Synology Shr Calculator

Managing storage for a NAS (Network Attached Storage) system can be tricky, especially when dealing with multiple hard drives of varying capacities. The Synology SHR Calculator simplifies this process by calculating your total usable storage in a Synology NAS using Synology Hybrid RAID (SHR).

Synology SHR Calculator

(Minimum 2 drives required for SHR-1; 4+ for SHR-2)

What is a Synology SHR Calculator?

A Synology SHR Calculator is an online tool designed to compute the total usable storage of your NAS when using Synology Hybrid RAID. SHR is Synology’s proprietary RAID management system that allows:

  • Efficient use of drives with different capacities
  • Automatic RAID optimization
  • Data redundancy to protect against drive failures

Key Features of the Calculator:

  • Calculates usable storage for SHR and SHR-2 setups
  • Supports multiple drive sizes and quantities
  • Helps plan NAS expansions efficiently
  • Provides data protection insights
  • Easy-to-use interface for both beginners and advanced users

By using this calculator, NAS owners can avoid overestimating or underutilizing storage space and plan upgrades effectively.

Why Use a Synology SHR Calculator?

  • Optimized Storage Usage: Ensure every GB of your drives is effectively used.
  • Data Protection: Understand redundancy and failure tolerance in your setup.
  • Future-Proofing: Plan expansions without risking existing data.
  • Simplifies RAID Planning: Avoid complex manual calculations.
  • Cost Efficiency: Helps choose the right combination of drives for your budget.

Using a SHR Calculator ensures you balance storage efficiency and data protection for your NAS system.

How to Use a Synology SHR Calculator

Using the SHR Calculator is simple:

  1. Enter Number of Drives: Specify the total number of drives in your NAS.
  2. Enter Drive Capacities: Input the capacity of each drive in TB or GB.
  3. Select SHR Type: Choose between SHR (single drive redundancy) or SHR-2 (dual drive redundancy).
  4. Click Calculate: The tool computes usable storage and data protection details.
  5. View Results: Get the total usable storage, redundancy capacity, and failure tolerance.

This process provides a clear overview of your NAS setup and helps avoid data loss due to misconfiguration.

How Synology SHR Storage is Calculated

The Synology Hybrid RAID (SHR) system calculates storage by combining different drives into a RAID-like system that maximizes usable capacity while maintaining redundancy.

Basic SHR Formula (Plain Text):
Usable Storage = Sum of All Drive Capacities − Largest Drive Capacity (for single drive redundancy)

For SHR-2 (dual redundancy):
Usable Storage = Sum of All Drive Capacities − Sum of Two Largest Drives

Example:

  • Drive 1: 4 TB
  • Drive 2: 4 TB
  • Drive 3: 2 TB

SHR Usable Storage:
4 + 4 + 2 − 4 = 6 TB

This ensures one drive can fail without losing data. SHR-2 would provide protection against two drive failures but slightly reduce usable capacity.

Example Calculation

Suppose you have the following drives in a 5-bay Synology NAS:

  • Drive 1: 6 TB
  • Drive 2: 4 TB
  • Drive 3: 4 TB
  • Drive 4: 2 TB
  • Drive 5: 2 TB

Step 1: Calculate SHR (single redundancy)
Total Capacity = 6 + 4 + 4 + 2 + 2 = 18 TB
Largest Drive Capacity = 6 TB
Usable Storage = 18 − 6 = 12 TB

Step 2: If using SHR-2 (dual redundancy)
Sum of Two Largest Drives = 6 + 4 = 10 TB
Usable Storage = 18 − 10 = 8 TB

The SHR Calculator automates these computations, providing immediate results for complex setups.

Benefits of Using a Synology SHR Calculator

  • Maximizes Storage Efficiency: Optimizes the use of mixed-capacity drives.
  • Ensures Data Protection: Helps understand failure tolerance for safety.
  • Simplifies Planning: Avoids mistakes in RAID setup and future expansions.
  • Saves Time: Eliminates manual calculations for large NAS arrays.
  • Supports Cost Planning: Choose drives efficiently to balance cost and capacity.

Tips for Effective SHR Setup

  • Use drives of similar capacity for maximum efficiency.
  • Always plan for future expansion by leaving bays available.
  • Regularly back up data even with redundancy in place.
  • Monitor drive health to prevent unexpected failures.
  • Use SHR-2 for critical data requiring dual-drive redundancy.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

  1. What is a Synology SHR Calculator?
    It calculates usable storage and redundancy for Synology Hybrid RAID setups.
  2. Who should use it?
    NAS users planning storage setups with multiple drives of different sizes.
  3. Is it accurate?
    Yes, it uses Synology’s official SHR calculation methods.
  4. Can it handle SHR and SHR-2?
    Yes, both single and dual redundancy setups are supported.
  5. Does it work with any NAS model?
    Yes, as long as it supports SHR.
  6. Can it calculate mixed drive capacities?
    Yes, it is designed for drives of different sizes.
  7. Is it free to use?
    Most online SHR calculators are free.
  8. Does it account for drive failure?
    Yes, it shows failure tolerance based on SHR type.
  9. Can I use it for home or business NAS?
    Yes, it works for personal, small business, and enterprise NAS setups.
  10. Does it recommend the number of drives?
    It calculates usable storage based on the drives you enter.
  11. Can it help plan NAS expansions?
    Yes, you can simulate adding new drives to estimate capacity.
  12. Is SHR better than standard RAID?
    SHR provides flexibility for mixed-capacity drives compared to traditional RAID.
  13. Can it calculate total and usable storage?
    Yes, both total installed and usable capacity are shown.
  14. Does it support hot-swappable drives?
    Yes, SHR works with drives added or replaced without downtime.
  15. Can I use it for critical data storage?
    Yes, especially with SHR-2 for dual redundancy.
  16. Does it work with SSDs?
    Yes, SHR can include SSDs or mixed storage.
  17. How often should I recalculate?
    Whenever you add, remove, or replace drives.
  18. Does it save time for NAS setup?
    Yes, it avoids manual calculations and setup errors.
  19. Can it help with RAID planning?
    Absolutely, it helps visualize redundancy and capacity trade-offs.
  20. Is SHR suitable for mixed drive sizes?
    Yes, SHR is specifically designed to optimize mixed-size drives.

Final Thoughts

The Synology SHR Calculator is an essential tool for anyone using or planning a Synology NAS system. By calculating usable storage, redundancy, and failure tolerance, it ensures efficient, safe, and scalable storage management. Whether for home, office, or enterprise, this tool simplifies RAID planning, maximizes capacity, and protects valuable data.