Can You Use a Synology NAS as a Server? Benefits, Uses, and How to Use a NAS as a Storage Server for Home

If you’re looking for a high-quality server, you may be wondering if a Synology NAS can serve your needs. There are many benefits to using a Synology NAS as a server. from the wide range of models available to the easy setup and use, there’s much to love about these devices.

This guide will teach you everything you need to know about using a Synology NAS as a server, from the different features and specs of each model to how to set them up and use them.

Can You Use a Synology NAS as a Server?

Yes, it is possible to use a Synology NAS as a server. Synology NAS devices are designed for home usage and provide users with the ability to run applications on them such as web servers, file servers, and more. Additionally, they offer advanced features such as high-availability clustering and disk replication that make them ideal for running mission-critical applications in the enterprise environment.

To use Synology Drive, you’ll need to install the server app from the Package Center. After that, download and install the Synology Drive Client desktop app on your computer.

While they can be used for running applications like web servers or file servers, they do not have the same level of scalability or performance as dedicated server hardware would offer. Furthermore, since they are designed primarily for home usage rather than enterprise environments there may be limitations in terms of scalability and availability that are not present in dedicated server solutions.

What is Synology NAS? Overview of Synology NAS

A Synology NAS (Network Attached Storage) is a type of server that connects to a local network and provides shared access to data storage. Synology NAS servers are ideal for home and small business use due to their advanced features and easy-to-use interface.

They offer high performance, reliability, and security features such as encryption, backup options, and more. Additionally, they can be used to create private cloud storage solutions or serve as an alternative web hosting platform.

What are the benefits of using a Synology NAS as a server?

Customize storage to fit your needs

Synology NAS devices can be used to customize storage to fit your needs by using both hard disk drives (HDDs) and flash drives (SSDs). HDDs offer larger capacities at a lower cost per gigabyte, while SSDs are faster and more durable than traditional hard disks.

You can also expand your storage by adding additional NAS or expansion units. Synology NAS devices support both types of drives, allowing you to adjust and expand your storage as needed.

Productivity accelerators

Productivity accelerators are tools that help increase productivity by providing additional features and functions. Synology NASes provide users with more than 100 free apps through its “package center”, which can be used to enhance productivity.

These apps include productivity tools such as document editors, web browsers, mail clients, and project management software. Additionally, Synology NASes offer great autonomy so users can focus on creating added value rather than being dependent on technology.

Very easy to use

Synology NAS units are designed to be used as servers, and they offer a variety of backup solutions to keep your data safe. These include a snapshot replicator, Hyper Backup for offsite backups, and other cloud services such as Microsoft Azure or S3 Storage.

Unlike traditional server hardware, Synology NAS units are compact in size and designed for home or small business use. They also offer easy-to-use configuration options for their various backup solutions so you don’t have to be an expert computer technician to set them up correctly.

Access and share your files intuitively

Using a Synology NAS as a server enables intuitive file access and sharing due to its advanced features and functionality. It can act as a centralized backup solution for your photos, allowing you to store them safely in one place without the risk of losing them.

Synology Photos also offers an easy-to-use interface that allows you to organize your photos in different ways, such as by date or location. Furthermore, it provides an efficient way of sharing your photos with friends and family members through its built-in sharing features.

With these features, users can easily access and share files from anywhere without needing any special software or knowledge about file formats or protocols.

Back up your PCs and Macs automatically

Synology NAS systems can help you back up your PCs and Macs automatically by creating an automated backup plan. It can back up photos, videos, documents, and other important files to your Synology NAS device so that they are safe in the event of a computer crash or other data loss incident.

The system also groups media based on people appearing in them, places they were shot at, and more to make it easier for you to find specific items quickly later on.

Safeguard and organize your media

Using a Synology NAS as a server can help safeguard and organize media by providing an easy-to-use photo management solution. The software allows users to back up their photos, organize them into different folders or albums, and share them with others easily.

It provides advanced features such as facial recognition technology that helps identify faces in photos automatically. This ensures that media is well-protected and easily accessible when needed.

Secure your home with private video surveillance

Synology NAS can be used to secure home video surveillance through its Synology Surveillance Station software. This powerful suite works with a wide range of IP cameras, allowing you to monitor your home in real-time and capture footage whenever necessary. Additionally, Synology NAS enables you to access your surveillance system from anywhere through a handy mobile app.

How to use a Synology NAS as a server for home?

Which Synology NAS model should I buy?

