Best Nas For Mac 2017

My NAS of choice is an old Mac. In my case, I had an old MacBook that wouldn't hold a charge anymore so I rigged up an eSATA connection to my 2TB external drive. The advantages to using an actual Mac over a true NAS system. Uses first-party AFP on HFS for optimal compatibility. For businesses, network storage comes in the form of server storage, SANs (Storage Area Network), NAS (Network Attached Storage), and cloud services (iCloud, Google Drive, etc.). Home users can utilize the same technologies, but would have less use or budget for SANs and are more likely to use NAS or cloud storage.

• Best Nas For Mac 2020
• Best Nas For Mac 2020
• Best Nas For Osx
• Best Nas For Mac 2017 Torrent
• Best Nas For Mac 2017 Full

Note: The instructions below worked on my initial install but i've been unable to replicate it upon further attempts.

Download visual studio community 2017 for mac. I now get various system errors and failed installs and nothing remotely resembling a working NAS.

I'm keeping the below post active for education purposes with this disclaimer but will update with working instructions should I manage to work around the issues. If you'd like more information on XPEnology, please check out my XPEnology FAQ.

I love the Mac Mini – its an exceptionally well engineered little PC that has really stood the test of time and still gives respectable performance when running Windows or its native MacOS. I've used is as an ESXi host, a Windows 2016 Server, but what i'd really want to know is can it be turned into network attached storage. Can I build a Mac Mini NAS?

Contents for Building a DIY Mac Mini NAS

• 4 Building a Mac Mini NAS with XPEnology – A quick guide

The Concept

The idea behind this little experiment is to really push the boundaries of what an old Mac Mini can do. Back in the day, when Apple was actually interested in the enterprise market the entry level offering was the Mac Mini Server – an up-specced twin HDD version of the standard Mini.

While the Mac Mini server really was a poor cousin to the excellent Xserve (RIP) it was fairly capable either as an Open Directory Replica or as an Open Directory Master for a small workgroup of Macs.

Over the years, the interoperability of OSX/MacOS and Windows has improved greatly, especially via SMB, so I can't really see the need for dedicated network storage on Apple hardware – and since Apple let its server product line die off i've not really considered using any kind of Mac for fileserver duties.

Lets repurpose a Mac Mini, drop on some modern software and see how it runs as a Mac Mini NAS.

But Why?

Why? Simply because we can.

On first glance, the Mac Mini looks like a miserable choice for a NAS due to its lack in internal drive bays. Most modern full size PC's have the ability to install multiple internal 3.5inch HDD's (or even more SSD's), however the Mac Mini only has space internally for a single 2.5inch HDD/SSD. You can of course drop in a second HDD using something like an OWC DataDoubler – to effectively creating replica Mac Mini server should you feel so inclined.

However, its not all doom and gloom. Mac Mini's run exceptionally quiet and have very respectable performance once paired with a half decent SSD. They also are tiny and being just over an inch tall you can get a few in a relatively small space – so may be an option if space is a problem.

Lastly for me, I have one available to use for testing. I'm going to temporarily repurpose the same machine that I used to install Server 2016 on and see how it performs in my home lab environment.

The Mac Mini NAS – Which OS?

As per my recent posts on Building a DIY Synology NAS and its following DIY Synology NAS (Running XPEnology OS) Update post i'm going to initially stick with the XPEnology theme. I've got to know this software pretty well over the last few months having setup instances on my own hardware and in a virtual environment (on my HP Gen8 Microserver) – I know its quirks and pitfalls and should be able to make a decent go of it.

Anyway, enough pre-amble. Lets get on with the install.

Building a Mac Mini NAS with XPEnology – A quick guide

Most of the install process on XPEnology is identical regardless of the hardware that it's running on. I've already covered it in detail in my DIY Synology NAS guide so i'm not going to reinvent the wheel. I'll concentrate on the quirks of running it on a Mac Mini and refer you to other posts as needed to finish setup and configure.

If you'd like detailed instructions on setting up XPEnology on generic hardware – follow the link ->

As i'm repurposing existing kit i'm not changing any hardware so my test Mac Mini is as follows:

• MacMini (Late 2012)
• 2.5Ghz Core i5 (I5-3210M)
• 8GB DDR3 RAM (2x4GB)
• 525 GB Crucial MX300 SSD
• 1 x Gigabit Ethernet

For my boot USB i'm using a Kingston 16Gb Micro USB drive as it was kicking about and not being used for anything.

Step 1 – Gather Everything You Need

You are going to need a few things in addition to your install pen drive such as a copy of Win32DiskImager and both the XPEnology boot image and OS files.

Once obtained, you need to create a bootable USB drive using the listed software.

Please check my other post for step by step instructions – see 'Create Bootable USB + Configure Hardware'

Step 2 – Boot your Mac from the USB media

Plug in your newly created boot USB to a free port and hit the option key as the chime sounds. Pick your external drive and press shift as you click your chosen option – this makes your external USB the default option for all further boot ups.

Generic OSX Boot Options Image via Apple.com (but you get the idea.)

Step 3 – Install XPEnology

Once booted into XPEnoboot the install procedure is pretty straightforward.

All you need is to find and connect to the IP address of the Mac Mini NAS, upload the DSM software and allow to install.

You can now follow my main guide on installing XPEnology on non-Synology hardware.

