What is a NAS?
A home NAS (Network Attached Storage) device is a great investment for anyone looking to improve their home network and have more control over their data. With a home NAS, you can store, share, and access your files from any device on your network, as well as remotely over the internet.
Common uses for a NAS
There are many uses for a home NAS, including:
- File storage and sharing: A home NAS allows you to store all of your important files in one central location, and access them from any device on your network or remotely over the internet. This is particularly useful for families or small businesses who need to share files with multiple users.
- Data backup: A home NAS can serve as a central location for backing up your important data. You can set up automatic backups of your files, or use the NAS as a target for your existing backup software.
- Media server: Many home NAS devices come with software that allows you to turn your NAS into a media server. This means you can store all of your music, movies, and TV shows on the NAS, and access them from any device on your network or remotely over the internet.
- Surveillance: Some home NAS devices come with surveillance software that allows you to turn your NAS into a home security system. You can set up cameras around your home, and access live feeds and recordings from your NAS.
- Virtualization: Some home NAS devices are powerful enough to run virtualization software, allowing you to run multiple virtual machines on your NAS. This can be useful for testing out new software, or running multiple operating systems on a single device.
A home NAS is a versatile device that can be used for a wide range of purposes, including file storage and sharing, data backup, media serving, surveillance, and virtualization.
There are many home NAS devices available on the market, so it can be overwhelming trying to choose the best one for your needs. Here are the top three home NAS devices that we recommend:
- Synology DS220+
The Synology DS220+ is a powerful and feature-rich home NAS device. It comes with a 2-bay design, allowing you to easily expand your storage capacity by adding additional hard drives. It also has a fast processor and plenty of memory, making it ideal for heavy workloads such as video transcoding and serving as a virtualization host.
One of the standout features of the Synology DS220+ is the comprehensive software suite that it comes with. The Synology DiskStation Manager (DSM) operating system offers a wide range of features, including data backup, cloud synchronization, and file sharing. The DSM also includes a variety of apps that you can install to extend the capabilities of your NAS, such as media servers, surveillance software, and more.
- QNAP TS-451+
The QNAP TS-451+ is another excellent home NAS device that offers a great balance of performance and features. It has a 4-bay design, giving you plenty of storage capacity and the ability to easily expand in the future. It also comes with a fast processor and plenty of memory, making it suitable for a variety of tasks such as serving as a media server or a virtualization host.
Like the Synology DS220+, the QNAP TS-451+ comes with a comprehensive software suite that includes a range of features and apps. The QNAP QTS operating system offers data backup, cloud synchronization, and file sharing, as well as a variety of apps that you can install to extend the capabilities of your NAS.
- Western Digital My Cloud EX2 Ultra
The Western Digital My Cloud EX2 Ultra is a budget-friendly home NAS device that is ideal for those who are looking for an easy-to-use solution for storing and sharing their files. It has a 2-bay design and comes with a fast processor and plenty of memory, making it suitable for a variety of tasks.
One of the standout features of the Western Digital My Cloud EX2 Ultra is its user-friendly interface. The device comes with a web-based dashboard that makes it easy to set up and manage your NAS, as well as access your files from any device on your network or remotely over the internet.
In conclusion, all three of these home NAS devices are excellent choices for anyone looking to improve their home network and have more control over their data. Each one offers a unique set of features and capabilities, so be sure to consider your specific needs when deciding which one is best for you.