Need advice Getting back into Syno - advice on a media-specific system

[Extrasolarian]

I used to have a 4 bay Synology in the past that I used for local media streaming and file storage. The streaming was OK but I don't think it was a great transcoder. Anyway, after a 6 year break, I'm starting from scratch. I need a kickass system and would be grateful for any advice you could provide. Also how to optimize it with upgrades. I will be using Mac OS and iOS as my device operating systems.

Usage type:

• home
• enthusiast

Preferred form factor:

• DS (DiskStation)

Number of bays:

• 4-bays

Do you have any existing drives that you plan on using?

• No

Prefered RAID array setup for this NAS:


This NAS will be used for:

• backup
• multimedia
• utilities (docker, VPN, reverse proxy, web hosting, etc.)
• downloads (torrents, USENET, WebDAV, FTP, etc.)

• Home media server. Used Plex/Infuse in the past, but I hear Jellyfin is maybe the way to go these days. My playback device will likely be an AppleTV 4K (older one, but could upgrade it if necessary). I will be streaming a bunch of HEVC 4K 10bit files so would like a model that can handle transcoding as well as possible if necessary. I believe this is an Intel model?
• Host an Audiobookshelf server for multiple users
• Back up my Google Drive
• Have remote access for files when needed
• Is there a system that is better for people access media files (eg. TV/movies) remotely in another country? I have gigabit internet with good upload speeds.
• Time Machine backups from my Mac

Max budget for this setup:

• 5k

Number of users that will utilize this NAS:

Mostly just me. Multiple users for the audiobookshelf server. Possibly some people abroad to stream media if that's possible.


Where will this NAS be used:

• LAN and over the Internet

Special cloud provider connectivity:

• Google Drive

Additional questions:

• I assume I should install 2x NVME drives? These aren't for storage right, rather just short term storage/cache for faster local performance?
• I assume I should upgrade RAM?
• Is there any point in upgrading the connection?
• What SATA drives are good right now for NAS systems?
• I have never used apps via Docker (I think it came out after I last used my previous Synology). Is there a good resource you recommend on how to learn about using Docker? I will want to be able to automate torrent downloads for TV and movies (and audiobooks if that option exists).
• Any other advice people would give for which apps/packages to use to help me obtain the functionality I want?
• Recommendations for a good power bank (this is the wrong term I know) to connect the NAS to so that any power disruptions don't affect the running of the drive for short periods of time? So I don't have to worry about a power disruption resulting in the drive turning off and then me not being able to access my files remotely unless come back to physically turning it back on again?

Thank you all!

 

[Rusty]

Welcome to the forum!

I need a kickass system and would be grateful for any advice you could provide

Uff those are heavy words when it comes to Synology due to their hardware always being at the back of the line compared to the competition.

Regarding your requirements and options. In short a "plus" model would be a good starting point all things considered, but with the new hyperscale and AI hype the pricing for any hw components have gone through the roof.

Saying that, just last year Synology refreshed (if we can call it that way) its DS lineup and that includes the 4-bay models as well.

There are two to be exact, the DS425+ and DS925+. The comparison for the both of them is here: Synology Inc.

Speaking of transcoding, as everything else from your list will work just on these machines, there are two things to consider:

• 925 is an AMD based model meaning no QuickConnect support that comes with Intel CPUs. This means that any transcoding task will tax the CPU significantly. Considering that you said ATV is your main client, there is almost zero chance that you will ever need transcoding, but just in case that's one "problem" with that model
• The 425 model on the other hand does have Intel cased Celeron model, but Synology as of recent (DSM 7.3) deliberatly turned off the support for HW transcoding on these models as well (running the 5.10.x kernel). This also applies to the DS225+ as well. However, there are ways to get around this limitation.

All the Docker needs will be met with ease on either of these two devices, but do keep in mind that RAM will be a factor. Because of this, and the insane prices, I would wote to get a 925 model because it has the double the amount to begin with. Still, even with 4GB of RAM this could prove to be too little, depending how deep down the Docker path you will go. There are 3rd party RAM modules that will work with these devices, but I advise caution in the long run.

Same applies to the drives. As you have said, you have no drives and need to get new ones there is a story behind that as well. Since DSM 7.3, Synology has revered its HCL policy when it comes to DS x25 or newer models and disk compatibility:

• 3rd party drives will work (any brand and size), but do keep in mind that support will be limited in case of any issues
• NVMe drives do not fall under this category for x25 models, but since June 16th, all third-party SSDs—whether listed on the compatibility list or unverified third-party drives—cannot be used to create SSD cache. If you want to use them, they can only be used to create SSD storage pools. Now keep in mind this applies to x26 models, so not relevant in this case, but bare in mind that long term it could raise complications.

Personally, I would advise using Synology HDDs (long term), as there are changes in the latest DSM 7.4 that further draws the line between 3rd party and "proprietary" in term of DSM feature support (we can expect this to continue onward as well). Still, even in 3rd party cases on some older models there are ways to add support for those drives, but bare in mind that will mean no official support from the brand in case there are any issues. (This applies for both RAM and drives)

Regarding nvme for cache, even if we put aside the compatibility element, configuring the cache volume to assist the HDD one will bring little benefit for your use cases. Personally I could rather suggest going then with SSDs in the main bays, you will get more speeds overall, but even then and the maximum network throughput of 2.5GbE on these model, raises the question of using SSD/nvme setup in the first place (regarding what you intend to do with the NAS).

