Synology DS916+ 4-bay NAS

[crmaris]

The DS916+ is mostly for professional users, or enthusiasts who can afford it. It is powered by a capable quad-core Intel CPU with good performance and low power consumption even when taxed heavily.

Show full review

 

[Nobody99]

Can someone plase explain to me why do you have to buy the license for IP cameras, does application store the data on Synology server or something similar that requires you to buy the license to cover their costs, as far as I know the data is saved locally and it doesn't cost them nothing, so why are these licenses required if you want more than 2 cameras?

 

[crmaris]

this is something that all NAS companies do. Obviously they want to cover the cost of development for the surveillance app and also make some profit.

 

[Nobody99]

this is something that all NAS companies do. Obviously they want to cover the cost of development for the surveillance app and also make some profit.

But can they do that, they are using Linux kernel and probably even other open source apps which fall under GPL license which means that if you requested the source code they would have to send it to you, so setting the limit to IP cameras unless you pay for more would be like OpenMediaVault setting the limit on how many drives can you use unless you pay for some kind of license, right?

On the review, I have to say that 4+ bay NAS devices really have to have very little downsides because if ease of use, dimensions, low power, DAS function don't matter to the user it is cheaper to set up PC NAS server with better specifications.

This NAS device could have eSATAp which offers power so connecting external HDD would be easier but it is fair to say that not many devices use it and that the main use for that port is expansion unit.

 

[TheLostSwede]

Can someone plase explain to me why do you have to buy the license for IP cameras, does application store the data on Synology server or something similar that requires you to buy the license to cover their costs, as far as I know the data is saved locally and it doesn't cost them nothing, so why are these licenses required if you want more than 2 cameras?

Because it's very expensive for the NAS manufacturers to develop the camera support and this is a way for them to recuperate some of that cost. The standards for IP cameras are very poorly defined and it can take a lot of time to add proper support for some cameras.

It's also a way for them to not have their NEW products compete with their NVR products