Which is the best network-attached storage devices for my home or home office.

Having to purchase network attached storage can often seem intimidating when researching available devices.

The vast array of NAS systems offer different options depending on your needs. Such as NAS drive types, drive bays, and overall connectivity and interface.

Ranging from small or single drive devices to the magnitude of enterprise focused rack mounted machines holding 100's of drives at a time.

With NAS systems initially being a storage solution, what else can they do? NAS drives can do so much more! They may be set up to act like a web-server or they can become your own media centre, distributing video, music & image files. They are perfect for a multiuser file swapping server so that your staff can collaborate from afar.

Which is the best NAS drive and what considerations should you make?

Hunting out the best NAS drive for your set up is easier when looking at these simple considerations.

NAS Hardware Specifications

Like in most cases, size does matter; but it all depends on what you will be using your NAS drive for. For example: If you want to use the NAS drive as a virtual machine to run Linux. Or if you want some heavy hardware acceleration ongoing then you should be looking for 2GB + of RAM. Maybe planning ahead and going with an expandable unit with dedicated GPUs or better CPUs would be a wise choice. Anything less than this and the NAS drive will start to underperform. If you're simply looking to have a backup archive storage system, or (at a push) a media centre server. Usually any NAS drive under the 2GB starting line will be ideal for your usage levels.

Features of Interface

NAS manufacturers have not yet reached the point of having the same set of refined interface features across all devices. There does seem to be a loose set of conditions being met however. For Plex support or local backups you can pretty much accommodate any of the NAS drives out there, however for linking multiple NAS drives together or for running an always accessible music library in the cloud you may need to research which units allow for a greater configuration through the installed interface.

How compatible are the Drives?

It is a common occurrence that NAS drives come with a set of pre-defined drives that it will accept. So if you are looking to install drives you've already already purchased, or if your looking to include an extra drive or migrate from an older NAS system, it would be correct to double check the latest list of drive compatibilities with your desired unit.

Support for internal file systems

Generally speaking there are two main file systems found inside NAS. The Btrfs and the ext4 systems are the most common found. The newer Btrfs has many more new features designed specifically for NAS use. Most of these new features were not available in the ext4 systems (or the older ext3 system). There are many Pros and Cons to both of these systems, with supporters of each internet discussion forums are still battling out the answer. Research each system before you buy your NAS drive. Our NAS experts are able to walk you through the different types to help get you started: Call 0203 617 7663 to speak with one of our support staff.

Which ports are available?

Most NAS systems used with the home will come with a standard GbE (gigabit ethernet) port. Some will have USB ports for easy backup of some devices. As you're increase the price point of the unit, you could have an HDMI port for streaming of digital media straight to your TV. After choosing the three main ports, the price increases as your port speeds or port numbers go up.

How many drive bays do I need?

Even with the standard storage size of NAS drives getting larger and larger, there is always a need to add in an extra drive for data redundancy if you so wish. The more you need to archive data, the greater the chances of needing more drive space in the future. Will your chosen NAS drive accept more than one drive?

Best 2 bay NAS drives

Small scale 2 bay NAS Drives work great for a small business set up.

If you plan on using RAID, always make sure to address matching models and capacities. 2 Bay NAS drives do help keep costs down but it can limmit your storage capacity. Many of the 2 bay NAS drives have a really simple user set up, allowing for both home and office or personal usage.

2 Bay NAs drives can usually be set up in a desktop setting. They are very small machines that do not encompass as much business space as dedicated server rooms. A simple solution for small businesses wanting to increase their data storage and sharing environments.

NAS drive manufactuerers such as QNAP or Synology offer some of the highest data options for 2 bay drives. Some units can hold up to 60 TB across the two drives.

Best 4 bay NAS drives

Most customers we speak with that purchased a two bay NAS drive, always wished they went for the 4 bay NAS drive instead!

When your scratching to get that last bit of storage space it's time to upgrade to a 4 bay unit. Offering tons of storage space but still in a low-power box that can sit on a desk.

A 4 bay NAS is much more cost effective when compared to the 2 bay. The 2 bay NAS drive with a 10TB drive in RAID1 will only provide 10TB of space. However with a 4 bay NAS & RAID5 you have 30TB. Now with more performance, a 4 bay drive and RAID10 means more secuirty also.

Best 8 bay NAS drives

Ready at the enterprise level these drives offer high capacity; fast and secure network storage. Ideal for corporations with large networks that process high data volumes.

Most of the 8 bay NAS drives can take up to 20TB in each drive slot. A drive of this size can either support your business as it grows, or run the existing business with an option to scale in the future should it be needed.

There are many systems that will allow for both MAC and PC sharing & connectivity. With expandable memory, a fast processor and typically a dual or quad-core to boot the 8 bay NAS drives really do offer instant saftey if you have hardware failure.