The Professional's Source
800.606.6969 / 212.444.6615
Synology DiskStation DS212j 2-Bay NAS Server
- Price: $199.99
- Free Shipping (USA)
- In Stock
- B&H # SYDS212J
- Mfr# DS212J
Product Highlights
- Holds Two SATA 2.5"/3.5" Drives
- DLNA Certified Media Server
- Standalone 24x7 Download Server
- Personal Cloud Creation
- Easy Backup Options and Remote Access
- Energy Efficient 17.6 W Operation
- Cross-Platform File Sharing
- UPnP, iTunes, Photo and Printer Server
- Surveillance and Web Station
- Included DiskStation Manager Software
The DiskStation DS212j 2-Bay NAS Server from Synology is a high-performance, backup storage and server solution for home and office. While no drives are included with the DiskStation, it supports a max capacity of 6TB with either two SATA 3.5" hard disk drives or two 2.5" SATA hard disk or solid state drives. In addition, this DiskStation can configure the drives as a JBOD, RAID 0, or RAID 1, depending on whether you want faster data transfers or more secure data.
With the included Gigabit LAN port, you can connect the DiskStation to your router and access it locally on your network. The DiskStation has an EZ-Internet Wizard for setting it up from the internet. To facilitate ease of use between different operating systems, this DiskStation supports cross-platform file sharing between Ubuntu, Mac and Windows computers. Ever-versatile, this DiskStation can function as a mail server, as it supports Outlook-like Web mail, SMTP, POP3, and IMAP. In addition, the Synology Web Station Virtual Host option allows users to host up to 30 websites on one single Synology DS212j. The built-in PHP+MySQL capability allows users to create interactive websites without complicated settings. When it comes to backing up your data, you can save from Windows or Mac computers to the DiskStation. Windows users can use Synology Data Replicator 3 while Mac users can enjoy native Mac OS X Time Machine support. As if that wasn't enough, the DiskStation can function as a variety of different servers, whether you need it to store and stream photos, video, audio or data within your office or over the internet. You can use it as a server for FTP, Mail, UPnP media devices, printing, iTunes, photos, videos, hosting websites, operating surveillance webcams or downloading bit torrent, http, FTP or eMule files.High Performance
- The Synology DS212j is designed for home or business users who require a reliable storage solution and demand high-performance for backup and file sharing
Full-featured Business Applications
- Comprehensive network protocol support assures seamless file sharing across Windows, Mac, and Ubuntu platforms. Windows ADS integration allows the Synology DS212j to quickly and easily fit in an existing business network environment with no need to recreate user accounts
- Windows ACL support provides much finer-grained access control and more efficient privilege settings, allowing users to enjoy native Windows experience
- Internet file access is simplified with the included encrypted FTP server and the web-based file explorer, Synology File Station
- HTTPS, the built-in firewall, and IP auto-block support ensure file sharing over the Internet is protected at a high security level
- Synology Web Station with support for PHP/MySQL content allows for the hosting of up to 30 websites on a single Synology DS212j
- Synology Surveillance Station offers a centralized interface to safeguard the office environments by deploying IP cameras throughout the network. This NAS Server supports up to 12
- The Mail Station add-on turns the Synology DS212j into a mail server with a quick, painless installation
- The USB printer sharing capability minimizes businesses' printing cost by allowing you to share the pinrter to multiple users within an office
- With the NFS protocol or iSCSI target support in DSM 3.0, the Synology DS212j provides a seamless storage solution with Windows, Linux, or virtualization servers
Complete Backup Solutions
- PC Users can back up their data to the Synology DS212j using the free Synology Data Replicator software, while Mac OS X users enjoy native Apple Time Machine integration
- A backup wizard is also provided for backing up data in the DS212j to another Synology DiskStation or any rsync server via an encrypted transmission
- With three USB ports and one eSATA port, you can backup your computer or network data to an external hard drive connected to one of these ports
- Users can back up and restore DiskStation shared folders in multiple versions using the Synology Time Backup package
Peace of Mind with Data Encryption
- The Synology DS212j is equipped with an encryption engine which handles the encryption calculation tasks, instead of having your computer's CPU handle it. This features helps to improve the file transfer speeds of the DiskStation
- The Synology testing lab shows that the hardware encryption engine boasts a read speed that is about 200% faster than pure software-based encryption
- DiskStation Manager 3.0 (DSM 3.0) provides share-level AES 256-bit encryption to aid in the prevention of unauthorized access attempts to your DiskStation's hard drives. You can also upgrade to DSM 4.2 after connecting to the Internet
Easy Setup and Management
- The Synology DSM operating system offers an intuitive and easy-to-navigate web interface. For users who are limited on time and not familiar with configuring complicated routers, the Synology EZ-Internet Wizard simplifies the process of setting up access to the Synology DS212j from the Internet. The EZ-Internet Wizard walks you through all of the settings for configuring a variety of functions such as firewalls, port-forwarding, PPPoE, and DDNS registration
