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Best Home NAS File Server for Backup: WD My Cloud EX2 Ultra vs Others, Self-Disk Replacement

Pawel1812 13872 33
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What home NAS should I buy for automatic backups and selective media sharing, and can the disks in a WD My Cloud EX2 Ultra be replaced or recovered safely?

Buy a Synology or QNAP NAS, preferably a 2-bay model with RAID1, because it is small, quiet, power-efficient, and lets you share only what you choose [#18434326][#18434393] If one disk fails in RAID1, the NAS keeps running on the remaining disk and you replace the bad drive and let it resync; you can also start with one disk and add the second later, but RAID1 capacity stays equivalent to one disk [#18440524] For backups, use software that does incremental backup or folder synchronization so only changed files are copied after the first run, which makes weekly or background backups practical [#18436852] Do not rely on RAID or snapshots alone against ransomware; keep at least two copies, use a separate NAS account with a strong password and write access only to the backup folder, and do not expose the backup NAS to the internet [#18434505][#18438871][#18437207] Snapshots can help reduce risk, but they are not a 100% guarantee [#18437094] If you only want simple backup and not a full file server, an external drive can work, but the NAS is the more convenient long-term solution [#18434326]
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  • #31 18441116
    KOCUREK1970
    Network and Internet specialist  
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    Pawel1812 wrote:
    the server encrypts the data on the disks. Is it mandatory, or can this function be turned off, because in my opinion it may make it difficult to recover data from the disk using a cross-sector backup in the event of a server and disk failure at the same time.

    I would not give my head, but it seems to me that it is not possible to recover such data outside the server - the encryption is hardware and the "key" is implemented in some encryption system in the server.
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  • #32 18441136
    Borygo123
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    If you have hardware encryption implemented, it may be, but most NAS servers do not have one built in and only support software encryption. But they have more expensive servers, because it requires some computing power. With the rest, with RAID 1 and two disks, there is nothing to combine with data recovery.
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  • #33 18444843
    Pawel1812
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    And how to recover data from the disk with encryption in the event of failure of the server itself, since there is no direct access to the file system?

    Can such a NAS server be connected when uploading large amounts of data to a laptop directly via a 1GBit cable, bypassing a router, and will it work without changing the configuration as when connected via a router?
    Alternatively, is it possible to connect an external drive to the server's USB and upload data there?
    My point is not to have to upload a large portion of files to the beginning via relatively slow WiFi, which would take days.
  • #34 18444902
    KOCUREK1970
    Network and Internet specialist  
    Posts: 35138
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    Pawel1812 wrote:
    Can such a NAS server be connected when uploading large amounts of data to a laptop directly via a 1GBit cable, bypassing a router, and will it work without changing the configuration as when connected via a router?

    You can, although some changes, the settings then have to be made (give the appropriate IP).
    Pawel1812 wrote:
    Alternatively, is it possible to connect an external drive to the server's USB and upload data there?

    If such functionality is offered by the server or its software, then it is.
    Pawel1812 wrote:
    My point is not to have to upload a large portion of files to the beginning via relatively slow WiFi, which would take days.

    The server should always be connected via a network cable - be it with a router, switch or computer.
    USB 2.0 has a theoretical transfer of 480Mb, USB 3.0 much more, but this and the disk you need to have the appropriate port on the server.
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Topic summary

✨ The discussion revolves around selecting a suitable NAS (Network Attached Storage) for home backup, with a focus on the WD My Cloud EX2 Ultra and alternatives like Synology and QNAP. Users express concerns about data encryption, disk replacement, and the risks of data loss due to hardware failure or ransomware attacks. Recommendations include opting for a NAS with RAID-1 configuration for redundancy, using external drives for backups, and ensuring proper security measures against unauthorized access. The importance of incremental backups and snapshots for data protection is emphasized, along with considerations for disk durability and the potential for future upgrades. Users also discuss the implications of using cloud services versus local storage for sensitive data.
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FAQ

TL;DR: For a 0.5 TB home archive, a 2-bay NAS with RAID-1 and snapshots (20 % reserve, 256 versions) [Elektroda, jprzedworski, post #18437094] keeps two live copies at gigabit speed; “I suggest Synology” [Elektroda, Walery K, post #18434326]

Why it matters: One small box can slash single-disk or ransomware downtime without monthly cloud fees.

