The DS1819+ isn't cheap, but offers high overall performance, especially with multiple clients because of its four Ethernet ports that can be teamed, and its major asset is its huge storage capacity if the proper hard disks are installed. You can further expand its capacity if eight drive bays are not enough because of its SATA ports, with a pair of DX517 expansion units, which would result in a total of eighteen available bays! I have extensively tested the DS1819+ as it has been over two months now since I installed it in my lab and assigned it the duties of a video server. I use it to keep all of my video footage now, which thus far exceeds 6 TB. This NAS is great for such a task, but there are still some features I would like to see. It is not the HDMI port I am missing this time around, although the DS1819+ doesn't have one, but a Thunderbolt port would be nice.

Equipped with a Thunderbolt port, this NAS could be a major asset for every video creator as you could work on files directly on the NAS—you wouldn't have to move files between the NAS and your video editing system, and there wouldn't be any need for more storage space on your video editing system.

There are some hardware upgrades you can perform, including the addition of a 10 Gigabit Ethernet card and an M.2 SSD adapter for fast storage cache. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to test those possibilities since neither were provided, so I cannot comment on whether they are worth investing in. In any case, it is always nice to have the option to install additional hardware that will enhance the server's performance. Another nice detail is that upgrading RAM is easy since the memory slots are accessed through a door at the bottom of the unit.

If you need vast storage capacity along with a top-notch OS that can practically do anything, I see no reason not to get the DS1819+. It offers high performance, is silent, and features lockable trays, although I would like to see metal ones instead of the plastic trays it currently comes with. Apparently, this would further increase the product's price, and Synology sought to keep the price below the $1000 mark.