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Digital formats are by far the most common method of serving data to consumers around the world. With fast broadband accessible globally, it is less and less expensive to distribute large digital information to consumers, either remotely or locally.
Even with media being the bulk of digital data delivery, the need for a quality storage solution for local information is also growing.
More people are turning to Network Attached Storage (NAS) at work and at home to store digital files safely. NAS devices are usually easy to set up, require minimal maintenance, and can often be expanded as your storage needs increase. Your data is protected through redundancies so a small error doesn’t end up corrupting your irreplaceable files. Automation can be set up to create regular backups of other devices. And, most importantly, since a NAS is a separate device, it uses no system resources on your main computer, phone, laptop, or tablet.
Simply put: operating a NAS is safer, easier, and more efficient than storing data on several devices and running the risk of data corruption or file loss.
What is a NAS?
A NAS is like a personal organizational solution for your digital life, but accessible by anyone on your home network. Instead of plugging directly into a single computer, it connects to your router, allowing multiple devices like computers, phones, and tablets to access the stored data.
Think of it as a central hub where you can keep all your important digital documents. This way, everyone in your household can easily access stored information, no matter which device they’re using. Plus, some NAS devices even allow you to access your storage remotely over the Internet, so you can work on your documents or enjoy digital information from anywhere.
Benefits of Using a NAS
- Expanded Storage Space – By getting a NAS, you can expand your digital storage. Network Attached Storage devices often have room for several hard drives, allowing users to decide how many they will use and the size of those drives. Drives can also be added later to further expand your storage.
- Automatic Backups – It’s easy to set up your NAS device to automatically create backups of specific folders or even whole systems. A NAS can also be used to create data redundancy so your files won’t be corrupted.
- Access Your Data Remotely – A NAS works as a personal cloud storage device. It can be set up for remote access to make it easier to reach your data wherever you are. Moreover, you won’t be reliant on outside companies to maintain your data integrity.
- Easily Collaborate – Exchange important documents or maintain communal work folders with colleagues. Create accounts for everybody, share folders, and customize permissions.
- Create a Media Server – You can stream your digital media locally or remotely by setting up a media server on your NAS.
How a NAS Works
A NAS is a dedicated storage device on your network. Unlike external hard drives that connect directly to a single computer, a NAS is equipped with its own processor and operating system. This lets it act like a mini-computer, allowing it to connect to your network router and be seen by all your devices.
Most Network Attached Storage systems have a series of “bays” where you would put hard drives. Each of these drives contributes to the overall storage capacity of the NAS. It can also be used to create data redundancy to prevent loss due to corruption or accidental deletion. Most NAS systems can be set up with minimal storage and later expanded, but not all can, so it’s important to know if yours has that capacity before you buy one.
Network Attached Storage devices generally have their own operating system based on the brand and can be accessed either through specialized apps or through a web interface. Access is highly customizable, with the ability to allow or restrict various types of remote use, create accounts for different people with custom permissions, and even determine what file types can be stored on the system.
RAID Configurations
What most people use a NAS for is as a RAID device. Redundant Array of Independent Drives (RAID) is a technology that allows two or more hard drives to work in parallel to protect your data.
Since data can be used in several different ways, there are different RAID configurations to best meet a wide range of needs. Some of the most common are:
- RAID 0 – With the fastest read/write speeds and highest raw storage capacity, RAID 0 is basically just using a hard disk as is. There is no data redundancy, so it works faster and gives you more storage space, but if one drive fails or a data block becomes corrupted, you won’t be able to recover that information.
- RAID 1 – This is a configuration best used for data backup. Systems configured with RAID 1 store data on one hard disk, then keep additional copies of it on every other hard disk in the NAS. You’ll have less storage this way, but it is the safest storage option.
- RAID 5 – This is the most balanced RAID configuration. RAID 5 requires at least three hard drives because it splits your data up among those drives to create what’s called “distributed parity.” If any drive fails, your data is still safe on one of the others. This also makes for faster read/write speeds than you would find with RAID 1.
- RAID 6 – RAID 6 is like RAID 5, only instead of just one instance of parity among the drives, it has two. You need at least four hard drives to use this, but what it means is that up to two disks can fail before your data is at risk.
How you choose to configure your RAID array is entirely up to you and only limited by the limits of your NAS.
Getting Started with NAS for Usenet
Before you can use your Network Attached Storage device for Usenet, you’re going to need a NAS device. There are several great options out there, and we wanted to provide some suggestions.
