Alternate ideas to xx25 models

Synology
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I’ve been reading up on the latest news about the expected Synology 2025 models. As some of you may be aware I posted asking questions about the DS923+ and the DS2522+ while back. I’m still doing my homework on the pros and cons of what might be available when I decide to upgrade. Even with the apparent negativity about the implied requirement for Synology or certified 3rd party drives in the new 2025 models (DS925+ especially), unless I find it physically impossible to do so (why no idea right now ???) I do plan to continue with Synology. I have found their DSM interface to be extremely easy to navigate and my current hardware appears to be very robust and operates smoothly as far as I have experienced. With as this said, I would appreciate inputs concerning the impacts of stepping back to older models from say xx19 through xx23. I have started looking at the possibility of going to 6 bays vice 4 as I’m finding large 45 megapixel image file eat a lot of disk space, and the possibility of using the DS1621+ or similar has crept into my analysis. My main concerns are will these older units support the latest versions of DSM and all the packages I currently use with my DS224+? Speed is not a critical issue however I don’t want a proverbial “crippled snail” either. I plan to continue with Synology HDDs to provide maximum compatibility and support from Synology. I know many are thinking of jumping ship to other vendors or DIY projects but I don’t really want to follow that approach unless I am forced to. I have many years of computer experience and worked with networks and mass storage systems at the hardware level before retiring from my job as an Avionics System Engineer but didn’t delve into much of the operations of those systems but I’m also not afraid to get my hands dirty creating something I need.

Thanks for reading all the way through my missive. Sometimes I tend to get wordy. Bad habit from writing engineering documents for the government. Almost like I got paid by the pound for reports :wink:

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NAS Compares recently posted a pretty decent article on the as-yet unannounced DS925+, w/ screen shot from Amazon UK (their local, couldn’t access it from USA w/out some roundy-round I didn’t feel like doing) plus screen shots of Synology and WD Red Pro (I think) showing Syno’s drive premium only $5 (£ ?). IMO that price point negates the issue.

Regardless of older (used) or new, it’s going to be all about throughput, not the NAS speed — usually. If your network is 1Gb, the NAS will be waiting for your pipes to open to shove more data out, at 2.5Gb, ditto, but noticeably faster to the user. Even 10Gb can and will result in the NAS waiting around some if it is well outfitted.

All of that said, I can’t speak outside the 9xx+ series but I can say our 920+'s have been quite solid, and the '25 promises a nice throughput boost at 2.5Gb Ethernet with only the need to upgrade a couple of switches. New/old both have their pros & cons, truly depending on your intended uses. Only you can make that choice.

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Thanks for the reply. Yeah I catch NASCompares (and SpaceREX) on YT a lot. They both have some good info. My need for a NAS is simply a repository for my data. I don’t do much if any actual data processing on the NAS. I am a photographer and I download my images to an intermediate HDD on my photo processing desktop, process them there then upload to the NAS for storage. Don’t run no processes other than weekly / monthly BUs with HyperBU and the occasional pkg update. I also hold all my personal papers, forms, receipts, etc. on the NAS.

My network is a simple home Ethernet 1Gb hardwired to a pair of desktops through a basic 1Gb 8 port switch. The internet is from Verizon Home Internet via a 5Guw connection. SPEEDTEST app usually shows around 200-300 Mbps. Since I am the only user (being divorced does have some advantages regarding simplicity of home networking) there isn’t any outside connection to the NAS unless I go somewhere and need to retrieve something with my iPhone or iPad. Then it’s through a TailScale link.

Like I mentioned in my post, I want to ensure whatever I get that it will have, at a minimum, 5 years of usability WRT Synology updates prior to EOL changes. Processor speed isn’t a top priority for me as it might be for someone running a boatload of VMs and a bunch of Dockers, but I do want the system to be responsive. I plan to max out ECC memory and add some SSD caching as appropriate. Right now, I’m still just gathering info to be able to make the best choice since I don’t like having to change things once they work.

Thanks again for the input.

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Based on how you use your NAS, I doubt that adding RAM and/or SSD cache will significantly improve performance. You can check your memory use with Resource Monitor and run the SSD cache advisor in Storage Monitor before you buy.

1 Like
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Paul,

Thanks for the insight. Guess I was approaching this as I would a Windows desktop where the more memory was a good (and sometimes necessary) thing. I’ll check the points you mentioned to see what I need. Still lining out this NAS technology. Have a good one,

Landon

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Paul is 100% spot-on. Maxing onboard memory-yes, SSD caching, etc.,-meh to no. The bottleneck is in your network, not the NAS. Even spinning platter HDD’s are faster than your network setup. The cache exception would be for indexing and once the initial indexes are finished, that’s a done deal.

Assume you’ll continue and expand your hobby, knowing photos take a lot of space for real buffs. Consider how much photography you’ve done in the last 5-years or so, your rate of expansion, and how, or if, you intend to catalogue and/or use all these photos.

  • How much space do you currently use (not have — use)
  • Double that
  • now double it again

So if you currently use 3TB you come out at 24TB. That’s a gigantic amount of space right now, but it fits nicely on 2-12TB drives. It’s an affordable sort of ‘probably OK’ and a 4-bay covers it (DS9xx+).

    Now double it again.

That should land you right around the 50% sweet spot so the drives operate efficiently with plenty of room for their internal meanders, stay nice and cool. and don’t disturb you for five to seven years, no problem, so a 5- or 6-bay will do (DS15/16xx+).

Local USB backup will pretty much be out of the picture, but NAS <—> NAS backup will work. If you’re looking for last stand backup, Hyper Backup to Backblaze B2 is pretty simple to setup and cheap if you do it right, i.e., minimize back-and-forth, etc.

I’m surprised you’re using TailScale if you want to keep it all simple and safe. Synology Drive and DS File work pretty well without any add-on overhead. If you’re looking for solid routing to run a VPN, there are lots of alternatives including Synology. Then again, QuickConnect and a DDNS are excellent without the need for more complexity, also all in-house.

If you start with an all-new kit, i.e., new NAS, you also get the benefit of their support and tons of tons of experience gained from handling millions of these things. Plus the available 5-years of full support including advance exchanges for RMA’s.