With home networks becoming so common these days, more users are expressing interest in a NAS not only to centralize storage, but also to expand functionality of their network. Synology's DS210j is a great example of a low cost and easy to set up NAS unit geared towards home users and their demands. Storing and sharing multimedia files is a top priority in the home market, and the DS210j has those needs covered by providing a DLNA media server, iTunes server, audio station, download station, and various other features.
All of those fun server features aren't very helpful if you lose your data due to a hard drive crash however, so it's important to protect important files. This is very easy to do with the DS210j. You have the choice of configuring the hard drives in a JBOD, RAID 0, or RAID 1 array, with RAID 1 being the best option if you're concerned about preservation of data. Backups to a USB hard drive or network location are available too for an extra layer of protection. And managing all of these features is easier than you might expect thanks to the AJAX-based interface – the intuitive layout makes it easy to find what you're looking for and changing settings is a straightforward process. There are also packages available for download on Synology's website to add Logitech's SqueezeCenter, a mail server service, phpMyAdmin, and also a package that allows you to view web services usage statistics.
It's hard for me to find any real flaws in this unit. My only wish is that the USB copy function would allow for copying files from the NAS to the USB disk; as it is now one can only copy files from the USB disk to the NAS. It's still a useful feature to have and something I personally use quite a bit, I would just like to see it expanded.
In the end, this is a great choice for a starter NAS if you are new to them or are just looking for something that won't break the bank. For the price you won't find a better network storage solution out there.
Pros:
- Easy to set up and use
- Extensive feature set
- Fast, stable web interface
- Quiet operation
- Competitively priced
Cons:
- USB copy function is limited
If you have any further questions about this NAS, you can ask them in our forums HERE.