- The multi-tasking web UI on DSM 3.0 lets users run multiple applications simultaneously on one tab browser and switch between them instantly. The User Home feature makes creating private shared folders for a large number of users an easy task as it minimizes the steps and time needed for the administrator to create private shared folders. Sub-folder privilege settings further extend the flexibility to allocate permissions for different workgroups. All of these features are performed in a web browser
Energy Efficient
- Synology DS212j is designed with energy efficiency in mind. Not only does it provide the smart airflow to keep the system running cool 24/7, its 92mm fan provides quite operation
- DS212j consumes a relatively low amount of power at only 17.6 watts in operation. The support of multiple scheduled power on/off and hard drive hibernation can further reduce power consumption and operation cost
- All Synology products are produced with RoHS compliant parts and packed with recyclable packing materials. Synology acknowledges the responsibility as a global citizen to continually work to minimize the environmental impact of its products
| Hardware | |
|---|---|
| Processor | 1.2 GHz CPU |
| Encryption | Hardware Encryption Engine |
| Memory | RAM: 256MB |
| Wireless | Supported but requires separately sold USB dongle |
| Storage |
Supports two hard drives: (hard drives not included) 2 x 3.5" SATA(II) hard disk drive 2 x 2.5" SATA hard disk or solid state drives using Synology 2.5" Disk Holder 1 Please Note:Check with the manufacturer for a full list of compatible drives close |
| Maximum Capacity | 6TB (2 x 3TB HDD) |
| HDD Interface | 2 x USB 2.0 Port |
| LAN Port | 1 x RJ-45 10/100/1000 Gigabit Ethernet Port |
| System Fan | 1 x 92 x 92mm |
| Wireless Support | Yes |
| Noise Level | 19.4dB(A) |
| Power Recovery | Yes |
| Software | |
|---|---|
| Miscellaneous |
File Browser File Station Windows Access Control List (ACL) |
| FTP Server |
Bandwidth Control Custom FTP Passive Port Range Anonymous FTP Transfer Log |
| Mail Server | Supported Mail Server Protocol : POP3, SMTP, IMAP |
| Web Station |
Virtual Host (up to 30 websites) PHP/MySQL Alternative HTTP Error Page 3rd-Party Applications Support |
| Surveillance Station |
MAX IP cam # (Licenses required) : 5 (1 Free License) (See All Supported IP Cameras) Total frame rate (FPS) : 50 FPS @ D1 (NTSC：720x480, PAL：720x576), 10 FPS @ WXGA (1280x800) Recording Modes : Manual, Continuous, Motion Detection, Alarm, Motion Detection and Alarm Event Playback : Sync Mode (4 Channels), Time Slicing Mode Centralized Management Compression Formats : MJPEG, MPEG-4, H.264 |
| Photo Station |
Supported Image Format : BMP, JPG (jpe, jpeg), GIF, RAW (arw, srf, sr2, dcr, k25, kdc, cr2, crw, nef, mrw, ptx, pef, raf, 3fr, erf, mef, mos, orf, rw2, dng, x3f) Supported Video Format : 3G2, 3GP, ASF, AVI, DAT, DivX, FLV, M4V, MOV, MP4, MPEG, MPG, QT, WMV, XviD, RM, RMVB, VOB, RV30, RV40, AC3, AMR, WMA3 User can click and download the following video formats: RM, RMVB, VOB, RV30, RV40, AC3, AMR, WMA3, but not able to play it in Photo Station as compressed Flash video |
| Audio Station |
Supported Audio Format (USB Mode) : AAC, FLAC, M4A, MP3, Ogg Vorbis, WMA, WMA VBR Supported Audio Format (Streaming Mode) : MP3, M4A, M4B Supported Playlist Format : M3U, WPL Internet Radio : SHOUTcast, Radioio |
| DLNA/UPnP Media Server |
PS3/Xbox 360 Support Supported Audio Format : AAC, FLAC, M4A, MP3, Ogg Vorbis, PCM, WAV, WMA, WMA VBR, WMA PRO, WMA Supported Video Format : 3GP, 3G2, ASF, AVI, DAT, DivX, DVR-MS, ISO, M2T, M2TS, M4V, MKV, MP4, MPEG1, MPEG2, MPEG4, MTS, MOV, QT, SWF, TP, TRP, TS, VOB, WMV, XviD, RMVB (The actual playback capabilities may vary depending on the DLNA/UPnP client) Supported Image Format : BMP, JPG (jpe, jpeg), GIF, ICO, PNG, PSD, TIF (tiff), UFO |
| Download Station |
Supported Download Protocols : BT/HTTP/FTP/NZB/eMule Custom BT Port Range BT / eMule Bandwidth Control |
| iTunes Server |
Supported Audio Format : MP3, M4A, M4P, WAV, AIF, The music in WAV and AIF format can be streamed, but the metadata (ex: title, album) may not be indexed on the iTunes Supported Video Format : M4V, MOV, MP4 Supported Playlist Format : M3U, WPL |
| Print Server |
Max Printer # : 2 Printing Protocols : LPR, CIFS, AppleTalk, Appel AirPrint, Multi Functional Print Server (Only PostScript USB printers are supported in MAC environment) |
| Packages Center |
Directory Server HiDrive Backup Mail Station2 phpMyAdmin VPN Server Webalizer Squeezebox Server Syslog Server WordPress Time Backup |
| iPhone/Android Applications |
DS photo+ DS audio DS cam DS file DS finder |
| General | |
|---|---|
| Networking Protocols |
CIFS AFP NFS FTP WebDAV iSCSI Telnet SSH SNMP |
| File System |
EXT4 EXT3(External Disk Only) FAT (External Disk Only) NTFS (External Disk Only) |
| Storage Management |
Max Volume # : 256 Max File System Size : 16TB Max iSCSI Target # : 10 Max iSCSI LUN # : 10 Supported RAID Type : Synology Hybrid RAID, Basic, JBOD, RAID 0, RAID 1 RAID Migration : Basic to RAID 1 Volume Expansion with Larger HDDs : RAID 1 |
| File Sharing Capability |
Max User Accounts : 512 Max Groups : 128 Max Shared Folder : 256 Max Concurrent Connections : 64 |
| Windows ADS Domain Integration | Domain Users login via Samba/AFP/FTP/File Station |
| Backup Solutions |
Network Backup Local Backup Desktop Backup (using Synology Data Replicator 3 or Apple Time Machine backup application) Shared Folder Sync - Max task number : 2 Time Backup - Max task number : 2 Time Machine Backup (Mac) |
| Security |
FTP over SSL/TLS IP Auto-Block Firewall Encrypted Network Backup over Rsync HTTPS Connection |
| Management |
