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.

ollama
Ollama vs LM Studio vs GPT4All: Which Local AI Runner to Use
Ollama, LM Studio, and GPT4All each take a different approach to running local AI models. This comparison covers what each tool does best, which hardware it suits, and the right choice for NAS, homelab, and desktop setups.
npu
NPU NAS in Australia: What Is Actually Stocked vs Vapourware
NPU-equipped NAS hardware in Australia is rarer than vendor AI marketing suggests. This guide lists what is genuinely stocked at Australian retailers in 2026, what is vaporware or import-only, and what the NPU actually delivers for local AI workloads.
local ai
When Local AI Is Not Worth It
Local AI on a NAS or mini-PC is not the right choice for everyone. This guide covers the real scenarios where cloud AI wins, when the break-even calculation does not work in local AI's favour, and how to make the honest decision for your situation.
npu
NPU Explained: What It Is and What It Accelerates
An NPU (Neural Processing Unit) is a dedicated chip for AI inference built into modern CPUs. This guide explains what it does, which NAS and mini-PC CPUs have one, what it actually accelerates in 2026, and what it cannot do.
local ai
What LLMs Actually Run on 16GB, 32GB and 64GB RAM
A plain-English guide to which local LLM models fit in 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB RAM, what quality trade-offs to expect at each tier, and why NAS RAM constraints matter more than most guides admit.
local ai
GPU Expansion for NAS: eGPU, PCIe and AI Workloads
Most NAS devices cannot accept a GPU. A small number of QNAP high-end models have PCIe slots, and some support eGPU via Thunderbolt. Here is what is actually possible, what it costs in Australia, and when a dedicated machine is the better call.
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.