What to do with a NAS ?

Install bitwarden_rs via docker for self-hosted password manager.

Setup a VPN server so that you can safely use public Wi-Fi hotpots.

Setup a personal web server.

Automatically backup your files to your free cloud drive (Google or Microsoft) for off-site cloud backup. Synology can also encrypt all your backups for complete security. I can back up all my personal files (spreadsheets, Word docs, etc) on my free Google Drive space. Of course you won't have enough space for all your videos and music on the free space.

Monitor and record activity on your security cameras.

The Realtek RTD1296 in my DS218 is not a x86_64 cpu wich limit a number of application. Should I return the DS218 and bought a NAS with X86_64 intel processor ?

At first, I would like a back up machine but these NAS have so much more possibility than I dont know what I want now

I use mine for sabnzbd, sonarr, radarr, bazarr and nzbhydra.

OP did you buy the 218+ or just the 218 ?. Cuz you need the Plus version to run Docker.
I'm in the process of setting up Pihole on my 218+.

I'm weird so literally the only thing my NASes ever do is serve up files.
The only thing installed is anything related to serving up said files.

Any other services are run on a different machine.

Dma0691 wrote: ↑ OP did you buy the 218+ or just the 218 ?. Cuz you need the Plus version to run Docker.
I'm in the process of setting up Pihole on my 218+.

I bought the 218 (NOT the 218+)... Warehouse deal @269 $... The 218 is installed and mostly configure. Not sure if I want to return it and reinstalled a 218+ (hassle + time + $). I was not aware of the difference between le + version when I bought it. I think I'll wait a year or two, to buy a new units and installed the 218 elsewhere to create backup of my 'future new' units...

Another question. My VPN is configure on the router ASUS RT-AC86U (open VPN) any advantage to configure Surfshark on the NAS instead of the router ?

death_hawk wrote: ↑ I'm weird so literally the only thing my NASes ever do is serve up files.
The only thing installed is anything related to serving up said files.

Any other services are run on a different machine.

Isn't asking the nas to do more than store files kinda like storing volatile material inside the safe along with your valuables?

I kinda think its silly to want to add anything that makes the nas spin unnecessarily, stress drives,rob cpu cycles,run hotter nor congest its connection. Kept cooler and left for host files and securing data should be top priority and maximizing the life of those drives.

Plenty of cheap low powered sbc's matched with smaller cheap virtually disposable ssd's can be used for these tasks especially if they require alot of small writes and reads and won't strain the mechanical drives where you keep your valuable data. All at a substantially lower power consumption and overall better performance for all things since all your eggs aren't in one basket. Your nas shares your data your while something else shares the overall load of tasks. They do have a variety of file sync programs these days to automate saving the things you want to keep to the nas. So extra tasks don't have to be done at the nas at all.

death_hawk wrote: ↑ I'm weird so literally the only thing my NASes ever do is serve up files.
The only thing installed is anything related to serving up said files.

Any other services are run on a different machine.

Same here. If I wanted a server to run 20 different apps, then I would just set up a proper server for that. I wouldn't do it on a NAS.

lead wrote: ↑ I kinda think its silly to want to add anything that makes the nas spin unnecessarily, stress drives,rob cpu cycles,run hotter nor congest its connection. Kept cooler and left for host files and securing data should be top priority and maximizing the life of those drives.

Due to ZFS I'm already unnecessarily spinning drives using CPU cycles to scrub and the drives are crammed in with 23 of their best friends so they're also kinda hot.
I do agree with your first line though because the server accessing it is usually accessing segmented or restricted parts of the NAS.
Or I should say that the server is accessing the entire thing, but the VMs on the server get a subset of the entire NAS.
Same concept. If one thing decides to shat the bed, it doesn't bring the whole thing down.

I'm trying the free synology surveillance station at it seems to work well with one 1080 camera on a DS212j, but have to pay extra for more cameras

Check out the Synology add-on packages.

https://www.synology.com/en-global/dsm/packages

For example:

Drthorne wrote: ↑ I'm trying the free synology surveillance station at it seems to work well with one 1080 camera on a DS212j, but have to pay extra for more cameras

on kodi you can install the surveillance addon for free. which is kinda cool when seen in action. At the top side or bottom of screen it basically slides over like a PiP of a zone that has gone off with the live footage.

death_hawk wrote: ↑ I'm weird so literally the only thing my NASes ever do is serve up files.
The only thing installed is anything related to serving up said files.

Any other services are run on a different machine.

Same for me. I use my NAS strictly as a NAS. I may setup a dynamic DNS client in certain circumstances but I would never have it do anything more taxing than that.

I am using mine for

• TimeMachine Backups - Synology is the official Apple recommended network backup device
• PiHole - Network wide Ad-blocking & tracking prevention
• HomeBridge - Homekit Server
• Mosquitto - Connect smart power strips running Tasmota, to HomeBridge
• Plex - Personal media server, kinda like Netflix
• Sonarr - Monitor shows & auto-download the new episodes
• Bazarr - Autodownload Subtitles
• Jackett - Sonarr related service
• Amazon Dash - Control Homebridge via Amazon Dash buttons

Apart from this it is my defacto server and runs things like "Download Station", a small website, etc etc

I am planning to add the following things to it

• BitWarden - 1Password replacement
• Radius Server for Wifi security

I would recommend getting a x86_64 compatible NAS, like the 918+, as it is much easier to find software for it. Plus the 918+ has support for Hardware Accelerated Transcoding, which useful if you plan to run Plex


UPDATE: Just read all the comments, recommending against using a NAS as a server and that makes absolutely zero sense to me.

My data drives in RAID 1 are separate from the System/Download/Docker HDD and even with ALL of that running, the NAS is normally using 10-15% CPU, at max. Very rarely have I had it go upto 40-50% CPU (mostly due to Sonarr)

I also make sure to keep the Fans bumped up, and the temps below a maximum of 60 deg C. The 2 fans normally keep the system at a cool 46-48 deg C.