Synology DS216 or QNAP TS-251

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alisam

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#192125 28-Feb-2016 11:20

This was my previous topic (http://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?forumid=84&topicid=192060) and the overall suggestion was a 2 bay NAS.

My requirements for a budget NAS seems to becoming a little more expensive that I had anticipated, especially when I need to add a couple of drives.

I just cannot make up my mind on these 2. I did consider the DS216Play and for now real reason discarded it. Perhaps I was thinking it may be useful when 4k comes more mainstream.

The QNAP has HDMI out, so I suppose I could put the NAS in the TV cabinet. We have 2 x Samsung H6400 (Smart) and 1 Panasonic G10 (not smart, but I use a FireTV box).

I really don't think I need to transcode anything (all .mkv). We watch everything on TV's scattered around the house and never watch anything on a tablet or mobile device.

The 2 are about the same price at PB Tech ($625 - $630).

The QNAP appears to be older that the Synology so it that a major factor?

My gut feeling is a Synology NAS. So it is either Synology or QNAP and nothing else.

Please give me any help you thing is fitting.

PC: Dell Inspiron 16 5640 (Windows 11 Home), Dell Inspiron 7591 2n1 (Windows 11 Pro), HP ProBook 470G1 (Windows 10 Pro), Intel NUC7I5BNH (Zorin)
Net: Grandstream 1 x GWN7062 Router, 1 x GWN7665 Access Point
Storage: Synology DS216play NAS, 2 x 6TB
Media: 3 x Amazon FireTV. Echo, Dot, Spot
TV: 2 x Samsung H6400 55" LED TV, Panasonic TH-P50G10Z 50" Plasma TV
Mobile: Samsung Galaxy A52 5G
Wearable: Gear S3 Frontier

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Networkn
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#1500643 28-Feb-2016 11:25

We like both but sell a LOT more Synology. I'd buy a Synology if it were my money.

PoHq

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#1500681 28-Feb-2016 12:14

After MUCH procrastination I pulled the trigger on a Synology about a year ago. Got a DS414. Couldn't be happier with it.

Disrespective

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#1500943 28-Feb-2016 20:49

And here I have a Qnap TS451 and love it. We have a Synology 415 at work that I set up and to be honest for joe bloggs the differences are minor, but both a decent products. You'd be happy with either brands I suspect.

lNomNoml

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#1500967 28-Feb-2016 21:04

In terms of software I would choose Synology, I have a QNAP at home a cheapy $300 one and I have also installed Synology ones around the same price and Synology to me is just more polished.

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#1500985 28-Feb-2016 21:39

Synology.

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LazyDr

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#1501574 29-Feb-2016 15:53

I liked the look of Synology until I realised the latest models don't support Plex, so i'm going QNAP.

Sounds as though that isn't an issue for you though, so as long as they both tick all the boxes you want them to, both have pretty good reputations and I doubt you'll have an issue with either option.

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networkn

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#1501577 29-Feb-2016 15:55

LazyDr:

I liked the look of Synology until I realised the latest models don't support Plex, so i'm going QNAP.

Sounds as though that isn't an issue for you though, so as long as they both tick all the boxes you want them to, both have pretty good reputations and I doubt you'll have an issue with either option.

Where did you hear that information?

LazyDr

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#1501580 29-Feb-2016 16:06

Sorry, I should have been more specific:

The newer models released by Synology do not support transcoding when Plex is installed on the device.

This is not specifically where I got my information, but a quick search brought it up, and it seems to be backed up by most of the threads on that topic: https://forums.plex.tv/discussion/204934/is-the-ds216-supported-by-plex

afe66

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#1501637 29-Feb-2016 17:26

Here is the community maintained NAS Plex compatibility list https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1MfYoJkiwSqCXg8cm5-Ac4oOLPRtCkgUxU0jdj3tmMPc/edit?pref=2&pli=1#gid=314388488

Seems to be a move amongst some to move to non intel processors so I can see why Plex server software might not transcode.

I've got a 412+ which in theory says might struggle with 1080 transcoding but as most of my movies are mp4 from my dvds I haven't had problems over wired connections.

If I get round to ripping the blu rays they will not need real time transcoding as I will rip 1080 version for windows over the network and rip low resolution version for ipads and leave them in same folders and plex server will serve the respective version depending on my player. I'll rip with i7 which will faster than trying to transcode with a low power NAS cpu.

So I would go for the more polished synology NAS software to learn about NAS's

alisam

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#1502079 1-Mar-2016 12:17

FYI

Rightly or wrongly (for me) I have ordered a Synology DS216Play with 2 x 3TB drives from Computer Lounge which with an advertised 10% discount was a good package.

Also, I used a YouTube video from span.com relating to Synology 2 Bay 2016 NAS's. It wasn't the best overall, but nowhere near the bottom end. Budget played a part.

networkn

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#1502083 1-Mar-2016 12:19

I'll be surprised if you are unhappy with it honestly, they are on the whole, superb.

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JimmyH

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#1502357 1-Mar-2016 19:06

Personally, I would have spent a bit extra and got at least a 4-bay unit, to allow for future expansion, and/or used larger hard drives. Stuff has a way of growing to fill the available storage.

But, as networkn said, I'm sure you will be happy with your purchase.

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#1502367 1-Mar-2016 19:18

alisam: ... I have ordered a Synology DS216Play with 2 x 3TB drives from Computer Lounge which with an advertised 10% discount was a good package. ...

Good choice

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JamesL

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#1502383 1-Mar-2016 19:55

If you're feeling adventurous you can install DSM 6.0 Beta 2 and create your volume using btrfs instead of ext4

I've been running the Beta 2 with no issues on my DS1515+ but unfortunately there's no migration from ext4 to btrfs so at some point I'll transfer everything off and recreate my volume

One thing I missed moving from a zfs based NAS to the Synology was snapshotting, which is one of the draw cards of btrfs amongst other benefits

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#1504900 2-Mar-2016 13:43

QNAP 651. Overkill for me really but happy with it. In some ways seems overly complicated at times vs Synology which for me may have been a better fit but liked had more apps. I do however see posts above that want these features so YMMV eg snapshots. Shame the one app I wanted to use Serviio (as I hate Plex which is a space hog) has been broken months and the fix is stuck in QNAP approval for almost as long.

Tried the HDMi out thing and wasnt fussed in end. Make sure you buy the higher ram one if doing the Virtual stuff as mine keeps not being able to do some things cos got main model even without using this.

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