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.

UGREEN
UGREEN NAS for Homelab and Self-Hosting in Australia: Which Models and What to Run
UGREEN DXP series NAS hardware makes a capable homelab base at a lower price than comparable Synology or QNAP models. Docker runs on all DXP models via UGOS Pro. This guide covers which model to start with, what to run on it, RAM upgrades, networking, and how UGREEN compares to alternative homelab options in Australia.
UGREEN
Best UGREEN NAS for Photographers in Australia: RAW Files, AI Photo Search and Backups
UGREEN NAS hardware covers the photography use case well once you know which model tier to target. DH series models handle RAW file storage and backup. DXP series adds AI photo search, face recognition via UGOS Pro, and Lightroom catalog sync to a NAS share. This guide compares models and explains the workflow.
UGREEN
Remote Access on UGREEN NAS: UGOS Pro, VPN and NBN Explained
Remote access to a UGREEN NAS on Australian NBN involves understanding CGNAT, which affects most residential connections. This guide covers UGOS Pro built-in remote access, Tailscale as a free CGNAT bypass, and WireGuard VPN for users who prefer a self-hosted solution on DXP models.
UGREEN
Docker on UGREEN NAS: Which Models Support It and How to Get Started
Docker containers run on UGREEN DXP series NAS models only. The DH2300 and DH4300 Plus use ARM CPUs running UGOS and cannot run containers. This guide explains which UGREEN models support Docker, how to install it through UGOS Pro, and which containers are worth running first.
UGREEN
Plex on UGREEN NAS: Complete Setup Guide (Australia)
A step-by-step guide to installing Plex on UGREEN NAS hardware. Covers which UGREEN models support hardware transcoding, how to configure remote access on Australian NBN, and the CGNAT workaround that households behind carrier-grade NAT need. Applies to UGOS Pro on DXP series and includes Tailscale setup.
ugreen
UGREEN NAS 120W DC UPS Review: Is It Worth Adding to Your NASync?
The UGREEN NAS 120W DC UPS is a NAS-specific uninterruptible power supply designed for the NASync lineup. At $159.99 AUD with zero transfer time and NAS auto on/off support, it addresses the most common cause of NAS data corruption. But it does not support the DXP6800 or DXP8800. Here is what you need to know before buying. AU pricing included.
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.