Got my new Synology DS 213j today evening

[GeorgeO]

I am just setting it up will post some pictures tomorrow. I have installed Logitech Media Server, and plan is to use this as an audio server with a 3TB drive.I will back up the audio with an external 3TB drive so that in the event of a catastrophic failure I have the entire data backed up outside the NAS, unlike the last time around when my Netgear ReadyNAS NV+V2 suddenly died in November with very little recourse.

I've been a great fan of NAS units and have been using a ReadyNAS for the past 5 years + until I decided to go the Synology way. By all accounts especially looking at feedback on Amazon, Netgear is no longer the power it once was.In addition my own experience with their software was nothing to write home about-my ReadyNAS NV+ for example could recognize the 3TB internally but not externally-unless it was partitioned. I tried to update the firmware but despite doing that it would read the drive-which is a pretty poor commentary on their product. I had bought the NV+ for the express purpose of using large drives.

 

[GeorgeO]

The user interface when compared with the ReadyNAS appears to be a bit better, as well as the physical product design.My ReadyNAS Duo was built like a tank, this one doesn't look quite as sturdy, is a lighter and easier to handle, but well built nonetheless. Inserting the disk is a tad easier than the Duo, which in the early versions, like mine. had well documented issues with the very poorly designed tray.

It is currently powered on and checking the disk(parity consistency check), which has taken about 3 hours for 30%, should be over by the time I wake up. I plan to start transferring my audio files into it tomorrow.

 

[sam9s]

Congratulations, George ..... nice decision, enjoy your NAS ... , There are lot of things you can do with Synology and a lot of different ways you can back up your data. I would suggest to go for SHR with one disk failure, so that incase of any catastrophic failure, which you fear most, you can easily recover your data. All you have to do is to replace the faulty drive with a new one and the raid services will rebuild your lost data.

YOu can take professionally paid backup services as well like "CrashPlan" which I have taken just to back up my family photos collected over so many years. Schedule it and it takes a backup over the cloud.

 

[GeorgeO]

Hi sam9s

Your Synology NAS review is very detailed and there is very little that I will add to it, barring a couple of paras and a few photos.I was tempted to go for a higher spec unit with USB 3.0 but the cost deterred me-after all once I load up my audio any additions can easily be done via GbE, so the initial effort is a one time deal for me, and it has just started.
Thanks for your insights.

 

[saketb]

Congratulations, George on your purchase of the new NAS.

 

[alladinkachirag]

Congrats George. Did you buy locally or import via Amazon?

 

[GeorgeO]

Amazon, USA.

 

[Raghav_K]

^ landing cost??

 

[GeorgeO]

Check their site prices vary, I didnt pay for it here, so dont know exact $$.

 

[GeorgeO]

Photos:

 

[GeorgeO]

The third photo shows one HDD installed, there is a slot for the second one directly underneath it. I loaded up all my audio using both USB and GbE from two external drives, and then got the LMS software to scan all of it. The whole process took almost two days. W.r.t cost, my nephew brought it over so I didnt pay any shipping cost.

It has commenced serving to my two SBs and thats big relief, now I need to set up an external 3 TB to back up my audio. Hopefully all of it will get done during the next week or so-along with my home made video server running on FreeNAS. I have got a Cller Master enclosure and am in the process of getting my initial four X 3TB HDDs showing up s a single volume. Initial problems are being solved and hopefully I will have all of it done with minimal stress.

 

[GeorgeO]

I like the Synology so much that I have decided to Upgrade to a Synology 4Bay DS414, and go the whole hog with 4 X 4TB HDDs, the whole shebang will set me back a bit of $$ since I will be getting it from the US. I had just bought a 2Bay 213 a little over a month ago! No doubt this is better than the ReadyNAS, in my opinion. I may consider letting go of my 2Bay with a 3TB once I get the new NAS.

 

[sam9s]

Wowo that's cool George. Same feeling I had when I bought 212. Once you use synology you just don't like any other NAS. Congratts again for your upgrade.

 

[GeorgeO]

I owe you some thanks on this one sam9s!

 

[Raghav_K]

Guys, am considering to get a synology 213j, as its selling in amazon for around 199$...

Any idea if it can run the latest dsm5 well and serve me with these? (plex server, torrent downloader, with a future purpose of recording security camera feeds at the same time?)


Edit:

Am also considering going for a 4 bay one with 2 hard drives in raid for backup, and one wd green av hard drive for recording videos...

Basically its a fix between getting my relative coming from US to carry either this or a Playstation 4.

 

[GeorgeO]

Raghav

I upgraded the firmware to DSM V.5 a couple of days ago,so dont worry about that. Dont know about the other things.The 4Bay version is what you should go for,if you can. I got the 2Bay initially and now have ordered a 4Bay one.

 

[Raghav_K]

^ great... we'll see if sam has any idea bout the others!

the ds413j looks attractive, but 380$ :-(

 

[srinisundar]

Now i have landed in Asustor 604T and yet to unpack and set it up.

Regards

 

[manniraj]

I was looking at this model for storage of my media and sharing multiple places (music-pc/htpc/mobiles/TV). I think this model is cheaper because of less RAM/CPU but not sure how the performance be compared to the regular 214 models.

Thanks

 

[Raghav_K]

I was looking at this model for storage of my media and sharing multiple places (music-pc/htpc/mobiles/TV). I think this model is cheaper because of less RAM/CPU but not sure how the performance be compared to the regular 214 models.

Thanks

Yes that has only 256mb ram and a 800 mhz processor... Would be sufficient for media storage and streaming to a single device i guess..