Top 10 NAS units

By Craig Simms on 20 July 2009

Whether you need to keep data safe, or if you're just looking for an easy way to share files across a network, a Network Attached Storage (NAS) device is a good way to achieve both goals.

If the unit can store multiple hard drives it can often function in RAID 1 (also known as mirroring), copying everything from one hard drive to another. This means if one drive fails physically, there's still a backup. For those craving more capacity but with some data safety, there's RAID 5, available in NAS units with three or more disks. This allows you to lose one hard drive, and you'll still retain access to all your data — replace it, and the system will rebuild all the missing data required from your existing hard drives in order to survive another hard drive failure.

Some offer features such as BitTorrent servers, download clients and media streamers — helping you cut down on power by turning off your PC, and using the NAS instead.

D-Link DNS-343

The DNS-343 is the natural evolution of the DNS-323 — a four-drive NAS that's quite good indeed.

Editor's rating:9.0 User rating:6.8
     • Full Review • Specs • Images • Video • Where to Buy

  • Good: Huge amount of features for the price • OLED status screen • Gigabit connection • Print server • Well built
  • Bad: Could be quieter • No BitTorrent remote download •
  • RRP: AU$799.95

Topics: attached, network, storage, nas, hard drive, unit, data, hard drives

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Comments (8)

  • le canitz commented on 27/08/2009 17:21 Report abuse

    ok guys, so which NAS should i get? the dlink dns323 or the netgear rnd2000? i have looked at both very thoroughly and cannot decide. both same price, similar features and specs...any help/tips?

  • bionhuang commented on 06/08/2009 11:29 Report abuse

    Dear Sixfootscott

    Thanks a lot for your support.

    It seems that we haven't caught the best show up opportunity on CNET.

    After TS-201 and TS-509Pro last year, we have launched more complete NAS products this year. Like TS-809Pro(8Bay), TS-639Pro(6Bay), TS-439Pro(4Bay),TS-239Pro(2Bay), TS-219p(2Bay), TS-119(1Bay), SS-839Pro(8Bay,SSD),SS-439Pro(4Bay,SSD). And we also lauched the first Network Media Player, NMP-1000.We are more than happy to provide the testing samples to CNET for the review.

    For detailed product information, please visit http://www.qnap.com/Products.asp
    or QNAP wiki
    http://wiki.qnap.com/wiki/How_Tos

    For the up-to-date firmware& user interface introduction plase refer to http://www.qnap.com/fw_v3/index.aspx?lang=eng

    More product introduction please visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T640YFy0DdI&feature=channel_page&fmt=18

    If you need any further information, welcome to send an e-mail to me.

    QNAP Systems Inc.
    ANZ Account Manager
    Bion Huang
    bionhuang@qnap.com
    Tel:+886-2-86982000#1802
    Skype:bionhuang
    http://www.qnap.com
    21F,No.77,Sec.1,Xintai 5th Rd,Xizhi City,Taipei Country,221, Taiwan

  • Craig Simms commented on 21/07/2009 15:59 Report abuse

    Hi Sixfootscott -- the QNAP TS-509 was meant to be in there, this has now been corrected.

  • Sixfootscott commented on 21/07/2009 08:25 Report abuse

    I'm disappointed that not 1 QNAP NAS device was mentioned here. I sized up the NAS competition for myself about 18 months ago and decided to go with QNAP (TS 201) for price, features and for a brand that seemed to be doing things with NAS. DLINK and Netgear are network companies, not storage specialists in my eyes and though I do agree you've mentioned some good products - QNAP was selling products with the same features (if not better) over a year ago...

  • Aj commented on 03/06/2009 23:02 Report abuse

    JimIXL...By learning to use apostrophes and put question marks at the end of a sentence, I guess?

  • JimIXL commented on 02/06/2009 11:52 Report abuse

    Lame review how do I get a job as a reviewer.

  • Guvner commented on 16/05/2009 09:38 Report abuse

    Glennie. Did you actually click through the product links? Obviously not...

  • Glennie commented on 05/04/2009 07:35 Report abuse

    Not so much a story or review/test but more of a few pretty pictures and a caption. Not enough detail, a waste of space. Like the new site layout though!

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