NAS Compares Alternatives to Synology NAS – Which Is Best?

If Not Synology? Which Other NAS Brand Should You Choose?​

It’s an odd question, but with Synology arguably making some rather higher business and enterprise decisions in recent years, there have been increasing queries about who would fill the void if they moved onwards and upwards. As Synology holds such a powerful position in the NAS market, their absence would certainly lead to quite the battle of strength from other players. The obvious answer would be QNAP, a brand that has a similar history to Synology (over two decades in the business, Taiwan-based, in-house OS, numerous 1st-party tools, home and business solutions, etc.), but in 2024, the reality is nowhere near as clear-cut. Younger established brands that have jockeyed for 3rd position, such as Asustor and Terramaster, have been challenged by several startups (ZimaCube, Latticeworks, to name just two) entering the fray, as well as established brands like UGREEN, which are expanding their business into the NAS sector. If Synology, for whatever reason, ceased to occupy this important user class of private turnkey server ownership, who would be best placed to occupy it?

Continue reading...
- - -

 

[Jan Janowski]

My plan is to: Do Nothing.... I'm lucky enough to have 3x NAS's. One for Wife, 720+, with hers being a HOT data backup for Mine... One for me, 718+ with a HOT data backup for Wife's data on mine.... both stuffed with 2x Seagate 7200rpm Ironwolf's as SHR... and max Synology RAM. Her's with Synology Approved M2 R/W Samsung Cache. So we each have a Hot Standby, should a failure occrur....

And an "Experimental"720+ NAS, Presenty stuffed with 3rd Party Ram, SSD's SHR, eSATA enclosure, and SSD, and 3rd party Power supply... and Supported (at the time) M2 NVME R/W Seagate ironwolf Cache.. Presently a backup of all camera images and videos... that othe NAS's create.. It becomes a test bed for new programs if needed.... None new programs planned... So I've effectively a spare NAS!
Each NAS has a single drive eSTATA drive external drive, powered off USBV3, that saves our most important data on all 3 NAS's... Triple redundancy!
We don't do backups of NAS's... Backup is 2nd or 3rd online NAS...
Have a spare Synology Power supply: good for 718+ or 720+ (Used for 3 months) and 720+ 4GB Crucial Ram if needed...
It: The 'Experimental' NAS, will become the spare unit if Wife's 720+ or My unit 718+ fails.... or if it fails, and can't be repaired (you know I'll Try!) walk away -- knowing 'I tried'!! Other than that, I will add new Seagate Ironwolf Pro or Seagate NAS drives... IF NEEDED. I'm a Seagate Fanboy!

I've No Plans on a new NAS... of Any Type...
Oh yes... With Synology's 7.2.2. TP removal of SS as a Motion Detect Source.... We have CANCELLED our Planned License purchases, as well.... We happen to Like Using Synology Surveillance Station as a motion Detect Source.... Another DUMB Decision!!!!


PS: You know I edit video (1920x1080/29.97 max).... I don't attempt on using NAS for edit... It CAN be used, but it's not 1000% reliable... Instead, I Installed a 2x SSD Raid 0 on the "Edit system" as a drive to edit from/to... as it was faster -- less $$, and more reliable (Dropped frames) than attempting on using a NAS as edit source/destination... I do use NAS for Archive of finished projects, however....

 

[Gerard]

One for Wife, 720+, with hers being a HOT data backup for Mine... One for me, 718+ with a HOT data backup for Wife's data on mine...

Each NAS has a single drive eSTATA drive external drive, powered off USBV3, that saves our most important data on all 3 NAS's... Triple redundancy!
We don't do backups of NAS's... Backup is 2nd or 3rd online NAS...

Do you not take advantage of off site backup?Could you? What happens if (knock on wood) your house floods, catches on fire, some other natural disaster, electrical surge, or even theft of all 3 of your nas’ at home, you’ve effectively have lost ALL of your data.

Why not merge your and the wife’s data to one device and free up a device to put off site somewhere. Then backup everything to that and keep the third nas as experimental.

 

[Jan Janowski]

yes. Hard drive elsewhere in safe. We swap with 2nd one every 4-6 months. redundant data,