![]() The DS214se comes with 35 packages organized in five categories: backup, multimedia, security, business, and utilities. Depending on the server's capability, there are a certain number of packages that can be installed on it. Each package is a new program that adds a function or a feature to the server. Synology has the best way for you to add more features to its servers, and by far the most packages.ĭSM 5.0 comes with a very well-organized Package Center that lets you install (and remove) packages on a Synology NAS server. Excellent Package Center designĪdvanced NAS servers allow users to add and remove features. The Web interface allows you to perform any customizations to the server, including its general settings, RAID configuration, and all other settings, including those of all apps.Īlso, for many of its features, the server comes with mobile apps to support Android and iOS devices. In this case, the Synology Assistant software can automatically download and install the operating system in a single, seamless step, much in the way you'd update your iPhone or install a new OS on a MacBook Air. Note that, if you buy the disk-less version of the server, you'll need to install the hard drives and the operating system yourself. But if you can't, the Synology Assistant can also perform a few additional tasks, such as mapping network drives to share folders. This is all within the Web page, and most users can figure things out from there. Once launched, the interface is presented to end-users similarly to the appearance of an operating system, like Windows or Mac OS. ![]() Now you need to log into its Web interface, which involves pointing a browser on a computer to its IP address, or running the Synology Assistant software. The new OS brings about a much more robust Web-based user interface - very similar to that of a native operating system - and a new way to set up the server to work over the Internet, as well as a huge collection of apps that add much more value to the server. To make up for the old design and the lackluster hardware, on the inside the DS214se runs the latest version of the acclaimed DiskStation Manager (DSM) operating system, version 5.0. This is very disappointing, since all the NAS servers that I reviewed last year already support USB 3.0 and have more peripheral ports. On the back, the server has just two USB 2.0 ports to host more storage or printers. The "se" designation stands for "single-role," meaning the server is not designed to run multiple roles (tasks) at the same time. ![]() On the inside, it's powered by a minimal Marvell Armada 370 processor running at 800MHz, and 256MB of DDR3 memory that's not upgradable. The DS214se has nothing to impress when it comes to its hardware components. You can buy it preloaded with only 2TB hard drives, however, so if you want to use 3TB or larger hard drives, you're better off getting the diskless version and buying the hard drives separately. The server supports standard SATA internal drives of both 3.5-inch (desktop) and 2.5-inch (laptop) designs, of any capacities. Considering the logistics, you can't expect to swap out the hard drive while the server is still running, as in the case of servers with front-facing drive bays. But when you do, note that you'll need to turn off the server before you start the job. Otherwise, chances are you won't need to service the internal hard drive for a long time. You only need to do this if you buy the diskless version of the server. Otherwise, pick something that's more powerful from this list. So if you're looking for a network storage solution for a small home with just a few users, you won't go wrong with the the DS214se. Basically, it's designed to excel at performing just one (or a very few) tasks at a time, and isn't suitable for heavy multitasking environments. Keep in mind, however, that this is still a low-end storage device. It's just as good value in the UK and Australia - it's available from various resellers with different amounts of storage, but you'll find it disk-less from around £120 or AU$180.Īnd despite the minimal amount of system memory and a lackluster processor, in my testing the DS214se still registered an excellent data rate for a dual-bay server, especially its read speed. Running the latest DSM 5.0 operating system, the server has many features found in much higher-end servers, such as the top-ranked DS1513+, making its US price of just $155 for the disk-less version (or $340 with 4TB included) a steal.
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