It opens to a desktop view with Package Center, Control Panel, File Station, and Help icons as well as a System Health window that displays CPU and RAM usage. Similar to a Windows desktop, the web-based console makes it easy to manage storage volumes, share folders, download apps, and more. The DS218j uses the same DSM NAS operating system as other Synology NAS devices, including the DS1517+, the DS416slim, and the DS216+II. Read our editorial mission (Opens in a new window) & see how we test (Opens in a new window). Since 1982, PCMag has tested and rated thousands of products to help you make better buying decisions. There are no drive sleds with this model: Simply plug the drives in, secure them with the included screws, reattach the cover, and tighten the two back panel screws. To access the drive bays, remove two screws at the back of the enclosure and slide the left half of the enclosure forward until it's off. A four-speed fan keeps the drives and internal circuitry cool. It also supports RAID 0, RAID 1, JBOD, Basic, and Synology Hybrid RAID (SHR) with one disk fault tolerance. It supports six widely used file systems: FAT, NTFS, EXT3, EXT4, HFS+, and exFAT. Powered by a 1.3GHz dual-core processor and 512MB of DDR3 memory, the DS218j can accommodate two 2.5- or 3.5-inch drives of up to 16TB in capacity (per drive). Below these indicators is a power switch, and around back are two USB 3.0 ports, a gigabit LAN port, a reset button, and a power jack. It has four LED status indicators on the front for system status, drive activity, and LAN activity. With the same sleek glossy white enclosure as the DS216j that we reviewed back in 2016, the DS218j measures 6.5 by 3.9 by 8.9 inches (HWD).

It's also easy to install and uses Synology's intuitive DiskStation Manager operating system. Despite its relatively affordable price, you can configure it to act as a cloud server, a media server, an IP camera surveillance station, and a full-featured backup solution with multiple RAID options. Middling file-transfer performance in testing.ĭesigned for personal cloud storage, the Synology DiskStation DS218j ($169.99) is a stylish two-drive network attached storage (NAS) device that offers lots of third-party apps and a user-friendly management console.How to Set Up Two-Factor Authentication.How to Record the Screen on Your Windows PC or Mac.How to Convert YouTube Videos to MP3 Files.How to Save Money on Your Cell Phone Bill.How to Free Up Space on Your iPhone or iPad.How to Block Robotexts and Spam Messages.

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