NAS Server for small business

[dw1980]

Hi All.

I managed to convince / persuade my boss to buy us a NAS server for our business, as in my previous thread I had issues with our server at work. This server is just a file server, no systems or anything runs from it.

I have had a look at a few NAS servers available, maybe you clever guys can help me decide which will be better for me.

Requirements are: 1. - File Sharing, 2. - Remote Access to Server, 3. - Easy Backup solutions.

This is what I had a look at:

1. https://www.firstshop.co.za/qnap-ts-231p-nas-server-TS-231P-p-42425

2. https://www.firstshop.co.za/qnap-ts-431p-nas-server-TS-431P-p-42426

3. https://www.firstshop.co.za/thecus-technology-n4350-nas-N4350-p-48146

4. https://www.firstshop.co.za/asustor-as3202t-nas-server-AS3202T-p-46133

5. https://www.firstshop.co.za/synology-disk-station-ds418j-DS418J-p-47935

6. https://www.firstshop.co.za/wd-my-cloud-ex4100-WDBWZE0000NBK-EESN-p-28878

7. https://www.firstshop.co.za/thecus-technology-n4810-nas-N4810-p-43257

Ok, these I just had a quick look at, so I don't know if they are suited for the job or not, hence I am querying here. Any help / suggestions or alternatives would be greatly appreciated.

I am sure if I shop around I can get better pricing etc, but just basic information for now.

 

[ArtyLoop]

Avoid the WD Mycloud products - had lots of issues with those
Get the Thecus products as these are technically like a HP Microserver in disguise and you can likely run your own OS

 

[Macx]

A simple linux distor installed on a second hand pc , with enough hard drive space should work

 

[Macx]

Avoid the WD Mycloud products - had lots of issues with those
Get the Thecus products as these are technically like a HP Microserver in disguise and you can likely run your own OS

Mycloud /WD is over kill an ordinary Desktop Pc , and a decent Linux Distro will do the trick at a fraction of the cost

 

[WalkWithMe]

Hi All.

I managed to convince / persuade my boss to buy us a NAS server for our business, as in my previous thread I had issues with our server at work. This server is just a file server, no systems or anything runs from it.

I have had a look at a few NAS servers available, maybe you clever guys can help me decide which will be better for me.

Requirements are: 1. - File Sharing, 2. - Remote Access to Server, 3. - Easy Backup solutions.

This is what I had a look at:

1. https://www.firstshop.co.za/qnap-ts-231p-nas-server-TS-231P-p-42425

2. https://www.firstshop.co.za/qnap-ts-431p-nas-server-TS-431P-p-42426

3. https://www.firstshop.co.za/thecus-technology-n4350-nas-N4350-p-48146

4. https://www.firstshop.co.za/asustor-as3202t-nas-server-AS3202T-p-46133

5. https://www.firstshop.co.za/synology-disk-station-ds418j-DS418J-p-47935

6. https://www.firstshop.co.za/wd-my-cloud-ex4100-WDBWZE0000NBK-EESN-p-28878

7. https://www.firstshop.co.za/thecus-technology-n4810-nas-N4810-p-43257

Ok, these I just had a quick look at, so I don't know if they are suited for the job or not, hence I am querying here. Any help / suggestions or alternatives would be greatly appreciated.

I am sure if I shop around I can get better pricing etc, but just basic information for now.

Just do OneDrive for Business and requirement 2&3 taken care of.

Unless you have real bandwidth issues or working with Tb of Video files there is no reason in 2018 to have an on prem file share. You can't build the redundancy on prem.

 

[Gnome]

Some clarifying questions. Your requirements are reasonable but you really need to look at each before deciding because I think you have a good list of requirements but without all being met you would have something far less useful.

Backup for example may be a legal requirement even.

Additionally, do you have a price in mind?

Lastly do you have some kind of projected monthly usage?
Like how much space do you need?
How much back and forth IO do you do?
What is your project storage growth?

Requirements are: 1. - File Sharing

Samba? (Windows shares)
Or NFS or Apple FS, etc?

3. - Easy Backup solutions.

Remote access, as in offsite? Like internet?

3. - Easy Backup solutions.

Where do you plan to backup to?

 

[SauRoNZA]

Mycloud /WD is over kill an ordinary Desktop Pc , and a decent Linux Distro will do the trick at a fraction of the cost

And who is going to administer that? Considering OP came here asking pretty simple questions you can safely assume it won't be him.

Also a "simple linux distro" and a "couple of hard drives" do not simply a NAS make.

 

[SauRoNZA]

OP out of that lot the safer bet would be the 4-bay QNAP or Synology versions and then preferably configured in a RAID5 type setup so you have some redundancy.

 

[Franna]

+1 for the QNAP

 

[ubercal]

Hi All.

I managed to convince / persuade my boss to buy us a NAS server for our business, as in my previous thread I had issues with our server at work. This server is just a file server, no systems or anything runs from it.

I have had a look at a few NAS servers available, maybe you clever guys can help me decide which will be better for me.

Requirements are: 1. - File Sharing, 2. - Remote Access to Server, 3. - Easy Backup solutions.

This is what I had a look at:

1. https://www.firstshop.co.za/qnap-ts-231p-nas-server-TS-231P-p-42425

2. https://www.firstshop.co.za/qnap-ts-431p-nas-server-TS-431P-p-42426

3. https://www.firstshop.co.za/thecus-technology-n4350-nas-N4350-p-48146

4. https://www.firstshop.co.za/asustor-as3202t-nas-server-AS3202T-p-46133

5. https://www.firstshop.co.za/synology-disk-station-ds418j-DS418J-p-47935

6. https://www.firstshop.co.za/wd-my-cloud-ex4100-WDBWZE0000NBK-EESN-p-28878

7. https://www.firstshop.co.za/thecus-technology-n4810-nas-N4810-p-43257

Ok, these I just had a quick look at, so I don't know if they are suited for the job or not, hence I am querying here. Any help / suggestions or alternatives would be greatly appreciated.

I am sure if I shop around I can get better pricing etc, but just basic information for now.

QNAP would be my choice.Its aimed at businesses from smb to enterprise.Cant go wrong.Running a few at my company.

 

[HunterGR]

Freenas.
QNAP
Synology

In that order

 

[dw1980]

Some clarifying questions. Your requirements are reasonable but you really need to look at each before deciding because I think you have a good list of requirements but without all being met you would have something far less useful.

Backup for example may be a legal requirement even.

Additionally, do you have a price in mind?

Lastly do you have some kind of projected monthly usage?
Like how much space do you need?
How much back and forth IO do you do?
What is your project storage growth?


Samba? (Windows shares)
Or NFS or Apple FS, etc?



Remote access, as in offsite? Like internet?


Where do you plan to backup to?

Hi Gnome

The rest of the PC's in the office (5 off) run on windows 10. These PC's need to access the files on the "Server" Read and Write - hence I called it "File Sharing".

I'd like to back up on a separate hard drive, that get stored off site in case of theft. But I'd also like to do daily backups (increment). What would the best solution be?

Interesting how the Qnap seems the best, thanks for showing me that. I will also look at the FreeNAS

 

[InvisibleJim]

I can recommend Synology which will tick all 3 of your boxes and more. In my experience they also behave well in terms of replacing drives if you have a drive failure. QNAP are also a good product.

 

[Thor]

How much space do you need?
Less than 1TB, get Office365 for the office
More than 1TB, get Dropbox for business.

Upgrade your internet if bandwidth is an issue.