Synology RS 217: Flexible NAS for all types of business. It is perfect for storing photos and particularly for sharing files.

The Synology RS217 is an inexpensive and trustworthy option for a home or small business office. The Synology RS217 is built for peak performance and is powered by a fast Marvell® ARMADATM dual-core processor, making it more efficient and cost-effective than ever before.

The Synology RS217 is one of the best 2-bay rackmount NAS devices on the market thanks to its average writing speed of over 127.51 MB/s under RAID 1 configuration in a Windows® environment and its reading speed of over 210.87 MB/s.

The RS217 was built with uptime in mind, so it supports failover between its two Gigabit LAN ports in the event of a LAN failure. Installation and maintenance of 2.5- and 3.5-inch HDDs are simplified by the hot-swappable drive tray’s design.

Locking the hard drive tray prevents the hard drives from being removed inadvertently or by an unauthorized person. RS217 has three USB ports: one USB 2.0 port on the front for easy access and two USB 3.0 ports on the back for future expansion.

The 1U 2-bay rackmount NAS server from Synology, the RS217, has a depth of just 12 inches, making it an ideal choice for tight spaces and industrial settings alike. Because of its small footprint, you won’t even need a rail kit to install it in a 2-slot rack or on a wall.

It’s robust enough to work at temperatures up to 50 degrees Celsius (122 degrees Fahrenheit), providing excellent dependability even in harsh environments. The improved fan design of the Synology RS217 keeps the fan spinning at a low speed, keeping noise levels at a manageable 25.8dB(a) in the office.

Increase your own efficiency and output with the help of Synology RS217 and its extensive suite of business applications. Spreadsheet is a web-based spreadsheet application that enables users to quickly and easily create, edit, and share spreadsheets with others in their respective groups.

VPN Server is a simple VPN service that allows you to securely access a private LAN from anywhere in the world. By managing wireless authentication through the RADIUS (Remote Authentication Dial-In User Service) protocol, RADIUS Server increases network safety.

Surveillance Station provides a single point of access for controlling all of the IP cameras in your business or residence, letting you keep an eye on things from far away using a computer or iOS/Android device to check in on live feeds, record events, and take snapshots.

Whether you’re using Windows®, Mac®, or Linux®, Synology RS217 makes it easy to share files with others. Because of its compatibility with Windows Active Directory and Lightweight Directory Access Protocol, RS217 can be deployed in any network without disrupting operations or requiring users to re-create their accounts.

Using Cloud Sync, you can synchronize your home Synology NAS with your Dropbox, GoogleTM Drive, Microsoft OneDrive, Baidu, and Box accounts. Whether you’re using a Windows computer, Mac, Linux, iOS device, or an Android smartphone or tablet, the Cloud Station Suite can keep all of your files in sync and up to date. Through the use of HTTPS, a firewall, and IP auto-block, RS217 ensures the highest level of security for all file sharing conducted over the Internet.

Synology Hyper Backup allows for multiple backup destinations, including local shared folders, external hard drives, network shared folders, rsync servers, and public cloud services, and features block-level incremental backup and cross-version deduplication to provide multi-version backup with optimized storage utilization. If you use Hyper Backup Vault, you can see how much space has been used by each individual backup operation.

QuickConnect and EZ-Internet make it easy to set up your RS217 for remote access over the web. The most downloaded mobile apps from Synology include DS photo, DS audio, and DS video, all of which make it simple to access multimedia files on the go. Other apps like DS get, DS file, and DS cloud makes it possible to access and sync files from any device, at any time.

The Synology RS217 was created with reduced power consumption as a primary goal. The RS217 uses only 21.25W of power when running, which is significantly less than the average of other rackmount storage servers. Savings in both energy use and running costs can be realized through features like Wake on LAN/WAN and timed power on/off. For extended periods of inactivity, the HDD can be set to hibernate automatically. This reduces the strain on the power grid and helps the hard drives last longer.

All Synology products use RoHS-compliant components and come in recyclable packaging. Synology, as a responsible member of society, is committed to minimizing its products’ individual and cumulative environmental impact.

Synology DiskStation DS1618+ NAS Server for Business with Intel 2.1GHz CPU, 32GB Memory, 6TB SSD Storage, DSM Operating System, iSCSI Target Ready

The Synology DiskStation DS1618+ NAS Server for Business with Intel 2.1GHz CPU, 32GB Memory, 6TB SSD Storage, DSM Operating System, iSCSI Target Ready has a variety of features that make it ideal for business use.

