link Aggregation, DLNA, VPN, DDNS	TCP/IP, IPv4/IPv6, Link Aggregation, DLNA, VPN, DDNS	TCP/IP, IPv4/IPv6, Link Aggregation, DLNA, VPN, DDNS
Security Features	Firewall, AES Encryption, RSA 2048	Firewall, AES Encryption, RSA 2048	Firewall, AES Encryption, RSA 2048
Price (Approximate)	$379	$499	$699

This table provides a detailed comparison across key features and specifications for these TerraMaster NAS models. A common thread among these TerraMaster NAS units is their robust build and reliable performance. Each model supports both 3.5″ SATA HDDs and 2.5″ SATA SSDs, ensuring versatility in storage media choices. Networking is a strong suit, with all models featuring 2.5GbE network jacks for faster data transfer speeds, and HDMI ports for direct video output. Compatibility with various operating systems including Windows, Mac, and Linux, alongside comprehensive security features like firewall protection and AES encryption, underscores their flexibility and security focus.

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Entry Level 4K Plex NAS – Synology DS224+

0-36TB, Intel J4125 4-Core CPU with 350-750Mhz Int.GFX, 2-6GB DDR4 Memory, 2x 2Gbe Port, 2yr Warranty

Current Price/Availability on Amazon – $299

Hardware Review – LINK

YouTube Video Review – Watch

What I said in my review Aug ’23:

The Synology DS224+ is a NAS that, in the correct context, is actually a really good choice of server for a lot of users. When Synology rearranged their portfolio in the middle of 2022, there was always going to be inconsistencies between releases and issues surrounding the placement of solutions in their ranges that needed addressing. When they upgraded the DS923+ and DS723+ with ECC memory up to 32GB, NVMe SSD pool support, optional 10GBE network upgrades, and a much more powerful business-class CPU, it was clear that they had designated that tier of their portfolio to be far more business than pleasure. From there, it became obvious that the standard mid-range two and four-bay solutions (in this case the DS224+ and DS423+) were going to be more home-user and multimedia-user-designated, and their hardware architecture needed to sit more balanced between the business-class solutions and the value series of real tech NAS devices. However, this has resulted in a new NAS arriving on the scene that has an intentionally low glass ceiling, and the disparity in hardware created between the DS224+ and the DS723+, despite a modest price difference between them, is only further worsened when the hardware similarities between the prosumer previous generation and this SMB generation are massive. It creates a feeling to the end-user who is aware of Synology’s previous releases that this is “paying money for old rope” and not a new-generation hardware solution. The reality, to new users and those that are upgrading away from the value tier into something a bit more established in the+ tier, is actually more nuanced. You are getting a great CPU here that, despite its age, still does extraordinarily well in DSM applications and third-party popular applications like Plex Media Server. Add to that that this is still a refresh of the previous generation that has moved from a dual-core to a quad-core processor, and you can see that upgrades in this refresh have occurred, though modest.

Then there is the fact that this system can still support the full range of applications and services in the Synology DSM 7.2 system software and makes it by far the lowest price you are ever going to have to pay to access everything that DSM can do in the latest generation, also guaranteeing the longest support of that software long after the hardware warranty has expired (security and feature updates). It does make a tremendous difference that the Synology developers and product managers know this hardware architecture so intricately, and that means that you are going to have a system that can run everything in the most efficient way possible, which will certainly pay dividends in the days, weeks, months, and years that you will have the system in operation – especially when factoring rising energy costs globally and how you want your system to do as much as possible while eating up as little electricity as possible! In conclusion, the Synology DS224+ is probably not Synology’s most exciting release, and if you are someone that skipped the 2020 generation of solutions because you wanted to hold out for something greater and more powerful, the DS224+ will probably serve as something of a damp squib to you. But it is a very solid NAS release, and as long as you put it in the right context as a buyer and keep in mind that this system is a refresh of the DS220+, it still does a great job. It just lacks a lot of the scalability and upgradability of other recent Synology NAS releases and looks, at least in the hardware department, a little underwhelming against competitors in 2023. You can definitely do a lot worse, but there is also the potential to do a lot better by spending just a fraction more.

DEAL WATCH – Is It On Offer Right Now? Synology DS224+ 2-Bay Diskstation NAS (Intel Celeron J4125 4-Core 2.0 GHz 2GB DD Amazon UK 7.94 OFF (WAS 795) [LINK] Synology DS224+ 16TB 2 Bay NAS Solution installed with 2 x 8TB Synology HAT3300 Amazon UK 16.96 OFF (WAS 954) [LINK] Synology DS224+ 24TB 2 Bay NAS Solution installed with 2 x 12TB Synology HAT3300 Amazon UK 97.76 OFF (WAS 1216) [LINK] Synology DS224+ 2-Bay Diskstation NAS (Intel Celeron J4125 4-Core 2.0 GHz 2GB DD Amazon USA 242.27 OFF (WAS 653) [LINK] These Offers are Checked Daily

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Best All Round Local + Remote Value 4K Plex NAS – The Asustor Lockerstor 4 Gen 2