Before we get into what we feel are the best NAS devices, let’s talk about what criteria we are using to evaluate the various NAS devices available today.
- Performance: Above all, a good NAS should be fast, responsive, and agile, able to accomplish multiple tasks simultaneously without slowing down or risking data corruption.
- Drive Bays: It’s always good to have more storage capacity and more flexible options to increase capacity. The number of drive bays in your system affects not only how much data you can store, but how much redundancy you can utilize. However, additional bays also tend to drive the price up.
- Port Selection: The number and type of physical ports your NAS has will determine your options for connecting devices. For example, having a gigabit Ethernet port means that you can connect to the Internet at very high speeds. USB ports can facilitate small file data transfer. HDMI ports link your NAS device directly to televisions or other media servers.
- Drive Compatibility: Not every hard drive will work with every NAS. This becomes important because it can limit the quality of compatible drives or make it hard to find drives for later storage expansion. All our choices work with the most popular drives.
- Hardware Specifications: Your NAS is a small computer with limited functionality. And just like any computer, you want it to be able to handle everything that you throw at it. RAM, CPU speed, graphics cards, and more are all features to evaluate before buying a NAS.
The Best NAS Devices For Most Use Cases
These NAS devices have the best combination of features, expandability, connectivity, drive compatibility, and overall specifications to help you choose the right Network Attached Storage solution.
Synology DS220+
The Best Overall NAS
| Drive Bays | 2 |
| CPU | 2.0 GHz dual-core Intel Celeron J4025 |
| RAM | 2GB, expandable to 6GB |
| Ports | 2 x USB 3.0, 2 x Gigabit Ethernet |
| Supported Drive Size | 2.5-inch SSD, 3.5-inch HHD |
“Synology” is nearly synonymous with “NAS” in the storage market, with solid, reliable hardware that runs on the highly intuitive DiskStorage Management (DSM) operating system.
The Synology 220+ costs only about $300, relatively inexpensive for a NAS, and it does the job well. With only two drive bays, it only stores about 16 TB when you factor data protection/redundancy in, but for most users that will be more than enough.
At 2.0 GHz, the processor is capable of running extremely complex calculations, including on-the-fly transcoding to reduce buffering, and while we would like more onboard RAM (and the ability to expand it further), 2 GB suits the average person’s needs.
The Synology Cloud Sync app makes syncing to 22 different cloud backup services incredibly easy, though not as many as some of the other recommended options. Still, it’s simple to set up and then you can largely forget about it until you need it.
We would have liked to see an HDMI port on this device, considering its potential as a media server, and we don’t understand why Synology would, in 2023, not include HDMI in their NAS device. However, with two gigabit Ethernet ports, it’s still possible to serve media without much trouble. It just takes a couple of extra steps.
While not perfect in any one area, the Synology 220+ is a great overall choice, providing a wide range of features and excellent functionality for a reasonable price.
QNAP TS-253D
The Best Backup NAS
| Drive Bays | 2 |
| CPU | 2.0 GHz quad-core Intel Celeron J4125 |
| RAM | 4GB, Expandable to 8GB |
| Ports | 2 x USB 3.2, 3 x USB 2.0, 2 x 2.5 GbE, 1 x HDMI 2.0a |
| Supported Drive Size | 2.5-inch SSD, 3.5-inch HHD |
The QNAP TS-253D is a backup powerhouse of a NAS right out of the box with maximum hardware scaling potential.
In the box, there is a quad-core Intel chip capable of lots of parallel processing, speeding up tasks when you’re, for example, accessing your data while a backup is in progress. The 4GB of RAM, with expandability to 8 GB is excellent. Plenty of ports make it easy to access, transfer data, and connect to other devices.
Using the built in backup support, the QNAP TS-253D can instantly connect to up to 30 different cloud backup services as well as custom device backups, all controlled through the Hybrid Backup Sync app. While not as user friendly as Cloud Sync from Synology, QNap’s Backup Sync has much more functionality and gives you greater control over your backups and data management. What might take two or three apps on Synology can be done with just Hybrid Backup Sync on QNAP. While it’s a slightly more difficult learning curve, it’s worth an hour or so of experimentation to figure it all out.
Other parts of the QNAP system also can be a struggle to configure, largely because their first-party software isn’t generally built with the average user in mind. Simple things like using app names that make it clear what the software is supposed to do would drastically reduce the frustration that comes with learning this OS. The frustrations we encountered working with QNAP, is why we consider the TS-253D best for backups rather than regular use as, for example, a media server: once you set up the backup software, it continues to run in the background without user input. For other use cases , it can be difficult to configure.
