L’équipe derrière Infuse frappe fort avec la version 8.1.2 de son célèbre lecteur vidéo. Cette mise à jour introduit de nouvelles fonctionnalités, avec la mise à l’échelle des vidéos (upscaling) par intelligence artificielle et améliore encore l’expérience utilisateur. Regardons de plus près le contenu de cette nouvelle mise à jour…

Infuse 8.1.2

Infuse est un lecteur vidéo ultra-performant conçu pour les appareils Apple (iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Mac et Vision Pro). L’application est capable de lire (presque) tous les formats vidéo sans conversion, qu’ils soient stockés localement (NAS) ou dans le Cloud. Avec son interface élégante, ses puissantes fonctionnalités de lecture et son organisation automatique des bibliothèques (métadonnées et illustrations incluses), Infuse s’est rapidement imposé comme un incontournable pour les amateurs de vidéos.

L’application s’améliore régulièrement, mais elle vient de passer une nouvelle étape avec la version 8.1.2.

Nouveautés

• Upscaling vidéo par IA : cette fonctionnalité permet d’améliorer la qualité des vidéos de résolution 1080p et moins, grâce à l’intelligence artificielle. La mise à l’échelle intelligente est disponible sur les puces A16 et ultérieures, ainsi que celles de la série M d’Apple. Ce traitement sur l’appareil peut être activé ou désactivé dans les paramètres de lecture.
• Support du streaming SMB 3.1.1 : cette mise à jour améliore la compatibilité avec le protocole SMB pour un streaming toujours plus fluide.

Limitation importante : La fonctionnalité d’upscaling grâce à l’IA n’est pas disponible sur Apple TV, du moins pas sur les modèles actuellement commercialisés.

Améliorations

L’interface utilisateur a été optimisée :

• • Apparence des contrôles du lecteur améliorée sur tvOS lorsque la vidéo se termine ;
  • Meilleure présentation des jaquettes dans la liste « À suivre » sur macOS.

Corrections

De nombreux bugs ont été résolus pour offrir une expérience utilisateur plus fluide :

• Problèmes liés aux métadonnées Plex corrigées ;
• Résolution des soucis d’affichage, comme les artefacts visuels lors du téléchargement d’éléments non visionnés et sur le tri par date;
• Améliorations fonctionnelles :
  • Rafraîchissement manuel des métadonnées (tvOS) ;
  • Option « Afficher les logos » rétablie sur iPhone ;
  • Nom des playlists désormais visible dans les menus contextuels (iOS/visionOS) ;
  • Correction du tri avec l’article « The » ;
  • Correction de l’animation lors de la suppression d’éléments :
  • Ajustements divers : correction des couleurs de texte lors du changement de thème et correction d’un crash lors de l’ouverture du menu « Ajouter des fichiers »…

En synthèse

Avec cette mise à jour, Infuse consolide sa place parmi les meilleurs lecteurs vidéo pour les appareils Apple. Cette incursion dans l’IA marque une première étape importante, même si elle est réservée qu’à certains appareils.

Pour consulter la liste complète des corrections, rendez-vous sur la page officielle…

UGREEN NASync NAS: One Year Later – The Good, The Bad, and What’s Still Missing?

One year ago, UGREEN made waves in the NAS industry by launching its NASync series through a hugely successful Kickstarter campaign, raising $6.6 million from over 13,000 backers. This new line of NAS devices aimed to offer a cost-effective alternative to established brands like Synology and QNAP, promising powerful hardware, a user-friendly experience, and AI-powered features at a more competitive price. Since its general retail release in mid-2024, UGREEN NASync has been available via Amazon, B&H, and UGREEN’s website, gaining a strong following among enthusiasts and small businesses. But after a year of real-world usage, firmware updates, and customer feedback, does the NASync series truly compete with industry leaders? Has UGREEN delivered on its promises, or are there still major issues preventing it from being a go-to NAS solution? This article will explore where UGREEN has excelled, where it still needs improvement, and whether the NASync series is a worthwhile investment in 2025.

Note – UGREEN are running a promotion during World Backup Day that drops the price significantly on several of their NASync devices on their own website and on Amazon. Find out more here or via the banner link below:

The UGREEN NASync NAS Kickstarter – A Recap

Unlike many hardware startups that struggle with fulfilling Kickstarter orders, UGREEN managed to deliver its NASync units on schedule to most backers, a significant achievement for a crowdfunded product. While there were some reports of faulty units, these appeared to be within normal failure rates for electronics and were generally covered by UGREEN’s replacement and support policies. What truly set UGREEN apart, however, was its unorthodox marketing strategy. Instead of focusing on traditional advertising or securing major sponsorship deals, UGREEN distributed thousands of review units to mid-tier and micro-influencers.

This grassroots approach ensured that discussions about the NASync series remained active and widespread across online tech communities. Unlike companies that pay for high-profile reviews on massive platforms like Linus Tech Tips, UGREEN instead prioritized authenticity and volume, creating long-term engagement from reviewers who actually tested the product in-depth. This strategy has proven successful, keeping UGREEN’s NAS devices relevant in online discussions long after their launch, though it has also meant that larger, mainstream tech publications have not widely covered the NASync series. While this marketing approach has helped build a loyal user base, it also raises concerns about how well UGREEN’s products will compete with more established brands in the long run if they do not gain broader mainstream recognition.

The UGREEN NAS Software Development So Far…

When the NASync series launched, its UGOS operating system was one of its most significant unknowns. Unlike Synology DSM or QNAP QTS, which have been refined for years, UGOS was a first-generation NAS OS that lacked many critical features and refinements expected by experienced users.

Over the past year, UGREEN has made steady improvements, rolling out regular firmware updates that have expanded its functionality. One of the most notable additions is the inclusion of Jellyfin as a native app, providing an alternative media server option for users who want to stream videos without needing complex third-party installations.

However, Plex support remains absent, a surprising omission considering Plex is the most widely used NAS-based media server. Another major shortcoming is the lack of iSCSI support, which is essential for business users, virtualization environments, and enterprise-level storage solutions.

While UGREEN has stated that iSCSI support is on their roadmap, it has yet to be implemented, making the NASync series a less viable option for professional users who rely on networked block storage solutions. Despite these improvements, UGOS is still not as polished or feature-rich as competing NAS operating systems, and for users who need advanced storage capabilities, its limitations remain a concern.

UGREEN NAS and Security – After 1 Year

Security was one of the biggest concerns when UGREEN first launched its NASync series, as it initially lacked two-factor authentication (2FA) and had limited built-in protections for remote access. Over the past year, UGREEN has addressed some of these concerns, adding 2FA and expanding firewall settings to include IP blocking, MAC filtering, and customizable access controls.

These updates have significantly improved overall security, but the absence of dedicated anti-ransomware protection remains a critical weakness. Competing NAS brands such as Synology and QNAP have introduced automated ransomware protection tools, snapshot-based rollback systems, and real-time anomaly detection, features that UGOS has yet to incorporate.

The NASync series does provide basic malware and antivirus scanning, but it is still lacking the more advanced automated security solutions that have become standard in the NAS industry. Users who are particularly concerned about security may prefer to disable UGREEN’s remote access services and instead use third-party VPN solutions like Tailscale or even install an alternative NAS operating system such as TrueNAS or UnRAID, both of which UGREEN supports without voiding hardware warranties.

