This summary of the video was created by an AI. It might contain some inaccuracies.
00:00:00 – 00:16:44
The video primarily focuses on setting up and upgrading a Synology NAS 923+ for enhanced performance. Gary introduces the NAS and discusses plans to increase RAM to 32 GB, install two 1TB NVMe SSDs for better caching, and upgrade to a 10-gigabit network. Performance testing between a laptop and the NAS, using tools like Docker and iperf, reveals high network speeds around 9.14 gigabits per second, with some variability due to packet loss and retries.
The presenter further elaborates on configuring NVMe read/write caching through Synology's Storage Manager, emphasizing the importance of correctly unmounting and disabling caches to avoid data loss. The setup process involves selecting appropriate cache types and ensuring all storage volumes are linked to the cache.
Moreover, the presenter shares the process of using non-Synology SSDs despite warnings about third-party drives. By pinning Btrfs metadata to the SSD cache, file access speeds improve considerably. The upgraded system's RAM and 10-gigabit network speeds are affirmed as suitable for most home users and small businesses.
Performance tests using the Blackmagic disk speed tool show read and write speeds in the high 600 MB/s range, deemed satisfactory for daily workflows. The NAS is highlighted as an ideal solution for power users and small to medium businesses due to its upgradability, performance, and remote management capabilities. The presenter concludes with a positive recommendation of the NAS for various use cases, underscoring its flexibility and performance benefits.
00:00:00
In this part of the video, Gary introduces the Synology NAS 923+ and discusses the planned upgrades. These upgrades include increasing the RAM to 32 GB, installing two 1TB NVMe hard drives for better read and write caching, and upgrading the networking to 10 gigabits. He mentions that the hard drives won’t be upgraded at this time as they can be updated later.
00:03:00
In this part of the video, the presenter wants to test the network performance between a laptop with a 10 gig interface and a Synology NAS. The NAS has Docker installed with an iperf server running inside a container. They run the iperf3 command to test the network throughput, specifying the server’s IP address, setting the info update interval to one second, and the test duration to 20 seconds. The test shows network speeds ranging from 8.5 to 9.33 gigabits per second, with an average rate of 9.14 gigabits per second. The presenter explains that discrepancies between sender and receiver data could indicate network issues such as packet loss and retries, which are normal for a maxed-out interface.
00:06:00
In this part of the video, the presenter discusses how to configure NVMe read and write caching on a Synology NAS. They begin by explaining that packet drops are not necessarily due to network issues but can occur on the client side. Moving forward, they demonstrate how to access the Storage Manager to set up SSD caching for better performance. The process involves creating an SSD cache for “volume one,” which stores all the disks in their system. The presenter highlights the importance of selecting the appropriate cache type—either read/write or read-only—based on usage needs.
They emphasize the necessity of properly unmounting and disabling the cache before removing SSDs to avoid data loss. The presenter acknowledges the RAID array configuration options and suggests that RAID 1 provides optimal read and write performances for their specific use case. They conclude this segment by preparing to select all the disks to be associated with the cache.
00:09:00
In this part of the video, the presenter is setting up and configuring two non-Synology SSDs in a Synology system. They select the SSDs, acknowledging Synology’s warning about using third-party drives, and proceed by clicking “Continue.” The presenter opts to use all available space and enables the option to pin all Btrfs metadata to the SSD cache to enhance performance by speeding up file access. They apply the configurations, agreeing to erase the disks. The system begins pinning metadata to the SSDs from the spinning disks, improving performance. The presenter shows that the system recognizes the upgraded 32 GB of RAM and confirms a network speed of 10,000 megabits per second, adequate for most home users and small businesses.
00:12:00
In this part of the video, the focus is on configuring the disk settings of a Synology NAS and conducting performance tests. The speaker confirms that the SSDs are healthy, with read and write cache enabled, and the metadata pinned to the SSDs. They then proceed to performance testing, using the Blackmagic disk speed test tool to measure read and write speeds over a 10 gigabit network connection. Initial tests with a 1 GB file show speeds in the high 600 megabytes per second range for both reading and writing. The speaker then tests with a 3 GB file to assess sustained performance, noting that speeds can fluctuate due to various factors such as network conditions and CPU utilization. Results are deemed satisfactory for the speaker’s daily workflow needs, emphasizing that the test does not evaluate cache performance, which is more relevant for frequently accessed files.
00:15:00
In this part of the video, the speaker discusses the target audience for the unit. They highlight that the unit is ideal for home power users wanting a cost-effective solution that can grow with their needs over time. Key upgrade options mentioned include upgrading RAM, adding SSDs for caching to enhance hard drive performance, and improving the network. The unit is also considered excellent for small to medium businesses and satellite offices due to its easy remote management and local storage capabilities. The speaker expresses satisfaction with the unit’s performance and recommends it for various use cases before concluding the video.