Still, the QNAP TS-253D is a really good NAS and well worth checking out.
ioSafe 218
The Best NAS for Data Security
| Drive Bays | 2 |
| CPU | 1.4 GHz quad-core Realtek RTD1296 |
| RAM | 2GB |
| Ports | 2 x USB 3.0, 1 x Gigabit Ethernet |
| Supported Drive Size | 2.5-inch SSD, 2.5-inch HDD, 3.5-inch HDD |
The ioSafe 218 is not a media server. It’s not for photo backups. It’s not a way to share storage with friends and family. It’s not even really for home use.
The ioSafe 218 is for one thing and one thing alone: data security. If you are concerned about losing very specific data, then you can’t go wrong with this NAS.
Starting with the box itself, the casing is nearly bomb-proof and capable of withstanding incredible drops, bumps, and other physical damage. It is fireproof for up to 30 minutes in up to 1,550° F temperatures. It can be entirely submerged in 10 feet of water for 3 days and your data will remain safe. The ioSafe 218 is a vault that weighs 31 pounds before you even add any drives. For comparison, most NAS devices aren’t more than 8 pounds unpopulated.
We don’t use the term “vault” lightly here. For an extra $200, the ioSafe 218 can be bolted to the floor with a mounting kit that also adds an additional locking front panel. This might be the best way to store it, in fact, since at half a foot wide, a foot long, and nearly as tall, this NAS won’t sit comfortably on a desk like other models.
Digitally, the 218 includes some incredibly robust security software including a built-in firewall, customizable access, and antivirus protection through Norton. When you purchase drives through the company, you get 5 years of complementary data recovery service with your purchase.
While the ioSafe 218 protects your data like no other, it does have a few drawbacks.
As we mentioned, this isn’t really a good NAS for anything but data storage and security. Great for businesses looking to protect their data, but really not spec’d for the performance we look for for home users.Moreover, at approximately $700, it’s astonishingly expensive for a 2 bay NAS with only 2GB of RAM and no way to expand it.
Synology DiskStation DS1522+
The Best Scalable NAS
| Drive Bays | 5 |
| CPU | 2.6 GHz dual-core AMD Ryzen R1600 |
| RAM | 8GB, Expandable to 32GB |
| Ports | 2 x USB 3.2, 4 x Gigabit Ethernet, 2 x eSATA expansions |
| Supported Drive Size | 2.5-inch SSD, 2.5-inch HDD, 3.5-inch HDD |
When setting up a NAS, consider that your needs today might not be your needs tomorrow. The DiskStation DS1522+ is designed to future-proof your data backup as your requirements change.
The DS1522+ comes with 5 bays that can handle storage up to 16TB. A fully filled device can store 80TB of data, not including the two M.2 NVMe SSD cache slots or the eSATA expansions for plugging in USB storage devices like external drives.
It comes with 8GB of RAM right out of the box, expandable to 32GB and a 2.6 GHz CPU. It’s a NAS built for power and is capable of handling a high resource load with ease.
The glaring flaw with this NAS is the high upfront cost for the unpopulated chassis. Without any drives, the DS1522+ costs about $700. Granted, the on board hardware is excellent, but it’s quite an investment initially, costing as much as a mid-grade desktop when you factor in a couple of 16TB drives.
However, once bought in, upgrades become a lot cheaper. In the long run, this NAS is made to scale with your needs and can last years, so you save both the money it would take to buy a whole new system when your needs grow and the time it would take to set up.
Ultimately, if you can afford the upfront cost, the Synology DiskStation DS1522+ is a great value in the long run.
QNAP vs Synology: Battle of the NAS Giants
What are QNAP and Synology?
The two largest NAS manufacturers in the world are QNAP and Synology. They both create several excellent Network Attached Storage options at various price points to meet the needs of diverse markets.
Synology
Synology NAS devices have a few distinct advantages over QNAP. Their operating system, DiskStation Manager (DSM) is generally more user friendly and easier for people unfamiliar with NAS management. Anyone who can use a Windows machine will have little trouble at least accessing the basic functions in DSM. Compared to QNAP’s QTS OS, which is more like a mobile operating system and a little cluttered, DSM generally makes more sense.
Synology also has an advantage over QNAP in terms of storage configurations. In addition to the RAID configurations mentioned above, Synology devices also include Synology Hybrid RAID, which lets you create RAID arrays with mixed disks, something QNAP doesn’t allow.
