Synology DS-410

Synology Disk Station DS410

Priced at around $500 (no storage included) or around $1,200 (with 4TB of storage), the Disk Station DS410 is probably the best deal Synology has offered to date. The non-storage version is actually cheaper than the company's recent dual-bay unit, the DS710+. That said, the DS410, like all NAS servers from Synology we've reviewed, still offers so much more than any other NAS servers from other vendors. The server performed very well in our tests, and its robust Web interface made managing the vast amount of features and functions a relatively easy task. The server's few shortcomings include the fact that it, like all Disk Stations we've tested from Synology, supports only one IP camera out of the box and requires more licenses (that cost around $50 each) for additional cameras; its lack of a dual-Ethernet option that would help maintain the high throughput even during heavy loads; and finally, its drive bay design makes it cumbersome for users to install or replace the hard drives. If you're looking for an advanced RAID-5-capable four-bay NAS server, look no further than the DS410. If you want something that's easier to use for your home that offers similar amount of storage and performance, we'd recommend the HP MediaSmart EX495.