Auto DSM Upgrade Administrator Group Email Notification SMS Notification Customized User Quota DDNS Support IPv6 Support PPPoE Resource Monitor UPS Management Scheduled Power On/Off Custom Management UI HTTP/HTTPS Ports |
| HDD Management |
HDD Hibernation S.M.A.R.T. Dynamic Bad Sector Mapping |
| Utilities |
Synology Assistant Synology Data Replicator |
| Supported Clients |
Windows XP onward Mac OS X 10.5 onward Ubuntu 9.04 onward |
| Supported Web Browsers |
Chrome Firefox Internet Explorer : 7, 8, 9 Safari (MAC) : 4, 5 |
| Supported Mobile Devices |
iPhone OS 2.2.1 onward Android OS 1.5 onward Windows Mobile (IE Mobile or Opera 9.0 onward) Symbian OS 9.1, S60 3rd Edition onward Language : Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, French, German, Hungarian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese Brazil, Portuguese European, Russian, Simplified Chinese, Spanish, Swedish, Traditional Chinese, Turkish |
| Environment | RoHS Compliant |
| Certifications | FCC Class B, CE Class B, BSMI Class B |
| Environmental Requirements |
Operating Temperature: 40° to 95°F / 5°C to 35°C Storage Temperature: 15° to 155°F / -10°C to 70°C Relative Humidity: 5% to 95% RH Maximum Operating Altitude: 10,000 feet |
| Power Consumption |
Access: 17.6 W Hibernation: 5.5 W Note: measured when fully loaded with Western Digital 3TB WD30EZRS hard drive(s) |
| Power Requirements | AC: 100 to 240V, 50/60Hz, Single Phase |
| Dimensions (HxWxD) | 6.49 x 3.93 x 8.87" (16.5 x 10.0 x 22.55 cm) |
| Weight | 33.15 oz (0.94 kg) |
REVIEW SNAPSHOT®
by PowerReviews(based on 25 reviews)
Ratings Distribution
100%
of respondents would recommend this to a friend.
Pros
- Easy to set up (21)
- Easy to use (20)
- Compact (15)
- Highly compatible (15)
- Fast (14)
Cons
Best Uses
- Home (19)
- Small networks (17)
- Sensitive materials (5)
- High volume (4)
- Reviewer Profile:
- Power user (15), Casual user (10)
- Primary use:
- Personal (22), Business (3)
- Computer Platform:
- PC (15), Mac (8)
Most Liked Positive Review
Great so far!
I purchased this server after considering several others, because the reviews were pretty good. I purchased two Seagate 3 TB SATA hard drives so I could run them in a RAID array that mirror ...Read complete review
I purchased this server after considering several others, because the reviews were pretty good. I purchased two Seagate 3 TB SATA hard drives so I could run them in a RAID array that mirror each other. Seagate is my preference over Western Digital because I have experience with Seagate and they are good drives, but the WD Green drives will also work.
The drives fit into the two HD slots perfect and the server was assembled in less than ten minutes out of the box.
Getting the server configured took me a few hours, mostly because I am not a high-end tech guy and have no experience with setting up servers. But once I got the basics figured out, it was easy.
So my final setup has the server in my basement next to my router. I have two PC laptops accessing it via WiFi, one Mac laptop doing the same and one PC workstation accessing it via Ethernet - no problems with any of them.
My wife, two boys and I all have our own folders and we have one folder to store all our family photos and videos.
I have not set up the port forwarding yet so that we can access the server remotely, but that is next.
I just purchased cloud backup and the server will also be backed up to the cloud on a daily basis. I am very paranoid about losing data after I once lost the contents of a hard drive that hadn't been backed up in two years.
So, so far - so good. If you have half a brain, this is a great buy - a 3 TB server with redundant backups for less than $600 total? Can't beat it.
VS
Most Liked Negative Review
Good but faster CPU could make it better
I bought the DS212j because it was [$]$ at B&H so I decided to go for it; The DS213 was more attractive with a faster processor 2GHz vs 1.2GHz for DS212,...Read complete review
I bought the DS212j because it was [$]$ at B&H so I decided to go for it; The DS213 was more attractive with a faster processor 2GHz vs 1.2GHz for DS212, but I decided that $[$] for the DS213 was too expensive for a diskless NAS. If you have virgin HDDs the installation is pretty straight forward. I encountered a problem because my drives were used in the past and the DSM could not format the RAID. I had to remove the drives, connect them to a PC using a SATA to USB adapter, I removed all existing drive partitions, then I could format the RAID using the DSM (DiskStation Manager). The DS212j has a lot of features, actually too many, nobody will need them all, not even 1/4 of them, and I did not try features that I don't use. I'm not sure if all provided features will work correctly, they seem to be pretty basic. I have the feeling they are there just to show a large selection of applications to choose from. Transfer rate: initially it seem to me it was kind of slow while transferring files but I ended up getting up to 50MBps (=400Mbps) transfer speeds which is not that bad. I use the Windows SMB service to create a share to backup my data from my desktop, and the Time Machine service to backup my Mac. That's it, I use just 2 services. Be careful, more features and services you install slower it becomes. DO NOT BOTHER INSTALLING the BACKUP software that comes with it for PC called Data Replicator 3. For some reason it duplicates the data on the DiskStation. I ended up using a free utility SyncBack that works perfect for what I want to mirror my data drive to the share provided by the DiskStation. One thing that I tried and I was pleasantly surprised how nice it worked was to play movies located on the DiskStation in real time on a media player (similar to Apple TV) at 720p with no frame loss; it is super smooth. That's why I keep it...
