Even if the streaming of media is increasingly popular now, there are network hard disks for a long time. They have been used in companies for years: as a central storage location for data and their backup. Even today, many network hard drives are targeted primarily at companies, offices and passionate home networks.
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Providing media on the home network is only a function of many. So if you buy the most expensive NAS (Network Attached Storage), you may get a product that is top-of-the-line for a company network, but may fail in media streaming.
Buffalo LinkStation Pro: Competent and compact
10 Tips for purchasing network hard drives
LG N4B2: Thousand talents
We've looked at five NAS systems from entry level to premium class to answer the questions: How much do you need to invest for a suitable hard drive, what features do you get and what do you need to pay attention to?
Netgear ReadyNAS Ultra 2 Plus: Strong server
Buffalo's LinkStation Pro is a NAS system the size of a thicker A5-book. In addition to a 2-TB hard drive, this provides sufficient computing power to take over the most important server tasks. The storage capacity can even be extended via a connected USB hard drive.
The LinkStation Pro is intended for beginners because the configuration does not require much prior knowledge. For this, it allows the expert only limited access to individual settings, such as to customize the UPnP server. It can not determine the folder in which the media is located or the sorting.
In its function as a UPnP server, the LinkStation Pro convinces, although hobbyists would appreciate the support of AVCHD videos (MTS files). For remote access to videos, movies and music, the Smartphone App WebAccess i is available free of charge, and the SP Navigator is used for NAS configuration.
The LG N4B2 is among the premium class among the NAS systems. With a height of 30 cm and a weight of 10 kg, she immediately gives this impression. The four hard disks inside, which provide 1 TB of memory, are also responsible for this opulent appearance.
In the delivered RAID-5 configuration, which allows high data security with fast transfer rates, the 2.65 TB available memory. Should the memory become scarce anyway, thanks to the built-in Blu-ray burner can transfer data to disc. If a backup copy of a disk is to be created again, three keystrokes are sufficient on the front.
HD stream and mobile devices
As a UPnP server, the LG N4B2 could not continue its otherwise brilliant performance. It supports the most common media formats, but the user can not use a player to search the media archive for folders. It is also a bit cumbersome to select pieces of music.
Even if the ReadyNAS Ultra 2 Plus is a high-performance line from Netgear with a road price of 319 euros, it can also be operated by non-professionals. Thanks to the setup wizard, which guides the user through the most important settings. However, specialists can also make more advanced settings.
If the scope of functions is not sufficient, some add-ons can also be installed. This allows the NAS to transcode video formats in real-time if a UPnP client does not understand them. The network hard drive offers everything except for ISOs of discs and photos in BMP or GIF format.
Synology DiskStation DS212j: Clever Skier
On the other hand, the predefined folder structure of the UPnP server, which is written in English and can not be adapted, is negative. The Netgear hard drive scores with its high transfer rates and its backup possibilities. Data can be backed up online using the Ready-NAS Vault.
In addition, users can access their network hard drive from anywhere via Ready-NAS Remote. If you install the software on a computer, you can easily transfer data from the file explorer to or from the hard drive. There is also an app for mobile devices.
Western Digital My Book Live: Maximum Minimalism
Despite the low price of 180 euros, the Synology DiskStation DS212j is a true multitalent when it comes to media delivery. Although the beta version of the brand new Diskstation Manager DSM 4.0 is still not quite mature. For example, you must delete the corresponding entry from the user-defined MIME types to provide AVI videos to your home network. However, in this test field at Synology you can make the most extensive settings on the UPnP server.
The user has the possibility to transcode music in the FLAC, AAC, OGG or AIFF format in real time. To use all of these features, the Media Station has to be installed from the package center where many other attractive add-ons are located: the Photo Station, for example, which allows users to upload photos and videos to the web, and to do so everywhere Can retrieve. Only the cheap plastic housing is negative.
Western Digital is limited to the most important features of a NAS on the backup and provision of data in the network. The network hard disk in the book format and design therefore only contains the connection for power and a LAN socket. At the front, an LED indicates the status of the memory. It does not need more in many cases. Content is accessed from the computer via the home network to the disk
Anything with smartphone apps
Conclusion
Tables with measurement data and results
Media are offered through the first-class TwonkyMedia server. Unfortunately the configuration possibilities of the version for the computer are missing. In other respects the setting possibilities are limited, which will help net newcomers more than they will do.
To receive TV on the computer
One drawback, however, is that with our tested firmware version, American was not selectable as the language for the web menu. To access data from the road, Western Digital provides the two useful WD2go and WD Photos apps.
All five NAS systems in this test field offer apps for smartphones and tablet PCs to access their media everywhere. The data are always available online. That's why, with the purchase of a NAS, you have certainly created your own small cloud.
The connection via smartphone folds reliably. In Synology's DS DS app, the user enters the IP address of the server and logs on with their user data. Then he can rummage through his music as if he were on his mobile. But beware: too long listening via mobile internet is fast or irritates the Internet flat rate.
It does not have to be the most expensive network hard drive for worry-free media streaming in the home network. Even cheap models like the Synology DS212j offer all the comforts and are still power savings.
Download: Table
Download: Table
10 Tips for purchasing network hard drives
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