Starting with the specifications of the Synology DS212J NAS unit: this model was released at the end of 2011 and features two drive bays, making it an ideal entry-level NAS for personal use or small-scale storage needs. The “J” in its model number indicates its entry-level status, with a 1.2 GHz Marvell 6281 CPU and 256MB of RAM, which were modest even for 2012. While this Synology NAS model may seem underpowered by today’s standards, it still holds significant value and practical use for specific tasks—even years later!
How did I get my Synology DS212J NAS? The secondhand prices for a NAS seem to be holding up pretty well as I often see, even these old units, go for nearly $100. I got lucky and found a used unit for just $15. After bringing it home, I gave it a thorough clean: I used compressed air to clear out all the dust, cleaned the fan with isopropyl alcohol, and washed the plastic components in soapy water. By the end, this secondhand NAS looked as good as new.
The NAS came without disk drives so I had free choice on this matter and I picked two Western Digital Red Plus NAS 8TB drives (model WD80EFPX). Although these aren’t on the official list of compatible disks, they’ve been working without any issues. The only drawback is a compatibility message when you initialize the drives, but otherwise, I haven’t noticed any issues.
What RAID setup did I choose for the Synology DS212J NAS? I opted for Synology Hybrid RAID (SHR) because of its flexibility. With two drives, it essentially functions like RAID 1, providing data redundancy, but it’s much more versatile if I decide to upgrade to a NAS with more drive bays in the future. SHR allows you to expand storage and even mix different drive sizes. A major advantage in Synology NAS systems. For flexibility and ease of expansion, I couldn’t find a better option than SHR.
Maximum Supported DSM Version: It’s important to know that the Synology DS212J NAS software is effectively End-of-Life, with DSM 6.2.4 as the latest compatible version. Additionally, the newest Synology Assistant Setup version doesn’t recognize the DS212J, so I used an older installer (SynologyAssistantSetup-4.1-2638.exe) to set it up. This is essential if you ever need to reinstall DSM or initialize the DS212J with new drives.
This does come with some security implications, though. I wouldn’t recommend connecting this NAS directly to the internet or making DSM accessible outside your private home network. However, for use solely within your private network, I don’t foresee any major security concerns.
Is the Synology DS212J Still Worth It in 2024? I’m inclined to say yes. It remains a solid option for basic network storage, allowing easy access within your private network. You can set up simple backup processes to automatically back up important files to the cloud using services like Backblaze, Amazon S3, or Synology C2, all of which work seamlessly. Additionally, I use it as a network storage device for my Plex server, but it’s important to note that it cannot function as a dedicated Plex server as the processing power is way too low.
Of course, the device has hardware limitations, and its performance is significantly affected by the CPU and limited memory. When using the web interface to monitor resource usage, I observed that transfer speeds can become erratic, fluctuating between 10MB/s and 40MB/s. However, once I close the web interface, speeds stabilize at around 65MB/s, which is still quite usable in 2024. This indicates that real-time data updates on the web interface consume considerable processing power, ultimately impacting actual transfer speeds. The device is connected via a 1 Gbps wired connection, which theoretically supports speeds up to 125MB/s. This means the DS212J is utilizing about half of that bandwidth, likely limited by the CPU, which often runs at 100% load during file transfers.
Do I Use the Synology DS212J Myself? Yes! I use it in several ways and am quite satisfied with its performance.
I store important documents and pictures, which automatically sync to Backblaze cloud storage. Additionally, I keep my local MP3 collection on it and sync that to the cloud for backup. I also use it as media storage for my Plex server.
Since the storage isn’t accessed frequently, I’ve enabled the drive hibernation feature, and it works wonderfully. After 10 minutes of inactivity, the drives fully power down. When I access them again, they spin up and are available in about 10 seconds. This setup is energy-efficient, and I’m not overly concerned about wear and tear on the drives, as I haven’t found any credible evidence suggesting it would cause long-term damage.
What About the Sound Level? You might wonder. Since you can adjust the fan speed in the settings, the unit can operate very quietly, with most noise coming from the disks themselves. Initially, I kept the NAS in my living room, but after a week, the resonating sound of the spinning disks prompted me to move it to a closet in the hallway. It’s much quieter there, and I hardly notice it at all.
Are There Any Tweaks You Can Make? To optimize performance and allocate more memory and CPU power, I disabled any unused features, such as IPv6 and the Bonjour service. However, I enabled the FTP option, which I use frequently for file transfers. As mentioned, I also activated the drive hibernation feature to minimize power consumption, and it works great.
Would I Recommend This Unit? It depends. If you rely on your NAS to function continuously, it may be worth investing in a new unit with a factory warranty, as they aren’t terribly expensive. Right now a new DS223J goes for just under $190 see this link. However, if you’re like me, a nerd who likes to tinker with older technology and keep them alive, this model can handle basic NAS functions quite well. If that’s all you need and you can find it at a good price, I’d say go for it!
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