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ServeTheHome’s February 5, 2013 long-term review found the Synology DS1812+ to be a capable eight-bay NAS whose standout advantage was DSM: routine administration was approachable, while advanced tasks such as iSCSI LUN setup were unusually simple for the period. The review covered months of testing that began in fall 2012, including array expansion, large data migrations and multi-client workloads. Its recommendation belongs to that historical context—not to a current buying decision.
What the long-term review actually tested
Patrick Kennedy’s team used the DS1812+ in common small-business and home-lab scenarios over several months. One configuration combined four 3TB WD Red hard drives with four Samsung 840 Pro 256GB SSDs; another used eight 3TB WD Red drives. The team filled storage to 8TB, expanded the array one drive at a time, added data in 2TB increments and migrated large data sets.
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Testing included a single-client file-sharing/Iometer scenario and a multi-client setup using eight dual-CPU server systems with dual-Gigabit connections. These are period laboratory results from 2012–2013, not benchmarks of what the unit can deliver on a modern network or with current drives.
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1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute“The Synology DS1812+ provides solid performance, but the perhaps bigger feature is how easy it is to setup some of the ‘advanced’ features like iSCSI LUNs with Synology DSM.”
#1 Best Overall
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- Aluminum Alloy Housing: Built with a sturdy aluminum alloy shell that aids in heat dissipation and protects against daily wear and scratches. Designed to maintain a stable and secure connection.
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Patrick Kennedy, ServeTheHome, February 5, 2013
Historical hardware and expansion
| Specification | Historical detail | Qualification |
|---|---|---|
| Drive bays | Eight bays for 3.5-inch or 2.5-inch SATA drives | Synology and StorageReview specifications from circa 2012–2013 |
| Processor | Dual-core Intel Atom at 2.13GHz | StorageReview specification from 2013 |
| Memory | 1GB DDR3, expandable to 3GB | Historical specification; verify the installed module in a used unit |
| Networking | Two Gigabit Ethernet ports with link aggregation support | Link aggregation requires compatible network equipment and configuration |
| Expansion | Up to 18 drives with DX510 expansion units | Synology launch-era claim |
| Maximum capacity | Up to 72TB with expansion and launch-era 4TB drives | Historical manufacturer figure, dependent on drive sizes and storage configuration |
| Connectivity | USB and eSATA expansion connections | As described in the original review inspection |
Synology claimed up to 202MB/s read and 194MB/s write at launch. Those figures were manufacturer claims tied to the original hardware and drive assumptions, not independently verified current performance.
Why DSM impressed the reviewer
Accessible everyday administration
The DSM web interface handled initial setup, user permissions, group management and recovery workflows without requiring extensive command-line knowledge. That reduced the administrative burden compared with assembling and maintaining a custom server.
Rank #2
- 5-in-1 USB-C Hub: Experience comprehensive connectivity featuring a Power Delivery input, two USB-A 2.0 ports, a USB-A 3.0 port, and an HDMI port. (Note: The USB-C power delivery input port is only for connecting an external wall charger to power your laptop and cannot power peripheral devices.)
- 90W Pass-Through Charging: Achieve optimal charging with 90W pass-through power to your laptop, supported by a total input of 100W, with the hub reserving 10W for operational efficiency. (Note: Wall charger not included.)
- Quick Data Transfers: Accelerate your productivity with rapid data transfers using a high-speed 5Gbps USB 3.0 port and two 480Mbps USB 2.0 ports.
- 4K HDMI Display: Enhance your visual experience with a hub capable of delivering 4K resolution at 30Hz in both mirror and extend modes. Please note that this hub is compatible with MacBook (macOS 12 and newer), Windows 10 and 11, ChromeOS, and laptops equipped with DP Alt Mode and Power Delivery. Note: This device is not compatible with Linux.
- What You Get: Anker USB-C Hub (5-in-1, 4K HDMI), welcome guide, 18-month warranty, and our friendly customer service.
iSCSI for more advanced workloads
For experienced administrators, the review singled out iSCSI LUN configuration as relatively straightforward. The DS1812+ served iSCSI to applications including Windows 8 Hyper-V in the test environment. Synology’s datasheet described DSM as combining file- and block-level storage, with SMB/CIFS, AFP, NFS and iSCSI plus virtualization support for VMware, Citrix and Hyper-V.