REVIEWS
Reviewed by 25 customers
Sort by
Displaying reviews 1-20
Previous | Next »
Pros
- Compact
- Easy To Manage
- Easy To Set Up
- Fast
- Highly Compatible
Cons
Best Uses
- Fault Tolerant Backup
- Home
- Small Networks
Comments about Synology DiskStation DS212j 2-Bay NAS Server:
As others have mentioned, this is one of the better NAS systems for the home user. Easy to set up for most tasks, Video and photos take a bit of work, but if you are familiar with Unix GUI, it should be a breeze. I do not use it for time machine backups as there are numerous reports that anything other than apple approved products can be finicky. I use CCC without issue. Although video files can be stored here, you also need a Mac running itunes to stream videos to and Apple TV. The fault tolerant raid was easy to set up.
- Primary use:
- Personal
- Computer Platform:
- Mac
- Similar:
- Time Capsule
Pros
- Easy To Manage
- Fast
- Highly Compatible
Cons
- Complicated To Set Up
Best Uses
- High Volume
- Home
- Small Networks
Comments about Synology DiskStation DS212j 2-Bay NAS Server:
I was using Carbonite as an online back up for my iMac. Now I am using teh DS212J for my Time Machine back up location. I put 2 separate 3TB drives (WD Red), so I have full Raid 1 set up to insure that my files are always preserved, even if I lose a hard drive. I really like the integration features with Apple apps to allow me to view my files (especially iTunes folders and files) easily on an iPad or iPhone...within my own network, as well as remote via someone else's WiFi internet connection. Things that I think could be better is the documentation. While there is plenty of it and it is high quality documentation, the documentation I found was dated, and didn't match the most up to date software loaded onto the NAS. The good news is many other people have this setup and contribute to forum, which make it very easy to resolve any issues.
- Primary use:
- Personal
- Computer Platform:
- Mac
Pros
- Fast
- Highly Compatible
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Synology DiskStation DS212j 2-Bay NAS Server:
This is really a good solid home NAS.
- Primary use:
- Personal
- Computer Platform:
- PC
Pros
- Compact
- Easy To Manage
- Easy To Set Up
- Fast
- Highly Compatible
Cons
Best Uses
- Home
- Small Networks
Comments about Synology DiskStation DS212j 2-Bay NAS Server:
Very easy to set up and works flawlessly so far (1 month)
- Primary use:
- Business
- Computer Platform:
- Mac
Pros
- Easy To Manage
- Easy To Set Up
Cons
- Cheap Feeling Case
Best Uses
- Home
Comments about Synology DiskStation DS212j 2-Bay NAS Server:
The web interface is really well designed, speedy enough. Case has a cheap look/feel to it
- Primary use:
- Personal
- Computer Platform:
- PC
Pros
- Compact
- Easy To Manage
- Easy To Set Up
- Fast
- Highly Compatible
Cons
Best Uses
- High Volume
- Home
- Small Networks
Comments about Synology DiskStation DS212j 2-Bay NAS Server:
Setup is so simple. Takes up to 3 terabytes. FTP capacity and more
- Primary use:
- Personal
- Computer Platform:
- Mac
Pros
- Compact
- Decent Speed
- Easy To Set Up
- Lots Of Features
- Nice Build
Cons
- Managing Interface Slow
Best Uses
- Home
- Small Networks
Comments about Synology DiskStation DS212j 2-Bay NAS Server:
I bought the DS212j because it was [$]$ at B&H so I decided to go for it; The DS213 was more attractive with a faster processor 2GHz vs 1.2GHz for DS212, but I decided that $[$] for the DS213 was too expensive for a diskless NAS. If you have virgin HDDs the installation is pretty straight forward. I encountered a problem because my drives were used in the past and the DSM could not format the RAID. I had to remove the drives, connect them to a PC using a SATA to USB adapter, I removed all existing drive partitions, then I could format the RAID using the DSM (DiskStation Manager). The DS212j has a lot of features, actually too many, nobody will need them all, not even 1/4 of them, and I did not try features that I don't use. I'm not sure if all provided features will work correctly, they seem to be pretty basic. I have the feeling they are there just to show a large selection of applications to choose from. Transfer rate: initially it seem to me it was kind of slow while transferring files but I ended up getting up to 50MBps (=400Mbps) transfer speeds which is not that bad. I use the Windows SMB service to create a share to backup my data from my desktop, and the Time Machine service to backup my Mac. That's it, I use just 2 services. Be careful, more features and services you install slower it becomes. DO NOT BOTHER INSTALLING the BACKUP software that comes with it for PC called Data Replicator 3. For some reason it duplicates the data on the DiskStation. I ended up using a free utility SyncBack that works perfect for what I want to mirror my data drive to the share provided by the DiskStation. One thing that I tried and I was pleasantly surprised how nice it worked was to play movies located on the DiskStation in real time on a media player (similar to Apple TV) at 720p with no frame loss; it is super smooth. That's why I keep it...
- Primary use:
- Personal
- Computer Platform:
- PC
Pros
- Easy To Manage
- Easy To Set Up
- Fast
Cons
- None
Best Uses
- Home Nas
Comments about Synology DiskStation DS212j 2-Bay NAS Server:
I previously had a Linksys DNS-323 NAS and I cannot tell you what a great upgrade this is! I always had issues with the Linksys being online Synology has been 100% online since installation. The tools included are great and easy to use. The speed is much better as I regularly transfer back and forth to my iMac ay 85 mbs and it works great with the Timemachine backup. The installation was straight forward. I wish I had purchased 2 years ago!
