NAS for home, access online, synchronise +Linux

– I shall be able to access my files in my home from every device DLNA (two TVs, two smartphones, two iPads, two windows laptop and a couple of raspberry pi) whether it is my pdfs, hi-res music files, 1080p movies or simply pictures. I want my tv to access and read files that it can’t normally read which I take is what transcode features are on the nas (example: read an h265 file while the tv can only read h264 or downsize a file because the smartphone is too slow to read 1080p videos)
– Access and read the same files remotely from everywhere else in the world. I am traveling often between France and the U.K. and do need access to the files on a regular basis. All files are at present spread across clouds, and hard drives.
– Be able to install Linux packages on the nas as I want to make it a UPnP base server for my music streaming services. Indeed, I use multiple raspberry pi as multi room streaming media renderers across my house. I use bubble upnp and my connect and I want them to detect the nas in order to enter it and search for music files to then play through the raspberry pi towards room speakers. Installing a UPnP server on the nas os (Linux is best) will allow to synchronise the playlist of each raspberry pi media renderer with all controlling devices (namely bubble upnp on android and my connect on iPads). Basically the question is can a nas be used as a Linux server?
– Synchronise my phone photos with the nas automatically, no more clouds !

I will recommend DS218+ because you need something you can trust. Synology has developed outstanding apps for multimedia and now also virtual machines. All this is free of charge. once DLNA server is enabled, all network-enabled devices will be able to see shared content and access it on your home network and internet. Built-in transcoding engine will ensure that all files are changed to a format playable on the destination device. And also streaming over the internet where connection speed would normally not allow it. Virtual machine manager app is free and allows you to install Windows, Linux. So alongside regular NAS functions, it will also let you run Linux which you can connect to over the network. Synology Drive app is also free and is very similar to Dropbox. You have revisions and synchronisation function across a list of devices.

 

 

What can I connect to a NAS?

Wireless Speaker Sonos

The great thing about Sonos is that you don't need to pay for music subscription service. With the cheapest NAS at home like DS115j or any other, you can have your backups done for all of your devices and still use your network drive as a Sonos music library. Sonos will connect to your NAS via your network and let access your provided music library. If you have little more of IT knowledge, you can even set up your Alexa or Sonos with Alexa built in to play music on your voice commands ("Alexa! Ask DS Audio to Play Music!").

Casting devices

Nowadays it is so cheap to upgrade your old TV and make it smart. All you need is Google Chrome or EZcast alternative plugged into your HDMI port at the back of your TV. Now you have great functionality added to your TV to send a video file directly from your NAS to a TV. No need for wires and chargers and other mess. You can use your phone as a remote to go to your movies or family videos and cast that content on your TV during family or friend gatherings.

 

Apple TV

Amazon Fire TV

You may not have a smartphone, or you just simply prefer to control your content with a remote in that case Amazon Fire TV will be a great addon to get to your TV. It also plugs into your HDMI port and will play content from your NAS to a TV. No wires no mess.

nVidia Shield TV

It gets even better! If you want some more entertainment and all previously mentioned functions - nVidia TV is a great thing to get. You can use it for playing games and watching movies from your NAS. The greatest thing is - shield TV does video transcoding. So even if you have a cheap NAS with a weak CPU, in a combination of shield TV you can now automatically on the fly change video file size and format for a destination device. It is a great way to reduce network load and let older devices to play video content which normally was not supported on the device.



 
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