0-88TB, Intel N5105 Celeron + 350-800Mhz Int. GFX, 4-16GB Memory, 4x M.2 NVMe 2280 Gen3x1 SSD Slots, 4x SATA Bays, LCD Control, HDMI 4K 60FPS and KVM Support, 2x 2.5GbE, USB 3.2 10G, 3yr Warranty, TrueNAS/UnRAID Support

Current Price/Availability on Amazon – $499+

Hardware Review – LINK

YouTube Video Review – Watch

Asustor TrueNAS Installation Guide HERE

Asustor UnRAID Installation Guide HERE

What I said in my review Nov ’22:

The Lockerstor 4 Gen 2 NAS is a respectable piece of kit! Indeed, the hardware here is almost faultless! Unless you are particularly noise sensitive (and therefore the metal chassis adding a few dBa to the ambient sound), there is almost nothing I can fault here on the devices hardware. The scaling up of practically all hardware over the Gen 1 Lockerstor, such as Better CPU, Better Memory that goes higher, HDMI 2.0b, USB 3.2 Gen 2, a 10GbE upgrade option and THOSE FOUR M. 2 NVMe SSD SLOTS – you simply cannot fault how much is getting included here at the price point vs it’s competitors. The software is a little less compelling, with a smaller range of 1st party applications on offer, more of a reliance on 3rd party services and the absence of a few AAA+ features that are present on other devices in the market (AI services, Cloud Bolt on live synchronization, 1st Party SaaS native sync with Google Workspace/Office365, etc).

That said, ADM does run very well, is clear and still quite user-friendly. The addition of choice of file systems EXT4 or BTRFS, flexibility on the use of those M.2 NVMe SSD bays and the Asustor HDMI portal still bring fantastic flexibility to the Lockerstor 4 Gen 2 NAS too. Ultimately, this is a system that is clearly making big waves on it’s hardware more than it’s software, but as long as you keep your feet on the ground and appreciate that this system is more of a 70/30 purchase of hardware vs software, you will come to respect and rely on this Asustor NAS as the backbone of your data storage setup.

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8K PLEX READY NAS DRIVE – The QNAP TVS-h874

0-176TB, 8-Bays, 2x PCIe 4 M.2 NVMe 2280, PCIe Gen 4×16 Upgrade Slot, Intel Core 12th Gen i5/i7/i9 CPU, 16-64GB DDR4 Memory, 2.5Gbe Port, 10Gb x2 Prots (Intel i9 Version), KVM, ZFS or EXT4 Setup, 3-5yr Warranty , TrueNAS/UnRAID Support

Current Price/Availability on Amazon – $2000-2500-3000

Hardware Review – LINK

YouTube Video Review – Watch

What I said in my review Dec ’22:

QNAP TrueNAS Installation Guide HERE

QNAP UnRAID Installation Guide HERE

The QNAP TVS-h874 NAS is easily one of the most hardware-capable desktop NAS systems that I have ever seen (as you would expect for £2500+) and has clearly been designed with phenomenal future proofing in mind! If you are concerned about the longevity of this NAS, this hardware architecture will still be top tier 5 years from now, with the added support of PCIe 4 meaning that high capacity and performing micro upgrades throughout its life also ensuring it remains relevant long after. It’s price tag clearly moves this purchase out of the home and squarely into the business market (though likely those that take their media seriously will add it to the cart) and the TVS-h874 will function as a solid solution for Video editing (even at 8K), high frequency and performing VMs, large scale AI powered Surveillance setup, hybrid cloud/on-prem alternative to Office 365/Google Workspace services and as the center point for all your data storage operations. Crucially though, it is that the hardware on offer here will be able to do ALL of these at the same time, therefore maximising the investment for most businesses that want to move aware from their cloud dependant ops. In terms of software,t things are a little less absolute, with QTS and QuTS still getting a little busy at times, with a steeper learning curve than its big rival DSM from Synology. That said, die-hard fans of ZFS (Zettabyte File System) will adore the inclusion of benefits in RAID handling, management and recovery that are exclusive to that platform, whilst enjoying the wide range of applications and service benefits in QuTS that are often restricted to Linux platforms.

The slightly conveluded approach to release hardware that does complicate the selection process (different CPUs in the Intel 12th Gen family changing the rest of the system architecture) is something that I hoped this brand would graduate from (for the sake of simplicity), but for many, this level of choice in hardware and budget will be welcome. As is QNAP’s position on the support of 3rd party hardware (drives, PCIe upgrades, etc) and software, something that we have seen a worrying trend in the last few years against elsewhere in the industry but some other brands, to err towards 1st party/proprietary compatibility more and more. There are still lingering doubts by some on the security of NAS, with ransomware attacks on the rise and ALL brands and ALL platforms being targetted (NAS, Cloud ,etc), finding a middle ground between ease of use and depth of security being a tricky tie rope walk indeed. The TVS-h874 arrives with a wide range of Day 1 tools, further rigid defaults in QTS/QuTS in 2022/2023, considerable security settings to configure and multiple system scan tools for recommendations & preventative measures available. The QNAP TVS-h874 is probably the most powerful desktop/tower NAS drive I have ever reviewed and if you are looking for a system that can legitimately do anything server-side, but you are also willing to put in the time to configure it correctly – you will genuinely be hard pushed to find a better system in 2022, 2023 and likely 2024 at this price point and scale.