- Primary use:
- Personal
- Computer Platform:
- Mac
Pros
- Easy To Manage
- Fast
- Highly Compatible
Cons
Best Uses
- Home
- Sensitive Materials
- Small Networks
Comments about Synology DiskStation DS212j 2-Bay NAS Server:
I've had this unit installed about a month now. I am really enjoying it over my old NAS. This one is fast and really quite. The interface is quite intuitive, expecially if you are familiar with Apple's interface. Works well with WinXP, Win7 and Mac formats.
The control panel is via a Web interface and is much more rebust than WD's My Book Ultimate. I can manage user permision with ease.
I have not setup some of the advance features (e.g. Video streaming, music and photo streaming, FTP, Web sharing, etc.), but will be doing that soon.
- Primary use:
- Personal
- Computer Platform:
- PC
Pros
- Highly Compatible
Cons
- Complicated To Set Up
Best Uses
- Small Networks
Comments about Synology DiskStation DS212j 2-Bay NAS Server:
I've only used it for a few weeks but I'm so glad I bought it. I will say that it is not for the non technical. It takes a lot of reading and effort to set it up. The set-up could be a little easier.
- Primary use:
- Personal
- Computer Platform:
- PC
Pros
- Compact
- Easy To Manage
- Easy To Set Up
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Synology DiskStation DS212j 2-Bay NAS Server:
I bought the synology diskstation after researching several different nas servers. consistently saw good ratings everywhere I looked. I bought this to have storage for my large music, movies and photo collection. I am using two red WD 2TB hard drives. It was easy to setup. FYI Need to leave yourself several days for full setup. Harddrives are formatted which takes a day or so. Then copying all of your music, movies and photo files can take another day or two.
- Primary use:
- Personal
- Computer Platform:
- PC
Pros
- Compact
- Easy To Manage
- Easy To Set Up
- Great Software
Cons
- No Major Complaints
Best Uses
Comments about Synology DiskStation DS212j 2-Bay NAS Server:
I love it.
The software is great. I love how I can think of a random thing to download, get it going remotely, and it's finished by the time I get home. It's very quiet too.
Only disappointment is that I can't reliably stream videos to myself, but that's not the device's fault, it's my home internet. Instead I will download my videos into my Dropbox, then they are synced onto my phone and tablet.
- Primary use:
- Personal
- Computer Platform:
- PC
Pros
- Compact
- Easy To Manage
- Easy To Set Up
- Highly Compatible
Cons
Best Uses
- Home
- Sensitive Materials
- Small Networks
Comments about Synology DiskStation DS212j 2-Bay NAS Server:
East to set-up and use but could use a USB 3 connection instead of 2.
- Primary use:
- Business
- Computer Platform:
- Mac
Pros
- Easy To Set Up
Cons
Best Uses
- Home
- Small Networks
Comments about Synology DiskStation DS212j 2-Bay NAS Server:
use in my home to share music, photos and videos
- Primary use:
- Personal
- Computer Platform:
- PC
Pros
- Easy To Manage
- Easy To Set Up
- Fast
- Highly Compatible
- User Interface
Cons
Best Uses
- Home
- Mixed Environments
- Small Networks
Comments about Synology DiskStation DS212j 2-Bay NAS Server:
I bought this as a replacement for a Windows Home Server, which Microsoft recently discontinued. (It never had great support for Mac OS anyway.) The DS212j is able to handle multiple simultaneous streams (audio, video) without interruption. The web-based User Interface (UI) is outstanding. Some of the optional add-in packages are less than polished, but the core file server functionality is impressive.
- Primary use:
- Personal
Pros
- Compact
- Easy To Manage
- Easy To Set Up
- Highly Compatible
Cons
- Expensive
Best Uses
- Home
- Sensitive Materials
- Small Networks
Comments about Synology DiskStation DS212j 2-Bay NAS Server:
I have 2 Synology systems of my own, this one was for a Christmas present for my Dad. Software it runs is identical to mine, this was a lower end system. You can definitely tell they cut corners on build quality and, for $, that is the only reason I docked it a star. Software is great.
- Primary use:
- Personal
- Computer Platform:
- PC
Pros
- Compact
- Easy To Manage
- Easy To Set Up
- Fast
- Highly Compatible
Cons
Best Uses
- Home
- Sensitive Materials
- Small Networks
Comments about Synology DiskStation DS212j 2-Bay NAS Server:
Easy installation; still setting it up.
Do follow mgfr's recommendations for HDD. NAS drives need to be more robust than for desktop.
B&H is a fantastic vendor.
- Primary use:
- Business
- Computer Platform:
- PC
Pros
- Compact
- Easy To Manage
- Easy To Set Up
- Highly Compatible
Cons
Best Uses
- Home
- Small Networks
Comments about Synology DiskStation DS212j 2-Bay NAS Server:
I was able to share photos, music, and videos, stream them to mobile devicesm, back up my linux and windows machines... It has a lot of features packed in and the UI to control them is pretty good.
- Primary use:
- Personal
- Computer Platform:
- Linux
Pros
- Compact
- Easy To Manage
- Easy To Set Up
- Fast
- Highly Compatible
- Many Great Features
Cons
Best Uses
- Home
Comments about Synology DiskStation DS212j 2-Bay NAS Server:
I use the Synology DiskStation as a family file server in my home. It is well-designed, easy to install, configure and use, full of great features and performs 3x-4x as fast as my previous NAS unit. I am extremely pleased with it! With (2) 2TB drives in a Raid 1 "mirrored" configuration we have 2TB of total storage. This is a GREAT unit!
