Hi I’m wondering if you could give me a comparison if the lockestor 4 vs lockestor 8

Thanks in advance

I am a retired IT professional looking to better protect my connected home network. On this net, we have three active Windows PC's, three laptops, PLEX media, several smart phones, one Linux PC, a Raspberry Pi, and a couple of virtual Linux and old Windows installs for playing around. The local network is a CAT6 (limited without pulling new cable) but with a fiber internet connection. Currently, I use AOMEI free backup software for a quarterly OS image backup of the PC's and laptops plus a weekly file-by-file of the important user files to a QNAP 451+ with 8GB RAM and 2x 8TB Seagate Ironwolf drives in a RAID 1. The QNAP hosts the PLEX and virtual boxes. This has worked well enough for recovery from a virus attack and a failed hard drive, but I want a bit more robust protection.
Balancing cost vs some improved protection from a home fire or a ransomware / virus attack, I want to sync to a cloud service from the QNAP approximately 5 to 8 TB of the critical files monthly with three independent version groups retained at a time. So about 15 to 24 TB of total off-site cloud storage. It seems the versioning would protect me from a ransomware attack that might go from a PC and take out the QNAP as well. I recognize that any files more recent than 30 days are potentially at risk and that RAID 1 allows me a single disk failure. I don't want to use Google Home cloud because the PC it is installed on (the most likely point of attack) has permissions to delete or encrypt the files on the cloud.
Over the next six months, I will add two more 8TB drives to the QNAP and expand the storage pool. I might want to migrate from RAID 1 to RAID 5 at that point, but a single drive failure may be an acceptable risk. This larger storage pool will let me create more independent volumes to sync to the cloud independently and I can separate backups from the individual workstations.
I read the Google Cloud pricing sheet and tried the calculator to try to figure costs, but... they were written by a committee of lawyers and CPA folks = not within comprehension by mere mortals. With your more expert perspective, what considerations in my plan am I simply not seeing? Should I switch to Acronis backup from the PC's to the QNAP for any reason(s)? (I had a bad experience with Acronis a few years ago). What do you roughly estimate my cloud storage would cost monthly?
Thanks very much in advance for taking the time out to discuss this with me. I suspect I may be typical of a lot of people who are ready to increase their home network's protection by using a NAS and a sync to a cloud. This will be even more true as more people work from home due to the pandemic!

Discuss: Synology Surveillance NAS - Before You Buy <br><iframe width='560' height='315' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/rgtpRKl1dZY' frameborder='0' allow='accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture' allowfullscreen></iframe>

Synology RS3621xs+ Rackmount NAS Review - Is it Innovation or Limitation?
If one thing has become abundantly clear in the world of network-attached storage even early in 2021, it is the Synology have

Wished to purchase a DS220Plus, but according to Synology I cannot HDD migrate from 211j to 220Plus.
Choice will the be 220j. Good idea? Please advise. It’s only for home use, bur 211j seems to be very slow now

Looking to get a NAS for our 2 person home office event photography and graphics business. Currently use mostly MAC's but also connect with PC's. Need storage for accessing and working on files Lightroom, PhotoShop, PPT, Keynote. Currently have client final files stored online in Photoshelter. Original Files are on a DAS Drobo 5Dt with 6 6TB Western Digital Red Drives and then backed up in various smaller hard drives. Would like to get a QNAP or Synology connected to our network where access files from any of our computers wired or wireless. as our main storage device and then use the Drobo for Backup so we don't have to use so many smaller hard drives, while uploading the most important final files to PhotoShelter online. Other options such as accessing files remotely, VPN and other features that compliment modern technology (cameras, video/music streaming, security features) would be great but not sure about fitting in the budget. Would like a few recommendations and price ranges so I can think about the investment and compare. I have watched many of your very informative videos over the years -- I still am not sure which direction to go and technology and things change so fast so any recommendations would be awesome. Thank you very much. Joy

Discuss: RAID 5 10Gbe Test - Synology HAT5300 vs WD Red Pro vs Ultrastar Hard Drive Comparison <br><iframe width='560' height='315' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/vmszytV0w_s' frameborder='0' allow='accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture' allowfullscreen></iframe>

Never even thought of NAS before google decided to take away free Photos storage. Just need a NAS at home for laptop/ mobile data and Photos back up. 95% of the time it will be one user only. No streaming video or plex requirements. Is 220J good enough for me for the next 5 to 6 years of use at home? Or do I need 220+?
Thanks

Hi NasCompares,

I've spent the last few days looking at your Youtube videos and reading on your homepage to learn more about NAS.

I've decided to get serious about my storage. In out household we have 3 PC a bunch of iPhones and iPads. I use OneDrive to sync between the devices which work great for each family members personal files.

However, when it comes to saving photos that we wanna share all together it's not the best solution. My kids are also getting into video editing which generates a bunch of data that I need to store somewhere.

Sooo, from watching your videos etc I figured a Synology DS720+ seems like a good choice. I've also learned at two WD Red Plus seems like a good choice (I want them to be silent). I use my onedrive account for the NAS backupfiles instead.

Whats your opinion on this. Does it seem like a reasonable setup or am I missing out on something?

Also, Do you think I should add some m.2 nvme memory to the setup (one or two, size?)

I must say your videos are really informative and I've learned a lot. Thank you fat the effort!

Best regards
Daniel

Hi there,
been watching your reviews and im completely stuck on what to buy... its really just want a nad for dl from my file share site for muisc and movies.. and possibly playing plex and maybe using office but thats about it.. was going to buy 2 bay.. but not sure and something handy for a novice like me..lol
any help would be most appreciated