Okay, friends, let's talk about storage. Specifically, that terrifying mountain of over 40 terabytes of photos I have scattered across what feels like a dozen different little black boxes. My hard drives are multiplying like dust bunnies under the sofa! If you're like me, you love the camera, but the computer stuff? 🤷♀️ I've learned I need to get a big storage box called a NAS (a fancy name for a box that holds a bunch of hard drives and connects to your home internet) so I can access my photos even when I'm away from home.
My husband is helping me look at a 6-bay unit (a box that holds six hard drives). Here is what I’ve learned about the choices:
NAS Brands: Synology vs. Ugreen
I am considering two main companies for this 'photo box': Synology and Ugreen.
Feature Synology (The Seasoned Pro)Ugreen (The New Kid) Experience has been making NAS boxes for a long time. They are the established name. Newer to making these complex storage boxes, but known for making quality computer accessories.SoftwareGenerally praised for having software (the program you use to access files) that is powerful, easy to use, and very stable. Because they are newer, their software and overall user experience are still growing and developing. Cost: Often considered the higher-end, more premium option. It can often be a more budget-friendly option.
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RAID Levels: The Photo Safety Net (Speed vs. Safety)
We also have to decide how those six hard drives are going to talk to each other. This is called RAID, which is the technical term for how the box saves your photos across the drives to protect them. I’m looking at two options: RAID 6 and RAID 10.
FeatureRAID 6 (Maximum Safety), RAID 10 (Maximum Speed)Speed This setup is slower when you're moving or editing massive amounts of photo files. This setup is faster and built to handle big files quickly. Safety Net allows two hard drives to completely fail at the same time without losing any photos. Only allows one drive in each mirrored pair to fail. In a 6-bay unit, the level of protection is less forgiving than RAID 6. Storage Space: Uses more of your total storage space for the safety net, meaning less space available for photos.Uses less of your total storage space for the safety net, meaning more space available for photos.
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So, there you have it! The two main companies have different strengths (established ease-of-use vs. potential cost savings), and the two safety options come down to a choice between the maximum protection (RAID 6) or maximum speed (RAID 10).
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to go find my husband and ask him which type of cable this thing needs... and maybe get him a coffee.
