This article covers Synology DiskStation DS214se NAS サーバー.

Overview

The Synology DiskStation DS214se is an entry-level 2-bay NAS enclosure that prioritizes low power consumption and basic file-sharing functionality. Powered by a single-core 800MHz Marvell processor and 256MB of DDR3 RAM, it delivers sequential read speeds of approximately 102MB/s and write speeds of 58MB/s under RAID 1 on Windows. The unit itself does not include hard drives—you need to supply two SATA drives (3.5-inch or 2.5-inch). Its standout feature is the energy-efficient design: active power consumption is around 19W, and hibernation mode drops to 3.6W. This makes it ideal for always-on storage where electricity costs matter. The DS214se runs Synology's DiskStation Manager (DSM) operating system, providing a user-friendly web interface for RAID management, file sharing, and backup tasks.

Connectivity & Compatibility

Connectivity includes a single Gigabit Ethernet port and two USB 2.0 ports. The USB 2.0 ports are limited to 480Mbps, so they are best suited for connecting a UPS or a printer rather than external storage for expansion. The NAS supports RAID 0, RAID 1, JBOD, and Basic configurations. Drive bays accept 3.5-inch SATA II/III HDDs or 2.5-inch SATA SSDs, but hot-swapping is not supported—power down before swapping drives.

Product Info

Released in 2014, the DS214se is now primarily available on the second-hand market. New units are scarce, and used prices typically range from a few thousand yen to around ¥10,000 (depending on condition). The official warranty period is 2 years, but second-hand purchases usually do not carry any warranty. This product sits firmly in the entry-level tier due to its modest CPU and RAM, lacking the transcoding and virtualization capabilities of higher-end models like the DS214play or DS214+.

Best Use Cases

First-time NAS users — The DSM interface is intuitive and makes setting up RAID 1 for data redundancy straightforward. Ideal for home users who need a simple, low-cost network storage solution. However, simultaneous heavy access from multiple users may cause slowdowns. Budget-conscious backup storage — With very low power consumption, it can run 24/7 without a noticeable electricity bill. Perfect for automated backups of photos, documents, and other critical files. Not suitable for media streaming or real-time transcoding. * Not recommended for media servers — The CPU is too weak for on-the-fly video transcoding. Use it solely for file storage and sharing. If you need Plex or Emby transcoding, look at a more powerful Synology model.

Things to Consider

Being over a decade old, the DS214se's hardware is dated. The fan and PSU may show wear, and DSM support is capped at version 6.2.x. USB 2.0 ports are a bottleneck for external drive expansion. RAID 1 write performance (58MB/s) is well below the Gigabit Ethernet theoretical limit, so large file transfers feel slow. The 256MB RAM can cause lag under heavy load. If you need modern features like Btrfs snapshots, encryption acceleration, or Docker, choose a newer model. ## FAQ
Q: What is the maximum drive capacity supported? A: Officially up to 4TB per drive, but newer DSM versions may recognize larger drives. However, the limited RAM may cause performance issues with very large capacities. Q: Should I use RAID 1 or RAID 0? A: For data safety, RAID 1 is recommended. The DS214se delivers ~102MB/s read in RAID 1, which is sufficient for most home file sharing. RAID 0 offers higher write speeds but no redundancy. Q: Can this NAS transcode video? A: No. It lacks hardware transcoding support. Playback requires the client device to natively support the video codec.

Product Disclosure (Amazon)

  • Manufacturer: Synology
  • Seller: New Oriental Technology
  • Fulfilled by: New Oriental Technology
  • ASIN: B00FWURI8K
  • Note: This article covers a manufacturer-made product based on Amazon listing details.