UGREEN NAS and Local AI Use

UGREEN has been heavily investing in AI-driven functionality, integrating photo recognition, AI-assisted indexing, and content categorization into UGOS. Unlike cloud-based AI solutions, these run entirely on the NAS itself, keeping user data private and locally processed. This makes UGREEN one of the few NAS brands to offer AI-powered automation without cloud dependencies, a feature that privacy-conscious users appreciate.

However, with the recent announcement of UGREEN’s new IDX series, which focuses even more on AI-powered storage and advanced computing, there is growing uncertainty about the long-term future of the NASync series. It remains unclear whether UGREEN will continue to develop UGOS at the same pace for NASync devices or shift focus toward its newer, AI-driven IDX models.

While UGREEN insists that the NASync and IDX series will coexist as separate product lines, there is a possibility that software development for NASync may slow down in favor of newer hardware platforms. This uncertainty may deter potential buyers who want long-term software support guarantees.

UGREEN NASync Devices and Mixed Global Availability

Despite the NASync series’ popularity, UGREEN has struggled to expand its global distribution network. While the devices are widely available in the US, Germany, and select European markets, many regions still lack direct purchasing options. The UK recently saw improved availability, but other regions remain underserved, forcing potential buyers to import devices at higher costs.

Given the strong demand and continued interest, it is surprising that UGREEN has not prioritized expanding its retail presence globally. If the company wants to compete seriously with major NAS brands, broader availability through additional international retailers should be a key focus moving forward.

UGREEN NAS 1 Year Later – Verdict

One year in, UGREEN’s NASync series has made a strong impression in the NAS market, proving that it is more than just a one-off experiment. The company has demonstrated consistent software development, ongoing support, and a commitment to hiring industry experts to strengthen its NAS business. However, the NASync series still falls short in key areas, particularly iSCSI support, security automation, and mainstream availability. For enthusiasts and tech-savvy users willing to customize their setup, UGREEN’s NASync devices offer solid hardware at an attractive price. But for those who expect a polished, fully mature NAS experience, Synology and QNAP still lead the market. UGREEN has the potential to become a serious competitor in the NAS space, but its future success depends on how aggressively it continues to develop UGOS, improve security, and expand its global footprint.

20% OFF UGREEN NAS this World Backup Day

UGREEN is currently running a Work Backup Day promotion, offering a 20% discount on NASync devices purchased through their official website and Amazon. This limited-time deal runs from March 25th to March 31st, making it an excellent opportunity for those considering a UGREEN NAS for data protection and backup storage. With the growing importance of secure, local backups, especially for businesses and home users managing large datasets, this promotion provides a cost-effective way to invest in a NAS solution. Whether you’re looking to set up automated backups, secure your media collection, or expand your existing storage infrastructure, the discount makes UGREEN’s already competitive pricing even more attractive. However, with global availability still being somewhat inconsistent, buyers should check regional stock levels and shipping options before purchasing.

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WE LOVE COFFEE

QNAP frappe fort avec l’annonce de son nouveau NAS full-flash : le TS-h1277AFX. Il s’agit d’un boîtier haut de gamme à 12 baies conçu pour les créateurs de contenu cherchant à optimiser leur flux de travail collaboratif. Proposé à un tarif de 4 036 € HT, ce modèle s’adresse aux utilisateurs exigeants qui ne transigent ni sur la performance ni sur la fiabilité…

QNAP TS-h1277AFX

Le QNAP TS-h1277AFX se distingue par une configuration assez conséquente. Il propose 12 emplacements en façade dédiés aux SSD, garantissant des vitesses de lecture et d’écriture optimales. A l’intérieur, on retrouve un processeur AMD Ryzen 7 Octo Core (série 9000) cadencé à 3,8 GHz (mode turbo jusqu’à 5,5 GHz), épaulé par 32 Go de RAM DDR5 ECC, extensible jusqu’à 192 Go.

Son processeur graphique intégré (iGPU Radeon) ouvre la voie à des usages intensifs tels que le montage vidéo en temps réel, le traitement des effets visuels (VFX) ou encore la production multimédia avancée.

Une connectique complète et évolutive

Du coté de la connectique, le QNAP TS-h1277AFX dispose de 1 port USB 3.0 à l’avant, 2 ports USB 3.2 Gen2 à l’arrière (1* Type-A et 1* Type-C), 1 sortie audio-vidéo HDMI 1.4b, 2 ports réseau 2,5 Gb/s et 2 ports réseau 10 Gb/s. A noter, et c’est important, qu’il offre également 3 emplacements PCIe Gen 4.

QuTS hero

Ce NAS fonctionne sous QuTS hero, le système optimisé pour la fiabilité et la sécurité des données. Il intègre l’autoréparation ZFS, la déduplication, la redondance RAID et l’optimisation SSD, permettant ainsi de maximiser l’efficacité et la durée de vie des disques. Ces fonctionnalités assurent une protection avancée contre les pannes matérielles et garantissent un stockage immuable pour les fichiers critiques.

QuTS Hera fait du TS-h1277AFX un choix idéal pour les environnements où la perte ou la corruption de données n’est pas une option.

Prix et disponibilité

Le QNAP TS-h1277AFX est déjà disponible à la commande au prix de 4 036 € HT. Si le tarif est relativement conséquent, il reste compétitif compte tenu des performances et des fonctionnalités proposées. Ce NAS s’impose comme un investissement stratégique pour les professionnels du multimédia et les entreprises ayant des besoins exigeants en matière de stockage collaboratif.

Pour en savoir plus, rendez-vous sur la page officielle du fabricant…

UniFi Cloud Gateway Fiber Review – Overkill?

UniFi has absolutely been slamming hardware releases in the first quarter of 2025. Last year, they launched a new NAS solution, and in the last few months, we’ve seen them hammer out a wide range of new surveillance accessories. However, February 2025 has seen a huge rejuvenation of a number of wired and Wi-Fi devices in their router and cloud gateway lineup. Although we’ve seen several impressive solutions added to their new Wi-Fi 7-equipped portfolio, probably the most hench one of all is the UniFi Cloud Gateway Fiber model, the UCG-Fiber. The popular UniFi Cloud Gateway series has always served as a much more compact and network-focused alternative to the bulkier UniFi Dream Machine and traditional router devices from the brand, but this new model really does scale the connectivity up to 11! Featuring multiple 10G connections spanning both copper and fiber, the system features PoE and multiple 2.5G LAN ports. Add to that arguably the most powerful internal hardware that the brand has yet rolled out (though realistically, UniFi doesn’t really choose powerhouse internal components normally anyway) and expandable M.2 NVMe storage, and what you have here is a system that manages to do everything that a bulky rack-mount-scale Dream Machine seemingly promises but in a physical scale that you can genuinely fit in your coat pocket—though I wouldn’t recommend doing that.

So let’s discuss the UniFi Cloud Gateway Fiber and whether it deserves your data!

UniFi Cloud Gateway Fiber (UCG-Fiber) Review – Quick Conclusion

The UniFi Cloud Gateway 7 Fiber is a prosumer/business device that does not overpromise and is quintessentially UniFi in its architecture—for good and for bad! There is a lot of good to talk about: almost unparalleled external network connectivity for its scale, the unbeatable utilization of the UniFi Network Controller software, ease of setup combined with a complexity of features and control—the UCG-Fiber does it all and does it phenomenally well. Small inconsistencies in the presentation, such as the M.2 slot adapter not being included with the initial retail kit, I find puzzling, however, and perhaps a little bit more wiggle room on the flexibility of the WAN/LAN on those 2.5G ports is open to debate (CORRECTION, You CAN adjust the 2.5G Ports to WANs, but you need to disable WAN services on the other 10G ports manually first). But those aside, it really is hard to fault. Plucky little box, and at $249 for a huge amount of scalability and expandability, you would be hard-pushed to find anything better at this price tag that can do what this can do—while still remaining largely license-free!

