Newegg has a deal where I can purchase the ReadyNAS 316 and a 4tb drive for $558. This seems like too good of a deal to pass up. Currently I'm using a Dell PC as a media server (Plex/Kodi) and have been migrating my storage to network attached drives using a Western Digital MyBook (4tb) and a WD MyCloudMirror (8tb). I've recently lost two internal 3tb drives on the PC so I'm looking for an option to do NAS and eventually have some backup in place. I've been hesitant to pull the trigger on a full out NAS due to cost and wanting 4-6 bays for future growth. However, at this deal I'm ready to jump. I'm just worried that since this box has been out for nearly 3 years I may be a bit late to the party. Would you recommend buying this NAS? If so, why? Thanks in advance! Heather

It is one of the Os 6 platforms - which is the most recent ReadyNAS OS. So I think it is a safe purchase. However, I don't work for Netgear and I have no inside info on upcoming launches. If you plan to run plex, another option would be the RN214 (which was just released). But at current newegg pricing, the RN316 is a better deal.

Several apps are available, but limiting it to storage/backup is a fine approach. Apps can be found at http://apps.readynas.com/pages/ and https://rnxtras.com/ Its important to realize that most of these are third-party apps, and Netgear doesn't warrant that they work (and doesn't provide support for them). Plex tends to run slower on the NAS (particularly library updates), and full HD transcoding might stutter/stall. The benefit is that you don't need to leave the PC running 24/7.

At this point I don't plan to run Plex from the NAS... though that could be a possibility in the future. I'm going to still run it from the Dell (I have a backup server running on my iMac also). I do worry about the speed of transfer of the media files from this system. I guess I'm still just a bit confused over NAS systems. I'm quite the geek when it comes to technology, but hot swappable NAS systems are still new to me and I'm working to figure out what I want out of it beyond storage... and backups.

Thanks! Right out of the gate I will not have any redundancy running, I have only a 4tb and 5tb drive to install into the 316. If I later add another 4 and another 5tb drive will I be able to span those to become backup drives for the earlier installed drives? Or will I lose the data on those existing drives? I don't really understand raids completely as I've never used them. My backup systems to date have simply been OS based such as TimeMachine.

The speed of transfer should be fine (unless you are sending stacks of data). My RN104 can hit about 20-25MB/s write, and upto 70-80 MB/s read. If it is just for streaming media via plex, I can have 3-4 kids all using plex on their iPads at the same time, with no noticeable slowdown. (Although the Plex Media Server runs on my HTPC macmini, not o nthe NAS). If the NAS will only be effectively working as a File Server, you can probably get awya with a RN104. I have been very happy with mine, and for the price, it really can't be beat.

ReadyNAS 316 Worth Purchasing? | NETGEAR Communities

14 Replies

StephenB
Guru
Nov 05, 2015
It is one of the Os 6 platforms - which is the most recent ReadyNAS OS. So I think it is a safe purchase. However, I don't work for Netgear and I have no inside info on upcoming launches.

If you plan to run plex, another option would be the RN214 (which was just released). But at current newegg pricing, the RN316 is a better deal.
- HeatherABC
  Apprentice
  Nov 05, 2015
  At this point I don't plan to run Plex from the NAS... though that could be a possibility in the future. I'm going to still run it from the Dell (I have a backup server running on my iMac also). I do worry about the speed of transfer of the media files from this system. I guess I'm still just a bit confused over NAS systems. I'm quite the geek when it comes to technology, but hot swappable NAS systems are still new to me and I'm working to figure out what I want out of it beyond storage... and backups.
  - StephenB
    Guru
    Nov 05, 2015
    Several apps are available, but limiting it to storage/backup is a fine approach.
    
    Apps can be found at http://apps.readynas.com/pages/ and https://rnxtras.com/ Its important to realize that most of these are third-party apps, and Netgear doesn't warrant that they work (and doesn't provide support for them).
    
    Plex tends to run slower on the NAS (particularly library updates), and full HD transcoding might stutter/stall. The benefit is that you don't need to leave the PC running 24/7.
- StephenB
  Guru
  Nov 05, 2015
  One last tip - if you use the NAS for primary storage, make sure you have independent backups. RAID is useful, but it not enough to protect your data.
  - HeatherABC
    Apprentice
    Nov 05, 2015
    Really? I thought that was the main reason for using RAID and giving up storage space to do so? Now I'm really confused. Why wouldn't I just make backups rather than using RAID? What's the benefit?
    
    I think I need to go find RAID for dummies.