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A Windows PC can access a Synology NAS over SMB without a third-party mount client. WebDAV is another option, including for remote file access, but it needs its own server package and careful HTTPS, certificate, and network configuration. A dedicated client such as ScsDriver may suit a WebDAV drive-letter workflow, but the available evidence does not establish its current features, compatibility, price, or reliability—so it is not a recommendation readers can verify from those claims alone.
Choose the access method before choosing the NAS build
For a Windows computer on a home network, SMB is the conventional starting point: Synology describes SMB as a way for Windows, Mac, and Linux clients that support SMB/CIFS to access NAS data. See Synology’s SMB documentation. WebDAV is an alternative when its HTTP-based access pattern fits the use case; Synology documents access from Windows, macOS, and Linux over HTTP or HTTPS in its WebDAV specifications.
| Consideration | SMB | WebDAV |
|---|---|---|
| Windows access | Supported for clients with SMB/CIFS support, according to Synology’s SMB documentation. | Supported by Synology WebDAV Server over HTTP or HTTPS, according to its WebDAV specifications. |
| Server-side setup | Use the NAS’s SMB service and relevant permissions. | Install and launch the separate WebDAV Server package, then enable the protocol and port in that package; see Synology’s WebDAV Server guide. |
| When a third-party mount client is needed | Not ordinarily needed just to map an SMB share as a Windows network drive. | May be useful if you specifically want a client to present WebDAV storage as a drive letter; verify the chosen client’s current support and behavior. |
SMB and WebDAV are protocols, not interchangeable guarantees of speed, security, or reliability. Pick based on where you will connect from and what your NAS and client support. The available evidence does not establish a benchmark that would justify a general performance ranking.
Set up Synology WebDAV over HTTPS
- In DSM, install and open the separate WebDAV Server package. WebDAV is not enabled from the SMB tab.
- In WebDAV Server, enable HTTPS and note the configured port. Synology lists 5006 as the default HTTPS WebDAV port and 5005 for HTTP; the port can be customized. Check the WebDAV Server guide and Synology’s service-port list for the DSM version you run.
- Use a certificate valid for the hostname in the WebDAV address. A certificate for a different name can trigger certificate warnings or prevent a secure connection.
- For access from outside your home, confirm that the hostname resolves correctly and that your router forwards the required external port to the NAS. Synology’s connection troubleshooting guidance calls out correct port forwarding and a certificate that matches the DDNS or fully qualified domain name (FQDN).
- Grant access only to the accounts and folders that need it, and expose only the service required for your use case. A drive-mount client does not configure DNS, router forwarding, certificates, or NAS permissions for you.
These steps describe the Synology DSM 7 documentation cited above; labels and details can differ in other DSM releases. Keep remote-access configuration narrow rather than opening services indiscriminately.
#1 Best Overall
- Entry-level NAS Personal Storage：UGREEN NAS DH2300 is your first and best NAS made easy. It is designed for beginners who want a simple, private way to store videos, photos and personal files, which is intuitive for users moving from cloud storage or external drives and move away from scattered date across devices. This entry-level NAS 2-bay perfect for personal entertainment, photo storage, and easy data backup (doesn't support Docker or virtual machines).
- Set Your Devices Free, Expand Your Digital World: This unified storage hub supports massive capacity up to 64TB.*Storage drives not included. Stop Deleting, Start Storing. You can store 22 million 3MB images, or 2 million 30MB songs, or 43K 1.5GB movies or 67 million 1MB documents! UGREEN NAS is a better way to free up storage across all your devices such as phones, computers, tablets and also does automatic backups across devices regardless of the operating system—Window, iOS, Android or macOS.
- The Smarter Long-term Way to Store: Unlike cloud storage with recurring monthly fees, a UGREEN NAS enclosure requires only a one-time purchase for long-term use. For example, you only need to pay $459.98 for a NAS, while for cloud storage, you need to pay $719.88 per year, $2,159.64 for 3 years, $3,599.40 for 5 years. You will save $6,738.82 over 10 years with UGREEN NAS! *NAS cost based on DH2300 + 12TB HDD; cloud cost based on 12TB plan (e.g. $59.99/month).