Packages through Package Center
Package Center made software installation simple in the DSM 4.1-era environment. The review mentioned Plex, SugarCRM and WordPress as examples available then. Their historical availability does not establish that those packages—or supported versions—remain available for the DS1812+ today.
Rank #3
- Sleek 7-in-1 USB-C Hub: Features an HDMI port, two USB-A 3.0 ports, and a USB-C data port, each providing 5Gbps transfer speeds. It also includes a USB-C PD input port for charging up to 100W and dual SD and TF card slots, all in a compact design.
- Flawless 4K@60Hz Video with HDMI: Delivers exceptional clarity and smoothness with its 4K@60Hz HDMI port, making it ideal for high-definition presentations and entertainment. (Note: Only the HDMI port supports video projection; the USB-C port is for data transfer only.)
- Double Up on Efficiency: The two USB-A 3.0 ports and a USB-C port support a fast 5Gbps data rate, significantly boosting your transfer speeds and improving productivity.
- Fast and Reliable 85W Charging: Offers high-capacity, speedy charging for laptops up to 85W, so you spend less time tethered to an outlet and more time being productive.
- What You Get: Anker USB-C Hub (7-in-1), welcome guide, 18-month warranty, and our friendly customer service.
Noise and physical behavior
The large 120mm rear fans were quieter than many server-oriented systems of the era, but they were not silent. Kennedy reported audible fan sound at close range, including from 18 inches away in a room measured at 34dBA ambient. A quiet office, bedroom or recording space should therefore not assume silent operation.
How the DS1812+ performed in context
The months-long tests showed that the enclosure could sustain practical file-sharing, expansion and migration workloads with both hard-disk and mixed HDD/SSD configurations. The eight-bay layout also offered meaningful flexibility: users could begin with fewer disks and grow the array incrementally, subject to the limits of the selected RAID or Synology Hybrid RAID arrangement.
Rank #4
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That flexibility was part of the value proposition. Kennedy acknowledged that a custom-built server could cost less, but considered DSM’s polished administration and the ready-made enclosure worth paying for in the contemporary market.
What the 2013 conclusion does—and does not—mean now
ServeTheHome’s “great” verdict was a recommendation for the technology and software ecosystem available in 2013. It should not be read as an endorsement of buying or deploying this model in 2026.
Best Value
- 5-in-1 Connectivity: Equipped with a 4K HDMI port, a 5 Gbps USB-C data port, two 5 Gbps USB-A ports, and a USB C 100W PD-IN port. Note: The USB C 100W PD-IN port supports only charging and does not support data transfer devices such as headphones or speakers.
- Powerful Pass-Through Charging: Supports up to 85W pass-through charging so you can power up your laptop while you use the hub. Note: Pass-through charging requires a charger (not included). Note: To achieve full power for iPad, we recommend using a 45W wall charger.
- Transfer Files in Seconds: Move files to and from your laptop at speeds of up to 5 Gbps via the USB-C and USB-A data ports. Note: The USB C 5Gbps Data port does not support video output.
- HD Display: Connect to the HDMI port to stream or mirror content to an external monitor in resolutions of up to 4K@30Hz. Note: The USB-C ports do not support video output.
- What You Get: Anker 332 USB-C Hub (5-in-1), welcome guide, our worry-free 18-month warranty, and friendly customer service.
Current questions the historical reviews do not answer
- Which DSM version Synology currently permits on the DS1812+.
- Whether the model still receives security fixes.
- Which modern hard-drive and SSD models Synology officially lists as compatible.
- Whether current Package Center applications support this hardware and DSM generation.
Anyone considering a used DS1812+ should check Synology’s current model-specific download, lifecycle and compatibility pages before purchasing, and should plan around the possibility that modern software or drives are unsupported.
Who the DS1812+ made sense for in its era
- Small businesses: eight bays, dual network ports and block-level storage supported shared files and virtualization workloads.
- Home labs: iSCSI and Hyper-V testing were approachable without building a storage server from parts.
- Administrators prioritizing simplicity: DSM unified permissions, storage tasks and package installation in one browser interface.
- Noise-sensitive users: the audible fans were a known drawback.
Bottom line
The DS1812+ earned its strong 2013 review because it paired respectable period performance with an unusually friendly DSM experience, including simple iSCSI setup. Its eight bays, expansion chassis support and replaceable memory were substantial advantages then. Today, its age makes operating-system support, security maintenance, drive compatibility and package availability decisive unknowns; verify those points before treating any used unit as production storage.
Quick Recap
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