 

DEAL WATCH – Is It On Offer Right Now? QNAP TVS-h874 NAS Tower Ethernet LAN Black Amazon UK 28.86 OFF (WAS 3776) [LINK] QNAP TVS-h874-i5-32G-US 8 Bay High-Speed Desktop NAS with M.2 PCIe Slots, 12th G Amazon USA 32.4 OFF (WAS 2166) [LINK] QNAP TVS-h874-i5-32G Intel Core i5 Processor, 32 GB RAM, PCIe Gen 4 expandabilit Amazon USA 529.8 OFF (WAS 3539) [LINK] These Offers are Checked Daily

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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. Just enter in a few details of your setup, storage requirements and (in the case of buying a new solution) your budget – then me and Eddie the Web guy can help you with your question. This is a completely free service, is NOT provided with profit in mind and is manned by two humans (no bots, no automated replies, etc). Assistance might take an extra day or two (the service gets a lot of visitors) but we do try to answer every message. If you want to support this service, you can find out how to donate HERE. Otherwise, you can still just message us for free advice anyway!

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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   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 Guide to the Best 8-Bay NAS Drives to Buy Right Now

Delving into the world of NAS for business purposes, it becomes clear that the 8-Bay NAS drives mark a significant leap in seriousness and capability. While NAS systems are commonly used in homes, for budget-friendly options, and in small businesses for basic storage needs, the 8-Bay variants signify a major step up. These systems, compatible with both hard drives and SSDs, showcase the advanced capabilities of NAS brands. Historically, 8-Bays have been pivotal in transitioning from Desktop to Rackmount servers, offering enhanced storage, performance, and redundancy. Such systems boast features like 10-gigabit ethernet, Xeon processors, and increased memory, catering to a broader range of users and processes than their predecessors. Early on, NAS brands integrated 8-Bay desktop servers into their offerings, recognizing the need for compact, powerful desktop solutions to compete with traditional rackmount servers. With an array of 8-Bay NAS systems available, each with unique hardware and software features, yet similarly priced, the choice can be overwhelming. In this guide, I aim to spotlight the top three 8-Bay NAS drives to consider in 2023/2024, selected for their value, scalability, and power. Let’s dive in.

Best NAS of the Year (Honourable Mention) QNAP TVS-h874T $2999-3499 – Buy Here on Amazon – Buy HERE on B&H (Best Value) Terramaster T9-450 $999-1099 – Buy Here on Amazon – Buy HERE on B&H (Best Software) Synology DS1821+ $1099 – Buy Here on Amazon – Buy HERE on B&H (Best Hardware) QNAP TVS-h874 $2000-2500-3000 – Buy Here on Amazon – Buy HERE on B&H

What Have All the Best 8-Bay NAS Drives Have in Common?

It is worth remembering that although there are ALOT of different 8-Bay NAS drives available to buy, they are by no means created equal! With numerous super-budget brands popping up online, it can be tempting to consider these alongside the premium NAS brands. However, all too often they offer solutions righty seem ‘too good to be true’ and then are gone from the web before your warranty even gets cold! So, whether you are looking at the three best 8-Bay solutions that I am recommending below OR are looking at another 8-Bay NAS you saw on offer/recommended elsewhere – the best NAS system ALWAYS includes the following software and services:

• Combined Hardware & Software Solution – That means that you are buying the hardware, but it ALSO includes a web browser GUI, mobile apps and desktop client apps (including backup, media, streaming, surveillance and file management software)
• All NAS systems in this guide are compatible with (and can be accessed by) Windows, Mac, Android and Linux operating systems
• All NAS Solutions arrive with between 2-3 years Warranty (with the option to extend to 5 years)
• All NAS drives can be accessed locally over the network, as well as secure remote access is possible with brand-supported services (at no additional cost)
• The most modern and regularly updated NAS systems will support the very latest 20TB NAS hard drives (such as the Seagate Ironwolf 22TB and WD Red 22TB)
• All the recommended solutions support multiple drive configurations (RAID) for drive failure protection and performance enhancements
• All solutions receive regular updates to their security, features and services
• All recommended NAS drives can connect and synchronize with cloud services (Google Drive, DropBox, OneDrive, etc), as well as Business/Enterprise services such as AWS, Azure, Backblaze and more
• All NAS solutions (regardless of brand) feature the ability to host a shared drive on your PC/Mobile/Laptop systems that are synchronized with the NAS via the network/internet, but is shown in your native operating system file manager (i.e Mac Finder or Windows Explorer)
• All the NAS solutions listed can be accessed DIRECTLY via an ethernet/network cable being connected from your PC/Mac system, to the NAS RJ45 port for 100MB/s and higher connectivity
• All the best NAS solutions (regardless of brand) feature backup and sync tools that can be installed on your local client computer and allow regular backups of your files and system data

So, make sure that if you are looking at a NAS solution that is NOT recommended below, that it includes all of the above as these are some of the clearest areas that brands all too often cut orders to produce cheaper by ultimately inferior NAS servers for home and business.