- Primary use:
- Personal
- Computer Platform:
- PC
Pros
- Compact
- Easy To Manage
- Easy To Set Up
- Fast
Cons
Best Uses
- Home
- Small Networks
Comments about Synology DiskStation DS212j 2-Bay NAS Server:
I bought the Synology DS212j (diskless) and two 3 TB WD Red SATA 3.5 NAS Hard Drives and get them up and running in less than an hour. The instructions may be too simple and took me another hour to explore the menu, which is intuitive, and all available apps under 'Package.' Overall, this combination is easy to install and economical.
- Primary use:
- Personal
- Computer Platform:
- PC
REVIEW SNAPSHOT®
by PowerReviews(based on 25 reviews)
Ratings Distribution
100%
of respondents would recommend this to a friend.
Pros
- Easy to set up (21)
- Easy to use (20)
- Compact (15)
- Highly compatible (15)
- Fast (14)
Cons
Best Uses
- Home (19)
- Small networks (17)
- Sensitive materials (5)
- High volume (4)
- Reviewer Profile:
- Power user (15), Casual user (10)
- Primary use:
- Personal (22), Business (3)
- Computer Platform:
- PC (15), Mac (8)
Most Liked Positive Review
Great so far!
I purchased this server after considering several others, because the reviews were pretty good. I purchased two Seagate 3 TB SATA hard drives so I could run them in a RAID array that mirror ...Read complete review
I purchased this server after considering several others, because the reviews were pretty good. I purchased two Seagate 3 TB SATA hard drives so I could run them in a RAID array that mirror each other. Seagate is my preference over Western Digital because I have experience with Seagate and they are good drives, but the WD Green drives will also work.
The drives fit into the two HD slots perfect and the server was assembled in less than ten minutes out of the box.
Getting the server configured took me a few hours, mostly because I am not a high-end tech guy and have no experience with setting up servers. But once I got the basics figured out, it was easy.
So my final setup has the server in my basement next to my router. I have two PC laptops accessing it via WiFi, one Mac laptop doing the same and one PC workstation accessing it via Ethernet - no problems with any of them.
My wife, two boys and I all have our own folders and we have one folder to store all our family photos and videos.
I have not set up the port forwarding yet so that we can access the server remotely, but that is next.
I just purchased cloud backup and the server will also be backed up to the cloud on a daily basis. I am very paranoid about losing data after I once lost the contents of a hard drive that hadn't been backed up in two years.
So, so far - so good. If you have half a brain, this is a great buy - a 3 TB server with redundant backups for less than $600 total? Can't beat it.
VS
Most Liked Negative Review
Good but faster CPU could make it better
I bought the DS212j because it was [$]$ at B&H so I decided to go for it; The DS213 was more attractive with a faster processor 2GHz vs 1.2GHz for DS212,...Read complete review
I bought the DS212j because it was [$]$ at B&H so I decided to go for it; The DS213 was more attractive with a faster processor 2GHz vs 1.2GHz for DS212, but I decided that $[$] for the DS213 was too expensive for a diskless NAS. If you have virgin HDDs the installation is pretty straight forward. I encountered a problem because my drives were used in the past and the DSM could not format the RAID. I had to remove the drives, connect them to a PC using a SATA to USB adapter, I removed all existing drive partitions, then I could format the RAID using the DSM (DiskStation Manager). The DS212j has a lot of features, actually too many, nobody will need them all, not even 1/4 of them, and I did not try features that I don't use. I'm not sure if all provided features will work correctly, they seem to be pretty basic. I have the feeling they are there just to show a large selection of applications to choose from. Transfer rate: initially it seem to me it was kind of slow while transferring files but I ended up getting up to 50MBps (=400Mbps) transfer speeds which is not that bad. I use the Windows SMB service to create a share to backup my data from my desktop, and the Time Machine service to backup my Mac. That's it, I use just 2 services. Be careful, more features and services you install slower it becomes. DO NOT BOTHER INSTALLING the BACKUP software that comes with it for PC called Data Replicator 3. For some reason it duplicates the data on the DiskStation. I ended up using a free utility SyncBack that works perfect for what I want to mirror my data drive to the share provided by the DiskStation. One thing that I tried and I was pleasantly surprised how nice it worked was to play movies located on the DiskStation in real time on a media player (similar to Apple TV) at 720p with no frame loss; it is super smooth. That's why I keep it...
REVIEWS
Reviewed by 25 customers
Sort by
Displaying reviews 1-20
Previous | Next »
Pros
- Compact
- Easy To Manage
- Easy To Set Up
- Fast
- Highly Compatible
Cons
Best Uses
- Fault Tolerant Backup
- Home
- Small Networks
Comments about Synology DiskStation DS212j 2-Bay NAS Server:
As others have mentioned, this is one of the better NAS systems for the home user. Easy to set up for most tasks, Video and photos take a bit of work, but if you are familiar with Unix GUI, it should be a breeze. I do not use it for time machine backups as there are numerous reports that anything other than apple approved products can be finicky. I use CCC without issue. Although video files can be stored here, you also need a Mac running itunes to stream videos to and Apple TV. The fault tolerant raid was easy to set up.
- Primary use:
- Personal
- Computer Platform:
- Mac
- Similar:
- Time Capsule
Pros
- Easy To Manage
- Fast
- Highly Compatible
Cons
- Complicated To Set Up
Best Uses
- High Volume
- Home
- Small Networks
Comments about Synology DiskStation DS212j 2-Bay NAS Server:
I was using Carbonite as an online back up for my iMac. Now I am using teh DS212J for my Time Machine back up location. I put 2 separate 3TB drives (WD Red), so I have full Raid 1 set up to insure that my files are always preserved, even if I lose a hard drive. I really like the integration features with Apple apps to allow me to view my files (especially iTunes folders and files) easily on an iPad or iPhone...within my own network, as well as remote via someone else's WiFi internet connection. Things that I think could be better is the documentation. While there is plenty of it and it is high quality documentation, the documentation I found was dated, and didn't match the most up to date software loaded onto the NAS. The good news is many other people have this setup and contribute to forum, which make it very easy to resolve any issues.
