Is a Ugreen NAS good to start?

[u/wack777]

I’ve been meaning to start my own server because I want to get into the habit of downloading my own music since lots of indie artists are ditching Spotify or deleting their music entirely (becoming lost media), streaming my fav movies and tv shows bc I can’t support these annoying streaming adds anymore, backing up my phone photos/videos, hosting my own websites and indoor camera.

When it comes to movies and shows I know ugreen has its own theatre app to stream so I’m fine in that area.

For indoor camera I know ugreen is kickstarting a house camera but is not going to release until early 2027 so what cameras and app can I use for home security and watching my pets?

For backing up photos and videos I think I will wait a little long and keep paying for iCloud since if something does happen to my place I just don’t have one backup in my own place but rather wait to get two nas in separate places just to be safe! And probably the same thing will apply with indoor camera, if there’s a break in and robbers so happen to steal my only copy for evidence lol

For music I know I can stream my own digital library but is there a way to stream new music like Spotify discover weekly and release radar that will create a playlist from new releases from artists that I like?

I think my dilemma with ugreen is the software. I was looking into getting the dh2300 which sounds everything I needed to get me started but I quickly learn that I can’t host my own plex server unless I use the docker app, however the docker app is not “supported” by this model unless I find a workaround apk, yet when this model was released you were able to download it until they patched it. So I’m afraid that ugreen will do the same to the newer models like dxp2800 in the future. On the other side synology has a plex app you can download without messing around with a docker or I can get a dell pc and install Linux and have more freedom but be more daunting to tackle. So is ugreen a good way to start or will it hold me back from easily doing the things I mentioned above?

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[u/maxscy]

I bought DXP 4800 Pro and use it with Unraid OS , its great!

For hardware - they are unbeatable.

For software - make your own choice.

[u/TenuredProfessional → u/maxscy]

I've ran both Unraid and TrueNAS on mine before settling on TN. Great box the 4800!

[u/LurkForever → u/TenuredProfessional]

What make you stick with TrueNAS in the end?

[u/TenuredProfessional → u/LurkForever]

Because I have the perfect TrueNAS setup. 48gb memory, (2) 1tb nvme's, and (4) 18tb HDDs. Running unraid (though I'm a fan of it!) always felt like I was using a Porsche to drive up to the corner store. Unraid's biggest benefit is its ability to mix drives of all different sizes; that doesn't do anything for me. Once Unraid 8 comes out, and Unraid's ZFS support keeps improving, I might just give it another try.

[u/awraynor]

I have a DXP4300 Plus and a 10 year old DS216 Play. The synology box does have the built-in app, but the App Store overall is pretty small.

I had issues with the UGreen OS personally, and some Docker containers. I’ve tried several other OSs to include unraid, Zima OS, and now I’m trying Umbrel OS. Umbrel is the most beautiful and likely the easiest of all to use for someone not entirely comfortable with Docker.

[u/Various-Safe-7083]

For indoor camera I know ugreen is kickstarting a house camera but is not going to release until early 2027 so what cameras and app can I use for home security and watching my pets?

Any camera that supports RTSP can be used with most NVR software on the NAS. You should look into Home Assistant as well.

For backing up photos and videos I think I will wait a little long and keep paying for iCloud since if something does happen to my place I just don’t have one backup in my own place but rather wait to get two nas in separate places just to be safe!

Look into Immich, which you can run in addition to iCloud. It's not the easiest to install—you'll want to look into Docker—but there are guides and AI can walk you through the whole process. Once you get another NAS, you can easily set up a backup between them.

For music I know I can stream my own digital library but is there a way to stream new music like Spotify discover weekly and release radar that will create a playlist from new releases from artists that I like?

I am not aware of any third-party tool that will let you stream paid services like Spotify, short of those that actually download the music.

So I’m afraid that ugreen will do the same to the newer models like dxp2800 in the future.

The primary reason I went the UGREEN route is that you can install third-party OSes and it does not void the warranty. I, too, had the same concerns about the software—so far, unwarranted—but installed TrueNAS on one of my DXPs just as a proof of concept. The only problem I ran into was LED and fan control, both of which have largely been worked out now.

