Looking to buy 1st NAS- suggestions/experience/input please!

[Comdrpopnfresh]

I'd like to buy my 1st NAS. I'm not sure what is out there (what brands/lines/model are "go-to"). I think I would like to be able to fit 4-6 3.5" drives (I'll likely go with a 2TB or 3TB RAID-1, two disk configuration at the beginning), and am focused on a balance between good network/throughput speeds and power efficiency. I'm thinking about running WD Red drives if my setup will be running 24/7 (they interest me); but I would like to know if there are NAS systems out there that go into a deep sleep state until either directly accessed, or a validated client joins the network or makes contact over WAN. I am concerned that my router (Vz FIOS device) does not come close to providing 802.11n connection speeds, let alone throughput: It seems like a lot of these NAS devices are not directly accessible via wifi, but piggy-back on a router via gig-E.

I am also concerned about security- as it seems to me that making data stores available for access over WAN may mean placing it in DMZ. I would like to let windows 8 automatically backup the computer on my network to the NAS too. I may also build a HTPC in the future- that's why I am interested in having 4-6 bays. Any guidance would be geat- I'd like to spend <$450 on the NAS, and would be willing to sacrifice initial storage capacity to get a quality unit with features that will let me hold on to it for a long time. This isn't something I want to be replacing years from now. Thanks in advance!

 

[blastingcap]

You can build your own NAS if you don't mind a little bit of effort. I just set up a NAS for the first time EVER this year, built from scratch. Took a half-hour to put together the hardware and another to figure out the software. I had to do it again recently to set up a second NAS. Took a half-hour for the hardware and just 10 minutes for the software, now that I know the basics.

Best part is how I get better data protection this way (ZFS + ECC) than if I were to buy a prebuilt NAS... those prebuilts all use worse file systems and AFAIK none of them even uses ECC memory, thus they offer less data protection.

And I get Wake-on-LAN and all the other goodies to save power. With a G530 processor idling, it barely consumes any more power than a prebuilt.

If you insist on buying a NAS, good luck with that. Others can tell you all you want to know.

 

[SeanFL]

Synology DS213 would be a great choice if 2 bays will suit you for a while. I use it on my network and it has great speed, plus it goes to sleep as soon as you want it to (set mine at 20 minutes). Quiet. Synology is one of the better NAS brands IMO. $300 + the cost of the drives.