NAS Synology DS718 + – Synology DS718 NAS Review +

We tested a NAS a few months ago at Synology a few months ago, and then it's the DS218play specifically designed for home use.

Today, we return to the Synology DS718 + NAS, a device that can be used without difficulty (19659003) Specification for NAS Synology DiskStation DS718 +

Design

In the box, you get, in addition to the proprieve NAS unit, an RJ-45 network cable, a power and power cable, a few screws to hold the hard drives, two keys to lock the two drawers, a quick installation guide and one to activate the cloud assessment service.

NAS that supports two native hard drives, whether they are 3.5 or 2.5 inches, even SSD, its size is not too big. No weight, no hard drive added, is not high, although it is slightly higher than the other two NAS tested by me (ASUSTOR 3102T – 1.17kg and Synology DS218play – 0.87kg).

Synology DS718 + does not come off the normal format of a NAS. Unlike the other two tests mentioned above, the Synology DS718 + brings external drawers for hard drives and we no longer need to open the case to access it

Everything is very simple: it Just tap on the bottom of each drawer and it unfolds. Then just pull the drawer completely without any other clips or anything.

The hard drives are caught with the screws we have in the package and can be inserted into the NAS in seconds.

It is possible to lock the two sera by locking them with one of the keys we have in the box. They are plastic and I would not put a big base on the lock. Certainly they are for extra insurance against accidentally opening drawers and not a step away from potentially malicious people.

Most of the connectivity ports are located at the back of the unit, under the 92mm fan, while the front panel side has a USB 3.0 port as well as some LEDs plus buttons Physical Power and Copy

The side panels feature ventilation slots in the form of the manufacturer's name and the base is simple with 4 feet rubber feet

Synology DS718 + is a NAS that can be seamlessly installed in the house, with a simple design that does not stand out in an industrial look. It is made of very good metal and plastic of good quality, it does not leave the impression of a poorly manufactured product

Installation and use

Just as we found it in Synology DS218play, and in the case of the high-end model, I would complete the installation and configuration of the NAS in a few minutes

This is certainly one of the most important points of the ls # 39; device, the ease with which any type of user will successfully put it into use and configure it according to preferences and needs.

Once you're done installing both hard drives, which in the case of the test unit were Seagate IronWolf Pro models 4 TB each, all you have to do is plug in the power cord and RJ-45 jack each in its place

Then go to the PC where you install the Synology Assistant program that will automatically detect the Synology DS718 + NAS. Double click on it and open a browser window in which you must enter your username and password. We have the default user name "admin" without password. You then set another password and you are ready to explore the possibilities offered by Synology DS718 + via DSM, a simple but powerful Web application

Screenshot of the DSM desktop application for Synology DS718 +:

The DSM framework has a control panel that allows us full control over the functions of the Synology DS718 + NAS, as well as the application store with countless software. Some of them are for home users, others are for experts who want everything out of this device.

For a smartphone, there is a suite of Synology applications in the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store,. It allows you to control the most important functions, even if it can not be compared to the desktop application

Synology DS Screenshots for Android:

The most important functions that can be accomplished by Synology DS718 + by a home user (the professional will try to use the complex) are:

• Store files on NAS devices directly from your PC, deciding which and by which user can be used . A new location in My Computer can be added as an additional system partition without having to enter Synology DSM every time to add, delete, or modify files
• Back up your computer to the NAS or even NAS on the # 39, other or in the cloud. A very important feature, especially for professionals who need their data to be automatically stored in multiple locations
• Creating their own cloud service. Store NAS files on your computer, tablet or smartphone, data you can access anytime via the Internet, from anywhere in the world, from any device and from any other device users.
• View, manage and organize video, audio and photos. They can be accessed from any device that has access to the NAS from anywhere, and synchronization can be done automatically.

The above is only a small portion of the services that a NAS like Synology DS718 + provides to the user. I have just added here the possibility of using the NAS to store IP surveillance camera recordings with two free licenses and up to 40 supported cameras as needed

Connectivity

Here Synology The DS718 + offers a very important element for the performance and stability of the NAS operation. I'm talking about two RJ-45 LANs that support Link Aggregation and Failover. What does it mean? That you can use two separate Internet connections, ideally from two different providers, aggregating access speeds from both connections. In addition, if (or better to say when) one of the connections falls, the Synology DS718 + automatically uses the second.

In addition to 2 x LAN, Synology DS718 + 3 USB 3.0 ports, two on the back and one on the front, and an eSATA port

NAS Synology DS718 + – 2,300 lei on PCgarage.ro

Conclusions

It began that a NAS like Synology DS718 + can be used for the home without any problem , but he rather addresses the professionals. But if you want, and especially allow yourself such a NAS for home use, then you must know that you will not be disappointed.

I do not know how it will behave over time, but in the few weeks of the test did not cause me any inconvenience. Maybe some mobile apps that seem to be moving fast and crashing too often can be seen as negative parts. Otherwise, an extremely powerful and scalable NAS with many options and basic and advanced features.

The most important advantages and disadvantages for the Synology DS718 + NAS:

PRO

• Extremely simple to install and configure for basic functions by any type of user [19659025] 2 LAN ports supporting Link Aggregation and Failover
• many features and applications available
• up to 40 IP cameras supported;
• RAM memory can be increased, as can storage capacity by adding an additional 5-slot drive that can support up to 60TB in addition to up to 24TB of NAS

CONTRA [19659041] mobile applications (tested only on Android) are not optimized optimally

only 2 IP camera licenses are offered for free, the others up to 40 against cost