BUILD QUALITY - 9/10

HARDWARE - 8/10

PERFORMANCE - 8/10

PRICE - 9/10

VALUE - 9/10

8.6

PROS

Multi-Gigabit Connectivity – Supports dual 10G SFP+ ports, a 10GbE RJ45 port, and four 2.5GbE ports, allowing for high-speed networking.
PoE+ Support – One 2.5GbE port includes PoE+, enabling direct connection of UniFi APs, cameras, or other PoE-powered devices.
Integrated NVMe Storage Support – Allows installation of an NVMe SSD (up to 2TB) for UniFi Protect NVR functionality and other applications.
Compact & Fanless Design – Small form factor with silent operation, making it suitable for desktop or rack environments without additional noise.
License-Free SD-WAN & VPN Features – Includes WireGuard, OpenVPN, Teleport VPN, and Site-to-Site VPN without additional licensing costs.
Centralized UniFi Management – Seamlessly integrates with UniFi Network, Protect, and Talk, allowing for easy cloud-based management.
Stateful Layer 7 Firewall & IDS/IPS Security – Advanced traffic filtering, intrusion detection, and ad/content blocking for enhanced network security.
Lower Power Consumption – ARM-based quad-core CPU ensures efficient performance with lower heat output and energy usage compared to x86 alternatives.

CONS

Additional Cost for NVMe Tray – The M.2 SSD adapter tray is not included, requiring a separate purchase to enable internal storage.
Non-Upgradable RAM – Comes with 3GB of DDR4 RAM, which cannot be expanded, potentially limiting future scalability for advanced applications.
Lack of WiFi Support might be a pain for some on day 1

UniFi Cloud Gateway Fiber (UCG-Fiber) Review – Design

If you have ever been around or owned a UniFi device, you will be unsurprised to hear that the UCG-Fiber is easy on the eye, and a great deal of attention has gone into the design. Like the majority of UniFi devices, the system arrives with a dynamic and animated LCD panel that gives you real-time information about the traffic, utility of the device, and real-time information on IPS and network status.

Unfortunately, it is not a touchscreen, which isn’t the end of the world, but it’s a shame as a few other LCD-equipped UniFi devices have this feature, and some might assume that all of their devices follow suit. Needless to say, this LCD panel can have its brightness adjusted easily, be set to a schedule, or have the details it displays modified within the system settings somewhat.

The physical scale of this device, when future-set alongside a larger rack-mount-designed UniFi Dream Machine, is pretty bloody impressive. Arriving at 221mm by 127mm by 30mm, this thing is smaller than most ISP-free routers, yet crams in physical network ports and internal storage that I’ll touch on later. Additionally, the system is fanless and is completely silent when in operation.

Separated into multiple LAN and multiple WAN ports, the main traffic ports are all 2.5GbE Ethernet, and the system software supports numerous services for connecting VLANs, failover services, jumbo frame adjustments, and a plethora of network security settings that I will touch on later in the article. Given the wide-ranging bandwidth of all other connections on this device, I’m not sure anyone would have judged the brand if they tried to get away with one or two standard gigabit ports here. They really have scaled things up, and it’s pretty clear that this system is designed with tremendous future-proofing in mind. One of the individual 2.5G ports has something extra special, too.

One of the physical 2.5G ports also supports Power over Ethernet (PoE), which means that you will be able to take advantage of connecting smart network office peripherals for communication, or more likely, PoE-equipped cameras that you can connect and power via this port while using the UniFi Protect surveillance software installed on this device.

But I can understand how this single PoE port is intended more as an additional service for a locally deployed camera by the Cloud Gateway, rather than as a means to convince users to factor this in as a central point for their surveillance setup. Given the combination of copper and SFP connections on this device, it wouldn’t surprise me if one of the main factors preventing more PoE ports is simply heat generation at this scale.

However, one of the other arguably more general-purpose utilizations for this PoE port is to take advantage of one of the many multi-port PoE-powered network switches provided by UniFi in both small and medium form factors. Delivering up to 30 watts of power, which is enough to power either of the 2.5G fully equipped portable switches in the brand’s portfolio. Alternatively, thanks to the rather adaptable UniFi software that this system runs on, you can also take advantage of one of the many newly launched Wi-Fi 7-equipped PoE-powered AP devices that the brand recently rolled out. This single 2.5G PoE port provides both high power and high bandwidth performance to the U7, U7 Pro, U6 IP devices in the recent 2025 portfolio, and simply connecting one of these many AP devices to this single port allows you to immediately add an SSID tier to your network configuration in less than one minute—turning this hugely capable wired network management device into an all-purpose, business-class network router setup!

If you do choose to use this PoE port for a camera device, UniFi has a wide range of PoE-capable cameras spanning all the way to 4K, Edge AI services, and enterprise-grade surveillance equipment that, just like the wireless IP devices, can be added and deployed in less than a minute, with the UniFi Protect surveillance software already available on the UCG device with no license restrictions.

Using UniFi’s own cameras, you can utilize up to 12 HD cameras, 8 2K cameras, or four 4K cameras on this device. Alternatively, thanks to a changing stance by UniFi on their Protect platform, you can now also take advantage of third-party cameras that support ONVIF and better leverage existing surveillance equipment you may have in your home or office if you’re migrating your network setup over to the UniFi platform via the upgrade of a UCG-Fiber.

Moving away from those multiple 2.5G ports, we now need to talk about the other really impressive thing about the UCG-Fiber—and that is that this tiny box manages to arrive with three individual 10GbE connections. The UCG-Fiber features two SFP+ fiber 10GbE connections, but also, interestingly, an additional 10G Base-T copper connection as well. Given that these kinds of connections on a basic unmanaged switch would already push the price point of this device comfortably into the $200 mark, the fact that this system arrives with all of these connections, SSD scalability, UniFi capabilities, and PoE support all add up to this being phenomenal.

The UCG-Fiber has an internal switching support of 9.3Gbps performance, which, although may sound like less than the potential 40Gbps output that this system features, realistically, both the internal hardware profile this system has and the general use of this device were never going to max things out. And as long as the internal switching capacity of this system can match that of the largest possible single connection, I’m totally cool with this.

3x 10GbE connections mean that not only are you able to introduce an exceedingly high-performance WAN connection into your network that will be future-proof for at least a decade, but if you wanted to deploy a multi-site setup with fiber cabling between locations, there is a lot of compact yet powerful network packet handling on the table here! Plus, why not use another 10G port for a high-performance network switch and increase your broad network capabilities substantially, while still allowing great network traffic from the connected multi-port switch into your UCG-Fiber with ease? Finally, don’t overlook the benefits of introducing a 10GbE NAS into your UCG-Fiber, and either allow one user up to 1,000MBps transmission to the NAS or potentially 20 users to all enjoy gigabit network connection to that NAS. The potential for scalability on your network is phenomenal for such a small device.

