Synology DiskStation DS218play 2-Bay NAS Enclosure

Built with a Quad-Core processor, an AES-NI hardware encryption engine, Btrfs file system support, and Cinema 4K video transcoding, the DiskStation DS218play 2-Bay NAS Enclosure from Synology is designed for those who need an all-around storage solution that has been optimized to not only safeguard data, but also deliver fast file transfer speeds, real-time 4K video streaming, and the storage of Ultra HD content. It is equipped with two drive bays that are capable of natively supporting 3.5″ SATA hard drives, as well as 2.5″ SATA hard drives and SSDs. Using its two drive bays, this NAS will allow you to store and share a large number of files, including videos, music, photos, and documents with up to 2048 user accounts and 200 maximum concurrent connections.

The DS218play runs on Synology DiskStation Manager (DSM) OS, which is a browser-based operating system which helps to simplify managing your Synology NAS. Its CPU is a 1.4 GHz Realtek RTD1296 Quad-Core and its 1GB of DDR4 RAM allows frequently-used files and applications to be quickly accessed. The NAS is capable of achieving sequential read and write speeds of up to 112 MB/s, while a dedicated hardware transcoding engine can transcode H.264 (AVC), H.265 (HEVC), MPEG-2, and VC-1 video at resolutions up to 4096 x 2160 at up to 60 fps via Video Station and DS video. This allows 4K videos to be converted and played on-the-fly on devices that do not natively support Ultra HD formats.

Also featured are two USB 3.0 Type-A ports and one eSATA port, which allow it to be connected to your Windows or Mac system, and network connectivity is achieved via the integrated Gigabit Ethernet port, allowing your stored data to be shared with users throughout the network. Data may also be made remotely available through the free iOS and Android applications. For those who require RAID support, the DS218play supports RAID 0 and 1, as well Synology Hybrid RAID and Basic RAID, each of which offers performance, data redundancy, or a combination of both. For those who do not require a RAID, JBOD is also available, allowing each drive bay to be individually utilized.

The DS218play is engineered to be energy efficient. Not only does it offer a 92 x 92mm fan to help keep the system running cool at all times, its noise dampening design of 19.9 dB(A) makes for quiet operations. The server supports numerous scheduled power on / off cycles and hard drive hibernation to further minimize power consumption and operation expenses.

The Synology DiskStation DS218play 2-Bay NAS Enclosure operates on 100-240 VAC at 50/60 Hz and includes an accessory pack, a 60W AC power adapter, a power cord, and an RJ45 LAN cable. It is protected by a limited 2-year warranty.