Specifications

This NAS uses the same CPU as the DS415+ we reviewed a while ago, a Rangeley SoC (C2538, quad-core, 2.4 GHz). This CPU is compatible with the Advanced Encryption Standard New Instructions (AES-NI) technology, but doesn't support QuickAssist, which can speed networking and security applications up significantly. We, as such, expect to see a performance hit in our encrypted file transfers. Only the more expensive Rangeley SoCs support QuickAssist, and Synology obviously didn't want to increase the cost of this NAS server any further.

The DS1815+ comes with 2 GB of DDR3 RAM you can expand to 6 GB if you keep the already installed DIMM (and it is pretty hard to reach to replace with a higher-capacity DIMM). We strongly believe that shipping the NAS with a 4 GB DIMM instead would have been better because it would have also allowed the server's memory total to be upgraded to 8 GB with relative ease. The NAS can take up to eight HDDs, and can, as has already been stated, hold up to eighteen disks if Synology's expansion units are used.

The Atom C2538 supports four 2.5 GbE interfaces, and while other hardware components limit the bandwidth to 1 GbE, the DS1815+ actually utilities four Ethernet ports; however, those aren't provided for by the SoC but a third-party controller, which has the NAS support the Link Aggregation Control Protocol (LACP) for a 2 GbE line per two Ethernet ports; but you need a compatible network switch to exploit LACP. The other I/O ports are comprised of four USB 3.0 and the two eSATA ports to which you can attach compatible Synology expansion units.

Two 120 mm fans keep the NAS cool, and neither are noisy under normal conditions. DSM will also allow you to set the fans' speed to either "quiet" or "cool". Synology still only provides a two-year warranty for the DS1815+, which has this business-centric NAS come with the same warranty as lower-end ones. We believe that high-end NAS servers should be backed with at least a three-year warranty. Finally, the price looks good for an eight-bay server in which the lack of such extra bells 'n' whistles as an LCD screen play a role, and there is its Atom CPU—it is cheaper than the stronger Intel CPUs that equip many SMB-grade NAS boxes.