However, it is worth highlighting that, as good as this is, I do have a little bit of a gripe with the way the brand has approached the 10G WAN/LAN connections on the UCG-Fiber. Although greater-than-gigabit internet speeds are becoming more common around the world, the availability of 10Gb internet is still pretty rare. While I can see the benefits of future-proofing by allowing multiple 10GbE connections, the fact that you cannot change one of the 2.5G ports on this device to a WAN if needed means that you are potentially losing out on quite a lot of network bandwidth. To elaborate, most users—even with high-performance internet services in their home or office—are unlikely to have greater-than-2.5GbE internet speeds for a good few years yet. Because the UCG-Fiber only allows two ports on this device to support WAN failover, that means that even if you were running basic sub-gigabit internet speeds like most users do, you are still restricted and potentially wasting the full capabilities of a 10G port on an ISP service that is never going to hit those heights. MASSIVE CORRECTION! You CAN chose to use the 2.5G ports as WAN/WAN2 and free up ALL the 10G ports if you like, however you need to ensure that WAN services are disabled on the existing 10G ports (setting them to LAN or DISABLED) first, and then the option to select ‘WAN’ or ‘WAN2’ on the 2.5G ports will appear. Really, REALLY pleased with this!

Another element that I have mostly positive, but not exclusively positive comments on is the M.2 NVMe SSD storage that this system supports. As mentioned, the UCG-Fiber allows you to install an M.2 NVMe SSD into the base of the system, and from there, you can use this storage to install multiple UniFi applications and services that will all run seamlessly from the UCG-Fiber network dashboard. These include automation, communication, and surveillance applications—all of which are license-free and included with the price of this system. Additionally, M.2 NVMe storage on this Gen 3×2 SSD line is going to provide fantastic performance and will ensure that particularly high-frequency services or high-demand services like AI-assisted surveillance setups run fantastically well here.

So, what is my problem with the way they have approached M.2 NVMe storage on the UCG-Fiber? It would be easy for me to criticize and say that the system should arrive with an SSD, but I’m not that naïve—at the $249 price this system comes in at, I think it would be unrealistic to assume that it would arrive with an SSD included. No, my problem isn’t that it doesn’t come with an SSD out of the box—my problem is twofold. Number one, in order to install an SSD inside the UCG-Fiber, you have to purchase a separate M.2 adapter tray that slides into the available base of the system. Who designed this??? And why do users have to purchase the SSD tray separately instead of it being included with the system?

I understand that users should be expected to buy their own scalable storage based on their capacity needs, but not including the tray that you need to insert the SSD into—and then charging an additional £15 for it—is just insane. My other issue is that although SSDs are less prone to physical or mechanical issues compared to traditional hard drives, they are not flawless.

SSDs—whether SATA or M.2—are still prone to occasional failures, and if an SSD fails, all the data on that drive is most likely lost. In the case of the UCG-Fiber, as the system only has a single M.2 slot, it does not support RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disks), which would allow for a safety net by having another drive keep the data safe. Equally, the UCG-Fiber does not have any USB connectivity to allow for connecting a storage drive for periodic backups of your surveillance data that you may be creating regularly on this system. It’s a small detail, but I’m kind of surprised that this was not factored in during the design stage, given the huge importance of the storage drive on this system. In the grand scheme of things, I’m still grateful that this high-performance cloud gateway device has storage capabilities as comprehensive as it does—but it is by no means flawless.

The UniFi Cloud Gateway Fiber (UCG-Fiber) is powered by a quad-core ARM Cortex-A73 processor clocked at 2.2GHz. The Cortex-A73 is a relatively efficient CPU architecture that balances performance and power consumption, making it a suitable choice for a network gateway device. While not designed for high-performance computing tasks, this processor is more than capable of handling network routing, firewall management, VPN services, and deep packet inspection (DPI) without significant bottlenecks. The inclusion of Layer 7 firewall capabilities, IDS/IPS security measures, and traffic identification suggests that the CPU is optimized for handling packet filtering and security functions efficiently. However, its overall processing power is still limited compared to x86-based solutions found in enterprise-grade routers and gateways. Given its ARM-based architecture, the UCG-Fiber benefits from reduced power consumption and lower heat output, allowing for a compact, fanless design that operates silently while maintaining stable performance.

The UCG-Fiber is equipped with 3GB of DDR4 memory, which is a reasonable allocation for a device of this type. This amount of RAM ensures that the system can handle multiple concurrent processes, including traffic management, VPN sessions, intrusion detection, and SD-WAN operations without excessive slowdowns. While 3GB may seem modest compared to more powerful network appliances, it is sufficient for the expected workload of small to medium-sized networks.

The RAM configuration is non-expandable, meaning that users cannot upgrade memory for increased performance, which could become a limitation in scenarios where more demanding security and networking tasks are required. However, for general usage, including running UniFi applications, managing multiple VLANs, and handling routing tasks, the provided memory should be adequate. The combination of ARM-based processing and DDR4 memory allows the UCG-Fiber to deliver a balanced mix of efficiency and functionality, positioning it as a suitable choice for businesses and advanced home networks that require multi-gigabit connectivity with software-defined networking features.

UniFi Cloud Gateway Fiber (UCG-Fiber) Review – Software and Services

IMPORTANT !!!- Currently the Software review of the UCG-Fiber is in progress, but I have already reviewed the UCG-Fiber and UX7 devices which are very similar indeed. So, whilst I complete the UCG-Fiber review, I have included the software review of the other 2 devices below, as they are running near identical services and features (but with differences with regard to port/wifi features. I will be amending the below text very soon, but include it here to give a better understanding of what this UniFi controller software can do. Apologies for this in the meantime.

Realistically, no one should be spending inordinate amounts of time using the software that your router arrives with – that’s just a simple fact. Indeed, you want you router (or any network appliance) to just do it’s job! Therefore talking about just how good the UniFi network software is, and how the UniFi Dream Router 7 capitalized on it, is going get a mixed reaction depending on your own level of network knowledge and custom requirements. I will say straight away though that you will really, REALLY struggle to find a more capable and flexible router software at this price point. You will struggle to find ANY setting, config, adjustable parameter of control measure not included with the UCG-Fiber. First off, there is the mobile application. As the UCG-Fiber hosts the UniFi network software, ALOT of the iOS and Android official UniFi applications are supported by the UCG-Fiber.

Firs time setup of the router using the mobile application (you can use a desktop machine with your web browser if you prefer of course) is incredibly straight forward. The Router can be found via the local area network or Bluetooth within 2 minutes of it’s first power-on. One big misconception (I was guilt of this too a while back) was that you have to register a UI.com account online in order to use UniFi appliances. This is NOT true. You can set the device up without a UI account (and even WITHOUT an internet connection) and doing so just needs to you create a local administrator account. It is recommended to use a UI account of course, as it allowed for easier comms and access for your larger Unifi network, but it is by no means compulsory. You can also create a system backup (with your config data of users, settings, SSIDs, etc) and backup online if you choose – and then easier pull this backup if you wish during initialization easily.

Upon creating local credentials or resisting an online account, the router performs an initial internet performance test and then goes about setting up your router. Much like other recent UniFi releases, the system has a ‘gamer’ style installation screen that shows tips and guides on how to get the most out of your router – very rare in a router I will say.

The setup process takes around 2-3 minutes and after that, you have pretty much FULL control and access to the Router’s configuration from your mobile phone. You can definitely tell that UNiFi have put the hours in with regard to the UX of the mobile application. Routers (and switches for that matter) are NOT easy systems to try and simplify – let along ocndence in a compact mobile UI. However they really have excelled in the latest version of their software.

