The answer is simple:
- Security against data loss by RAID1 data mirroring, so protecting valuable data like pictures etc.
- Instant access without a PC must run continuously, thus less power consumption
For a long time I was undecided whether it should be a Windows Home Server or at least one NAS (Synology, Zyxel ...).
In the end I decided because of the price and power consumption for a NAS, especially the Zyxel NSA325 NAS server and have never regretted this decision since almost half a year.
The unpacking and installation of hard drives was playing easy and can reasonably be expected even inexperienced amateur.
At first I had set up the unit in the living room, there it was me at first but too loud. Now it is in the office right next to my desk and as it has turned out, was to hear only during the setup phase. Meanwhile, all the data is already stored and indexed, therefore also a statement in the living room would have been no problem. But the network it does not matter anyway, where the device is.
Due to the current hard drive prices work internally two Western Digital drives, each with 500GB storage capacity. By RAID1 mirroring the data only in total 500GB disk space are naturally present. Nevertheless ever feel good, the most important data (images, documents, etc.) protected from a hardware defect to know.
At the two rear USB 2.0 ports potter two WD external drives with 2 TB, one equipped with music, the other films.
The front USB 3.0 port can be used either for memory expansion, but I use it to make a backup of the internal data (with RAID1 and additional backup is to really be on the safe side).
In the multimedia area of the NAS server, two WD TV Live HD media player and a Samsung TV 55UED6500 operated. The Gigabit LAN port and the internally built processor create three HD streams simultaneously without any problems!
By the way can the NAS server via the zMedia app from my Galaxy S2 control. So you're always on the condition of its server in the picture.
Via the web interface and the firmware update was not a problem, self-explanatory installation routine runs.
The NAS server also connects to my Dropbox and saves the current mobile photos automatically.
At night, the NAS server at a preset time switches off automatically and goes back up in the morning as well.
One drawback I've found, but I am not for lack of comparative sure if this is a general problem. Despite a fixed assignment of IP addresses on the network, it can happen that the WD TV HD Media Player does not detect the NAS the first time. A reconnecting sufficient but usually. Once it happened so far that I had to start the Media Player all over again.
Once again the advantages:
- Low power consumption (especially by automatic shutdown at predefined times)
- Easy set-up via web interface
- High data security thanks to RAID1
- Low operating noise
Disadvantages:
- Sometimes delay the "handshake"
Addendum of 28/12/2012:
The internal fan was louder and now replaced by another (Revoltec FAN Air Guard, 60x60x20, price around 5 EUR). Absolutely simple conversion and even quieter than at the beginning.
