The best solution is a RAID implentation so if one drive dies you don't lose everything. That means two or more drives and RAID 1 or higher. Does not matter if you use Synology, WD, a RAID HBA or on your motherboard, whatever (although Synology seems to be the favorite). Just buying a JBOD box does not mean it is set up as RAID 1 (5, 10, whatever) out of the box. For these you should also buy enterprise-level drives and not desktop drives; the latter die too quickly in a NAS environment.
Excellent advice but, if one is collecting more than stereo CD rips, the needs rise. I bought 2 QNAP NAS, each with 3x4TB drives and I am filling them up without making a huge dent in my collection. My house and apartment will have to accommodate banks of drives.Hi
I also use Synology. GReat perfromance and so far incredible reliability, stable software good options, etc ... That said
HDD/Storage is cheap. You get 3 TB for <$200. but RIAD is not a panacea. You should make sure to replicate . There are instances your could fry (lose) everything even with RAID. The Solution is to back-up your music on a different (RAID) NAS periodically or if you are computer-savvy, automatically... This is in an audiophile context an inexpensive proposition. 2 TB will easily hndle >4,000 CD in FLAC or APE so ... For a little more than 1,000 you can have 2 NAS and 4 enterprise-level HDD ... Well worth it when you factor in what we spend for things like ... cables
I don't trust RAID. Realistically, the biggest risk of getting wiped out is a lightning hit. This could take out both drives in raid in one blow. My media is on local storage hardrives, and my main backup are off line USB drives. Just copy new risp to the USB drive every now and then. No need for real time raid sync'ing. Completely disconnected drive is only safe option (only risk is fire). I have (synology) NAS for movies, a 3rd backup of CDs and to move files around between drives and servers. New server I just ordered has 12TB on board storage.
My house has whole-house lightning and surge protection but a direct hit is going to get everything. However, I do not think a lightning hit is the biggest risk by a long shot, but agree there are many ways a RAID system can fail. I disagree that RAID has no value. I have multiple backups and have had several drives fail at once, or within days or each other. No lightning strikes. A drive failure can cause data loss and corrupted files that are impossible to recover. Big servers have multiply redundant systems and backups are performed regularly (every 10 - 30 minutes at my place of business) to local sites and to off-site storage. A wildfire nearby caused all sorts of hassles for us but at least our data was safe.
I have everything stored on two different RAID systems (so there is both a RAID back up and another RAID back up, and a third plain external hard drive(s) backup. A fourth plain external hard drive back up(s) stored in a big bank safety deposit box. My rips have taken 5 years (10,000 + hours) to do, so the back ups are cheap insurance.
Larry
Gentlemen,
Thank you for the replies. Usability-wise, can a NAS solution, such as Synology, be practically used with a laptop / DAC option, or is it primarily for the network "streamer" option, with an ethernet cable plugged into the back of the network "streamer" device that sits in one place all the time?
The NAS solution can be used either with a laptop/DAC or a streamer solution. Actually it is possible to use the NAS with different people using it simultaneously with their PCs, tablets or smartphones. It is a Hard Drive that is on the network and as such can used by whomever you grant access rights to the NAS on the network