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Honourable Mention: The QNAP TVS-h874T Thunderbolt4 NAS

0-176TB, 8-Bays, 2x PCIe 4×4 M.2 NVMe 2280, PCIe Gen 4×16 Upgrade Slot, Intel Core 12th Gen i7/i9 CPU, 32-64GB DDR4 (non-ECC) Memory, 2x Thunderbolt4 Port, 2x 2.5Gbe Port, KVM, ZFS or EXT4 Setup, 3-5yr Warranty

Current Price/Availability on Amazon – $2999-3499

Hardware Review – LINK (h874) – h874T Review Coming Soon

YouTube Video Review – Watch (h874) – h874T Review Coming Soon

In summarizing the capabilities and potential of the QNAP TVS-h874T NAS, released as a late 2023 update to its predecessor, it’s clear that this system represents a significant leap forward in desktop NAS technology. Priced over £2500, it’s a substantial investment, designed with future-proofing in mind. The TVS-h874T not only maintains the longevity and high-end status of the TVS-h874 but also brings to the table enhanced direct data access through Thunderbolt 4 integration. This advancement, supporting IP over Thunderbolt protocol, significantly boosts connectivity and speed, making the system an ideal choice for demanding tasks such as 8K video editing and high-performance computing needs in business environments. However, the question of whether Thunderbolt NAS is the right fit for all users remains. For those requiring high-speed, multi-user access and scalability, the TVS-h874T is a strong contender. Its support for the latest PCIe 4 standards ensures compatibility with high-performance upgrades, reinforcing its position as a future-proof investment. The software, featuring QTS and QuTS, might require some acclimatization, particularly for those familiar with simpler systems like Synology’s DSM. Yet, the benefits, especially for ZFS enthusiasts, are undeniable, offering advanced RAID management and a plethora of applications and services.

The TVS-h874T’s stance on open hardware and software compatibility is a significant plus in an industry increasingly leaning towards proprietary systems. It accommodates a range of third-party hardware and software, adding to its versatility. In the face of growing concerns over NAS security, the system is well-equipped with comprehensive tools and settings for enhanced security and data protection, addressing the pressing issue of ransomware attacks. In conclusion, the QNAP TVS-h874T stands out as an exceptional choice for businesses and power users who require a robust, scalable, and secure NAS solution. It offers an excellent balance of price, performance, and features, making it a worthy investment for those seeking top-tier server-side capabilities. However, for users with simpler storage needs or those not requiring the advanced features of Thunderbolt NAS, traditional Thunderbolt DAS devices might be a more suitable and cost-effective option. The TVS-h874T, with its advanced capabilities, is undoubtedly a powerhouse in NAS technology, but its full benefits will be best realized by those whose requirements align closely with what this advanced system has to offer.

 

DEAL WATCH – Is It On Offer Right Now? QNAP TVS-h874T-i9-64G, 8-bay Thunderbolt 4 NAS, Intel Core i9 CPU, 64GB RAM Amazon UK 61 OFF (WAS 3860) [LINK] These Offers are Checked Daily

 

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Best All Round 8-Bay NAS Drive – Synology DS1821+ NAS

0-176TB, 8-Bays, 2x NVMe Cache Bays, Quad-Core Ryzen V1500B 2.2Ghz CPU, 4-32GB DDR4 ECC Memory, 4x 1Gbe Port, 1x PCIe 3×8 Upgrade Slot, 5yr Warranty

Current Price/Availability on Amazon – $1099

Hardware Review – LINK

YouTube Video Review – Watch

What I said in my review Dec ’20:

What you have here is a solid piece of hardware that very much lives up to everything Synology promises, even if some of those promises aren’t to everyone’s taste. With a hardware architecture that we have already tested to notable success in the DS1621+ previously, we already knew that this NAS would be able to do everything it promised. Many users looking to spend their annual business budgets on an improved or extended data storage solution will find the balanced position of hardware vs software found by the Synology DS1821+ to be quite desirable, as well as the scaled potential to upgrade external performance via PCIe and storage via eSATA. However, there is no ignoring that despite the fact this 2020 release excels in many things, it also arrives with a little bottlenecking in a number of others. The continued default utilisation of 1Gbe on the newest generation by Synology is somewhat perplexing and although I have continued admiration for Synology’s engagement with intelligent M2 NVMe cache utilisation and providing a solution that allows more flexible upgrade paths, I know that there are still users who just wish they could use that super fast NAND for raw storage pools and have better than gigabit connections out by default.

It has never been a secret that buying a Synology NAS solution was always a largely ‘software over hardware’ purchase, and the DS1821+ is still a fine example of that balance. However, with other brands closing the gap in what they can offer the SMB (Small/Medium Business) user, while still providing superior hardware and similar warranty coverage, there is the tiniest feeling that the DS1821+ is a NAS that sits on its laurels a bit. Hugely upgradable and still with that award-winning and fantastically intuative DSM software, the DS1821+ is about buying a solution you can adapt within its lifespan and not one that will knock your socks off on day one. A solid and dependable data storage solution, if a little safe, at the end of 2020.