- Blazing Speed, Minimal Power: Equipped with a high-performance processor, 1GbE port, and 4GB RAM on Board, this NAS handles multiple tasks with ease. File transfers reach up to 125MB/s—a 1GB file takes only 8 seconds. Don't let slow clouds hold you back; they often need over 100 seconds for the same task. The difference is clear.
- Let AI Better Organize Your Memories: UGREEN NAS uses AI to tag faces, locations, texts, and objects—so you can effortlessly find any photo by searching for who or what's in it in seconds. It also automatically finds and deletes similar or duplicate photo, backs up live photos and allows you to share them with your friends or family with just one tap. Everything stays effortlessly organized, powered by intelligent tagging and recognition.
What a Windows drive-letter client can—and cannot—do
A WebDAV client that maps a remote location to a drive letter can make that storage appear in Windows applications that work with drive paths. That can be convenient if you already use WebDAV and prefer a mounted-drive interface. It does not make the data physically local, guarantee that every application will behave as if the files are on an internal disk, or replace secure server and network configuration.
The proposed build article recommends ScsDriver and attributes drive-letter mounting and reconnection after disruptions to it, as well as a price of $9.99 per year. Those are author-reported claims, not independently established current specifications. Current official details for supported Windows versions, features, pricing, reliability, and performance are not established here. Treat the product as an option to investigate, not a verified recommendation; do not rely on a subscription figure or recovery behavior without confirming them with the vendor.
Rank #2
- 【Advanced Home Data & Media Hub】For advanced home users who need phone backup, file storage, and centralized data management. Centralize family photos, 4K videos, movies, computer backups, and personal files in one place while running multiple apps for home entertainment and everyday data management. Suitable for households with growing digital libraries and multiple NAS use cases.
- 【Built for Creators, Media Servers & Advanced Apps】Powered by the Intel N100 Quad-Core CPU, 8GB DDR5 RAM, 2.5GbE networking, and dual M.2 NVMe slots, DXP2800 handles large files and heavier workloads with ease. Run Docker, virtual machines, and media server applications compatible with Plex—ideal for content creators, tech enthusiasts, and advanced home users managing 4K videos, RAW photos, personal media libraries, and multiple NAS apps.
- 【Up to 80TB for Growing Digital Libraries】 Supports up to 80TB of storage using two HDD bays and two M.2 NVMe SSD slots for family photos, movies, RAW photos, 4K videos, work files, and device backups. AI photo management supports recognition of people, objects, scenes, and locations, album organization, and duplicate photo detection. HDDs and SSDs are not included.
- 【AI-powered Home Surveillance】Turn DXP2800 into a centralized home surveillance hub by connecting compatible network cameras and storing recordings locally on your NAS. AI-powered features include Face Recognition, People Detection, and Pet Detection, helping advanced home users review important events more efficiently while managing home surveillance and personal data in one place.
- 【One data Center Across Your Devices】Keep files from desktops, laptops, phones, tablets, and other devices together instead of scattered across cloud accounts and external drives. Access, back up, organize, and share data across Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, web browsers, and compatible smart TVs—ideal for creators and advanced home users working across multiple devices.
If your goal is simply a Windows drive letter for a NAS share on your local network, first try Windows’ built-in SMB network-drive mapping. A separate WebDAV mount client is relevant only if you choose WebDAV and need that client’s particular mounting workflow.
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How to think about the proposed home NAS hardware
The described build—a refurbished Dell OptiPlex 7050 Micro, two 4 TB SSDs, and DSM 7.2 running in a virtual machine—is a proposed configuration, not a tested or independently validated recipe. Its compatibility, storage arrangement, and suitability depend on the exact components and setup; the available evidence does not establish them. Verify current hardware support and licensing or installation constraints before committing to a virtualized NAS build.
