Synology DS220+ 2-Bay DiskStation NAS (Diskless)

Name: Synology DS220+ 2-Bay DiskStation NAS (Diskless)
Brand: Synology
SKU: DS220+

Overview

The Synology DS220+ is a 2-bay diskless NAS running Synology's DSM operating system on a dual-core processor with hardware transcoding support. In practical terms, the hardware transcoding capability is the specification that most differentiates the DS220+ from entry-level NAS units at this price point: it allows the device to serve H.264 and H.265 video streams to incompatible client devices in real time without collapsing the CPU under re-encoding load. The 2-bay architecture supports up to 40TB of raw capacity with current large-format SATA drives, and Synology Hybrid RAID or standard RAID 1 provides the drive redundancy most home and small-office users require. Network connectivity is Gigabit Ethernet, which delivers approximately 110 MB/s real-world throughput — sufficient for simultaneous multi-user file access but a bottleneck for single-client large-file transfers on a modern LAN.

The DS220+ is the right device for home offices, small creative studios, and prosumer media libraries where a centralized, always-on storage device needs to handle multiple concurrent workloads: Time Machine backups from macOS, network file shares for Windows and Linux clients, photo indexing via Synology Photos, and video streaming via Plex or Synology Video Station. DSM's package center extends the platform well beyond basic file serving — surveillance, download management, VPN hosting, and container-based applications are all within scope. The hardware is not a high-performance server; it is a reliable, low-power storage appliance that punches above its watt-count because DSM's software quality closes the gap between specification and capability.

Specifications

Brand

Synology

Model

DS220+

Drive Bays

2 (3.5" or 2.5" SATA)

Drives Included

None (Diskless)

Max Raw Capacity

Up to 40TB (2 × 20TB)

Network Interface

Gigabit Ethernet (RJ-45)

RAID Support

JBOD, RAID 0, RAID 1, SHR

Operating System

Synology DiskStation Manager (DSM)

Hardware Transcoding

Yes (H.264, H.265)

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Pros & Cons

👍 Pros

Hardware-accelerated transcoding handles H.264 and H.265 stream conversion without saturating the CPU, enabling smooth multi-client video delivery.
Two-bay RAID 1 configuration provides full drive-level redundancy, protecting against single-drive failure without requiring a backup routine for locally stored data.
DSM operating system receives regular security and feature updates, extending the functional lifespan of the hardware beyond what the bare specification implies.
Cross-platform file sharing (SMB, AFP, NFS) serves Windows, macOS, and Linux clients simultaneously from a single unified storage pool.
Compact form factor and low idle power consumption make it viable for always-on home office or small business deployment without dedicated rack infrastructure.

👎 Cons

Two-bay ceiling limits both raw capacity and RAID options — users who need RAID 5 or RAID 6 parity configurations require a 4-bay unit minimum.
Drives are not included — the diskless configuration means total cost of ownership is meaningfully higher than the NAS unit price alone.
Gigabit Ethernet is the only onboard network interface; there is no 10GbE option, capping real-world LAN throughput at approximately 112 MB/s regardless of drive speed.
RAM is soldered and fixed at its factory specification — users who want to run multiple DSM packages simultaneously may encounter memory pressure that cannot be resolved with an upgrade.
DSM package ecosystem, while extensive, requires per-feature licensing for advanced capabilities like additional surveillance channels or advanced backup targets.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the DS220+ support hardware-accelerated video transcoding, and what formats benefit from it?

Yes. The DS220+ is equipped with a processor that supports hardware transcoding, enabling on-the-fly conversion of H.264 and H.265 video streams for devices that cannot play the native file format. This offloads the CPU-intensive decoding work from software to dedicated silicon, allowing smooth 4K stream delivery to clients that would otherwise require re-encoding in software — a process that would saturate the CPU at this performance tier.

What is the maximum raw storage capacity of the DS220+?

The DS220+ is diskless and accepts two 3.5-inch or 2.5-inch SATA drives. With current large-format drives reaching 20TB per bay, maximum raw capacity is 40TB. In a mirrored RAID 1 configuration for redundancy, usable capacity is 20TB (the size of one drive).

What RAID configurations does the DS220+ support?

The DS220+ supports JBOD (spanning), RAID 0 (striping, no redundancy), RAID 1 (mirroring, full redundancy at half capacity), and Synology Hybrid RAID (SHR). For a home or small-office NAS with only two bays, RAID 1 is the practical default for anyone prioritizing data protection over raw capacity.

Can the DS220+ serve as a surveillance camera recording device?

Yes. Synology's Surveillance Station package supports IP camera recording natively on the DS220+. The free license covers two camera channels; additional channels require a paid license per camera. The NAS's performance tier handles light surveillance workloads without issue.

Is the DS220+ compatible with Time Machine backups from macOS?

Yes. Synology DSM (DiskStation Manager) includes native AFP and SMB support with Time Machine compatibility configured through the DSM interface. It appears as a valid Time Machine backup destination without additional configuration on the Mac side.