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My own NAS system – Part 2: Community, I hear you!
by Richie Müller
My own NAS system – Part 1: a hard farewell to Synology
26/12/2023
Translation: Patrik Stainbrook
My Synology is getting on in years. Now I’m thinking about a new network storage device. Welcome to part one in my search for the right family NAS.
At its limit
By now, however, my Synology is slowly reaching the limits of its storage capacity. In addition, the NAS has many hours of operation under its belt. It’s evident: I need a replacement for my reliable Synology. But I’m not sure if I want to buy another identical model. The alternative? Breaking new ground.
To buy or not to buy…
I’m very satisfied with Synology in terms of its functions and features. The network storage manufacturer has developed a stable operating system in Diskstation Manager. I rarely encountered any problems. Even with little or no experience, you can set up Synology NAS. Martin Jungfer, a novice, proved this. Here’s his article:
Division leader with an ecosystem
From my point of view, Synology NAS is basically perfect for my requirements. I have plenty of options at my disposal, most of my needs are covered. However, there’s just one thing that gives me pause for thought.
The price is right high
I paid 610 francs for my old Synology DS 916+ in 2016. Adding the four hard disks, I end up at around 1,200 to 1,400 francs. Since I’m aiming for more than four hard disk bays, things get spicy when I look at current Synology models with 12 bays:
Over 2,600 francs for a Synology DS3622xs+, now that’s a hefty price tag! And that doesn’t even include hard disks yet. Currently, my Synology DS 916+ contains multiple 8 TB NAS hard disks. One Western Digital model with this capacity costs 172 francs in our store. Times twelve, that’s an additional 2064 francs.
All in all, including hard disks, the Synology mentioned above would cost around 4,700 francs. To be fair, I don’t necessarily have to fill all 12 hard disk bays right from the start.
The requirements for my new NAS system
For me, pricing is the biggest factor in the end. There are cheaper options. Coupled with my desire for DIY, I know I won’t be buying a new Synology. Instead, I’ll build my own NAS. Here are my requirements for the new system:
- Enough hard disk bays.
- Sufficient storage capacity.
- A powerful system.
- A scaling system.
- No closed ecosystem from the manufacturer.
- A system that’s easy to configure with little programming knowledge.
- Good documentation of the operating system.
In the next article, I’ll be looking for an operating system that I can master quickly and that meets my needs. I’ll deal with the hardware in another article.
Also looking to move away from Synology? Tell me why in the comments!
Header image: Richard Müller
Richie Müller
Teamleader Editorial
Richard.Mueller@digitecgalaxus.chI'm a journalist with over 20 years of experience in various positions, mostly in online journalism. The tool I rely on for my work? A laptop – preferably connected to the Internet. In fact, I also enjoy taking apart laptops and PCs, repairing and refitting them. Why? Because it's fun!
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