Management of individual devices on the network are all presented intuitively in the app, and alongside their position/priority/bandwidth/consumption being presented, you can also use the app to institute controls and rules for 1, some or all devices on the fly – with instant implementation. Again, it’s no the fact that you can ‘do’ this that I am impressed by, it is the ease and intuitive way it is presented in a mobile app.

The same applies to the physical connections and wireless connections on the UCG-Fiber itself, with full remote control with the app to bridge, negotiate, failover, vLAN, disable, etc any port easily – as well as create new SSIDs, assign channels and push client devices around on the router side in 3-4 clicks. All of this is performed responsively and easily in the app.

On the subject of client devices, let’s discuss that WiFi 7 support. WiFi 7 opens up ALOT of performance and general bandwidth advantages. WiFi routers and client devices have been around now for around 10-12 months, as well as the increase in availability globally of greater than Gigabit internet services. Most internet service providers have already a router with their services – but not many provide WiFi 7 routers with their services, even at greater than gigabit speeds. So, what is the advantage? For the quicker (ish) version, watch my video below.

Now, you might well not have any devices right now that are WiFi 7, but plan on upgrading to WiFi 7 at some point in the further over a PCIe upgrade card. Even if you are using a system that lacks a PCIe upgrade clot, you can get small m.2 upgrade cards for a WiFi 7 / 802.11be upgrade for as little as $15-20 here. Hell, you do not even need to open up your system, as you can now get WiFi 7 to USB adapter upgrades for as little as $25-30, which is exactly what used when testing the router with my Windows 11 laptop for the earlier testing of the UCG-Fiber.

The USB-to-WiFi 7 Adapter I used in my testing of the UCG-Fiber was this one HERE on Aliexpress.

This USB to WiFi 7 adapter allowed for immediate 802.11be connectivity between my laptop and the UniFi Dream Router 7, over the now available 6Ghz band. Although there is more to WiFi 7 and this router than just that additional frequency. The UCG-Fiber SUPPORTS 2.4Ghz and 5ghz (just like all WiFi 6 and 6E routers), but crucially alongside the 6Ghz band allowing for more active concurrent connections, you are also able to take advantage of 320Mhz bandwidth (till now WiFi 6/6E only allowed for up to the 160Mhz connections). This means that you have a greater bandwidth per connection – though you can only have a finite amount of connections at 320Mhz at once. This is COMBINED with WiFi allowing for overlapping connections too and 1 device enjoying multiple connections at once.

This means that not only can you match the speed of a normal wired gigabit connection, but you can ABSOLUTELY SMASH IT! As you can see below, using this USB adapter on my regular windows laptop, connecting to the UniFi Dream Router 7 over the 6Hz band – I was able to hit 2.8Gb/s wireless connectivity!!! That is even faster than using one of the physical 2.5GbE connections on the UCG-Fiber.

It’s worth remembering though that WiFi 7 is NOT perfect and although it presents a lot of benefits for bandwidth improvements, reduced latency and increased encryption options, support of the wider frequencies and abilities of a larger WiFi 7 populated network are still a little ‘early days’.

By that, I mean that although you can hit high performance with 320Mhz connections, the actual radio frequency opened up right now (depending on your region) is pretty slim. The UCG-Fiber router DOES show you the full radio spectrum, separated dynamically with each 20/40/80/160/320Mhz block that is spread across 2.4/5/6Ghz – but ALOT of it is still unavailable to use in many regions.

These limitations are likely going to reduce over time and, therefore you have to look at a decent % of the WiFi capabilities of the UniFi Dream Router 7 as ‘future proofing’ – but just keep in mind that although you can deploy ALOT of wireless (and wired) devices in a UCG-Fiber managed environment, those peak 802.11be/WiFi 7 bandwidth improvements are going to be shared only by a few client devices – in reality the real benefits are going to be felt with the opening up of the 6Ghz frequency allowing for more devices to be spread over all three frequencies and bands at 80/160Mhz.

Anotehr note to keep in mind is that the 6Ghz band has a shorter area of effect than 5Ghz (which likewise has a shorter area than WiFi 5). So WiFi7 is at it’s best in closer proximity without walls – more as a cable alternative if you are in the same areas as your UniFi router. But when I connected to a 10GbE NAS (connected to the 10GbE port of my UCG-Fiber), I was able to hit 187MB/s write easily (though read performance was oddly inconsistent – possibly related to the NAS, still investigating – TBC) in CrystalDiskMark.

Likewise, similar testing with the WiFi 7 USB Adapter, through the UCG-Fiber and at the 10GbE connected NAS hit 260MB/s+ easily. Once again, I would have easily respected this if I had been connecting with the NAS using the 2.5GbE ports – but I am hugely impressed that I was able to hit this benchmark over a WiFi connection (thanks to that 2.8Gbps 6Ghz setup). Respect!

Additionally it is very easy to monitor the position, WiFi coverage, Channel and performance of any device connected to the UCG-Fiber controller software. Also allowing you to create rules o the fly to automatically manage them later as/when devices arrive.

These same controls also extend all the way down to the ISP input of the UCG-Fiber AND IF YOU HAVE MULTIPLE uNIfI AP/Nodses in your setup, can control how/where bandwidth is allocated and the priority of devices/nodes that are unique to your own deployment.

The dashboard features a grouped UI and analytics overview that allows you to see the price traffic that is going into a physical LAN, grouped VLAN or just a single devices on the network – allowing you to see the sites/services/geo data in real time too!

And likewise as before, you can extent these analytics all the way to the root UCG-Fiber router to see EVERYTHING happening in realtime in your network and internet connectivity.

Blacklisting (and whitelisting occasionally) or certain websites is also easy to action manually when needed too – or you can import an existing database of ‘bad’ site lists directly into the UCG-Fiber to simplify the process.

Once rules, priorities, orders of services and limits have been created, you can then apply them to individual devices, networks, groups, vLANS, etc – even to a physical LAN port if needed. These rules are completely customizable and if 1 parameter is changed on the fly, it immediately actions across all selected devices.

It’s also worth highlighting that UniFi has its own enterprise user identity service (‘Identity Endpoint’) that you can apply to devices if you want to ensure that connected devices on the LAN or WAN are truly secure (client auth tools on each device) and this extends to the VPN and UniFi network client device access too.

I also should stress that although the UCG-Fiber seems like a very, VERY proprietary router – UniFi do NOT lock you into having to create an account with them or use only their services. You can set the system up for LOCAL ONLY management and control if you choose. Or even hybrid the two and create 1 secure ‘Identity Endpoint sys admin’, but others are ‘local’ only – nice balance tbh.

And new users (super user or billy basic!) can be created, modified and deleted at any time!

Control and configuration of the UCG-Fiber are very straight forward and there are pretty high end configuration options in the backend of the system to control both the local network setup, as well as WiFi connectivity out the box (or added later in the case of systems like the UCG Fiber via the U7/U7 Pro/U6).

And professional SI’s/Technicians can set the system to ‘truly open’ if they wish, and this can be securely controlled as needed. This allows for opening up frequencies in the case of a WiFi setup down the road and advanced settings related to antenna gain/adaption.

The system configuration and control are surprisingly extensive for a $279 router and puts it well, well into the realms of an enterprise-grade solution, despite its Prosumer/SMB price point.

