#Best 2 bay nas 2018 1080p
It works flawlessly as a media server, streaming 1080p and 4K video to a Samsung Smart TV, Android phones and Windows laptops with real-time transcoding, although frame rates were a little choppy where there wasn’t a Gigabit Ethernet link the whole way through.
The DS218 has basic storage and backup covered, but a whole lot more besides. You can also encrypt your files folder by folder. The setup defaults to Synology’s SHR configuration, which tries to balance the capacity of a RAID0 array with the resilience of RAID1, even when using drives of different capacities. The web-based installation routine couldn’t be much easier, and while you’re left to configure RAID volumes, users and shares yourself, it’s all intuitive. This is one of only two NAS drives on test with a single Gigabit Ethernet port. It’s a shame that you can’t connect this quiet NAS to a TV and use it as a media player, with no HDMI port: with a single USB 2 port at the front and a USB 3 port at the rear, connectivity is basic. With the drives removed you can access an additional SODIMM slot, enabling you to add a further 4GB to the 2GB of installed RAM. The design is classic Synology, with the two tool-less bays protected by a nicely bevelled matte black plastic chassis and the drive bays covered by a curved magnetic flap. READ NEXT: The best NAS drives you can buy £250 buys you a speedy two-bay NAS with all the features of Synology’s DSM operating system plus enough performance to take advantage. Where there used to be a gulf in capabilities between your basic, budget two-bay NAS and the all-singing, all-dancing appliances, it’s one that’s being bridged by models such as the Synology DS218.