Synology DiskStation DS1821+
Designed for scalability and performance
An 8-bay network-attached-storage solution aimed at IT enthusiast and SMB customers, the Synology DS1821+ offers business-grade backup to keep users safe and protected from potential data loss. Major improvements to compute capabilities and throughput means workloads are finished faster than ever before, while scalable storage expansion and optional M.2 SSD caching allow you to take performance up a notch.
AMD Ryzen Quad-core 2.2 GHz
Dual M.2 2280 slots for NVMe Cache
113K 4K random read IOPS1
Expand up to 18 drives with two DX517 expansion units
A powerhouse on all fronts
The DS1821+ can handle demanding application workloads and a greater number of concurrent users. Experience faster file indexing in Synology Drive, photo organization in Moments, and more responsive web services.1
Synology Drive
Moments
Web Server
Transfer Performance
Turbocharge and supersize it
Upgrade your DS1821+ to match your data requirements, whether it is for faster networking or for higher storage capacity.
2 x M.2 NVMe
Enable ultra-fast NVMe cache to accelerate HDD arrays by 20X or more
10GbE support
Add in faster SFP+ or RJ-45 networking to turbocharge existing workflows
Storage Expansion
Supports two DX517 expansion units for a total of 18 bays
* HDD/SSDs, 10GbE network adapter cards, and expansion units are sold separately.
Ultimate file management and sharing
File Station is a web-based, fast and secure management tool built to allow easy, drag-and-drop operations without requiring any complex setup on Mac or PC. Advanced search and filtering tools allow for easy organization and file sharing. For complete compatibility, DS1821+ supports the following protocols: AFP, FTP, iSCSI, NFS, SMB, and WebDAV.
Fully certified storage virtualization solutions
Synology iSCSI storage fully supports most virtualization solutions to enhance work efficiency with easy management interface. VMware vSphere 6 and VAAI integration helps offload storage operations and optimizes computation efficiency. Windows Offloaded Data Transfer (ODX) speeds up data transfer and migration rate. OpenStack Cinder support turns your Synology NAS into a block-based storage component.
Ultimate Backup Solution
DS1821+ integrates various backup applications into an intuitive user interface, offering durable storage technologies to safeguard your valuable data on any device.
Centralize backup tasks for VMware, Windows, and file servers. Restore whatever you want fast and reliably when needed.
Comprehensively back up your data to a local shared folder, an external device, another Synology NAS, an rsync server, or a public cloud to ensure data safety.
Safeguard your computer with Synology Drive Client. Effortlessly perform real-time data backups and point-in-time file recovery.
On-premise backup solution with a centralized dashboard. Optimize storage efficiency with single instancing and block-level deduplication technology.
Powered by Synology DiskStation Manager
Central Management System
Conveniently manage your fleet of Synology NAS from a centralized console.
Synology MailPlus
Secure, reliable, and private mail server solution with an intuitive and modern mail client.
Synology High Availability
Seamless transition between clustered servers in the event of a server failure to minimize the impact on applications.
Security
Secure data with comprehensive built-in security tools to protect your devices against evolving threats.
Synology Drive
Instantly access your NAS files across multiple devices whenever you want, wherever you are.
Surveillance Station
Complete surveillance solution for recording, monitoring, and management.
1 Status indicator
2 Alert indicator
3 Power button and indicator
4 LAN indicator
5 Drive status indicator
6 Drive tray
7 Drive tray lock
8 USB 3.2 Gen 1 port
9 Power port
10 System fan
11 PCIe expansion slot
12 Kensington Security Slot
13 Expansion port
14 1GbE RJ-45 port
15 Reset button
16 USB 3.2 Gen 1 port
Note: 1. Performance figures are achieved in the Synology lab with optimized network and configuration settings. Actual performance could vary in different environments. Comparison done against prior-generation 8-bay DS1819+.
Pros: - 8 Bays with option to expand to max of 18 supports a lot of SMB or enthusiast use cases - 8GB included memory is ok I suppose ;) upgrading ram is a lot easier than the 1815+ or before due to better placement of the mobo - Ability to add NVME for cache and 10GB NICs for expansion has been sorely needed - Same great usability of DSM - Well-supported 3rd party package lines - usability of basically whatever SATA drive you put in it along with any desired RAID you want to use - Same drive trays as its predecessors - Did I mention a lot of functionality? If you can think of it, you can probably do it with a Synology - Ryzen CPU vs older Intels in previous units is a big difference; if you owned, say, an 1815+ or earlier you'll see a radical difference in overall performance
Cons: - Pricey, but Synology stuff is going to be; this isn't so much a con as a barrier to entry; Synology units are pretty solid and well-supported, but you need $1k for this BEFORE you buy any drives for it - Warranty should really be for 5 years, but you get what you get - Only a limited # of supported PCI-E NICs for the expansion bay will actually work (as of this writing), so you can't put that cheap quad 10GB SFP+ nic in and expect it to work :(
Overall Review: - 3-year warranty is OK, would be nice to have a longer one, but you can choose that at purchase time from Square, etc. - Synology community is pretty knowledgeable, so if you're exploring what you can do with this thing, there's someone out there that's done it and documented it. - This is my 3rd 5+ bay synology, have had great luck with them so far. As a Plex MS / backup dump / file share, can't ask for much more - If you're going with SHR-2, do yourself a favor and throw in a hot spare anyway; your raid's only as good as the quality of your drives (I've mostly used WD Reds with these with 1x expansion unit) - Make sure to keep these clean; fans will cool unit well, but it's easier with these units than other NAS / Servers for dust / hair to accumulate near the mobo. Get an air pump to use now and then or a can of compressed air now and then.