QNAP
QNAP outshines Synology primarily in terms of hardware. Pound for pound, QNAP NAS devices tend to be more powerful than Synology ones for similar price points. QNAP also gives you more configuration options, allowing you to build the Network Attached Storage you want in terms of CPU, LAN connection, drive numbers, and more. Quite simply, QNAP gives you a wider range of more powerful options.
Moreover, QNAP systems are better at handling different file types. While Synology’s DSM is good at accessing common file types like DOCX and PDF, it can stumble on less popular ones like GIF and RAR, making it harder to use your NAS independently of your other systems. QNAP is designed to handle a wider range of file types.
Usenet Tips and Tricks with a NAS
A Network Attached Storage device can be set up fairly easily to act as a command center for all your Usenet activity.
How to Organize Usenet Articles on Your NAS
The way that you choose to organize your Usenet articles on your NAS will be highly personal, but there are a few ways to set up your system that will make things easier in the long run.
- Create shared folders that can be accessed by other users of your Network Attached Storage device. This not only lets you easily share posts on your system, but it also allows you to create a user specifically for Usenet so you don’t have to do everything as an administrator, which could put your system at risk.
- Break your folder structure down in a logical way. The best way to store retrieved articles is with a folder for every newsgroup that you follow, but you can also break it down by post type, access date, or intended user. Find a system that makes sense in your head and stick to it.
- Set up automation so you don’t have to manually organize all your posts.
Usenet Automation on Your NAS
One of the best things about Usenet is that many of the most common tasks can be automated, including searching, article retrieval, NZB assembly, and organization.
There are a ton of great automation tools available for all of these, and we’re not going to go into any specific ones here, but we do have a few tips.
- Look for newsreaders that have automation built into them. This will make it a lot easier to set up certain tasks without having to look for third party applications.
- Setup Docker. This is a program that is available for most Network Attached Storage devices that runs programs in environments different from the OS you’re using. Many Usenet automation tools already have images in the Docker library that can be used to “install” and use them with the click of a button.
- Learn how everything works. You’ll find plenty of tutorials online that can get you started with automation tools, but if you really want to customize your setup, you’ll need to learn what everything means and what it does. Taking the time to expand your knowledge will help you understand what can be changed to better suit your needs and what has to remain static.
Everyone has a different automation setup. Spend some time learning and experimenting to find the ideal one for you.
Using NAS to Access Your Usenet Account from Anywhere
One of the biggest challenges with Usenet is that, with the exception of Easynews, it takes quite a bit of effort to access Usenet remotely.
If you have set up Usenet on your NAS, however, it’s a lot easier to access your Usenet account. Depending on what Network Attached Storage device and OS you’re using, setting up remote access can be very different, but we’ll cover the two big ones (Synology and QNAP) here.
Synology
Setting up remote access for your NAS through Synology’s DSM is very easy.
- Open your Control Panel. If you are running DSM 7.0 or above, select “External Access” under “Connectivity”, then the “QuickConnect” tab at the top. If you are using DSM 6.2 or below, you can select “QuickConnect” directly.
- Click the “Enable QuickConnect” checkbox.
- Create a QuickConnect ID and fill in the QuickConnect ID field.
- A blue box under that field will show you your QuickConnect URL. You can put that URL into a web browser and access your NAS remotely.
Once you’ve accessed your Synology NAS, you’ll be able to use all your Usenet software as if you were at home.
QNAP
On a QNAP Network Attached Storage system, you can set up myQNAPcloud to access your device remotely.
- Open myQNAPcloud and click “Get Started” in the main window.
- Follow the instructions in the Wizard. You’ll be asked to register your device, name it, and decide which services you want to control remotely. Take the time to read the tooltips for more information on what everything is.
- When you finish the Wizard, open a web browser tab and go to https://www.myqnapcloud.com/ where you can sign in using your QNAP account.
- Click “Device Management” in the left hand menu and select the “My Devices” tab.
- Look for your NAS in the device list and click the three dots next to it.
- Click “SmartURL” and a new tab will open that will let you log into your QNAP NAS.
Bottom Line
A Network Attached Storage device can be incredibly helpful in general, but is especially useful if you pair it with your Usenet accounts. Most are easy to set up, provide processing power and storage that won’t bog down your regular computer, and can be easily expanded to meet your current needs. A NAS opens up a new avenue for accessing Usenet remotely and takes a lot of the headache out of setting up automation.
So what are you waiting for? Get a NAS today and start getting even more out of Usenet.