Unsurprisingly, the UCG-Fiber has internet speed test tools (either using the native web browser GUI or the WiFiman application for Android/iOS).

But its goes further, with the ability to monitor the packet management in your network (covered earlier) to such as extent that you can even block the server calls to specific sites/vendors that are going through the UniFi manager and block them SPECIFICALLY. Eg, want to keep google services, but NOT YouTube (either for work/professional reasons, or because of your kids homework deadline?) – you can do that REALLY easily.

And you can apply these rules easily and analytics with ease via the topographical network monitoring window. So you can visually see the devices in the network, then apply the rules, in case a new device gets sneakily added to circumnavigate any limits/restricts in palce.

And if you see a sudden spike in internet use, you can (in seconds) isolate the device that is causing it AND see what it is – allowing yo to block/monitor as needed.

Equally, you can set some pretty extensive security provisions to pre-emptively kick in when an unknown device arrives on the scene, or if an existing device in the network begins to be suspicious.

The same goes for creating day 1/100 rules for port forwarding, traffic management and Firewall rules. All of this is HUGELY customizable and most pages in the UniFi GUI feature both ‘simple/easy’ views, as well as much more complex advanced views as needed at the top of each page.

The multiple LAN ports can also be scaled up/down as needed if your existing network is not quite ready for the full network connectivity of the UCG-Fiber too.

And thanks to the UCG-Fiber featuring multiple WAN ports, you can decide how you want to handle multiple ISP services into your home/business, to separate/combine/balance between them with ease across your connected devices.

Additionally, each WAN port can be adjusted to a ‘WAN’ or ‘LAN’ roles as needed – even disabled. So, whether it is as a failover internet connection, or that you want to free up that 10GbE port for use as a LAN – The choice is yours!

Also, as mentioned earlier, as the system supported internal storage via the slot, you can go ahead and run UniFi Protect surveillance software too – as well as as an additional switch to the available LAN ports, for cameras or add a camera to the POE port.

There are actually several different surveillance, communications, display or smart appliances in the UniFi portfolio that can be installed on the internet storage drive + also means you have more scope for that POE ready port.

It gets to a point (perhaps) that there are TOO many security and configuration options, and people looking for just a router to ‘just do it’s job’ will be somewhat overwhelmed. Most of the important settings are already set pretty well, but I never the less recommend first time buyers take the time to explore the configuration options present in order to better understand what they are buying here in terms of it’s abilities to protect your network and internet services.

This extends right the way down to the more advanced prevention and intrusion protection measures (Dark Web blocking too). Again, pretty advanced for many, but take the time to look through them if you purchase the UCG-Fiber.

And if in doubt, you can use the UniFi Teleport VPN service to anonymize your site-to-site exchanges (again, very ‘first party’ and more about SD-WAN level stuff, but does form part of the purchase here).

Also, keep in mind that the UCG-Fiber has the option to create Airgaps in it’s wired network AND WiFi connectivity (if you want to add that) that allows you to create automated access times – especially useful for businesses who want to lock down access outside of the usual 9-5 operational hours.

If you want to use WiFi services, yo can create multiple SSIDs of varying degrees of access – and yes, all the controls on security, speed, antenna, frequency, vLAN, etc are all present here too.

When creating those VLANS, you can add specific physical ports, IDs, WiFi APs etc to that vLAN to segregate your network as securely as possible.

And from there you can adjust the vLAN configuration in terms of it’s smooth operation and security directly from the network management panel (as well as view all active vLANS on one page if needed to see how they interact/clash + show each device you have moved in/out of them easily.

And again, all packet management/monitoring are available within the vLAN if you need.

If this all sounds tremendously intimidating, there is a much, MUCH easier 1 panel view in the ‘Insights’ tab that just shows each current network branch and it’s connections/clients in a list format.

Not good enough? How about a global view that shows the data packet exchange in real time with regard to each region (i.e worried that your data is being harvested to an overseas location, this will show you which countries are currently connected with on your UCG-Fiber for upload/download (websites? server? It’s easy to check and find out here!).

Bottom line – the bulk of the UniFi Control Software here is available on the majority of UniFi Router, Express, Cloud Gateway and Dream Machine devices – but the EXTENT to which you can use it is heavily dependent on the device you buy. In the case of the UCG-Fiber, you have a fantastic balance of Day 1 control sure, but you have an even better management and scalability on the system for when your ISP services double/triple, as well as the number of devices in your network expand.

UniFi Cloud Gateway Fiber (UCG-Fiber) Review – Conclusion and Verdict

The UniFi Cloud Gateway Fiber (UCG-Fiber) presents itself as a compact and capable network gateway solution that brings high-speed connectivity, PoE support, and integrated storage options to UniFi’s growing lineup of cloud-managed devices. Its dual 10G SFP+ ports, a 10GbE RJ45 port, and multiple 2.5GbE ports make it a strong option for users who require multi-gigabit networking in a small form factor. The inclusion of PoE support on one of the 2.5GbE ports adds a level of flexibility, allowing for directly connected UniFi APs or cameras without requiring an external PoE switch. Additionally, the support for NVMe SSD storage enables on-device UniFi Protect NVR functionality, which may be useful for businesses and users looking to consolidate their networking and surveillance infrastructure. From a software perspective, the UniFi Network, Protect, and Talk applications provide a familiar and well-integrated ecosystem that benefits from centralized management and cloud access. The license-free SD-WAN and VPN services also add value for users requiring secure remote access and site-to-site networking.

However, the UCG-Fiber is not without its drawbacks. The lack of flexibility in WAN port assignment may be a limiting factor for some users, especially those who do not have 10GbE WAN connectivity and would prefer to configure one of the 2.5GbE ports as a WAN interface (Correction, changing 2.5G ports to WAN/WAN2 is supported, just requires small assignment changes). The requirement to purchase a separate M.2 SSD adapter tray is another downside, as it adds an additional cost for users who intend to use the NVMe storage option. Additionally, with only 3GB of non-upgradable RAM, there could be concerns about long-term scalability if future UniFi software updates demand more system resources. While the ARM-based CPU is efficient, it does not match the performance of higher-end x86-based networking solutions, which may affect performance in environments with high packet processing demands. The absence of USB connectivity for external backups is another small but notable omission. Overall, the UCG-Fiber is a well-rounded networking device with a strong focus on multi-gigabit connectivity, PoE integration, and UniFi software compatibility, but it may not be the ideal solution for users with more complex WAN requirements or those needing expandable memory and storage flexibility.

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WE LOVE COFFEE

Western Digital vient d’annoncer la sortie de son nouveau disque dur NAS : le WD Red Pro 26 To. Destiné aux professionnels ayant d’importants besoins en stockage, ce modèle est déjà disponible à la commande sur la boutique officielle au prix conseillé de 882,99€ (ou 569,99$ sur Amazon US).

WD Red Pro 26 To

Le WD Red Pro est spécialement conçu pour fonctionner 24h/24 et 7j/7 dans des environnements NAS multi-baies en configuration RAID. Par rapport à la gamme classique WD Red, la version Pro offre des performances supérieures grâce à une vitesse accrue, une mémoire cache plus généreuse et un temps moyen entre pannes (MTBF) nettement amélioré. Les WD Red Pro sont garantis 5 ans.