- Primary use:
- Personal
- Computer Platform:
- Mac
Pros
- Fast
- Highly Compatible
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Synology DiskStation DS212j 2-Bay NAS Server:
This is really a good solid home NAS.
- Primary use:
- Personal
- Computer Platform:
- PC
Pros
- Compact
- Easy To Manage
- Easy To Set Up
- Fast
- Highly Compatible
Cons
Best Uses
- Home
- Small Networks
Comments about Synology DiskStation DS212j 2-Bay NAS Server:
Very easy to set up and works flawlessly so far (1 month)
- Primary use:
- Business
- Computer Platform:
- Mac
Pros
- Easy To Manage
- Easy To Set Up
Cons
- Cheap Feeling Case
Best Uses
- Home
Comments about Synology DiskStation DS212j 2-Bay NAS Server:
The web interface is really well designed, speedy enough. Case has a cheap look/feel to it
- Primary use:
- Personal
- Computer Platform:
- PC
Pros
- Compact
- Easy To Manage
- Easy To Set Up
- Fast
- Highly Compatible
Cons
Best Uses
- High Volume
- Home
- Small Networks
Comments about Synology DiskStation DS212j 2-Bay NAS Server:
Setup is so simple. Takes up to 3 terabytes. FTP capacity and more
- Primary use:
- Personal
- Computer Platform:
- Mac
Pros
- Compact
- Decent Speed
- Easy To Set Up
- Lots Of Features
- Nice Build
Cons
- Managing Interface Slow
Best Uses
- Home
- Small Networks
Comments about Synology DiskStation DS212j 2-Bay NAS Server:
I bought the DS212j because it was [$]$ at B&H so I decided to go for it; The DS213 was more attractive with a faster processor 2GHz vs 1.2GHz for DS212, but I decided that $[$] for the DS213 was too expensive for a diskless NAS. If you have virgin HDDs the installation is pretty straight forward. I encountered a problem because my drives were used in the past and the DSM could not format the RAID. I had to remove the drives, connect them to a PC using a SATA to USB adapter, I removed all existing drive partitions, then I could format the RAID using the DSM (DiskStation Manager). The DS212j has a lot of features, actually too many, nobody will need them all, not even 1/4 of them, and I did not try features that I don't use. I'm not sure if all provided features will work correctly, they seem to be pretty basic. I have the feeling they are there just to show a large selection of applications to choose from. Transfer rate: initially it seem to me it was kind of slow while transferring files but I ended up getting up to 50MBps (=400Mbps) transfer speeds which is not that bad. I use the Windows SMB service to create a share to backup my data from my desktop, and the Time Machine service to backup my Mac. That's it, I use just 2 services. Be careful, more features and services you install slower it becomes. DO NOT BOTHER INSTALLING the BACKUP software that comes with it for PC called Data Replicator 3. For some reason it duplicates the data on the DiskStation. I ended up using a free utility SyncBack that works perfect for what I want to mirror my data drive to the share provided by the DiskStation. One thing that I tried and I was pleasantly surprised how nice it worked was to play movies located on the DiskStation in real time on a media player (similar to Apple TV) at 720p with no frame loss; it is super smooth. That's why I keep it...
- Primary use:
- Personal
- Computer Platform:
- PC
Pros
- Easy To Manage
- Easy To Set Up
- Fast
Cons
- None
Best Uses
- Home Nas
Comments about Synology DiskStation DS212j 2-Bay NAS Server:
I previously had a Linksys DNS-323 NAS and I cannot tell you what a great upgrade this is! I always had issues with the Linksys being online Synology has been 100% online since installation. The tools included are great and easy to use. The speed is much better as I regularly transfer back and forth to my iMac ay 85 mbs and it works great with the Timemachine backup. The installation was straight forward. I wish I had purchased 2 years ago!
- Primary use:
- Personal
- Computer Platform:
- Mac
Pros
- Easy To Manage
- Fast
- Highly Compatible
Cons
Best Uses
- Home
- Sensitive Materials
- Small Networks
Comments about Synology DiskStation DS212j 2-Bay NAS Server:
I've had this unit installed about a month now. I am really enjoying it over my old NAS. This one is fast and really quite. The interface is quite intuitive, expecially if you are familiar with Apple's interface. Works well with WinXP, Win7 and Mac formats.
The control panel is via a Web interface and is much more rebust than WD's My Book Ultimate. I can manage user permision with ease.
I have not setup some of the advance features (e.g. Video streaming, music and photo streaming, FTP, Web sharing, etc.), but will be doing that soon.
- Primary use:
- Personal
- Computer Platform:
- PC
Pros
- Highly Compatible
Cons
- Complicated To Set Up
Best Uses
- Small Networks
Comments about Synology DiskStation DS212j 2-Bay NAS Server:
I've only used it for a few weeks but I'm so glad I bought it. I will say that it is not for the non technical. It takes a lot of reading and effort to set it up. The set-up could be a little easier.
- Primary use:
- Personal
- Computer Platform:
- PC
Pros
- Compact
- Easy To Manage
- Easy To Set Up
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Synology DiskStation DS212j 2-Bay NAS Server:
I bought the synology diskstation after researching several different nas servers. consistently saw good ratings everywhere I looked. I bought this to have storage for my large music, movies and photo collection. I am using two red WD 2TB hard drives. It was easy to setup. FYI Need to leave yourself several days for full setup. Harddrives are formatted which takes a day or so. Then copying all of your music, movies and photo files can take another day or two.