Taking all that in, it could be an idea to get a mini PC to do all of the compute and transcoding tasks, and use the NAS as a storage only (and not an all-on-one). This way you could go with a cheeper model and save some $ in the process. Another way, if you want to stick with an all-in-one scenario would be to look towards other brands out there that have a much more up to date and capable hw with less, if any, limitations.

 

[DSfuchs]

Expanding the package sources also enables many applications to run natively.

Two NVMe SSDs are not suitable for use as a cache, as they would wear out quickly; only enterprise-grade SLC storage is appropriate for that purpose. Consequently, for optimal performance and availability, a RAID 10 industry-standard configuration is used on a 4-slot machine if not all data fits onto 3 SSDs with 1 additional parity capacity running proprietary SHR.

 

[Telos]

a model that can handle transcoding as well

There are none. Synology abandoned transcoding. There is a hack you can apply for J4125 units, but why hack a new unit to get what you need. Look elsewhere for native supported solutions.

 

[White Bear]

For what it is worth... We reluctantly chose all Synology HDD and NVMe for a major NAS upgrade last August. As @Rusty mentioned, our decision was based on concern that drive restrictions or functionality limitations might be imposed in the future. We are long-time Synology NAS users. And I felt at the time that our NAS investment should be all-Synology to streamline any contact I or (more importantly) others, here, may have with Synology support in the future. We have had no technical issues with 30+ Synology drives so far.

 

[Jan Janowski]

I can only post what works here, but as an End User who has dealt with hard drives since mid 1967 (and it fit in the bottom of a rack!)…
I have history with a manufacturer. Over many professional jobs. They have treated me fairly - dealing with professional and even personal concerns - in the past. And with ~ 40K+ hours of use, on 2 of 3 SHR systems now… from this manufacturer: I see no reason to change, unless someone has lots of proof indicating otherwise.

I’m more picky than Synology! I dealt with old raid rules: saying only: identical drives with identical firmware can go in a raid. I believe in that rule: It works!

From Synology I see only: edicts, lockout statements, backed up by ???? Technical data?

I can fully understand having SE ‘only work’ on Synology drives.
Yes, Really, I can!
It’s ‘their system’ and drives’. They might have ‘found something’ No one else has! This sort of thing has happened before!

But a lockout?. Shame!

Be careful in your demands, it might have reactions you won’t like!

Things are way too expensive right now! I know of multiple companies that are withholding new expenses awaiting for prices to go back to a year or two ago. I, too, as an end user, have plans on what to do, should a computer NAS or HDD/SSD Die & can’t be repaired. Ain’t Pretty, but it’s do-able! We too have withheld all future purchases do to insane high prices!

The combination of Price and reaction to a lockout - could cause a double whammy to anyone’s bottom line!

NO ONE is going to tell me I can’t use my manufacturer of choice for drives that were specifically designed for that operation! NO ONE!

 

[DSfuchs]

The first hard drives didn't appear until 1980, did they? Or did you get your hands on a decommissioned RAMAC?
That's my first one:
Seagate: ST225
First cust. shipment: 1981
Interface: ST412
Recording method: MFM
Capacity unformatted: 19.14 MByte
Capacity formatted: 15 MByte

 

[Jan Janowski]

Had a HDD On a Data General Nova 2 ??? From company that became Seagate or Seagate as part of a CDL PEC 120a in 1967.
It was used via parallel interface and modified boards to control Ampex 2” Quadraflex Broadcast VTR’s. It was the first fully computer controlled videotape editing system. With it I made Thousands of TV Commercials, many pilots of TV Shows some still on now. That system was first developed in Canada by CDL with hard drive as PEC 120 in late 1965.
1970-ish. Did much work with Fujitsu and Quantel on drives for the “Paintbox” at TV Stations, and later used on Robert Bosch FGS4000 the first computer Graphics system.
These were all floor or rack mounted systems, way before any pc.
1980 or so was playing with custom raid arrays of as many as 40-48 PATA drives that was an attempt to do both HD (yeah, it was around in infancy then), and SD as a Hard Drive video recorder/player for edit. That company died a horrible death.

 

[DSfuchs]

Professionally, I started in 1986 as an operator on a System/38, working with external IBM 3370 Direct Access Storage Device (DASD).
Your Data General Nova 2 was launched in 1973!

 

[Jan Janowski]

mid-late 80’s HDD’s (Winchesters as they were called), the drives themselves were being physically modified by Abekas, not drive mfg, to become stand alone SD digital video layering edit systems. Do a search on Abekas A62 to see what they could do! Forgot drive mfg name they used - is no more, as that mfg modified the drive plate disc coating and there were so many changed before it was realized it was NG, and since each drive was physically modified by Abekas, and enough drives died (minimum of 4 per A62, 2 in A64, 1 in other A hardware… that pretty much enough modified drives failed & the drive company disappeared before fix was found and drives got modified (it’s modified disc buss was also crazy, couldn’t be field modified. The Drive Bad Frames-Error Map of each drive was stored on EProm outside of drive! I used to edit Prom files and write new ones to fix (hide) data errors based on video time code of data error, while waiting for drive replacements to come, so they could continue using it for production work.

HDD Disc buss changes has been the deathnell of so many good drive companies. Then there was the SCSI Standard: that had as many combinations as the RS-232 ‘Standard’ did for serial! & pretty much all dissimilar!

 

[DSfuchs]

The Winchester drive was installed in the system unit of my System/38; it was the IBM 3340 from the year 1973.
Perhaps you meant Watford Electronics, who also sourced the drive from IBM.