Synology DiskStation DS210j Nas box
The ultimate budget home server?
Review Synology’s Disk Station 409 Slim was one of Reg Hardware’s favourite Nas boxes of 2009. With the DiskStation DS210j, the company addresses the needs of home users for around half the price of the Slim. An unpopulated device, the DS210j has two Sata drive bays with RAID support and more features than any hi-tech household could possibly need.
Home service: Synology's DiskStation DS210j
Whilst it is commonplace to find features such as basic HTTP and FTP servers in many Nas boxes, Synology has gone a step further with its Web Station software and has included support for Apache, PHP and MySQL along with Surveillance Station 4. The latter provides support for up to five IP surveillance cameras for the paranoid user. Thus, anyone with a decent uplink can easily run their own web server and monitor enough cameras to take on the role of Big Brother. Watch out Endemol.
The DS210j also features a DLNA media server, iTunes server, Audio Station 2, Photo Station 4, Download Station 2 and File Station 3. Three free apps: DS Audio, DS Photo and DS Cam offer access from the iPhone.
And the list doesn’t end there. Data Replicator 3 allows Windows users to manage scheduled backups and enables Time Machine support for Mac users. For business users, there is also a Server Backup tool and iSCSI Target support, plus Mail Station allowing users to run their own mail server. All of these features come standard on all Synology products, which support DiskStation Manager 2.3.
On the hardware side, you will find two 3.5in Sata bays, three USB 2.0 ports and a gigabit Ethernet port all wrapped up in a simple white and grey plastic enclosure, which feels light but seems durable. This lends to a rather plain but attractive appearance, spoiled only by the absence of eSata and the blanking panel that appears where the socket would be and cheapens the overall look somewhat.
The usual suspects but, alas, no eSata
COMMENTS
Qnap TS-210
I've got a Qnap TS-210 and its an awesome device. In fact when I read this review I was seeing definite similarities - including the interface to manage the device. Qnap have just released a Beta of their latest firmware which improves their Multimedia streaming options so that you can play your tunes via your iPhone through their Qnap iPhone app too. The Qnap TS-210 goes down to 7W in standby, but a very easy to use power management interface means you can easily power the unit on and off at set times when you know the device defintely won't be in use. Apart from being a very capable NFS/CIFS server, mine is running Squid, DHCP and DNS so I've got better control over wifi access than most wifi routers that get shipped with your broadband connection, ddns, Apache web server, Twonky Media Server for iTunes playback and if you've got a SqueezeBox it can stream to that too. Highly recommend the TS-210 and on face-value of this review, reckons it just edges above this device.
NAS Hunting
I have been hunting for a cheap NAS for some time and had it narrowed down to this or the Qnap TS-210 which seems similar but has double the RAM. Would be interested to see the Reg review that as well so I can get a side by side with the same benchmarks.
Else if anyone has the Qnap and could give opinions that would also be grand.
Says it supports Mail Station...
... on page 1 of the review:
"For business users, there is also a Server Backup tool and iSCSI Target support, plus Mail Station allowing users to run their own mail server."
Yes
According to Synology's "Compare Products" page it does support Mailstation. And wireless too.
I like the look of the DS210+ spec, includes eSATA and Wake on LAN. Wonder how much more it costs. And for those worried about power it comparison sheet lists Scheduled power on/ogg as a feature too.
Hi Aristotle
Been after a NAS for a while for my PS3, and now my wedding is out the way I can afford one! I wonder if it's possible to stream to the PSP too, solving your problem (and giving me another reason to buy!) or if the PS3 would have to be on. Which would be rather annoying.
PS Agree about the 10w in standby. Mine will be getting shut down at night, that's a tad high.
