Purchase decision DiskStation 214 all models

In explanation, the first number of the device name stands for the number of hard drive bays (also called Bays), the last two for the model year, beyond possibly comes even the identifier for the version of Disk Station.

So 214play represents 2 drive bays, model 2014 Description play.
Anticipation was told that the 214 series but all look similar from the built-in hardware but are very different. In practice, however, you realize that only by working speed. More on this later.

Operating System (DSM):

No matter what you buy DiskStation Synology always have the DiskStation Manager (DSM) operating system. DSM is a Linux-based operating system, the Synology continuously developed. Anyone who thinks now: Linux, that's the where to enter as much with the keyboard, you will be surprised positively here. As a user you work exclusively with the graphical user interface in the browser or apps on iPhone, iPad and Android. On the website of Synology there is a live demo in which you can watch the surface fully.
Anyone umguckt on the market, is determined find other NAS with something faster hardware for less money. But the excellent user interface makes all gone.
And as I said all Disk Station have the same OS and can install all of the same add-on packages.

Whether it comes to a file server,
Media Player for music, videos, photos,
Web server for its own Internetpresenz,
Download Station BitTorrent, eMule,
Stream Server for TV programs,
Virus scanner,
Backup system for personal computers,
the very own private cloud,
DHCP, LDAP, DNS, Git, RADUS, VPN and and and
It's all there.

Because of the modular operating system it is possible to move with its hard drives in another enclosure of Synology. My experience this can be read at the end of "Migration".

In what follows I shall address the individual models of the 214 series. Processor type, clock speed and RAM will not be executed. Even on the smallest DiskStation run all applications with no dropouts. We start with the little ones and work our way to the larger devices.
Models (se different) have these characteristics:
Hardware encryption module, dual-core CPU with floating point computing, USB3.0, Gigabit LAN, WLAN support (dongle), Wake on LAN / WAN connection, recovery after power failure, Schedule Power On / Off, Noise ~ 19dB (A exchange), hotswap (hard disks in operation), max 2x 4TB hard drives

** Synology DiskStation DS214se
Has the smallest hardware configuration and the energy saver series. 4Watt in idle mode and 19Watt in operation are peak values. The target groups are private users who want to store their data, pictures, videos centrally and securely. Streaming to PCs and other devices is possible without restrictions. Who wants to save power and does not analyze every second when uploading a GB file, is in good hands here.

Note: extremely low-current standby, no hotswap, only USB 2.0, single-core processor, writing speed has mediocre.

** Synology DiskStation DS214
The standard model with dual-core processor. Is brisk road and has better values ​​in the write speed compared to the 214se. But consumes 10 watts in standby mode and also for 23 during operation.

Note: all-rounder can almost take full advantage of the bandwidth in gigabit LAN.

** Synology DiskStation DS214play
Is designed for streaming to different devices and has a hardware transcoder. This makes it possible to convert it into real-time video to other formats. This feature is needed when the player does not support the video format of the saved file. Or the bandwidth of the video stream is to be reduced. An example: You want to a video of the DiskStation with friends watch but the bandwidth of your Internet connection is too small to the original to be transmitted in real time. The DS, in the case count down the quality and the video runs smoothly from. Is of course a little at the expense of image quality. Only works on the video-app or via the built-in player browser.
The CPU is very strong for a NAS which is also reflected in the price and the energy consumption again. 29 watts in operation.
From the read / write speed faster than the 214. SD card reader and eSATA interface are also included.

Special feature: 1080p full-HD video transcoding, eSATA, SD card reader, CPU overpowered for a data grave

** Synology DiskStation DS214 +
The model for the company, in which multiple users move large amounts of data simultaneously. The read / write speed is substantially greater than it might cope with a gigabit LAN. That's why she has 2x Gigabit LAN. About Link Aggregation, a channel bonding be used. For but a special switch is required, has the hardware not a normal household. In addition, the encryption of data on the hard drive is accelerated by the processor structure and the hardware encryption module.
Those who value encryption and / or high trans betray accesses this DS.

Special: 2x Gigabit LAN, Link Aggregation, failover, eSATA, strong hardware encryption, high read / write speed, only for professional use makes sense.

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Conclusion:

Energy saver and infrequent users, but to use all software features access to 214se. If you want to 214. High performance and 1080p video transcoding for mobile devices provides the 214play more power. For home users, the 214+ unsuitable because the hardware is designed for corporate networks.

Experiences:

I myself have been used to 212j, the elder counterpart to 214se. In Focus thereby lay the provision and securing my data streaming to PCs and TVs. Similarly DownloadSation for BitTorrent. The low power consumption was at that time a purchase decision I have never regretted. I myself do not own 214se. But since this has more RAM and a more powerful CPU than my model, I speak still of a recommendation for the average user.
Currently I bought the 214play. As described above, you can convert videos in real time. I often watch movies from friends from my DiskStation. The fun, however, dampened by the upload limit my Internet connection at home. Large files need to be downloaded or vorgepuffert before movie enjoyment. That's over with the play.

The volume of all DiskStation with ~ 19dB (A) can be pleasant but not be described as absolutely silent. For an office ok, for the living room acceptable, too loud for the bedroom.

Migration:

The change of the disks between 212j and 214play went surprisingly well. Expanded hard drives, pushed into the new Disk Station, launched Synology Assistant and after 10 minutes the 214play with all my old data was ready. The software packages had to all be reinstalled, but it went very quickly out of hand.