DEAL WATCH – Is It On Offer Right Now? Synology DS1821+ 8-Bay Diskstation NAS (AMD Ryzen V1500B Quad-Core 2,2 GHz 4 GB Amazon USA 100 OFF (WAS 3464) [LINK] Synology DS1821+8bay NAS V1500B Quad-Core 2.2 GHz,Black Amazon UK 4.53 OFF (WAS 1059) [LINK] These Offers are Checked Daily

 

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Most Powerful 8-Bay NAS Drive – QNAP TVS-h874 NAS

0-176TB, 8-Bays, 2x PCIe 4 M.2 NVMe 2280, PCIe Gen 4×16 Upgrade Slot, Intel Core 12th Gen i5/i7/i9 CPU, 16-64GB DDR4 Memory, 2.5Gbe Port, 10Gb x2 Prots (Intel i9 Version), KVM, ZFS or EXT4 Setup, 3-5yr Warranty

Current Price/Availability on Amazon – $2000-2500-3000

Hardware Review – LINK

YouTube Video Review – Watch

What I said in my review Dec ’22:

The QNAP TVS-h874 NAS is easily one of the most hardware-capable desktop NAS systems that I have ever seen (as you would expect for £2500+) and has clearly been designed with phenomenal future proofing in mind! If you are concerned about the longevity of this NAS, this hardware architecture will still be top tier 5 years from now, with the added support of PCIe 4 meaning that high capacity and performing micro upgrades throughout its life also ensuring it remains relevant long after. It’s price tag clearly moves this purchase out of the home and squarely into the business market (though likely those that take their media seriously will add it to the cart) and the TVS-h874 will function as a solid solution for Video editing (even at 8K), high frequency and performing VMs, large scale AI powered Surveillance setup, hybrid cloud/on-prem alternative to Office 365/Google Workspace services and as the center point for all your data storage operations. Crucially though, it is that the hardware on offer here will be able to do ALL of these at the same time, therefore maximising the investment for most businesses that want to move aware from their cloud dependant ops. In terms of software,t things are a little less absolute, with QTS and QuTS still getting a little busy at times, with a steeper learning curve than its big rival DSM from Synology. That said, die-hard fans of ZFS (Zettabyte File System) will adore the inclusion of benefits in RAID handling, management and recovery that are exclusive to that platform, whilst enjoying the wide range of applications and service benefits in QuTS that are often restricted to Linux platforms.

The slightly conveluded approach to release hardware that does complicate the selection process (different CPUs in the Intel 12th Gen family changing the rest of the system architecture) is something that I hoped this brand would graduate from (for the sake of simplicity), but for many, this level of choice in hardware and budget will be welcome. As is QNAP’s position on the support of 3rd party hardware (drives, PCIe upgrades, etc) and software, something that we have seen a worrying trend in the last few years against elsewhere in the industry but some other brands, to err towards 1st party/proprietary compatibility more and more. There are still lingering doubts by some on the security of NAS, with ransomware attacks on the rise and ALL brands and ALL platforms being targetted (NAS, Cloud ,etc), finding a middle ground between ease of use and depth of security being a tricky tie rope walk indeed. The TVS-h874 arrives with a wide range of Day 1 tools, further rigid defaults in QTS/QuTS in 2022/2023, considerable security settings to configure and multiple system scan tools for recommendations & preventative measures available. The QNAP TVS-h874 is probably the most powerful desktop/tower NAS drive I have ever reviewed and if you are looking for a system that can legitimately do anything server-side, but you are also willing to put in the time to configure it correctly – you will genuinely be hard pushed to find a better system in 2022, 2023 and likely 2024 at this price point and scale.

 

DEAL WATCH – Is It On Offer Right Now? QNAP TVS-h874-i5-32G Intel Core i5 Processor, 32 GB RAM, PCIe Gen 4 expandabilit Amazon UK 32.98 OFF (WAS 2638) [LINK] QNAP TVS-h874 NAS Tower Ethernet LAN Black Amazon UK 72.76 OFF (WAS 3743) [LINK] QNAP TVS-h874T-i9-64G, 8-bay Thunderbolt 4 NAS, Intel Core i9 CPU, 64GB RAM Amazon UK 61 OFF (WAS 3860) [LINK] These Offers are Checked Daily

 

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Best Value Hardware 8-Bay NAS Drive – Terramaster T9-450 NAS

0-198TB, 9-Bays, 2x PCIe Gen 3 M.2 NVMe 2280, Intel C3558R Atom Quad Core CPU, 8-32GB Memory, 2x 10GbE SFP, 1x 2.5GbE Port, PCIe Slot (TBC), 2yr Warranty

Current Price/Availability on Amazon – $999-1099

Hardware Review – LINK

YouTube Video Review – Watch

What I said in my review May ’23:

Terramaster has really changed the playing field with the T9-450 NAS. I was already a big fan of their latest generation of 6-Bay, 9-Bay and 12-Bay desktop chassis – providing a pretty substantial amount of storage in a tower design that borrows ventilation methodology traditionally found in rackmounts, but the T9-450 takes this logic and doubles down on it hard. The dual 10GbE on the system means that, despite it’s comparatively modest price point (when comparing against similar scale solutions from Synology and QNAP) you genuinely have a solution with the potential to allow you to enjoy every single MB/s or GB/s of your RAID externally. This is further bolstered with additional 2.5GbE ports, m.2 NVMe bays, uncomplicated support of HDDs/SSDs and just generally a very sensible system that shows how much Terramaster has matured as a brand. The TOS software is still not quite up there with Synology’s DSM or QNAP’s QTS in terms of ease of use and AAA+ features, but it is definitely a great entry point OS that has tighted it’s security since the brand was targetted by a ransomware group (along with other brands, they were affected by Deadbolt attacks) – it certainly lacks some of the background optimization of it’s competitors, but then this is reflected in the budget of the system too.