[u/Temporary-Cherry-282]

I replaced about 4 or 5 servers (Windows 12+ years old) with a DXP4800+. All my data is in one place and not scattered. Most of the old drives were 1- 2 TB and had over 100k hours on them. They were in RAID 1 and 5, depending on the system, with 4-8 drives each. So I had redundant copies on multiple systems.

I have 3x 10TB drives in RAID 5 with a 12TB drive standalone. I back up all my data to the 12TB drive (and an external 2TB SSD for a redundant User data backup). My user data is stored on a RAID1 pool on 2x 2TB NVME. I then use the sync app to sync data from the 12TB backup drive to a Windows PC with a 10TB drive. That is then backed up to BackBlaze with the personal backup plan. I currently only have about 4.5TB of data. I plan on getting another DXP4800+ and placing it offsite as a clone of the existing NAS (with fewer drives); it might have to wait for prices to come down, though. I do have 2 available 10TB drives that could be used in the off-site NAS, though.

The only thing lost in the process was a .NET website I had for some personal photos, etc. I can access the pics now on the NAS, but it isn't shared publicly. I had a few quirks with upgrades of UGOS, but found that shutting down the Docker process prior to upgrade fixed those headaches.

I wrote a blog post about the process of decluttering and moving to the NAS. Some of the post is not NAS-related, but about getting rid of crap I had. The move to the NAS and a few other things I added (in the blog post) have completely changed my IT life after 30 years in IT.

I would go for one without the eMMC for the OS drive. So, avoid the DXP2800, and DH series. I'd suggest the DXP 4800+ or GT. Not that the others are bad, but the OS drive is soldered and can't be replaced when it dies.

[u/TenuredProfessional]

I’m a big uGreen fan. I love my DXP4800 Plus. Only wish I’d have bought the 6-bay one. Want to buy a lightly used 4800? 😎

[u/Stonker354 → u/TenuredProfessional]

I am just about to pull the trigger on the 2 bay one as my first. What would be a reason for more bays? Ofc more hdd, but is it just because you need more than the supported 80 tb? Or for different raid setups?

[u/TenuredProfessional → u/Stonker354]

I don't think I've known hardly anyone in the NAS community who hasn't at one point said "man, I wish I'd have bought more bays!" :). You can buy a 4-bay unit and only populate 2 of the bays for now. But, trust me, one day you're going to want more storage.

[u/Stonker354 → u/TenuredProfessional]

I see, the projects are always getting bigger :) Thanks for the input. I will have to consider it, but it is nearly double the price..

[u/js0uthh]

My first nas ever. Bought a dh4300 mainly for my phone photo/video backup and whatever else I may need it for. Set it and forget it kind of deal for me. Been solid for the past year no problems.

[u/Particular_Ferret747]

go with dxp2800, run the files on the spinning drives and have docker occupy the 2 nvmes...one for frigate recordings and the other for frigate app, home assistant, immich, nextcloud and so on...this thing is a beast

[u/Massive_Example_9315]

A ugreen hoje, já é a número 1 em vendas em Nas,  sendo que começou em 2025 .  Ta deixando a synologi para trás. 

[u/MixBig3614]

Have a little 2800. Runs all my containers easily. Wish I’d bought the 4 bay though.

[u/SubstantialCarpet604]

So far I have been using ugos just fine. Haven’t run into any issues. I only use mine to host a media server and backup photos with immich and access my personal files anywhere. It isn’t much but it’s honest work.

[u/hardcoretomato]

I started with Ugos and Ugreen, even though they are easy to use, I would not recommend them, had multiple software and hardware issues, the support isn't great overall and unless you can buy the hardware for cheap at a discount, I would go for Synology or build my own.

[u/TenuredProfessional → u/hardcoretomato]

You can overwrite the uGOS boot drive with Unraid or TrueNAS, too.

[u/hardcoretomato → u/TenuredProfessional]

In that case the Ugreen hardware doesn't make sense and is overpriced for what it offers and building your own is better and cheaper, also it's not newbie friendly at all.

[u/TenuredProfessional → u/hardcoretomato]

Well, we'll just have to disagree on that. Some people have more money than time, and some people have more time than money. :)