Rank #3
- Personal & Home Private Storage: Yxk Zero1 2-Bay NAS is your gateway to stress-free private storage. Built for beginners who crave simplicity, it brings your scattered photos, videos, and files together into one secure home hub — no tech skills needed. Say goodbye to the chaos of multiple drives and cloud subscriptions, and hello to effortless access wherever you are. This entry-level 2-bay NAS is perfect for personal entertainment, photo backup, and worry-free data protection — now with Docker support for those ready to explore more.
- One-Time Investment, Lifelong Storage Freedom: Unlike Cloud storage with its recurring subscription fees and ever-shrinking free tiers, Yxk Zero1 NAS is a one-time purchase that puts you in complete control of your data. **The Hard Drive Must Be Purchased Separately — add or replace drives as your collection grows, no monthly bills, no storage limits imposed by others, and no risk of sudden price hikes. Your NAS, your rules, forever.
- Remote Access From Any Device: Once your NAS is set up, that's all you need to remember. Browse, upload, and share files from your phone app, desktop client, or any web browser — Windows, macOS, iOS, or Android. One central hub, everywhere you go.
- Blazing 2.5GbE Speed: With 2.5GbE connectivity — 2.5x faster than standard 1GbE — your files transfer in a flash and 4K streams without buffering. Flexible RAID modes, automated backups, and snapshot recovery work quietly in the background, so your data stays safe from drive failures or accidental loss. Speed without compromise, protection without complexity.
- Your Private Cloud Shared Your Way: You own your data — all of it, 100%. Advanced encryption and granular permission controls keep your files protected whether they're stored locally or shared with family and friends. Set up dedicated spaces for each user, so everyone gets seamless access across devices while keeping personal files truly personal. Privacy isn't a feature; it's the foundation.
Two 4 TB drives in a mirror are not equivalent to 8 TB of usable capacity: mirrored storage keeps a second copy of data on the other drive, so usable capacity is constrained by the smaller drive, before filesystem and system overhead. A mirror can help keep a system available after a single drive failure, but it is not a backup against deletion, malware, theft, or other failures affecting both copies. Maintain a separate backup of important data.
A Synology DS220+ is also named as an appliance alternative in the proposed build, but current availability, compatibility, and suitability are not established here. Compare the exact model and supported drives against current manufacturer specifications before buying. In either route, decide on access protocol, permissions, backups, and remote-access needs alongside the hardware—not after deployment.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Your Personal Streaming Server - Build your own Netflix-style media library and stream 4K movies, shows and photos to any device without monthly fees
- Create Your Own Cloud - Store your entire photo, video and music collection; access from anywhere with fast 282 MB/s transfer speeds
- Creator-Grade Backup Solution - Protect your irreplaceable content with automated backups to cloud services, external drives and remote NAS
- Multi-Layered Data Protection - Combine RAID redundancy, automated backups and snapshot technology to prevent data loss from any cause
- Smart Home Surveillance - Support up to 30 IP cameras with AI detection, instant alerts and secure remote monitoring
Rank #4
- Value NAS with RAID for centralized storage and backup for all your devices. Check out the LS 700 for enhanced features, cloud capabilities, macOS 26, and up to 7x faster performance than the LS 200.
- Connect the LinkStation to your router and enjoy shared network storage for your devices. The NAS is compatible with Windows and macOS*, and Buffalo's US-based support is on-hand 24/7 for installation walkthroughs. *Only for macOS 15 (Sequoia) and earlier. For macOS 26, check out our LS 700 series.
- Subscription-Free Personal Cloud – Store, back up, and manage all your videos, music, and photos and access them anytime without paying any monthly fees.
- Storage Purpose-Built for Data Security – A NAS designed to keep your data safe, the LS200 features a closed system to reduce vulnerabilities from 3rd party apps and SSL encryption for secure file transfers.
- Back Up Multiple Computers & Devices – NAS Navigator management utility and PC backup software included. NAS Navigator 2 for macOS 15 and earlier. You can set up automated backups of data on your computers.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
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