The internal PCIe slot that has been largely ignored is a bit of a missed opportunity and I am not a big fan of how they have addressed memory compatibility, but overall it is very, very tough to criticise the T9-450 NAS when you factor in the value of the package here. Factor in that you can very easily swap out the OS for many others, and it largely silences alot of the negatives here too. Overall, the T9-450 could potentially be the best NAS that Terramster has ever released and if they continue to address later releases with the same level of hardware value, this could definitely give the bigger names in the industry something of a headache down the road. I highly recommend this system for its value and performance potential!

 

DEAL WATCH – Is It On Offer Right Now? These Offers are Checked Daily

 

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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. Just enter in a few details of your setup, storage requirements and (in the case of buying a new solution) your budget – then me and Eddie the Web guy can help you with your question. This is a completely free service, is NOT provided with profit in mind and is manned by two humans (no bots, no automated replies, etc). Assistance might take an extra day or two (the service gets a lot of visitors) but we do try to answer every message. If you want to support this service, you can find out how to donate HERE. Otherwise, you can still just message us for free advice anyway!

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER
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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   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 Guide to the Best 5/6-Bay NAS Drives to Buy Right Now

In recent years, the appeal of 5-Bay and 6-Bay NAS systems has dramatically increased, particularly since 2023/2024. Previously, home and small-business users tended to opt for either modest 2/4 Bay systems or jump to the larger 8-Bay models when needing more storage capacity. The growing popularity of 5-Bay and 6-Bay models can be attributed to two key factors. Firstly, the advent of larger capacity drives, reaching up to 22TB and soon 24TB, enables even mid-sized NAS systems to surpass the 100TB storage threshold easily. Secondly, there’s a heightened awareness of data redundancy needs and skepticism about the reliability of single-drive safety in RAID 5 configurations, compared to the two-drive failure protection offered by RAID 6. This combination has made 5-Bay and 6-Bay NAS setups, especially those using large drives in a RAID 6 array, much more accessible and desirable. NAS manufacturers have taken note of this trend, leading to an expanded range of 5-Bay and 6-Bay NAS solutions that vary in hardware capabilities, power, and price. In this context, I aim to highlight my top picks for 5-Bay and 6-Bay NAS drives to consider in 2023/2024, each standing out for unique reasons. Let’s explore the best 5-Bay and 6-Bay NAS servers that should be on your radar.

Best 5/6-Bay NAS of the Year (Honourable Mention) LincPlus N1 –$250-300 (TBC)  (Currently in Crowdfunding)  – Buy Here on Amazon (Best Value) Asustor Flashstor 6 $499 – Buy Here on Amazon – Buy HERE on B&H (Best Software) Synology DS1522+ $699 – Buy Here on Amazon – Buy HERE on B&H (Best Hardware) QNAP TS-855X $1300-1500 – Buy Here on Amazon – Buy HERE on B&H

What Have All the Best 5/6-Bay NAS Drives Have in Common?

As you explore the extensive selection of 5/6-Bay NAS drives available in 2023/2024, it’s important to recognize that their quality and capabilities vary greatly. Despite the growing number of budget-friendly options online, they often fall short of the standards set by premium NAS brands, appearing too good to be true and disappearing quickly. Whether you’re considering my top three 5/6-Bay NAS recommendations or looking at other options, the best NAS systems consistently offer certain essential features:

• Combined Hardware & Software Solution: This includes not only the NAS hardware but also a comprehensive software suite with a web browser GUI, mobile apps, and desktop client applications for backup, media, streaming, surveillance, and file management.

• Multi-OS Compatibility: All NAS systems should be compatible with and accessible by Windows, Mac, Android, and Linux operating systems.

• Warranty of 2-3 Years, Extendable to 5 Years: Look for a standard warranty period with an option for extension.

• Local and Secure Remote Network Access: The ability for local network access and secure remote access via brand-supported services, at no extra cost.

• Support for Latest Large Capacity Hard Drives: Modern NAS systems should support up to 20TB NAS hard drives, such as Seagate Ironwolf 22TB and WD Red 22TB.

• Multiple Drive Configurations (RAID): For enhanced performance and data safety.

• Regular Security and Feature Updates: Ensuring the NAS system remains secure and up-to-date.

• Cloud and Business Service Synchronization: Compatibility with services like Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, AWS, Azure, and Backblaze.

• Shared Drive Hosting Capability: The ability to host a shared drive on PC, mobile, or laptop systems, synchronized with the NAS and displayed in the native file manager.

• Direct Access via Ethernet/Network Cable: For high-speed connectivity, direct access through an ethernet/network cable to the NAS is crucial.

• Backup and Sync Tools: Available for installation on local client computers to facilitate regular backups of files and system data.

Ensure that any 5/6-Bay NAS you are considering includes these features, as they are key indicators of a high-quality NAS system. Let’s now delve into the best 5/6-Bay NAS options to invest in for 2023/2024.

