The software is just incredible on that thing. I got one with an Intel CPU and can run Docker on it that way. This replaced my PI where i was previously running a few things for home automation.
You can totally setup a NAS with a pi but IMO it's never gonna be as nice as a Synology NAS and all the trouble you have to go through setting it up.
But I can't shake the feeling that they will turn to the dark side sooner or later - the fact that the software is closed, mostly. Definitely if they get acquired, but also all the nice features are begging to be abused once the MBAs see they can get another $1/year/customer from selling you out.
So far, I only have excellent things to say about Synology. The feeling is from past experience with other vendors - Synology themselves have been amazing.
You pay a little extra up-front but it really is worth it. The box also uses a special BTRFS implementation that is rock solid and easy to manage snapshots for with their own GUI tools.
High quality? Get a Synology. Qnap is nice too, but Synology usually has a little better specs. All other brands are 'just not that good'.
Build your own? Go to https://www.xigmanas.com Just grab some hardware you think might work. Better hardware usually results in better NAS, but it will never be as optimised as a Synology.
Want to tinker with software endlessly? Any system that will support some kind of Linux. Take the word endlessly very literal.
I have a lot of various NAS systems. I don't trust any of them with very important data. Most of them have automated backups to various other systems.
I am planning on "upgrading" it to Ubuntu by using an SSD in one of the bays and create a RAID-Z array using the 3 remaining disks.
Having a NAS is an ever-expanding process. You start off small (a router with DD-WRT and a few services), but then you realize a new way to use it and you hit the limitations of your hardware. Right now, my goal is to DVR a local show that's broadcast OTA, but my USB tuner isn't supported by the heavily-pared down QNAP kernels.
It’s hard to justify using a Pi for a NAS unless you don’t mind your SD becoming corrupted.
Are you looking to build a real NAS or a Pi NAS? You could by off the shelf but it’s not as much fun.
OpenMediaVault is another Debian based distro I might check out in the future.
Hardware wise I’d go with something that supports ECC and a sever grade mobo, likely intel based. Supermicro has some cool IPMI features I used to setup over LAN, no monitor or keyboard.
Just a reminder to not open up your NAS to the public. I VPN to my home network if I need remote access.
miniboards(RPi, something-Pi) - underpowered for transcoding, no SATA/PCIe ports only USB, so little storage capacity via unreliable USB link. For playing it's OK, but if you're building something expandable, to last a long time , forget it.
Synology/QNAP boxes - expensive, proprietary components, if some part (power brick, motherboard) fails after warranty ends, you're SOL. You can't swap parts, repairing anything is very hard.
Rack mounted server in home - absurdly loud fans and impractical form factor
So what is the golden option that is almost never mentioned? Build a quiet pc in tower box. You can choose the right components for your needs. You can repair/swap them for new ones when they fail. And it is cheaper.
A Raspi-NAS is nice for the learning experience, but if you want a real NAS, just get one. Or build it with proper hardware and FreeNAS or a similar solution.