NAS drives can run their own apps, so you can have a NAS connected to Dropbox or one that runs a customized VPN (Virtual Private Network). Plex is another popular option for NAS drives. Plex lets you store audio and video on your storage and stream them wherever you need them. It's almost like having your very own Spotify or Netflix.
There are many models available at different price points if you decide that a NAS drive is right for you. Although network storage management may seem overwhelming to the untrained eye, modern NAS drives can be set up in minutes and can be used within minutes.
Setup a NAS Drive
Although we cannot give you the exact instructions for every NAS drive available, we can show you how to configure one NAS to give an idea of the process. This is the Synology DiskStation DS220+. This two-bay unit is perfect for those who want an easy, affordable NAS that offers a lot of flexibility. Similar setup procedures will be used for other NAS drives, especially Synology models.
Depending on the place you bought your NAS, you may have hard drives already installed. If not, you will need to find out which hard drives are compatible and then go out and purchase as much storage space as you need. Modern NAS units come with easy-to-use hard drive bays. Most importantly, you don't need a screwdriver to insert your disks.
It's easy to set up a NAS drive in your network. Screenshot: David Nield via Synology
Once that's done, you can now initialize your NAS. This can be done via a web interface from a computer on a laptop or desktop connected to the same Wi Fi network as the NAS. The Synology DS220+ drive will be detected. You'll need the DiskStation Manager software to format, transfer files, and perform other operations on Synology NAS drives.
Before you can transfer files between your NAS and other devices, you will need to choose a disk configuration. This is where you find options such as RAID. Make sure to do your research before you choose the right configuration. To restrict access to key settings on the NAS drive, you will also need a username or password.
