For years, pre-built NAS units from brands like Synology, QNAP, and Asustor have been the go-to for anyone looking to set up home or small office storage. They’re sleek, easy to set up and come with polished software. However, there comes a time when your requirements outgrow the capabilities of pre-built devices. Clearly, I’m not alone in this thinking, as the DIY NAS community is in an upward swing. More so, keeping in mind the increasing popularity of NAS-oriented operating systems like TrueNAS and Unraid. With that in mind, here are five reasons why I no longer buy a pre-built...
Synology’s DiskStation Manager (DSM) is among the most beginner-friendly operating systems of any NAS brand. It guides you through the setup process to make it easy, even for first-time NAS users, and has a Windows or Linux-like interface so that you have minimal trouble figuring your way around the OS. While DSM is proprietary, many of its features have cross-platform alternatives that you can use on any NAS, be it pre-built ones like those from QNAP and Terramaster or your own DIY NAS running TrueNAS. Here are some of the best Synology features that you can install and use on...