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Manila Bulletin devider Technews devider Synology DiskStation DS224+ review: A home and small office all-rounder

Synology DiskStation DS224+ review: A home and small office all-rounder

Published Nov 28, 2023 12:59 am

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The Synology DiskStation DS224+ is a two-bay network attached storage (NAS) appliance that can accommodate 3.5" SATA hard disk drives (HDDs) and 2.5" SATA solid state drives (SSDs). Measuring 232.2mm × 165mm × 108mm and weighing 1.30kg, the DS224+ can discreetly fit in any home or office environment. Despite the compact size, the DS224+ goes big in terms of storage. The compatibility guide on the Synology website shows that the DS224+ is compatible with up to 12TB Synology Plus HAT3300 HDD. Users can add another 12TB HAT3300 HDD to the NAS device for data protection using Synology Hybrid RAID (SHR). A flexible RAID management system, SHR can optimize storage capacity and data protection according to user needs.

Inside, the DS224+ carries an Intel Celeron J4125 64-bit quad-core processor and 2GB DDR4 RAM. The NAS device can support up to 6GB RAM. For connectivity, the DS224+ hosts two Gigabit Ethernet ports (with link aggregation and failover support) and two USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports. The DS224+ also has a 92mm × 92mm × 25mm system fan to cool internal components, including HDDs. For accessories, the NAS appliance comes with a 60W AC power adapter with power cord and two RJ-45 LAN cables. The power consumption of the DS224+ ranges from 4.41W during HDD hibernation to 14.69W during access mode. The low power consumption of the NAS device means low operating cost and low carbon footprint.

As a file server, the DS224+ enables other computers to connect through server message block (SMB) or file transfer protocol (FTP), allowing other users to access the same device as a file repository. Activating Synology QuickConnect enables users to share NAS files with a link, which the receiver can access without creating a Synology account. For data security, the sender can assign a password and an expiration date to the link. The DS224+ also supports file-level backups and sync features, which can be enabled using Synology Drive.   

With the help of file management tools Synology Drive and File Station, the DS224+ can function as a collaboration server, enabling each NAS account to have a personal and team folder. With the DS224+, the collaborative productivity suite Synology Office can support up to 1,500 users and 600 concurrent users. Meanwhile, the email platform Synology MailPlus can support up to 500 users and 100 concurrent users with the NAS device.

For physical security in a home or office setting, the DS224+ comes with two licenses of Synology Surveillance Station, a network video recorder (NVR) system that allows users to add cameras to the NAS appliance without paying additional fees. Compatible with over 8,300 camera models, the DS224+ enables users to install multiple cameras and capture videos with encryption, privacy masking, and watermarks for data privacy. Users can monitor their home or office from anywhere at any time through the Surveillance Station mobile extension.

On the lighter side, the DS224+ also allows users to handle files that might not be work-related, such as photos and videos. Synology Photos, a photo management and sharing solution, helps users arrange, store, and access photo collections in a centralized and secure manner. Using Synology Photos, users can create albums and invite others to view and comment on shared photos. Options to control access rights, set password protection, and generate public links (QuickConnect must be activated) are also available on Synology Photos. Aside from photo management and storage, users can also use the DS224+ to store music and videos through File Station and Synology Drive.

Performance test results show that the DS224+ has a maximum sequential read and write throughput with HDD of 226MBps and 224MBps, respectively. Compared with a previous generation NAS device, such as the DS220+, the DS224+ boasts faster file indexing in Synology Drive (52%) and Synology Photos (28%), and is more capable of running demanding web applications with 62% more responses per second.  

Overall, the Synology DiskStation DS224+ is a reliable and versatile NAS device for home and small office users needing a centralized and simplified management solutions for their growing repository of work files, photos, music, and videos. The DS224+ boasts several features that do not require users to pay additional fees, which subscription-based cloud storage solutions do not offer. If you are considering a reliable yet cost-effective productivity and multimedia storage solution for long-term use, the DS224+ is an ideal offering.

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