It can be used as a backup solution for computers or entire networks; file storage for documents, photos, and videos; an email server to ensure messages are delivered securely; and even as a domain controller to manage network access.

Additionally, the Synology NAS chassis comes in a sealed box with hard drives and memory upgrades included separately so installation is required before use. The device also has iSCSI Target Protocol support which allows it to connect with other devices such as virtualization software or cloud services like Amazon Web Services (AWS).

Here is a full video review of this Synology DS1618+ NAS Server

Synology RS816: Flexible NAS for intermediate performance, perfect for transcoding and broadcasting videos in particular.

The Synology RS816 is a 4-bay NAS that leverages all of the features and applications that accompany DSM, Synology’s award-winning operating system. The capabilities of DSM are adaptable to the specific needs of each small business, and they range from more advanced and administrative functions to basic entertainment functions.

The RS816 features dual LAN failover support and link aggregation for enhanced performance, as well as a hardware encryption engine that can deliver encrypted data at a reduced rate of transfer (reported 148MB/s read 81MB/s write). Additionally, web-based applications such as Web Station, Surveillance Station, and MailPlus make it easy for businesses to manage their content on the RS816 from anywhere in the world.

Here is a full video review of this Synology NAS RS816

Synology RS818+: High-performing flexible NAS primarily indicated for a video montage.

The Synology RS818+ is a high-performing flexible NAS primarily intended for video montage due to its powerful hardware configuration. It features an Intel Atom C3338 Quad-Core 2.4 GHz CPU and up to 16 GB of DDR4 RAM, along with four Gigabit Ethernet ports and two USB 3.0 ports for fast data transfer speeds.

It supports a wide range of multimedia formats such as H.265/HVEC, 4K VP9 video playback, and transcoding capabilities for both videos and music files. Its comprehensive software suite includes Synology DiskStation Manager (DSM) – which provides comprehensive network management tools – as well as numerous third-party applications like WordPress, MailPlus Email Server, and more that can be installed directly onto the device.

Here is a full video review of this Synology NAS RS818

How do I setup a Synology NAS as a media server?

FAQ

Can I use a NAS as a server?

Yes, web and server developers can use a NAS as the perfect development platform for server-side applications. A good range of APIs are available for NAS devices, and apps can be installed to handle version tracking or overall project management. Additionally, containers such as Kubernetes can be deployed on a NAS device.

NAS is not suitable as a standalone server since it does not have the processing power or memory capacity required for running complex applications like web servers or databases. It also lacks advanced features like clustering capabilities or high availability configurations that are necessary for mission-critical deployments.

Can a NAS replace a server?

Yes, a NAS can replace a server for most small businesses. NAS devices powered by Synology’s DSM operating system typically far exceed the needs for file sharing, team collaboration, backups, and cloud storage solutions for most small businesses. Additionally, many medium and large businesses also rely on these devices to meet their computing needs.

The only roadblock is if you have a specific application that only runs on the Windows Server operating system – in this case, you would need to find an alternative solution or find out if it can be run on the NAS platform.

Is Synology NAS good for home users?

Yes, Synology NAS is good for home users. It offers a wide range of productivity apps, including Synology Office, which integrates into the Drive app on the web and allows users to natively open Microsoft Office files.

In addition, the NAS provides basic text-only file conversion without formatting issues and also offers options to export files in .docx and .pdf formats. With its comprehensive range of features and capabilities, Synology NAS is an excellent choice for home users who need a reliable solution for storing documents and other important files.

Why should I use a Synology NAS?

Synology NAS devices are worth using because they offer a number of useful features that make them an ideal solution for home and business use. Synology NAS devices are designed to be highly customizable, allowing users to tailor their experience to suit their needs.

They also come with advanced security features such as two-factor authentication, which helps ensure that data is kept safe from unauthorized access. Synology NAS devices offer comprehensive backup solutions that allow users to protect their important files against accidental loss or damage. Synology products come with a range of helpful customer support services such as 24/7 phone support and a 90-day warranty period for eligible products.

Is NAS storage better than public cloud storage?

NAS storage and public cloud storage both offer a variety of benefits. Both can be used to store non-sensitive data, and both offer privacy for sensitive data. Public cloud storage can be more cost-effective than NAS storage if you intend to store large amounts of data.

NAS storage offers more privacy than public cloud storage, as it can ensure that your most important and personal data remains private. Additionally, NAS storage may be more cost-effective if you plan on storing large amounts of data compared to public cloud options such as Amazon S3 or Microsoft Azure Storage.