Need to Know IT

Independent Australian Storage & Infrastructure Authority

Storage decisions made simple. Practical NAS, storage, and infrastructure guidance for Australian SMBs, prosumers, and IT teams, with real local pricing and no vendor bias.

Try: Synology setup, Plex NAS, backup strategy, RAID calculator

Choose a NAS (AU buying guide) → Backups done properly (3-2-1) Remote access on NBN/CGNAT Plan capacity, power & speed → NAS Calculators
No sponsored rankings AU pricing & availability checks Editorially reviewed by Need to Know IT Team

Flagship Guides

Start with the guides we keep actively updated for Australian pricing, availability, NBN realities, and safe setup.

Buying & Decision
Best NAS Australia 2026
The main buying guide: all categories, real AU prices, updated monthly.
Best NAS for Beginners
First NAS? Start here. Simple picks with setup guidance for new users.
NAS vs DAS
Not sure you need a NAS? Compare network vs direct-attached storage.
Best NAS for Plex
Hardware transcoding, storage sizing, and AU-tested Plex NAS picks.
Setup & Operating
3-2-1 Backup Strategy
The backup rule every NAS owner should follow. Step-by-step setup.
Remote Access & VPN
CGNAT workarounds, Tailscale, WireGuard: access your NAS from anywhere on AU internet.
Docker on NAS
Run containers and VMs on your NAS. Practical guide for Australian setups.
QNAP vs Asustor
Head-to-head brand comparison with AU pricing and real trade-offs.

Tools & Calculators

Plan your NAS build with real numbers. AU electricity rates, vendor-published RAID formulas, and real-world transfer speeds. Not marketing specs.

RAID Usable Capacity Calculator
See exactly what you'll get after RAID parity, filesystem overhead, and snapshot reserves. Covers Synology SHR, QNAP, TrueNAS RAIDZ, and 4 other ecosystems.
Open Calculator →
NAS Power Cost Calculator (AU)
Estimate monthly and yearly running costs for your NAS. Pre-loaded with Australian state electricity rates, or enter your own from your bill.
Open Calculator →
File Transfer Speed Estimator
Find out what's actually limiting your NAS performance across 1GbE to 10GbE. Real-world ranges, not theoretical maximums.
Open Estimator →
View all tools & quick reference →

Explore by topic

Find the guidance that matches your situation

Not sure where to start? Use the Flagship Guides above.

Synology
DSM guides, model comparisons, and setup walkthroughs for Australian buyers.
QNAP
QTS deep dives, hardware recommendations, and local stock availability.
Asustor
ADM platform guides and value-focused NAS picks for the ANZ market.
SMB Storage
Business NAS decisions: backup strategy, capacity planning, and DR.

Latest Updates

New and updated articles including pricing refreshes, setup walkthroughs, and brand comparisons.

qnap
QNAP QuTS Hero and ZFS Explained: What It Actually Gives You (2026)
QuTS Hero is QNAP's ZFS-based operating system, positioned above standard QTS for users who need enterprise storage features. This guide explains what ZFS actually does, which QuTS Hero features matter for which use cases, and when the RAM overhead and complexity are justified versus when QTS is the better choice.
nas
NAS Not Detected on Network: Troubleshooting Guide (2026)
A NAS that cannot be found on the network is often not a NAS problem at all - it is usually a network configuration issue that can be resolved in under 10 minutes. This guide walks through every common cause of NAS discovery failure, with exact diagnostic steps for Windows, Mac, and the NAS itself.
synology
Synology Volume Crashed: What to Do and How to Recover (2026)
A Synology volume showing Crashed or Critical status is alarming but not always catastrophic. The correct response in the first 10 minutes determines whether you lose data or not. This guide covers what each volume status means, the right sequence of actions, when recovery is possible, and when to call professional data recovery.
nas
NAS Transfer Speed Drops to Zero: Causes and How to Fix It (2026)
NAS transfers that drop to zero mid-copy are one of the most reported NAS problems. The transfer appears to start, progress for a few seconds or minutes, then completely stalls. This guide covers the six most common causes, how to diagnose which one is causing your problem, and the exact steps to fix each.
nas
Family NAS Setup Guide: Multiple Users and Shared Folders (2026)
Setting up a family NAS means creating accounts for each person, personal folders they can access privately, and shared folders the whole household can reach. This guide walks through user accounts, folder permissions, photo backup for everyone's phone, and media sharing for TVs - on both Synology DSM and QNAP QTS.
nas
I Bought a NAS. Now What? Your First 7 Steps (2026)
You have a NAS in the box. You have drives. Now what? This guide walks through the first seven things you should do - in order - whether you bought a Synology, QNAP, or another brand. It covers physical setup, first login, shared folders, backup, mobile access, and the mistakes most first-time NAS owners make.
Browse all articles →

Why trust Need to Know IT?

Need to Know IT is an independent Australian publisher focused on storage and infrastructure decisions. We use a documented evaluation process, cross-check claims against official documentation, and keep key guides updated for Australian pricing and availability. No sponsored rankings. No paid placements.