If you'd like detailed instructions on setting up XPEnology on generic hardware – follow the link ->

Notes

As the Mac Mini is a single drive system you are not going to have the same level of disk drive options as a commercial NAS or even a home brew system would have.

Disk performance would also be limited to the speed of the installed drive with no speed bonuses from Synology's advanced drive management software. I've limited impact by running a well performing SSD drive but I wouldn't bother trying to use a traditional spinning 2.5inch HDD – the speed would be too low to be useful.

Your milage may also vary, I managed to get the software running on my 2012 Mac Mini with few issues, but you may not experience the same.

If you run into problems, let me know and i'll see if I can help.

Next post – Drive configuration, performance testing and conclusions.

NAS drives are data storage servers perfect for home media user.

They used to be more of a corporate luxury but in recent years, prices have come down allowing most homes to indulge in a NAS drive.

There are plenty of articles out there sharing which drives are best for Windows – In this post we're going to be focusing on Macs.

I'll share the 5 best NAS drives for Macs shortly, but first:

Choosing The Best NAS drives

Before opting for the best NAS Drive to buy, you should understand the importance of your company's assets. In so doing, you will know the factors to consider before buying NAS to ensure the success of your business.

The factors include connectivity, NAS security options, backup options, recovery options, and available capacity. Here is a rundown of these four aspects:

Capacity: The type of NAS drive that you buy should sort your storage issues now and in the future. There are devices that can be adjusted as per the growth of your company, assuring you of adequate storage now and in the future.

Backup and Recovery Options: A good NAS should guarantee appropriate backup and recovery options to ensure that your data is safe. The NAS drive should be configured to mirror data to another drive from time to time.

Connectivity: Good connectivity is vital during data access since NAS drive acts as a central data storage and recovery point. For this reason, you should go for a device that can be accessed remotely.

NAS Security: A NAS drive is supposed to give you a peace of mind as far as data is concerned. It is advisable that you pair the drive with cloud storage to avoid data loss during natural calamities and catastrophic events.

Editors Choice: 5 Best NAS Drives Reviews

Mac os x yosemite vs el capitan. The reviews of best NAS drives are based on the above factors with every device being weighed against these factors.

Also, other factors such as storage extension capabilities and design are determinants.

We have prepared a comparison table and review of five Best NAS drives in the market available now. Enjoy!

Apple Time Capsule

If you are looking for a NAS drive that combines elegance, portability, and class, then Apple time Capsule is the best one for you. With this drive, you will enjoy 2TB of data space and an 802.11 ac full featured Wi-Fi base station; 3x faster than 802.11n.

Also, you will enjoy a great, cable-free backup solution which can be accessed using Wi-Fi connection and can be easily set on any Mac computer. With three Ethernet ports, you can easily expand your storage as your company grows.

View Latest Deals

Seagate Personal Cloud Home Media Storage Device

Seagate personal cloud home offers a 3TB cloud storage capacity with no chargeable storage fee thus allowing you to save up to $120 every year. The drive allows you to securely share your personal folders and files with your accomplices through encrypted URL links. With this storage drive, you can easily backup your mobile devices and computers, and you will be able to access them from anywhere.

This drive also improves your experience by allowing you to stream your music and videos to any certified TV device. The IFTTT compatibility allows you to download Facebook likes, Gmail attachments, Instagram tags and Sound Cloud favorites to your various devices.

How to create a zip file on mac. If you love to organize your media beautifully and ensure it plays on all Mac devices, then this is the preferable option for you.

View Latest Deals

Synology DS216J NAS Disk Station (DS216j)

Best Nas For Mac 2020

This versatile personal cloud storage will leave you wondering how you managed to live without it. The software of this NAS drive separates it from other drives since it balances the needs of experienced and casual users. With this NAS drive, you will be able to store large media files, synchronize cloud storage, and finally backup your important document.

In case you run out of storage space, you can easily expand to a four drive unit hence the growth of your business will not be halted due to lack of storage space. This Synology device is a good option if you are a 'brave-novice' user of computers and other smartphone devices.

View Latest Deals

Best Nas For Mac 2020

NETGEAR Ready NAS

If you are looking for a NAS drive that gives you ample storage space of up to 6TB and an amazing read and write speed of 200MB/s and 160MB/s respectively, NETGEAR Ready NAS is the best drive for you.

Best Nas For Osx

This NAS device will help enjoy a safe storage and access of your files. The drive has a dual Gigabit Ethernet which offers up to 2x throughput in link aggregation; with its advanced BTRFS file system ensuring a five level complete data protection.

If you wish to build a private cloud storage, you can easily do it using the ready cloud portal-based user interface. Better still, you will also enjoy a three-year warranty upon purchasing this device.

View Latest Deals

WD My Cloud EX2

Best Nas For Mac 2017 Torrent

If you have huge chunks of data you wish to store safely, WD My Cloud EX2 is the best option for you. With up to 12TB of storage space you are assured that all the current and future business data will be safe.

Your business growth will not be lagged due to lack of storage space since it supports the use of up to two drives thus doubling the available memory.

Best Nas For Mac 2017 Full

This drive is convenient for your home or office, and its advanced features will ensure that you can access your files from anywhere. This will definitely improve your data storage and retrieval experience.

View Latest Deals

Final Words

The review above consists of the best 5 NAS Drives for your Mac device. In choosing these drives, the determining factors were storage capacity, backup options, connectivity, and NAS security. You should choose the NAS Drive that suits your needs and personal preferences.