- Primary use:
- Personal
- Computer Platform:
- PC
Pros
- Compact
- Easy To Manage
- Easy To Set Up
- Great Software
Cons
- No Major Complaints
Best Uses
Comments about Synology DiskStation DS212j 2-Bay NAS Server:
I love it.
The software is great. I love how I can think of a random thing to download, get it going remotely, and it's finished by the time I get home. It's very quiet too.
Only disappointment is that I can't reliably stream videos to myself, but that's not the device's fault, it's my home internet. Instead I will download my videos into my Dropbox, then they are synced onto my phone and tablet.
- Primary use:
- Personal
- Computer Platform:
- PC
Pros
- Compact
- Easy To Manage
- Easy To Set Up
- Highly Compatible
Cons
Best Uses
- Home
- Sensitive Materials
- Small Networks
Comments about Synology DiskStation DS212j 2-Bay NAS Server:
East to set-up and use but could use a USB 3 connection instead of 2.
- Primary use:
- Business
- Computer Platform:
- Mac
Pros
- Easy To Set Up
Cons
Best Uses
- Home
- Small Networks
Comments about Synology DiskStation DS212j 2-Bay NAS Server:
use in my home to share music, photos and videos
- Primary use:
- Personal
- Computer Platform:
- PC
Pros
- Easy To Manage
- Easy To Set Up
- Fast
- Highly Compatible
- User Interface
Cons
Best Uses
- Home
- Mixed Environments
- Small Networks
Comments about Synology DiskStation DS212j 2-Bay NAS Server:
I bought this as a replacement for a Windows Home Server, which Microsoft recently discontinued. (It never had great support for Mac OS anyway.) The DS212j is able to handle multiple simultaneous streams (audio, video) without interruption. The web-based User Interface (UI) is outstanding. Some of the optional add-in packages are less than polished, but the core file server functionality is impressive.
- Primary use:
- Personal
Pros
- Compact
- Easy To Manage
- Easy To Set Up
- Highly Compatible
Cons
- Expensive
Best Uses
- Home
- Sensitive Materials
- Small Networks
Comments about Synology DiskStation DS212j 2-Bay NAS Server:
I have 2 Synology systems of my own, this one was for a Christmas present for my Dad. Software it runs is identical to mine, this was a lower end system. You can definitely tell they cut corners on build quality and, for $, that is the only reason I docked it a star. Software is great.
- Primary use:
- Personal
- Computer Platform:
- PC
Pros
- Compact
- Easy To Manage
- Easy To Set Up
- Fast
- Highly Compatible
Cons
Best Uses
- Home
- Sensitive Materials
- Small Networks
Comments about Synology DiskStation DS212j 2-Bay NAS Server:
Easy installation; still setting it up.
Do follow mgfr's recommendations for HDD. NAS drives need to be more robust than for desktop.
B&H is a fantastic vendor.
- Primary use:
- Business
- Computer Platform:
- PC
Pros
- Compact
- Easy To Manage
- Easy To Set Up
- Highly Compatible
Cons
Best Uses
- Home
- Small Networks
Comments about Synology DiskStation DS212j 2-Bay NAS Server:
I was able to share photos, music, and videos, stream them to mobile devicesm, back up my linux and windows machines... It has a lot of features packed in and the UI to control them is pretty good.
- Primary use:
- Personal
- Computer Platform:
- Linux
Pros
- Compact
- Easy To Manage
- Easy To Set Up
- Fast
- Highly Compatible
- Many Great Features
Cons
Best Uses
- Home
Comments about Synology DiskStation DS212j 2-Bay NAS Server:
I use the Synology DiskStation as a family file server in my home. It is well-designed, easy to install, configure and use, full of great features and performs 3x-4x as fast as my previous NAS unit. I am extremely pleased with it! With (2) 2TB drives in a Raid 1 "mirrored" configuration we have 2TB of total storage. This is a GREAT unit!
- Primary use:
- Personal
- Computer Platform:
- PC
Pros
- Compact
- Easy To Manage
- Easy To Set Up
- Fast
Cons
Best Uses
- Home
- Small Networks
Comments about Synology DiskStation DS212j 2-Bay NAS Server:
I bought the Synology DS212j (diskless) and two 3 TB WD Red SATA 3.5 NAS Hard Drives and get them up and running in less than an hour. The instructions may be too simple and took me another hour to explore the menu, which is intuitive, and all available apps under 'Package.' Overall, this combination is easy to install and economical.
- Primary use:
- Personal
- Computer Platform:
- PC
Replacement Drives
Show more >
- Price: $142.99
Cables & Adapters
Show more >
- Price: $4.09
Surge Protection
Show more >
- Price: $8.99
WHY SHOP AT B&H
Make your online shopping trip personal with our online Live Chat representatives. You can easily reach an in-house expert while browsing our site for your shopping needs. We have the most highly-trained staff in the industry who are pros in their fields, and their professional expertise will help you get the most from your purchase.
Place your domestic order with us for shipment via any UPS, FedEx Economy, or FedEx Priority shipping methods by 4 PM ET Monday through Thursday or 11 AM ET Friday and your order will be shipped that day. Visit our Shipping Delivery Times page for further details. Delivery times are subject to payment verification.
We appreciate your purchase from us, and we understand that sometimes the products you buy don't turn out to be the right choice for you. We guarantee your peace of mind with our 30-day return policy. With no standard restocking fee and few restrictions, you'll enjoy a return process as easy as shopping with us. Please visit our Return Policy page for further details.
We've made iPhone and Android mobile apps available for your service and shopping convenience. Use filtered search to find and purchase almost any item we sell and ship worldwide. Download product manuals and guides for many popular items. See high-resolution product images in close-up detail. Manage wishlists and view order history. Visit our Mobile Apps page to download.
See sample Newsletter
Help
Company Information
B&H Resources