Les caractéristiques techniques de ce nouveau produit sont :

• Capacité de stockage : 26 To
• Vitesse de rotation : 7 200 tr/min
• Débit maximal : jusqu’à 287 Mo/s
• Mémoire cache : 512 Mo
• Capacité annuelle de transfert : jusqu’à 550 To
• Temps moyen entre pannes (MTBF) : 2,5 millions d’heures

Rempli à l’hélium, ce disque dur utilise le système d’enregistrement magnétique conventionnel (CMR) associé à une interface SATA. Grâce à l’intégration de la technologie OptiNAND, le WD Red Pro optimise efficacement la gestion des données, améliorant ainsi leur suivi et leur performance globale.

Pour répondre aux contraintes spécifiques des environnements RAID, Western Digital a également doté ce modèle d’une technologie avancée anti-vibration utilisant des capteurs internes RV. Cette innovation permet de réduire considérablement les risques liés aux vibrations mécaniques susceptibles d’endommager les données.

HDD vs SDD en 2025

Malgré la concurrence croissante des SSD, les disques durs traditionnels restent particulièrement attractifs pour le stockage important grâce à leur rapport coût/capacité. En effet, les entreprises manipulent aujourd’hui des fichiers toujours plus volumineux nécessitant des solutions fiables et économiques.

Selon Nitin Kachhwaha, directeur produit chez Western Digital, le WD Red Pro 26 To est une réponse concrète aux besoins actuels en stockage haute capacité et performances dans divers domaines tels que la vidéo professionnelle, l’intelligence artificielle ou encore l’analyse avancée des données.

Prix et disponibilité

Le WD Red Pro 26 To est dès maintenant disponible à l’achat au prix public conseillé de 882,99 € TTC en France. Si ce tarif peut sembler élevé pour un particulier, il correspond parfaitement au marché professionnel visé par Western Digital.

Pour en savoir plus rendez-vous sur la page officielle du produit…

CWWK N355 DIY NAS Motherboard Review

The CWWK N355 DIY NAS motherboard is a Mini-ITX board designed for users looking to build a compact yet powerful NAS system with high storage capacity and expansion potential. Featuring the Intel Twin Lake N355 processor, dual 2.5GbE networking, six SATA ports, and two NVMe slots, it balances performance and affordability. With PCIe 3.0 expansion and a power-efficient CPU, it provides a solid foundation for home lab enthusiasts and small-scale NAS builders. However, it does come with some limitations, particularly in PCIe lane allocation and component placement. This review covers design, hardware, storage, performance tests, and overall value to determine whether it’s the right choice for your next DIY NAS project.

Available in two configurations, the N150 quad-core version ($174) and the N355 octa-core version ($288), this motherboard positions itself as a budget-friendly but capable alternative to more expensive NAS solutions. While the onboard features are generous for the price, the placement of components and some design choices might limit expandability for certain users. Let’s dive deeper.

CWWK N355 NAS Review – Quick Conclusion

The CWWK N355 DIY NAS motherboard provides a solid balance between affordability and performance, making it a strong option for NAS builders and home lab users. With six SATA ports and two NVMe slots, it offers flexible storage options, while dual 2.5GbE networking ensures decent network speeds. The PCIe 3.0 x4 slot allows for expansion, but lane allocation limitations could be a bottleneck for certain configurations. Power efficiency is excellent, and during testing, the N355 CPU handled multiple VMs, media streaming, and general NAS tasks well. However, thermal management and component placement could have been better, particularly around the PCIe and SATA ports.

Overall, the CWWK N355 is a capable Mini-ITX NAS motherboard, especially for those comfortable with DIY setups. The lack of ECC memory support, PCIe lane sharing, and close component placement are drawbacks, but for the price, it remains a versatile and well-featured board.

BUILD QUALITY - 9/10

HARDWARE - 9/10

PERFORMANCE - 8/10

PRICE - 9/10

VALUE - 9/10

8.8

PROS

Compact Mini-ITX design, ideal for NAS builds
Dual 2.5GbE ports for enhanced network performance
Six SATA ports for ample storage expandability
Two NVMe slots for high-speed SSD caching or storage
Energy-efficient Intel N355 CPU with low power draw
Good virtualization support for lightweight VMs and containers
Strong media streaming performance, including Plex compatibility
Affordable price point compared to similar NAS motherboards

CONS

PCIe slot placement may block SATA ports with larger cards
Limited PCIe lanes constrain high-speed expansion options
No ECC memory support, which may be a concern for some user

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CWWK N355 NAS Review – Design

The CWWK N355 DIY NAS motherboard follows a compact Mini-ITX design, offering a good mix of functionality and space efficiency. Its 10-layer high-density PCB provides durability, while the standard ATX 24-pin power and 4-pin CPU power connectors make it easy to integrate into various NAS chassis. The purple PCB aesthetic is unique, setting it apart from many other DIY NAS motherboards. However, despite its compact build, some of the design choices create challenges when it comes to expandability.

One of the most noticeable issues is the placement of the PCIe 3.0 x4 slot in relation to the SATA ports. While the board allows for expansion cards like RAID controllers or 10GbE adapters, the proximity of the PCIe slot to the six SATA ports means that larger cards can obstruct some of the SATA connections.

This could force users to choose between additional network connectivity and full SATA drive support, which is an unfortunate trade-off. Ideally, an SFF-8087 or OCuLink alternative for SATA connectivity would have been a better approach, reducing port congestion.

The built-in cooling options are fairly basic, with a single CPU fan header and two system fan headers (only one supporting PWM). While the board is designed for low-power efficiency, adding high-performance storage or running multiple VMs may generate additional heat that requires better cooling.

The included stock CPU cooler is not ideal, as it sits too close to nearby components, making it harder to install without interfering with the SO-DIMM DDR5 memory slot. Users are advised to invest in a third-party low-profile cooler for better thermal management.

On the connectivity side, dual 2.5GbE network ports (Intel i226V) provide solid networking performance for most NAS use cases, with support for SMB Multichannel and link aggregation. The limited USB selection, however, could be a concern.

With only one USB 3.0 port and three USB 2.0 ports, users relying on external storage or bootable USB setups may find the available connections restrictive. That said, the internal USB 3.0 and USB 2.0 headers provide some additional flexibility for internal USB-based boot drives, but a few more rear-facing USB ports would have been welcome.

CWWK N355 NAS Review – Storage

Storage is a key strength of the CWWK N355 motherboard, with a combination of six SATA3 ports and two M.2 NVMe slots offering flexibility for different storage configurations. The ASM1166 SATA controller is responsible for managing the six SATA ports, providing stable performance for hard drives and SSDs. Users looking to build a NAS with high-capacity drives will appreciate the dedicated SATA expansion, which supports RAID configurations through software.

The two M.2 NVMe slots, while a welcome addition, are limited to PCIe 3.0 x1 speeds, meaning they can only reach maximum sequential throughput of around 780-800MB/s. This is a clear limitation compared to PCIe 3.0 x4 NVMe slots found in higher-end boards. However, these slots are still useful for caching or fast-access storage, especially when paired with SATA drives for bulk data storage.

During testing, a RAID 0 setup with six 4TB HDDs achieved 650MB/s sustained throughput, showing that the ASM1166 controller handles multiple drives efficiently. Performance with SATA SSDs was better, with speeds saturating the SATA3 interface at 550-560MB/s per drive. Users expecting enterprise-level speeds may find this limiting, but for general NAS applications, it performs well.