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Honourable Mention: 5/6-Bay NAS Drive – The LincStation N1

0-32TB M.2 NVMe + 10TB SATA HDD / 16TB SATA SSD, 4+2-Bays, 4xM.2 NVMe 2280, Intel N5105/N5095 CPU, 16GB Memory, 2.5Gbe Port, HDMI+DP 1.4 60FPS 4K, UnRAID License Inc, 2yr Warranty

Current Price/Availability on Amazon –$250-300 (TBC)  (Currently in Crowdfunding)

Hardware Review – LINK

YouTube Video Review – Watch

What I said in my review Oct 16 ’23:

When evaluating the Lincplus N1 NAS, context is paramount. Keeping in mind its price point and the brand’s objectives, as well as understanding how an SSD-centric system can fit into this mold, you’ll likely be thoroughly pleased with this NAS. For a mere $279, it offers an unmatched combination of hardware capabilities. The silent operation, bundled UnRAID software, two-tier storage, and genuine turnkey out-of-the-box deployment culminate into a device brimming with potential. It caters to both newcomers to private server ownership and seasoned home lab enthusiasts. Certain concessions were inevitable to attain this attractive price. Seasoned flash industry professionals might bemoan the absence of ECC memory, the use of a consumer-grade CPU, and limitations placed on the bandwidth and speeds for the m.2 NVMe slots. Even though the software is genuinely turnkey and the system is ready to run immediately after unboxing, UnRAID does come with its learning curve. It might be more user-friendly compared to other container-based GUIs, but there’s still a learning curve. Additionally, the default UnRAID settings could be better tailored to this SSD-driven system.

Hopefully, future firmware updates might address this. Such discrepancies are expected when the hardware is developed by one entity and the software by another. This dichotomy can lead to inconsistencies, such as those seen in drive monitoring results, raising questions about the demarcation of responsibility between the two entities. However, overlooking these minor points, the N1 stands out as a commendable alternative to a full DIY approach. It not only saves money and time but also offers a ready-to-use, compact solution. Provided you acknowledge and accept the inherent compromises, the N1 emerges as a notable midpoint in the burgeoning server market, bridging the gap between custom-built and all-inclusive turnkey solutions.

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Best Software 5/6-Bay NAS – The Synology DS1522+

0-110TB (90TB with Syn HAT5300s) , 5x SATA Bays, 2x M.2 NVMe 2280 (Pools and Caching), AMD R1600 2-Core / 4-Thread CPU, 8-32GB ECC DDR4 Memory, 4x 1Gbe Port, Optional 10GbE Upgrade, 2x Expansion Port, 3-5yr Warranty

Current Price/Availability on Amazon – $699

Hardware Review – LINK

YouTube Video Review – Watch , Before You Buy Video – Watch

What I said in my review June ’22:

The Synology DS1522+ is a good NAS drive and most business-focused users are going to appreciate what this newer configuration of hardware is able to provide. There was never any doubt in the extent to which this new NAS would support DSM7, and given its architecture, there is virtually nothing in the popular NAS software that this system cannot do. Likewise, having the option of 10GbE on a Diskstation of this scale will be hugely attractive to some, though the proprietary means with which you need to upgrade is arguably less desirable.

The R1600 CPU is a good choice of processor for file handling and simultaneous tasks, as is the 8GB of memory that this system arrives with, plus the potential to ramp it up to 32GB. After that though, the desirability of this system to home users and multimedia users is a little less compelling and with such a large audience of users who look at NAS for their media streaming, the DS1522+ not featuring a more graphically enabled chip will leave them somewhat underwhelmed. Bottom line, the DS1522+ is a solid and full DSM7 supporting system here and you cannot fault the design, internal/external performance and ease of use of this Synology NAS. However, there will always be users wondering why this NAS never arrived with an Intel chip.

 

DEAL WATCH – Is It On Offer Right Now? Synology 5-bay DiskStation DS1522+ (Diskless),Black https://www.amazon.com/b/ref=dp_bc_aui_C_5?ie=UTF8&node=20941687011 USA 15% Off [LINK] Synology 5-bay DiskStation DS1522+ (Diskless),Black Amazon USA 21.37 OFF (WAS 721) [LINK] These Offers are Checked Daily

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Best Value 6-Bay NAS – The Asustor Flashstor 6 NVMe Flash Server

0-48TB, 6x M.2 NVMe 3×1 Bays, Supports 2x USB Expansions, N5105/N5095 4-Core CPU, 4-16GB DDR4 (non-ECC) Memory, 2x 2.5Gbe Port, 3yr Warranty (10GbE version = FS6712X Flashstor 12 Pro for $799 HERE)

Current Price/Availability on Amazon – $499

Hardware Review – LINK

YouTube Video Review – Watch (Flashstor 12 Pro Review HERE)

What I said in my review June ’23:

I cannot stress enough how impressed I am that the Flashstor 6 and Flashstor 12 Pro are priced at $499 and $860, respectively, given the level of hardware on offer here. These are by no means enterprise-grade NAS server solutions, nor should they be thought of as such. However, given the cost of typical fully featured 4x HDD solutions from their competitors and the brand themselves, which often start at $550 and above, it is quite remarkable that the six M.2 SSD system with comparable internal hardware comes in at $499. As long as a user keeps their expectations in line with what this cost versus its capabilities, it’s really tough to argue with the price point that these two devices have arrived at on the market. The Asustor FS6712X Flashstor 12 Pro NAS presents a unique offering in the NAS market, leveraging NVMe technology to provide high-capacity, ultra-high-performance storage. The device’s design, with its rhombus-shaped enclosure and twelve M.2 NVMe slots, sets it apart from traditional NAS devices and offers a sleek and modern aesthetic.

