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+--- Thread: Best secure & reliable 6-8bay NAS solution with highspeed backup transfers & VMs (/showthread.php?tid=11886)
Best secure & reliable 6-8bay NAS solution with highspeed backup transfers & VMs - Enquiries - 04-09-2025
Long time fan and subscriber of the channel, I have been researching & waiting for the last few years, but I am still torn between ease of use software (secure) & future-proof hardware (I dont mind spending more to get higher performance if it will make a notable difference in perceived experience... Please help me determine the best 6-8bay or higher NAS model options -- Synology, QNAP, UGREEN, ASUSTOR, TerraMaster, etc. excluding Buffalo, NetGear or lower tier. Prefer at least a 8/12-core cpu with dual M.2 slots caching capability along with a 10g network port with at least another 2.5g port onboard and PCIE 4/5 slot if possible and hopefully TB4 /USB 4.0
Need to be able to use off the shelf drives particularly WD RED Plus 12TB & 6TB models as I have 5 of these already. Are there any other model drives that I should consider to fill up the raid-6 or SHR2 - Ironwolf PRO, WD Gold Ent., Hitachi, Toshiba, etc. ?
Thank you in advance for your help. All the best, Josh
RE: Best secure & reliable 6-8bay NAS solution with highspeed backup transfers & VMs - ed - 04-10-2025
Based on your requirements for a high-performance NAS with future-proofing capabilities, I’d recommend focusing on the QNAP TVS-74 Series or Synology for a secure, reliable, and scalable solution.
1. QNAP TVS-874 (from the 74 Series)
CPU: Intel Core i5 or i7 (8th/9th Gen, 6-core or 8-core options)
Memory: 16GB DDR4 (expandable)
Storage Bays: 8 bays (expandable via QNAP's expansion units)
Ports: 2 x 10GbE, multiple 2.5GbE ports
M.2 Slots: Dual NVMe SSD slots for SSD caching
PCIe Slot: Yes (for additional upgrades like 10GbE expansion or GPU)
Why it’s a fit: The TVS-874 is a powerhouse with a high-core Intel CPU and multiple high-speed network options (10GbE, 2.5GbE). The dual M.2 SSD slots provide fast caching for optimal performance, and the PCIe slot ensures future expansion, making it perfect for handling your VMs, backups, and AV streaming. The 74 series also has robust security features and QTS software, which offers flexible control and powerful tools for your needs.
2. Synology DS3622xs+
CPU: Intel Xeon D-1527 (8-core)
Memory: 8GB DDR4 (expandable)
Storage Bays: 6 (expandable to 36 with expansion units)
Ports: Dual 10GbE, multiple 2.5GbE ports
M.2 Slots: Dual NVMe slots for SSD caching
PCIe Slot: Yes (for additional upgrades)
Why it’s a fit: Synology’s DS3622xs+ is designed for high-demand workloads, making it ideal for your VMs, backups, and media streaming. The Xeon processor, dual 10GbE, and SSD caching provide exceptional speed. Plus, Synology’s DSM software offers a user-friendly interface with strong security, which is a plus for home business storage.
Both the QNAP TVS-74 Series and Synology DS3622xs+ are great options. The QNAP offers a bit more flexibility with hardware upgrades and a more expansive CPU selection, while Synology excels in ease of use and secure software features.