There are several reasons for installing a Network Attached Storage (NAS) in your home or office. From the need to be able to count on a file server to the desire to have a multimedia center, passing through the possibility of using it as a personal server, as a VPN server (virtual private network server) or as a private cloud.
In this way, NAS is used more and more, and for more and more functions, so their popularity continues to increase.
However, choosing the NAS server that best meets your needs requires some minimal technical knowledge. To simplify your choice, we have developed this complete buying guide. Here we will be listing the top 13 best nas.
- An affordable, high-performance 2-bay NAS optimized for home and SOHO users, running the latest TOS 4.2 operating system.
- ARM v8 quad-core 1.4GHz CPU with 1GB RAM (NOT upgradeable), blazingly fast read/write speeds of more than 114 MB/s (RAID 0, SATA III 4TB NAS hard drives x 2).
- Supports Emby and Plex media servers, which keep your videos, music, and photos personal media beautifully organized,always ready for on-demand streaming to your PC, mobile device, smart TV, or games console.
- Powerful Hardware: N5095 Quad-core 2.0GHz CPU, 4GB RAM DDR4 (expandable up to 32GB). Dual 2.5-Gigabit Ethernet ports - Supports up to 5 Gbps under Link Aggregation. 4bay NAS designed for SMB High Performance Requirements.
- Maximum Internal Raw Capacity: 80TB (20 TB drive x 4). Compatible with 3.5" and 2.5" SATA HDD, 2.5" SATA SSD. Supports RAID 0/1/5/6/10, Supports online capacity expansion and online migration. The built-in M.2 2280 NVMe SSD slot can realize SSD cache acceleration and increase the storage efficiency of the disk array several times.
- Multiple Backup Solutions: Centralized Backup, Duple Backup, Snapshot, CloudSync, enhance the Safety of your data with multiple backup applications.
- Realtek RTD1296 Quad-Core 1.4 GHz CPU
- Uses 1 GB DDR4 – 40% more efficient
- Superfast 2.5-Gigabit Ethernet
- Professional Grade Network Attached Storage: Optimized to organize, store, share, and back up your important files.
- Reliable Storage w/ Effortless Setup: RAID 1 pre-configured for out-of-the-box protection to save you time and effort.
- Purpose-Built for Data Protection: Features 256-bit drive encryption, a closed system, and flexible replication and backup features to keep your data safe.
- High-performance 1;3 GHz dual-core Processor for lag-free streaming
- 1GB of DDR3 Memory to multitask with ease
- Centralized network storage and access from anywhere
- Lil Nas X Officially Licensed Design
- Lightweight, Classic fit, Double-needle sleeve and bottom hem
- IronWolf internal hard drives are the ideal solution for up to 8 bays, multi user NAS environment's craving powerhouse performance
- Store more and work faster with a NAS optimized hard drive providing ultra high capacity 14TB and cache of up to 256MB
- Purpose built for NAS enclosures, IronWolf delivers less wear and tear, little to no noise or vibration, no lags or down time, increased file sharing performance, and much more
- Designed by a Veteran
- Lightweight, Classic fit, Double-needle sleeve and bottom hem
- Lil Nas X Officially Licensed Design
- Lightweight, Classic fit, Double-needle sleeve and bottom hem
- Michael Eric Dyson (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 320 Pages - 12/29/2009 (Publication Date) - Civitas Books (Publisher)
- Amazon Kindle Edition
- Guide, NAS (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- Audio CD – Audiobook
- 12/12/2023 (Publication Date) - Legacy Recordings (Publisher)
- Factory sealed DVD
- Busta Rhymes & Nas (Actor)
- English (Publication Language)
Things to Consider Before Buying Best Nas
NAS is an acronym for ” Network Attached Storage,” which translated means “network-connected storage.” This device allows you to store data and share it through a network safely, wired or Wi-Fi, with other devices such as PCs and smartphones.
The NAS server contains at least two hard disks inside and behaves like a private cloud that you can easily install inside your company, studio, or home.
What Exactly Is a Nas Server?
A NAS server is an extensive capacity network storage system that connects to a home or professional network. Its function is to make it possible to access all existing files and documents on any device on the web, without having to establish a direct connection with the unit in which they are located.
What Is a Nas Used For?
NAS servers can have several functions. Among the main ones, manage files on the network, install a personal streaming server, or offer a local system to a group of users. Also, they are often used to store recordings of IP surveillance cameras.
At the same time, they can be configured as servers connected to the Internet and, therefore, can perform functions similar to those shown by web storage or hosting services. So, you can use them as an email server or store your website. It is also possible to turn them into VPN servers.
What Are Nas Bays?
The spaces available to NAS servers for mounting hard drives are called a bay. In home-use NAS, one or two bays are usually sufficient. However, in devices for professional users or workplaces, it is necessary to have four or even twelve bays.
Keep in mind that each bay has an individual storage capacity. So if it is 10 GB, you cannot mount a 12 GB disk. Furthermore, energy consumption must be considered: the more bays there are, the higher this consumption. Hence, it is not recommended to choose NAS servers with more bay than necessary.
The Operating System that Manages the Nas
NAS devices don’t work with Windows. The big manufacturers have their own Linux-based operating systems, such as in the case of Synology DiskStation Manager, QTS of Qnap, or My Cloud of WD. However, there are also many free systems such as FreeNAS, NASlite, or Openfiler.
In general, all of them are quite simple to use. Some, like QNAP, Asustor, or Synology, can also be managed from the mobile phone. Besides, it is also essential to consider which applications each system has to manage email, FTP (File transfer protocol), and backup servers, among others.
The Processor
For a family environment, a 1 GHz Dual Core processor will be more than sufficient. Instead, for an office, you must think, at a minimum, of a quad-core processor. In general, mid-range models usually mount Intel Celeron processors, while professional ones use Intel i3 or Xeon.
RAM
The RAM you will need depends on the use you want to make of the NAS server. If you only need to save backup copies, you don’t have to worry too much about this. For home use, 512MB memory may be sufficient. Instead, it may be advisable for an office to have up to 8 GB of memory.
If you want to use it as a multimedia device to play content in high definition, you will need at least 1 GB of RAM. If you’re going to frequently use the NAS as a multimedia player in HD or 4K quality, you should think of a server equipped with 2 GB or more RAM.
Number and Storage Capacity of Disks
A NAS server can have a variable number of hard disk bays, which are called bays. Today it is possible to buy two and up to 12 bay NAS servers. Those with a single bay are now disappearing. Having a model of NAS server with multiple bays means having more storage space at your disposal.
A 2-bay model could prove to be the right choice in the home environment, for small offices, and when your storage needs are limited. A multi-bay NAS, however, is recommended for medium or large companies.
Hard Disk
When you choose a NAS without a hard disk, you will have to consider buying them separately and suitable for your needs.
One model hard disk model is not the other and is optimized for a specific use. There are hard drives on the market specifically designed to operate continuously 24/7, with high energy efficiency, suitable for working with video surveillance, video recording systems, etc.
The available hard drives are usually 6 TB or 8 TB. By purchasing a 2-bay NAS, you will have 12 TB of storage (2-bay x 6 TB corresponding to 12 TB), by choosing a 4-bay model, the space increases to 24 TB and so on.
Technical Features
One of the main advantages offered by the NAS server, compared to traditional storage methods such as HDD or pen drive, is the security in data storage.
NAS devices take advantage of the RAID configuration, which in English means “redundant array of independent disks,” a “redundant set of independent disks.”
This is a technique that allows you to divide the data between the disks inside the NAS in order to obtain better performance, greater tolerance against any malfunctions, and the guarantee of not losing the stored data.