We're looking to replace one of our servers in 2026, which currently hosts Active Directory and DHCP for a small team at our office. They have about 13TB of data on this server. The plan is to transition these users to our main company domain, allowing our primary Domain Controller and DHCP to manage things from there. Now, we're at the point of figuring out file storage. With around 130 users total but only about 30 accessing files simultaneously, I don't want to overspend on a traditional server and CALs. Has anyone had success using a NAS for file storage? I've heard some good things about Synology, but is it really comparable to traditional servers? I'd love any insights you might have!
6 Answers
Definitely a lot of organizations successfully use NAS for storage. With Synology, I’ve handled around 100-200 users without any issues. You just want to ensure good backup strategies, especially since you're moving important data. RAID setup matters too!
TrueNAS is a solid option for your situation. It's free and reliable, ideal for smaller setups like yours. I've been using it, and it handles regular workloads well!
Totally agree! I switched to TrueNAS for the same reasons, and it’s been working great for our needs too.
Yep, TrueNAS really does tend to shine in setups like this.
Using a NAS is a great way to go for your size. Just make sure you have a solid backup system in place. Also, don't overlook TrueNAS if you're comfortable setting it up!
I've had a Synology at home with 40TB and it performs well for streaming and file serving. I've had zero issues so far! However, be aware that using their drives is sometimes necessary for the best performance.
True, but you can mix drives too. I replaced my drives with some that are still performing well!
I used Synology for a previous job at a medical office with 150 users. It served as both file storage and our imaging server, and it held up well without issues. It’s quite reliable!
What model did you have? I'm looking at a few options and getting a bit overwhelmed.
Consider if NAS is truly necessary or if a service like OneDrive could be a better fit for your needs long term. Though, for large files, having things on-premises might be more beneficial.
Good point about the backups! We're dealing with large architectural files, so I want to ensure performance is top notch.