Synology DiskStation DS411j NAS

When it comes to storing large amounts of data on a single device, most people turn to a storage server. A simpler and perhaps a cheaper option is an NAS (Network Attached Storage) such as Synology’s DiskStation DS411j. The DiskStation DS411j is one of the basic models in the range and one that’s geared towards home and small office users.

Design and Build Quality

Although somewhat bulky, the DS411j has a rather attractive design. It comes in a solid metal chassis with plastic panels making up the front and sides of the NAS device.

Synology DS411j

The drive bays can be opened up from the back by unscrewing four thumbscrews. The additional connectivity ports are placed there. The entire chassis is sturdy and is bound to be long lasting. The quality of the trays used in the DS411j is good. The two 80mm fans at the rear meant for cooling the NAS, are protected by chrome-finished grills from the inside.

Installation

Installation of the NAS device is straightforward. The simple thumbscrew design makes opening up the device really easy. The drives fit onto the trays easily and there are gaps for screws, so that the drives can be secured. There’s no need to connect any SATA and power cables - simply push the drives into place. Once done, the startup takes a few minutes and you’re given access to the NAS. There’s a utility that allows you to locate the NAS device on the network, so access is made simpler.

Features

The Synology DS411j is the same size as a compact HTPC mini-ITX chassis for a PC. It comes with space for four 3.5-inch drives. There are also two USB 2.0 ports at the back that can be used to connect additional storage drives. The DS411j supports a wide range of RAID configurations, so you can setup all the drives for performance or for reliability. In all, 12TB (4 x 3TB) worth of drives can be setup in the device.

To start with, the DS411j can dial itself to the internet using PPPoE if required. There’s also support for IPv6 tunneling, which takes care of future proofing. To ensure that the NAS can be accessed by external sources with ease, DDNS is also present. The NAS is primarily meant to be used for data storage. Windows file sharing and FTP access are also present. There’s also support for telnet and file transfers using a web interface. Those using IP capable security cameras can link it up with the DS411j.

For home users, support for iTunes and DLNA should come as good news, making streaming of media easy. There’s also emphasis on security. For example, there’s support for backups of all sorts. Admins can choose to backup data to local drives, rsync-capable servers, other Synology devices and even Amazon’s S3 service.

The Synology DS411j is a great solution for what it’s intended for. If you’re looking for something that can be used as a download box, this is not it. This is meant to do much more and specifically for small offices.