Data Backup Digest

While remote backup and storage services like Dropbox and Google Drive continue to gain traction, many still prefer to keep their data local. The best way to do this is with a dedicated home or office NAS. Finding the right one, however, can be quite tricky. After all, there are many factors that must be taken into account when shopping for a NAS. One device worth considering is the Synology DS212J, a versatile NAS machine that's wildly popular with enterprise and retail consumers alike.

Hardware Specs & Software
Though technically an entry-level NAS, the DS212J delivers a lot of solid hardware for the money. Under the hood, you'll find a zippy 1.2GHz CPU, 256MB of DDR2 RAM and space for two 3.5-inch SATA II hard drives. Total storage capacity clocks in at a maximum of 8TB if you install two 4TB drives. It also includes two USB 2.0 slots and the expected RJ-45 Ethernet port for easy router installation. At just 2.1 pounds heavy, it's one compact piece of tech.

On the software front, the major selling point of this particular Synology rig is its ease of use and bevy of included features. All the behind-the-scenes magic is provided by DiskStation Manager, Synology's lean yet incredibly powerful operating system. The DS212J supports popular protocols and services such as Active Directory, LDAP, VMware vSphere 5 and Windows Server 2012. Thanks to its DLNA compatibility and the included Cloud Services software from Synology, it can be used to set up a private cloud that's accessible from anywhere on the web.

Real-World Performance
Hardware specs are helpful quality indicators but they're only one side of the story. Performance in the field is what really matters at the end of the day. In this department, the DS212J distinguishes itself by running both cool and quiet. The included server software is topnotch, boasting support for Windows, Mac OS X and Ubuntu. With upload and download speeds of 50.20 MB/s and 92.16 MB/s, respectively, it's decently fast. The fact that it manages to pull all this off drawing just 17.6 watts is all the more impressive.

Pros & Cons
In the plus column, the DS212J is fast, energy efficient and most importantly quite affordable at just $199.99 without any included HDDs. It also takes up very little desk space, can store tons of data and supports nearly every popular networking feature and protocol. Of course, it's not without its drawbacks. For starters, the DS212J doesn't have any high-speed USB 3.0 ports, which may be a deal-breaker for some. It also lacks eSATA and doesn't support hard disk hot swapping.

The Final Verdict
If you're unsure of what NAS to get, you could do much, much worse than the Synology DS212J. According to the latest review stats on Amazon, it holds a ranking of 4.4 stars out of 5.0. Obviously, it's making more than a few people happy. If you're looking for something a bit more basic, a simple Western Digital My Passport should work wonders for you. Those who desire a full-featured NAS can opt for the Synology DS212J without any worries.