The data from 415play can convince it is an Intel Atom CPU installed, enough memory (1GB) and it has 4 HDD bays. A special feature is the hardware acceleration for the Convert videos (transcode).
The NAS corresponds broadly the DS214play, only that it has 4 HDD bays.
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Delivery
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It comes with the NAS itself, an external power supply, 1 network cable and even a Quick Start Guide.
Actually everything you need, but no more.
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Optics / processing
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The NAS provides far as appealing, you can definitely place in the living room, the front cover of this piano black plastic, unfortunately that attracts fingerprints, but normally the NAS is anyway only in one place.
What I did not think before buying that there is only a front cover, it is not a flap which conceals the hard drives.
The remaining processing is okay, everything is secure and does not wobble.
The four disk tray are made of plastic, in the privacy of the hard drives usually do not change it so often because it does not matter, but the frames are I think not for 100x disk swap designed.
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Volume of the fan
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The 2 integrated fans are definitely living room-compatible, one perceives only a low hum.
Here, when running z. B. the TV you get nothing with the fans.
But even if it is quiet, it is not annoying.
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(First) device
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Before the first start of course have the hard drives are installed, this only the front cover must be removed (only plugged, no screws).
Now you can unlock the lock mechanism, the (plastic) disk tray with a short press.
Laterally located on the frame, the "Crabs", they must be deducted first.
After this is done, only the hard drive must be inserted, and the clamps are re-attached - totally easy - and without screwdriver!
After everything is installed (in my currently running 2 Western Digital Red 3TB hard drives [WD30EFRX]), only the AC adapter and the LAN cable must be connected to the NAS.
Now the NAS can be the first time started!
The NAS itself is ready for use after a few seconds and will blink with some LEDs (orange LED because no volumes were created and the 2 disks LEDs).
Now you can in Broser about "find.synology.com" or "Disk Station: 5000" in the Configuration / Einrichtoberfläche access (DHCP / DNS server provided will probably be the case with almost all users use the device at home, with me runs here a Fritz! Box 7490 with these services).
Here appears the configuration dialog, also find the latest downloaded "DSM" version.
In the wizard, you can still select whether a "Synology Hybrid RAID" (SHR) is to be created (which would hard drives virtually self-manage) or whether you want to accept the configuration itself, I've selected here that I want to take it even since I was a wants to use RAID1.
After a few minutes you can then use the new NAS and access the normal DSM SETUP interface.
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DSM - configuration interface
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Let's talk about one of the great features of the Synology NAS systems: the operating system!
The "DSM" configuration interface can be accessed from the browser and looks after you have logged in, almost like Windows / OSX / Linux, you can find "desktop icons" and different frames with information (and even widgets with hard disk status, transmission speed, etc. .)
Although the surface is so far very clear, you can set a lot of different things here.
Here it must be said that it is sometimes difficult for the "Hobby User" if you want to get out to get something more out of the NAS.
Now, to create shares that you have only one volume create, this is done either already in the wizard has been shown at the first start, or you do it manually (top left in the corner click on the "Start" menu and then select memory manager, at Volume can then create new volumes, I've created a volume with RAID1 [mirroring] here)
Then you can select the "Start Menu" directly "Shared Folder" and create new shares.
If desired, you can also create even before new users or groups, depending on how you want to divide its shares.
Now the shares to be (z. B. in Windows via \\ * IPADDRESS * \ * Shares Name * \) should already be reached
I then directly copied my data from my old HP N54L Server on the DS415play NAS. (To create an ideal time to backup!)
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Additional packages / video station
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For the "DSM" There are many different add-on packages can be installed via the web interface in the "Package Center" easy. There z. B. a VPN server, the "Download Station" (hereby you can run Downloads directly on the NAS), Plex (as Media Manager), and much more ...
Interesting here is the official package from Synology, the "Video Station". With this you can release its stored movies for various clients in the network. The videos are here thanks to hardware acceleration for the corresponding terminal is converted, if it does not support the format. This feature distinguishes the 415play particularly from other NAS systems (also of Synology).
I could test the function on my TV and a Chromecast stick and am ready very satisfied.
Unfortunately, the hardware acceleration is still not supported by Plex, which I actually insets, but this point I already knew before buying.
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Smartphone / Tablet Apps
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From Synology there are also some very useful apps for your smartphone or tablet:
DS audio, DS video, DS photo +, DS cloud, DS file, download DS, DS cam, DS finder DSM mobile
Depending on which you function on the road needed you can download the corresponding app here.
I use currently only DS and DS video downloads, more I do not need on your tablet / smartphone.
With the DS Video app can be found on the smartphone / tablet videos that are stored on the NAS view,
and with the DS Download app you can manage the current download or even add new ones which are then downloaded from the NAS.
To use the apps, the right package must be installed on the NAS to be (on the package center) each!
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Speed network
+ In the surface
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The (Web) interface from the NAS is very fast and will depend not so far everything is available very quickly after one click, here you notice that the Intel Atom processor has enough power for a "media NAS" has for home.
My DS415play NAS is connected via Gigabit network directly to my Fritz! Box 7490 and also achieved very good speeds.
Depending on how big the files are copied, to reach between 75 MB / s and 105 MB / s - at these speeds I am very satisfied.
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Conclusion
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Unfortunately, I can not describe here certainly all the features of the DS415play NAS, but it's a really very good system with which one thanks x86 CPU also is very flexible.
The transfer speeds are very good, and for normal home use more than sufficient (here the details of Synology also be achieved!).
The video / media functions come with Synology not too short, I think that plays a major role for many home users.
Thanks to the clear web interface makes self-administrating the system fun, but you have here still a little familiar with networks, without understanding how to set up is otherwise not so simple.
Those looking for a NAS for the home, which may very well be extended with new features, is the DS415play I think be very satisfied.
What course should always be taken into account, you should in addition to a NAS create still a backup on an external hard drive, which is only connected if you want to make a backup because a RAID1 is not a backup, it contributes only to resiliency in.
I have now been a few weeks very happy with the NAS and can recommend it only!