The tool-less drive installation mechanism makes it easy to set up and expand the storage capacity. However, there are some considerations to keep in mind. The limited number of PCIe lanes provided by the Intel Celeron N5105 processor may restrict the performance of high-speed NVMe drives. The single 10GbE LAN port also presents a potential network bottleneck, limiting the device’s overall network performance. Users seeking maximum performance and network throughput may find alternative solutions better suited to their needs. Despite these limitations, the FS6712X shines as a storage solution for users who prioritize high-capacity storage, quiet operation, and low power consumption. The device’s ability to directly output 4K video, along with its range of Asustor-approved apps, makes it an excellent choice for media distribution and presentation. In terms of pricing, the FS6712X comes with a price tag of $850+. While this may appear high at first glance, it is comparable to 8 bay drive NAS SATA devices and many of those do not even include NVMe slots or 10GbE. Users looking for a more cost-effective option can consider the Flashstor 6, which offers half the number of slots and 2x 2.5GbE enabled ports for $499.

As the cost of flash modules continues to drop, and larger capacity drives become available all the way up to 8TB (even without QLC), the FS6712X provides an attractive solution for those seeking high-capacity and high-performance NAS storage. While some underlying performance relativity by the end user needs to be factored in and hardware limitations exist thanks to the use of that Celeron to remain budget-friendly, the FS6712X is a tremendously smart move by Asustor. A well-designed NAS that presents a much more confident solution demonstrating the benefits of NVMe-focused NAS devices to an audience that would have assumed such things are way, WAY outside the realms of affordability!

 

DEAL WATCH – Is It On Offer Right Now? ASUSTOR FLASHSTOR 12 Pro (FS6712X) Network Storage Amazon USA 33.32 OFF (WAS 831) [LINK] These Offers are Checked Daily

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Bet Hardware 6-Bay NAS – QNAP Triple Tier TS-855X Server

0-130TB SATA HDDs, 0-16TB SATA SSDs, 0-16TB 3×4 M.2 NVMes, 6+2+2-Bays, C5125 8-Core Atom CPU, 8-128GB Memory, 1x 10GbE and 2x 2.5GbE Ports, 2x PCIe 3×8 Slots, 3yr Warranty

Current Price/Availability on Amazon – $1300-1500

Hardware Review – LINK

YouTube Video Review – Watch

What I said in my review June ’23:

I have to say, I am INSANELY impressed by how much bang for buck is being included in the TS-855X and although it is not the most powerful device in the market (arguably intentionally, as it favours the more affordable Atom over a xeon), it is a sensible workhorse of a NAS. On the positive side, the QNAP TS-855X NAS comes with numerous strong selling points. The device offers large storage potential, especially with the ZFS file system, making it a powerhouse for data management. The choice of CPU is also sensible, providing a balance between performance and cost-effectiveness. The inclusion of the QTier tool is particularly appealing, adding a layer of efficiency to the storage management. Another big plus is the user-friendly GUI for ZFS in QuTS, making it accessible for users with varying levels of technical expertise. The three-tier storage options and support of ECC memory with a maximum of 128GB further enhance the device’s versatility and potential. Moreover, the TS-855X provides a wealth of expansion options and comes with 8 camera licenses with QVR Pro/QTS. The well-ventilated design contributes to thermal efficiency, ensuring optimal performance, while its support for the latest 22TB and soon-to-be-released 24TB drives future-proofs your investment.

However, the TS-855X is not without its drawbacks. While the two SATA SSD bays provide extra storage options, they would have been better if they were U.2 slots, which offer faster speeds. Although the device supports ECC memory, the initial 8GB memory in the base model is non-ECC, which might not be optimal for all ZFS services. The memory capacity might also be somewhat low for users with intensive data needs. Furthermore, the software can sometimes be inconsistent under heavy use, and it has a steeper learning curve compared to competitors like Synology. Finally, the pricing structure for the TS-855X is a mixed bag. While some users may find the cost reasonable given its features, others might feel it’s a bit steep for what it offers. Therefore, while the QNAP TS-855X NAS offers a plethora of attractive features and strong performance, it’s worth keeping in mind that a spend of a few hundred more dollars opens the door to Intel Core-powered NAS in the TVS-hx74 series or more powerful Xeon triple-tiered systems such as the TVS-h1288X. If you want power, but on a budget, it’s a great choice!

 

DEAL WATCH – Is It On Offer Right Now? These Offers are Checked Daily

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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. Just enter in a few details of your setup, storage requirements and (in the case of buying a new solution) your budget – then me and Eddie the Web guy can help you with your question. This is a completely free service, is NOT provided with profit in mind and is manned by two humans (no bots, no automated replies, etc). Assistance might take an extra day or two (the service gets a lot of visitors) but we do try to answer every message. If you want to support this service, you can find out how to donate HERE. Otherwise, you can still just message us for free advice anyway!

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