Synology RS1221+ Review: High-Performance NAS Verdict
It’s rare to see near-unanimous praise across IT managers, media engineers, and small business owners, but the Synology RS1221+ 8 Bay RackStation (Diskless) earns a strong 9.0/10, delivering on performance and flexibility—though its complexity may limit its audience.
Quick Verdict: Conditional – For businesses and power users with technical skill.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| High performance with AMD Ryzen V1500B CPU | Requires technical expertise for optimal setup |
| Compact depth fits shallow racks | Diskless – extra cost for drives |
| Redundant power option in RS1221RP+ variant | Noise levels higher than desktop NAS units |
| DSM OS praised for user-friendliness | Expensive compared to prosumer NAS |
| Strong backup and virtualization support | Some features require Synology-branded upgrades |
| Excellent high-availability clustering | No native 10GbE – requires add-on card |
| Reliable ECC memory & Btrfs file system | Limited appeal for casual home users |
Claims vs Reality
Marketing materials tout “2,315 MB/s sequential read” and “compact form factor for space-sensitive deployments.” Digging deeper into user reports, these numbers hold in real-world use—especially in virtualized environments with 10GbE NIC upgrades. One IT services CEO confirmed: “Our current testing was primarily focused on backup, which delivered reliability alongside adequate performance.”
Another claim is DSM’s “user-friendly design even for non-IT professionals.” While directors in education said “Synology’s DSM is a masterpiece”, several reports show that optimal configuration requires networking and RAID knowledge—underscoring that “user-friendly” doesn’t mean effortless for novices.
The RS1221+ is pitched as "a versatile NAS for heavy workloads.” That’s echoed by Reddit’s IT manager in government: “A solid storage with great capabilities out of the box. The licensing model of all-inclusive software adds great value.” Yet those coming from consumer NAS might feel overwhelmed by DSM’s enterprise-level capabilities.
Cross-Platform Consensus
Universally Praised
Performance is a common highlight. Server administrators in retail said the NAS offered “smooth storage server setup with intuitive OS and reliable automation features,” while media directors praised it for catering to “all aspects of storage” in a single unit. High availability clustering was singled out across Reddit and Trustpilot as a mission-critical feature, enabling “minute-level failover between two clustered servers” so services remain online.
Space efficiency is another victory. With just 30 cm depth (38 cm for RP variant), IT engineers value how it slots into shallow racks without sacrificing eight hot-swappable bays. A senior systems engineer noted it “fits perfectly snug onto 2-post or shallow rack mount enclosures” without costly rack redesigns.
And DSM’s ecosystem pulls its weight. Directors in education use it as a “single-platform solution for all of our backup needs in a cost effective manner.” Hyper Backup and Snapshot Replication make nightly and near-instant backups possible, while Active Backup lets admins protect Windows, Linux, Microsoft 365, and Google Workspace from one console.
Common Complaints
Noise is the first red flag for some. At 40+ dB for the RS1221RP+ under load, it’s noticeable compared to desktop NAS units, particularly in open office setups. Professionals working near the hardware noted it’s better suited to dedicated server rooms.
The diskless configuration deters some buyers—adding eight enterprise drives plus optional SSD cache can push total cost far beyond the $1,699 unit price on Amazon. A verified buyer observed: “Requires additional hard drives for operation,” meaning an up-front investment in storage media is unavoidable.
Complexity is another barrier. While DSM is touted as intuitive, several users emphasize the steep learning curve for non-admins. As one IT administrator put it, “May require technical expertise for set up and management” if advanced features like iSCSI, high availability, or multi-site sync are enabled.
Divisive Features
Synology’s preference for Synology-branded hardware splits opinion. The ECC RAM expandability to 32 GB comes with a caveat—full warranty and support only apply if official modules are used. Power users see this as protection for reliability, while others view it as a vendor lock-in.
The need for add-on cards for 10GbE networking brings mixed reactions. For performance-driven teams, plugging in an E10M20-T1 NIC is worth it. Cost-conscious buyers resent the extra expense for what’s standard on some competitors, especially since Synology clearly markets “10GbE ready” without these cards included.
Trust & Reliability
On Trustpilot, no scam concerns surface—the feedback leans heavily toward stability and dependable service continuity. Multiple organizations reported six months or more of uninterrupted service after deployment. The redundant power supply option in the RS1221RP+ variant was credited for zero downtime after single-channel failures.
Long-term Reddit posts show sustained performance. One IT manager wrote that “even after months of heavy file workloads, DSM continues to run flawlessly,” with snapshots remaining intact and quick recovery times after simulated failures.
Alternatives
Direct competitors in this space mentioned in forums include QNAP rackmount units, often offering 10GbE onboard. QNAP gains points for port variety but loses out in DSM’s polish and integrated backups. For VMware-heavy environments, professionals favor the RS1221+ due to “Synology plugins and packages” simplifying management inside the hypervisor—something rival OSes struggle to match.
Price & Value
Pricing varies widely—from $1,093 plus exorbitant shipping on eBay to $1,699 new on Amazon. Resale data shows a unit selling for $590 at auction without drives, suggesting strong depreciation in secondary markets. Community buying tips lean toward waiting for sales or bundling with enterprise HDDs for discounts.
Given its intended business audience, many users view it as a value investment in uptime and performance rather than upfront savings. As one education sector director said, “Costs less than downtime.”
FAQ
Q: Does the RS1221+ come with hard drives?
A: No, it ships diskless. You must purchase compatible HDDs or SSDs separately, and many buyers opt for Synology-branded drives for warranty compliance.
Q: How noisy is the RS1221+ compared to desktop NAS?
A: Users report 37–53 dB depending on model (RP variant is louder). It's best suited to enclosed server rooms to avoid workplace disturbance.
Q: Can I install third-party RAM?
A: Physically yes, but Synology only guarantees warranty and support with their official ECC modules.
Q: Is 10GbE networking built-in?
A: No, it requires a PCIe NIC upgrade like the E10M20-T1. Many performance reports assume these cards are installed.
Q: Who benefits most from high-availability clustering?
A: Businesses needing continuous uptime—examples include media production houses and e-commerce platforms keeping services live during maintenance or failure.
Final Verdict: Buy if you’re a small-to-medium business, IT pro, or media team needing compact, high-performance NAS with enterprise-grade reliability. Avoid if you’re a casual home user or lack the networking/storage expertise to configure advanced features. Pro tip from the community: budget for drives, RAM, and optional 10GbE NIC upfront—these transform it from good to exceptional.
