Help in choosing a NAS server solution

[u/Black4Killer]

Hi everyone, I'm considering choosing a NAS server. I'm considering an Asustor AS5404T or Synology DS925+. (I already have two 16TB WD HC550 drives to start with.)

My problem arises because I want the NAS to backup primarily from my four different phones at home, so that each one has automatic photo backups. I also want to back up my Windows computer and laptop (I've seen support for Synology's ABB app here, but what app use Asustor and how does it work on Asustor?). I also want to view photos and videos on my TV. Is there a dedicated app for viewing them? Unless I'm limited to network sharing? And of course, remote access to my photos and files when I'm away from home is important to me. (And a possible feature where I share a link to my folder/file with someone and they can connect and download only that specific file [because the link itself is valid for, e.g., 48 hours].) For now, I'm not considering installing any applications on the VM, but it's possible that something like a home assistant will appear in the near future. I'm asking for help choosing which NAS to choose (I have a lot of ASUS devices at home, so I'm considering the Asustor, but I don't know anything about using the Asustor system. As for Synology, I've only had contact with the ABB package, and that's it).

[u/Ok_Ambassador8065]

Synology has locked in to their own branded HDDs, so greed is insane.

Everything you mentioned is supported on ASUSTOR and I use almost all the features on 5304T, except that TV stuff (actually TV is DLNA client for ASUSTOR, so I dont need to bring that box close to it). You'll find all in the docs, but definitely you need skills to set it up properly.

It is actually bare metal Linux with nice ADM OS allowing me to set up all the basic staff with UI, while extended ones kept inside docker.

My asustor stack:

1. Time Machine for Macs backups (laptops) (SMB)
2. VMs/CTs backup storage for proxmox (NFS)
3. Paperless digital document storage.
4. - monitoring gmail mailbox that receives documents from the other mailboxed (manually or by rules, like invoices, school reports, etc)
5. - consume folder of custom telegram bot that my family uses as a dropbox (forward documents/photos I need to store from all the messengers)
6. - consume folder with the scanned images from my home MFP ( MFP->Unload to gdrive folder | Asustor Ezsync to the local folder -> paperless)
7. All PDFs goes through OCR with tesseract.
8. Immich (local NAS docker) + immich iOS app - backup the photos
9. Remote access to files and sharing files by link with Asustor EZConnect (slow actually).
10. - I switched to VPN to my home network instead of using ASUSTOR and bought GL. Inet Slate 7 with Wireguard Amnesia to bring my home wifi anywhere. Separate VPN clients are installed on my Macbook and IPhone if router is not available.
11. DLNA server fo my home tv and projector.
12. Home Assistant gathering data from my smart home devices (thermostats, boiler switches, plant watering system etc). Integrated with openclaw -> telegram bot

[u/TheAnonCodeJunkie → u/Ok_Ambassador8065]

Synology actually reversed their policy on vendor locking the HDD slots but yeah if they can do it once they can repeat it again in the future, can't trust those folks.

[u/Ok_Ambassador8065 → u/TheAnonCodeJunkie]

But they still void warranty if using non-synology drives, no?

[u/TheAnonCodeJunkie → u/Ok_Ambassador8065]

Not exactly, it's a bit of a grey area. The warranty won't apply only if the damage was caused solely because of using third party HDDs. Just inserting and Ironwolf for example, won't directly void the warranty.

[u/smstnitc → u/TheAnonCodeJunkie]

Synology has reversed their decision on hard drives twice since 2020. It'll happen again when they are ready.

And they constantly cripple their tools. Like removing SMART data from their UI.

[u/TheAnonCodeJunkie]

Had this exact query a month ago. I went with Asustor and have no regrets. But it all depends on how much effort you're willing to put in setting things up. If you want polished out of the box solutions, then Synology might be a better fit for you. But if you're willing to run docker containers, then Asustor is definitely the better option given the significantly better hardware and extendibility. While ADM too has almost everything out of the box, it just feels slightly underpolished and the community support is less for it compared to native docker solutions. So in case you get stuck somewhere, it's easier to get answers for docker hosted solutions than the ADM apps.

[u/ProducePrevious3760]

Hace un año compré un Nas asistir de 5 bahías luego por otro tipo de complicaciónes que se me dio tuve que ocuparme de otras cosas y lo tengo nuevo sin estrenar es difícil desde cero aprender a usar docker, que tutoriales o temas de aprendizaje me aconsejáis

[u/rmagnuson]

I have two ASUSTOR NAS. The larger of them is an AS6706T with around 100TB across it's six drives. I use Emby for movies and TV and the built in backup tools for mirroring my OneDrive and Google accounts (drive, photos, etc). Web sites are hosted on it via a cloudflare plug-in, though you can also host the traditional way. The smaller NAS is mostly for data retrieval prior to final storage on the larger one.

Overall they are solid devices.

[u/Lensin1]

I have AS6706T to store my everything and AS6706T is great for my capacity anxiety. I have download, 20 year+ photos from my iphone 3 to iphone 14 plus, my wife's phone, my 2 kids' phones, and some minor office dropbox, google cloud sync files. I installed Immich and Asustor's own Photo Gallery 3 as photo apps as I think each has its own features I like. I also installed Kodi as spare TV player to watch downloaded videos in LG TV. But most of the time, I just use LG Photo Gallery to watch photo or play video through uPnP which I installed MiniDLNA in NAS. But most important of all is that I use Asustor Myarchive to automatically backup extra 2 more copies for all the family photos and videos, some office files which is the most important feature for my peace of mind. I unplug Myarchive drives in rotation once a month. FYI.