Synology DiskStation DS218play 2-Bay Multimedia NAS Review

OS and Software Features

Hardware Transcoding and Encryption Engines

Synology’s DS218play comes with both a hardware transcoding engine and a hardware encryption engine which will aid your various tasks quite a bit. DS218play supports 4K live transcoding via Video Station and DS video, allowing 4K videos to be instantly converted and played on TV, smartphone, and other media players that originally do not support Ultra HD formats.

In general Video transcoding refers to the process of converting video files originally unsupported by a media player into a compatible format and resolution.

Synology NAS offers military-grade encryption for shared folders. Whether you want to create a new encrypted folder or encrypt an existing, DSM can do it. You can even use a USB stick as key manager to eliminate the need for encryption keys. Thanks to the hardware engine, it will be close to the same speed of a non-encrypted share.

Security

We’ve previously touched file encryption which is a great security feature for your files. However, your NAS is a lot more than a file container, and there is a need for deeper security features. DSM has a wide range of security features starting with the account protection against brute force attacks. The firewall allows the DiskStation to allow access to only those who are allowed. You can configure it by services and network ports as well as IP addresses geolocation. There’s also a simple Denial-of-service prevention and automatic IP blocking.

While all those security features are awesome to have, you also need to know when to use them. For this, Synology DSM has the Security Advisor. It can remove malicious programs, find passwords with weak settings, audit the overall system configuration, and secure your network settings. All in a single window and easy to react on.

Media Streaming

The DS218j is a great device for your media streaming needs. With a long list of powerful multimedia apps, including Plex, the NAS is well equipped for the task. Synology’s own Media Player, the Video Station, is among the most powerful ones. Other Synology media apps include the Audio Station and Photo Station.

No matter whether you want to stream to computers, mobile devices, Samsung TV, Roku players, Apple TV, Google Chromecast, or general DLNA devices, the DS218j will do the job.

Centralised and Secure Backup Storage

One thing you hear a lot when it comes to any device with storage is that you should back it up. There are many ways to do this, but if you have a NAS, why not use it. Whether you want to create backups from your PC or mobile device, from NAS to NAS, or other random backup tasks, Synology’s DSM will handle it with just a few steps of setup.

While the NAS can act as your personal cloud storage while you’re on the go, it can also connect to various third-party cloud solutions for an extra layer or backup. Among backup options are multi-level solutions with up to 32 historical versions of a single file.

Remote Connection

If you want to use your NAS as a private cloud solution, you’ll need to be able to connect to it. There aren’t a lot of people who have a static IP address these days, but that’s no problem. With the QuickConnect feature, you can access your NAS easily from any location, and it’s a free service for all Synology users. You get a name of your choice which is a lot easier to remember than an IP address would be.

Now you can easily access files on your Synology NAS over the Internet without the hassle of setting up port forwarding rules, DDNS, or other complicated network settings. QuickConnect allows you to connect via a simple and customizable address (e.g. https://customID.quickconnect.to), so that you can instantly access media and work files on any Windows/Mac/Linux computer, laptop, or mobile device without additional charge.

More Functions

The above are the key features for which this particular NAS is intended. While that’s true, it does in no way mean that you are limited to them. Synology offers a lot more features and functionality through the installation of apps. You can run your own surveillance station where you connect your IP and WiFi cameras, run your own web and email server, or collaborate with people on shared files and documents. All your digital memories can easily be shared with your family and friends too, and even strangers if you want to. There are a whole lot of options.

Add-On Packages