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Review: Synology DS115

by Parm Mann on 6 February 2015, 12:00

Tags: Synology

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Conclusion

...Synology's DS115 is a fine example of what can be achieved using energy-efficient hardware allied to a powerful NAS operating system.

Network-attached storage solutions are one of the most rewarding additions to a home or office environment. Designed primarily to centralise your data and share it between multiple users/devices, NAS units have evolved over the years to become the tech equivalent of a Swiss Army knife.

Built using years of experience, Synology's DS115 is a fine example of what can be achieved using energy-efficient hardware allied to a powerful NAS operating system. A dual-core Marvell Armada processor combined with 512MB of DDR3 memory delivers great performance at the £125 price point, and the package is well-refined throughout; the box is practically silent; power consumption is minimal; and setup couldn't be much easier.

Though pricier than a WD My Cloud, Synology's DS115 offers greater performance, mature software and a far more comprehensive feature set. The lack of built-in redundancy is the only obvious question mark, but if you're convinced a single-bay solution is the right choice for you, then put the DS115 near the very top of your shopping list.

The Good
 
The Bad
Great performance
Simple, compact design
Excellent DiskStation OS
Keeps quiet during use
Low power consumption
Abundance of features
 
Lacks built-in redundancy
2.5in drive holder is optional



Synology DS115

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The Synology DS115 NAS is available to purchase from Scan Computers.

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At HEXUS, we invite the companies whose products we test to comment on our articles. If any company representatives for the products reviewed choose to respond, we'll publish their commentary here verbatim.



*UK-based HEXUS community members are eligible for free delivery and priority customer service through the SCAN.care@HEXUS forum.



HEXUS Forums :: 8 Comments

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If you're going to backup to the cloud anyway, I'm not sure I see the need for this device - unless rapid local access is needed, the cloud itself is backed up and would suffice. If the aim is to have access but retain control over your data - the ability to pair two or more of these (kept in different locations) up so they keep the data synced between them would be far more interesting, as you'd have a real personal cloud with online access and distributed backup, all under your control.
Tpyo
If you're going to backup to the cloud anyway, I'm not sure I see the need for this device - unless rapid local access is needed, the cloud itself is backed up and would suffice. If the aim is to have access but retain control over your data - the ability to pair two or more of these (kept in different locations) up so they keep the data synced between them would be far more interesting, as you'd have a real personal cloud with online access and distributed backup, all under your control.
I'm not convinced this and cloud are mutually exclusive. Cloud - to me - is fine for small collections of files, whereas I'd want a local NAS like this for stuffing backups etc on (especially given that a highly-compressed backup can be more than a TB).

I like your thinking though about the possibility of getting multiple drives, say one for you, one for parents and one for brother/sister and effectively setup a personal cloud by replicating between the units.

One question I have though, if the dual-bay DS214e is “roughly the same price” as the DS115, then why would I chose the single bay unit if the dual-bay one can give me more space or better resilience?
It may out perform the WD My Cloud but for the price of this you can get a 3TB My Cloud, you still have to factor in the cost of a 3TB drive for the Synology so thats around another £80. For the average consumer who just wants peace of mind backup for minimal outlay surely the WD is the best option.
Myss_tree
It may out perform the WD My Cloud but for the price of this you can get a 3TB My Cloud, you still have to factor in the cost of a 3TB drive for the Synology so thats around another £80. For the average consumer who just wants peace of mind backup for minimal outlay surely the WD is the best option.
Last couple of promotional emails I've had from WD have hammered home the point that the MyCloud is (according to them) the best of both worlds, as it's an internet-accessible device (like Dropbox, Box, etc) but the storage is under your exclusive control.

Now while I've not used the MyCloud remote features yet, the Synology would probably have to offer similar in order to take sales from the MyCloud. That said, the consistently better performance of the Synology would be a big plus in my book.
A NAS is a storage device not a backup device. It does backup, of course, but is used for sharing files amongst multiple users across a network. I think the WD Cloud is a wonderful solution if you require the cloud and simple plug and play storage, however a NAS offers so much more and at faster speeds. I have about 25gb of personal photos and videos, the rest is multiple TB's of films and music that needs to be shared accross the family to multiple rooms, this is where the NAS is more suited.
I love the fact that Hexus is running some NAS competitions at the moment. As soon as they are closed and assuming I don't win, I am going for a Synology DS415+ as an early (very) 2015 xmas present…