The Synology DS218j is an entry level, 2 bay NAS device. The packaging was sturdy and contained a lot of attention to detail. Unpacking it was also super easy – no irritating bits or things you need tools for.
While I am not a fan of the round european 2-pin power cable that comes with a lot of electronics, or of power bricks this was an easy hurdle to overcome. I would prefer an IEC (kettle plug) connector on the device itself.
The installation of the drives was super easy. Slide the cover off, slide the drives in, and slide the cover back on. That was it.
I plugged it in and installed the Android "DS Finder" app to do the installation. It seemed to have a bit of a hickup in actually finding the device on the network. I could see it on my router etc but DS Finder wasn't picking it up. I rebooted the device and gave it a bit of time and then DS Finder found it and proceeded with the installation. There aren't really any questions about the configuration etc, it just goes ahead with some sensible defaults which can be nice for non techies.
As for the various apps that Synology provides, you basically install and activate that particular functionality on the web interface and install the corresponding app on your phone (or continue with the web interface). It's possibly a bit painful to have so many apps but what is nice is than you can select just the apps you need and then maybe have a different selection on family member's devices. It's probably a much better solution to one giant monolithic app and they do at least provide the "Finder" app to show you what can be installed. Providing multiple user accounts and managing them in a central location is one place the Synology DSM (the software) really shines. QuickConnect and the Synology cloud interface is also very nice, and there's no fussing with port forwarding, dynamic DNS, etc.
I specifically tried out their surveillance software and the associated DS Cam app. This was REALLY good. The phone app is much easier to use and much smoother than the normal Hikvision/Dahua/Uniview apps you would download for free to accompany a DVR/NVR. The device comes with a 2 camera license and licensing further cameras is around $56 for 1 camera, $200 for 4, $370 for 8. They do also have similar NVR devices that come with more licenses.
This is definitely a premium product, both in the feel of the apps, the web interface (and essentially the whole ecosystem) and the hardware itself. This is an excellent option for those who have larger families or just people who feel the need for more storage on their network.
Photos:
Daniel – Tech-savvy bakery manage
While I am not a fan of the round european 2-pin power cable that comes with a lot of electronics, or of power bricks this was an easy hurdle to overcome. I would prefer an IEC (kettle plug) connector on the device itself.
The installation of the drives was super easy. Slide the cover off, slide the drives in, and slide the cover back on. That was it.
I plugged it in and installed the Android "DS Finder" app to do the installation. It seemed to have a bit of a hickup in actually finding the device on the network. I could see it on my router etc but DS Finder wasn't picking it up. I rebooted the device and gave it a bit of time and then DS Finder found it and proceeded with the installation. There aren't really any questions about the configuration etc, it just goes ahead with some sensible defaults which can be nice for non techies.
As for the various apps that Synology provides, you basically install and activate that particular functionality on the web interface and install the corresponding app on your phone (or continue with the web interface). It's possibly a bit painful to have so many apps but what is nice is than you can select just the apps you need and then maybe have a different selection on family member's devices. It's probably a much better solution to one giant monolithic app and they do at least provide the "Finder" app to show you what can be installed. Providing multiple user accounts and managing them in a central location is one place the Synology DSM (the software) really shines. QuickConnect and the Synology cloud interface is also very nice, and there's no fussing with port forwarding, dynamic DNS, etc.
I specifically tried out their surveillance software and the associated DS Cam app. This was REALLY good. The phone app is much easier to use and much smoother than the normal Hikvision/Dahua/Uniview apps you would download for free to accompany a DVR/NVR. The device comes with a 2 camera license and licensing further cameras is around $56 for 1 camera, $200 for 4, $370 for 8. They do also have similar NVR devices that come with more licenses.
This is definitely a premium product, both in the feel of the apps, the web interface (and essentially the whole ecosystem) and the hardware itself. This is an excellent option for those who have larger families or just people who feel the need for more storage on their network.
Photos:
Daniel – Tech-savvy bakery manage