Quick Facts

• Entry-level 2-bay NAS: ~PLN 1000 without drives [Elektroda, Pawel1812, post #18435337] • Snapshot reserve: up to 20 % capacity = 256 versions [Elektroda, jprzedworski, post #18437094] • Gigabit LAN real-world copy: ≈110 MB/s (Gigabit Ethernet Max Throughput) • NAS-grade HDD workload rating: 180–300 TB/yr [WD, 2023] • Microsoft 365 gives 1 TB cloud for PLN 160/yr [Elektroda, Pawel1812, post #18438916]

Which NAS brands are most recommended for a small home backup server?

Forum users point to Synology and QNAP for their quiet operation, low power use, and rich apps [Elektroda, Walery K, #18434326; m.jastrzebski, #18434393].

How many bays and what RAID level should I pick?

Choose at least a 2-bay chassis and set RAID-1. The array mirrors data, so a single-disk crash leaves everything online [Elektroda, m.jastrzebski, post #18434393]

What drive size do I need to safeguard 0.5 TB of media with snapshots?

Two 1 TB disks leave ≈0.8 TB usable after RAID-1 and 20 % snapshot reserve—plenty for 0.5 TB plus growth [Elektroda, jprzedworski, post #18437094]

How long will the first 0.5 TB backup take over Gigabit Ethernet?

At ~110 MB/s, copying 0.5 TB finishes in about 1 hour 20 minutes (512 GB ÷ 110 MB/s) ("Gigabit Ethernet Max Throughput").

What happens if one drive in RAID-1 fails?

The NAS stays online in degraded mode. Replace the bad disk, and it rebuilds automatically while data remains accessible [Elektroda, Borygo123, post #18440524]

Can I start with one disk now and add the second later?

Yes, create a RAID-1 volume at setup, add the second drive later, and the NAS syncs it; capacity stays the same [Elektroda, Borygo123, post #18440715]

Do snapshots fully stop ransomware?

They help but are not bullet-proof. Malware can encrypt slowly, then delete keys, corrupting even snapshots [Elektroda, m.jastrzebski, post #18437151] “100 % of the hackers are already working on a safe workaround” [same post].

Should I still keep an off-site or cloud copy?

Yes. Two separate media and one off-site copy follow the 3-2-1 rule, covering fire or theft risks [“3-2-1 Backup Rule”].

What’s the key difference between QNAP TS-231P, TS-231P2-4G, and TS-251?

TS-231P2 adds a faster CPU and 4 GB RAM; TS-251 moves to an Intel processor with HDMI and real-time video transcoding—useful for streaming to TVs without native codec support (QNAP Product Pages).

How can I copy data quickly without relying on slow Wi-Fi?

1 GBit direct-cable connect works after assigning matching IPs, or plug a USB-3 external drive into the NAS’s front port for one-touch import [Elektroda, KOCUREK1970, post #18444902]

Simple 3-step setup for automatic PC-to-NAS backup?

  1. Install QNAP NetBak Replicator or Synology Drive Client on the PC. 2. Select folders and a schedule (incremental or real-time). 3. Enter NAS credentials for a write-only backup account [Elektroda, Borygo123, #18438871; #18436895].

Edge case: will Google Drive or OneDrive also get encrypted by ransomware?

If the PC sync client sees encrypted files, it may sync them. OneDrive keeps 30-day version history, so you can roll back [Elektroda, Pawel1812, post #18438916]

What disks are best for 24/7 NAS duty?

Pick NAS-rated models like WD Red or Seagate IronWolf, built for ≤8-bay arrays and 180-300 TB/year workloads [WD, 2023].
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