Despite many opportunities, especially for beginners recommended

I've been running recently a Synology DiskStation DS213j 2TB Western Digital Red This has, without hard drives nearly 180 -. Cost. However, it was not purchased through Amazon, since the time required is not available.

The installation of the hard disk was simple. The housing of the DS213j was not screwed directly stored in a box, just drive in and screw it, screw the NAS, finished. Of all the necessary screws each had even more in the bag. Plug power supply, connect the network cable, boot, runs.

To date, a NAS4Free residue DIY NAS running on Atom 330-based and 2TB Samsung F4 and served me only as a media server for two HTPC. This sucked in standby approximately 20W (according to the cheap meter) from the line, which is not necessarily introduced me happy. Especially since the NAS average was 90% idle. The DS213j is the standby with a Western Digital Red 2TB disk now at about 6W (again inexpensive meter), which have impressed me very much in comparison. Under load during data transfer, it was 17W. Now energy schedules for startup and shutdown are still defined what again additionally reduces consumption. Sleep states can also be defined for the hard drive.

The built, controlled fan is quiet, but also not completely silent. It can be in the software three different modes for fan set. In quietest mode, it is my opinion also conditionally suitable living room, at least until the NAS is hot for so long and he has to turn faster. This is probably also influenced by the amount and type of the installed hard disks. The fan itself can be exchanged for standard 92mm fan with 3-pin connector as the previous model but he is only pinned and does not require large craft skills. For me, the NAS tinkers alone in the basement, so I have not concerned myself with going on. On the web, there are enough to read about it.

The DSM software (4.2) in my opinion is very user-friendly, especially for people like me who have no plan of console commands. You will be updated regularly and on Synology website there is a live demo, I have also done this to me before. The user interface is called in the browser and offers the possibility of fast access to all functions and Apps. One gets along fairly quickly, the structure is logical and not too nested. You can download apps directly Synology and install third-party tools / community there also. I recommend to check with special needs in advance on the website, whether this is appropriate here.

I myself use the NAS now for backups, photo archive and my HTPCs access to the media. Everything in GB LAN. The transfer rate when copying between PC and NAS at least 70 MB / s, depending on the disc. No high requirements as simultaneous access by multiple clients with a lot of traffic because I have in the private sector fell my decision consciously to the "smallest" 2BAY NAS. I am with the performance anyway completely satisfied.

On the NAS itself, I have created several folders, which I have included as network drives in Windows. This works without any problems, users in groups with access rights can be created and the access can be restricted. External access is via the usual protocols. I reach with my Android smartphone via a VPN connection also to the NAS. The possibilities of use are quite diverse until now I still use very little of it. That will be even more, I'm experimenting just with Surveillance Station, with which you can control IP cameras and so implement a security solution for operation, house and yard.

I am so far very satisfied with the device. Synology way, because I always liked to date products at "noNamespaceSchemaLocation" or "Exoten-" on the nose if you have been looking at issues and problems in the network times support or community. Synology products are quite common, so far I have quickly found an answer to every question, especially since the software is the same as their functions for many Synology devices.

For me, the NAS deserves full 5 stars.