NAS Servers
NAS Servers covers network-attached storage from small offices to departmental file servers. Synology DiskStation models run from the 1-bay DS118 and 2-bay DS218 through the DS918+, DS1819+ and 12-bay DS2419+, with RackStation units like the RS820RP+ and RS2418RP+ and the SA3400 for larger deployments. QNAP's TS-451+ and TR-004 expansion enclosure sit alongside the HP StoreEasy 1650 and older StorageWorks NAS systems built on ProLiant hardware.
NAS Servers: 108 products
Buying guide
Sizing a NAS
Bays and redundancy
In a 4-bay unit, RAID 5 or Synology SHR gives up one drive's capacity for protection against a drive failure, and RAID 6 or SHR-2 gives up two.
Model lines
Synology's j and value models suit home and small-office file sharing. Plus (+) models add faster processors and memory upgrades, and XS and SA models target business workloads with more expansion.
Drive compatibility
Synology and QNAP publish drive compatibility lists, and some newer Synology models restrict which drives are supported.
NAS Servers
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between a NAS and a server?
A NAS is a server dedicated to sharing files over the network, with an operating system built around storage and web-based management. A general-purpose server can do the same job but needs its own OS and setup.
Do these NAS units come with drives?
Synology and QNAP units are usually sold diskless, so drives are bought separately. HP StoreEasy and StorageWorks systems often ship with drives, and those listings state the capacity, such as the StoreEasy 1650 48TB.
Can a NAS back up to the cloud?
Yes. Synology DSM and QNAP QTS include apps for backing up to cloud storage, another NAS or USB drives, so a NAS can keep an offsite copy of its data.
