Before I get into researching this, why do you recommend it over the Synology option?
Use home plugs
Noise tends to be somewhat subjective - what is acceptable to one person can be irritating and annoying to another. The drives can also be a big factor - some are distinctly noisier than others, especially when the heads are thrashing.
I have a Micorserver running 5 HDD's in my living room (nowhere else it can go) and whilst I can certainly hear it, (especially the O/S disc,) my fridge is louder when it kicks in. But it's also highly likely that I've somewhat (subconsciously) "tuned it out" in my head. I tend to "notice" it most when I turn it off ("ooo - quieter.")
As above, you could try powerline adapters, they turn your house wiring into ....... ethernet as such.
I'd always advise buying from a retailer with a good returns policy though as they may work really well or may be absolute rubbish as it's dependant upon your house wiring.
Flexibility, and the fact I'm familiar with unRAID (been running it for years)
I'd also add 4K films and 2 bays doesn't give you a lot of space. A ripped 4K film is coming in about 40-80GB
Worth a try. I realised the router sits next to an air vent to the front garden. I could easily run wires through that, bury them, then drill through the exterior wall to the adjoining spare room and run the wires in there. Should be pretty straightforward. There's are two Cat6 connections on a wall plate next to the router, running to another wall plate by my TV caninet. So it would be easy to connect everything together.
I had been thinking the same. Iknew this would get expensive...
Hi DougAP, I have now had my Synology NAS 214play for a while.
So from experience couple of suggestions-
* Plex Server upto 1080p no probs, however anything more it struggles.
If you were to use the NAS as a storage only and the Plex Server hosted from another PC/Mac then it would work ok with 4K.
If you plan on hosting the Plex Server from the Synology NAS I would recommend slightly better spec NAS. DS218 ?
* LAN is must for 4K. Powerline plugs just won’t work for 4K.
* I have mine in a cabinet 3 meters away from where we sit. No one seems to complain of any noise in the room. However if the cabinet door is left ajar, you can definitely appreciate the whirring/clicking of the HDD.
I'm also another HP micro server user.Plex (serves ATV's) and Owncloud main uses, via the excellent Ubuntu Server OS.Moved away from NAS's onto servers some years ago now, didn't like the software RAID, preferred Hardware RAID.Have been through various, "industrial servers" such as Dells PowerEdge systems and settled on the excellent HP Micro Server, due to its low power-draw, it doesn't sound like a jet engine taking off and the increase in HDD size meaning no need to have 36 bays anymore data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7
Tip, if you're looking to use a HP Micro Server, there are some very nice mods you should check out before buying one.Such as this RAID controller: -
==> HP ProLiant P410 Smart Array SAS Raid Controller 462919-001 w/ SAS Cable 498425
Also, I feel it my responsibility to add (donning my anti-corporate cloud services hat (made from tin foil)) that by creating your own file cloud server (virtually free as you have the HDD space anyway and the server is always on), you will never have to worry about corporations rummaging around in your stuff.Store/file whatever you want.You own what you store, not them.
I use owncloud, but there are others equally as good out there.A few clicks and you have TB of cloud storage.I couldn't be without mine.Its my virtual filing cabinet.