Another consideration is PCIe lane allocation. Because the ASM1166 controller operates on a PCIe 3.0 x1 interface, total throughput is shared across all six SATA ports. This means that in heavy read/write operations across multiple drives, users might encounter bottlenecks. Those planning on maximizing SATA performance should ensure efficient data distribution across drives.

Ultimately, while the storage configuration is flexible and functional, the PCIe 3.0 x1 restrictions on both NVMe and SATA controllers present some limitations. For users needing high-speed NVMe storage, a motherboard with PCIe 3.0 x4 support per NVMe slot would be preferable, but for most NAS applications, the N355 provides good storage expandability at a reasonable price.

Interestingly, when I rand 100x 1GB File tests via terminal on each of the Gen 3×1 m.2 NVMe, the numbers were pretty good (factoring in the efficient class CPU and 1 lane of Gen 3 – so was never gonna exceed 800-900MB/s anyway).

Afterwards, I wanted to check if the PCIe slot was sharing lane space with the 2nd m.2 slot (as is the case on some of the N100/N305 NAS Moos before) and I am pleased to confirm that I was able to use terminal and 100x 1GB Read on both the 2nd M.2 NVMe slot AND another m.2 NVMe on a PCIe Card mounted on via the PCIe 3×4 slot.

So I am quite happy with the data/internal bandwidth in these tests with such a modest CPU. Let’s discuss this internal hardware and performance more.

CWWK N355 NAS Review – Tests & Performance

The Intel N355 CPU offers efficient performance for NAS-related tasks, including file sharing, virtualization, and media streaming. During testing, it handled multiple VMs running concurrently, with each assigned a virtual CPU and minimal RAM. Even under load, the CPU maintained stable performance without excessive heat generation, making it suitable for users who need a lightweight but capable processing unit for home lab applications.

Network performance was another highlight, with the dual 2.5GbE interfaces providing a combined throughput of up to 550MB/s in link aggregation mode. Real-world file transfers over SMB showed consistent multi-gigabit speeds, demonstrating the board’s ability to handle data-heavy operations effectively. However, users aiming for 10GbE connectivity will need to rely on the PCIe slot, which introduces some trade-offs in terms of expansion options.

In media applications, the N355 CPU managed simultaneous 1080p and 4K Plex streams, with CPU usage remaining under 60% during software transcoding. Native playback and direct-streaming performed significantly better, with no noticeable impact on system resources. While the board lacks dedicated hardware transcoding support, it remains a viable option for users relying on direct-play workflows.

Power efficiency remained a strong suit, with idle power consumption measuring around 9-10W with SSDs installed, increasing to 30-40W under load with multiple drives and VMs active. The low TDP ensures minimal heat output, but active cooling is still recommended for prolonged high workloads. Overall, performance results confirm that this board is well-optimized for NAS duties, though users with high-end processing needs may require a more powerful solution.

CWWK N355 NAS MITX Board Review – Verdict & Conclusion

The CWWK N355 DIY NAS motherboard is an excellent choice for those seeking an affordable and feature-rich Mini-ITX solution for NAS applications. Its combination of dual 2.5GbE networking, six SATA ports, and two NVMe slots offers a strong foundation for storage and high-speed connectivity. Performance-wise, the N355 CPU handles virtualization and media streaming well, maintaining a low power draw while running multiple tasks efficiently. However, the limited PCIe lane allocation can restrict certain use cases, particularly when adding high-performance storage or networking upgrades. Despite these constraints, this motherboard delivers solid performance for users prioritizing a cost-effective and power-efficient NAS setup.

That being said, users should carefully consider their expansion needs before purchasing, as PCIe slot placement and bandwidth limitations may impact future upgrades. Additionally, the lack of ECC memory support may be a concern for enterprise-level deployments, though most home users and small-scale NAS setups will not be significantly affected. Ultimately, the CWWK N355 stands out as a capable and versatile board, offering good performance, reasonable expandability, and excellent value for money.

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WE LOVE COFFEE

Ghostfolio est une application Web de gestion de portefeuille d’investissement open source. Elle permet aux utilisateurs de visualiser des performances en action, ETF ou encore cryptoactifs et de générer des alertes voire d’aider à la prise de décisions. L’application est payante, mais il existe une version docker 100% gratuite. Regardons comment l’installer facilement sur un NAS Synology…

Ghostfolio + Synology

Je ne suis pas un expert en investissement et encore moins des applications autour de la gestion de portefeuille… Cependant, la demande vient d’un lecteur (Benoit) qui recherche une alternative à Finary. Notre ami dispose d’un NAS Synology et souhaite que ce genre d’application reste chez lui afin d’avoir une maitrise sur les informations qu’il saisit. Je lui ai parlé de Ghostfolio que j’avais déjà entendu parler précédemment. L’application existe depuis 2020 et la communauté semble très active. Et je vous propose aujourd’hui de l’installer en moins de 5 minutes.

À noter que Ghostfolio est disponible sur différents systèmes : CasaOS, Home Assistant, Runtipi, TrueCharts, Umbrel et Unraid.

Avantages de Ghostfolio

Voici un rapide aperçu des points forts mis en avant par l’éditeur de Ghostfolio :

• Investissez en actions, ETF ou cryptomonnaies sur plusieurs plateformes
• Adoptez une stratégie d’investissement à long terme (buy & hold)
• Obtenez des informations précises sur la composition de votre portefeuille
• Préservez votre vie privée et gardez le contrôle de vos données
• Privilégiez une approche minimaliste
• Diversifiez efficacement vos ressources financières
• Visez l’indépendance financière
• Dites adieu aux tableurs en 2025…

Si vous souhaitez le tester avant installation sur votre NAS, vous pouvez le découvrir par ici…

Modèle économique

Ghostfolio est une application open source et gratuite. Cependant, l’éditeur de Ghostfolio propose également une version payante qui inclut des options supplémentaires comme l’hébergement des données sur leurs serveurs, des mises à jour régulières, ainsi qu’un support technique prioritaire.

Ghostfolio dans Container Station (Docker)

Pour faciliter l’installation, je vous ai préparé un fichier Docker Compose adapté à la plupart des NAS Synology. Ce fichier est basé sur le fichier officiel (lien ici) et adapté pour installer Ghostfolio en seulement quelques minutes.

Prérequis :

• Assurez-vous d’avoir installé Container Manager depuis le Centre de paquets de Synology
• Créez un dossier nommé Ghostfolio dans le répertoire docker à la racine de votre NAS. Ce dossier devra contenir également un sous-dossier : db.

Conteneurs créés automatiquement

L’installation va créer 3 conteneurs :

• ghostfolio : le cœur de l’application
• gf-postgre : la base de données
• gf-redis : gestion des recherches intelligentes

Je vous propose de télécharger le fichier Docker Compose qui se nomme compose.yaml généré grâce à Container Manager de Synology. Voici ce qu’il contient :

version: '3.8'

services:
  ghostfolio:
    image: ghostfolio/ghostfolio:latest
    container_name: ghostfolio
    restart: unless-stopped
    init: true
    cap_drop:
      - ALL
    security_opt:
      - no-new-privileges:true
    ports:
      - 3333:3333
    depends_on:
      postgres:
        condition: service_healthy
      redis:
        condition: service_healthy
    healthcheck:
      test: ['CMD-SHELL', 'curl -f http://localhost:3333/api/v1/health']
      interval: 10s
      timeout: 5s
      retries: 5
    environment:
      ACCESS_TOKEN_SALT: INSERT_RANDOM_STRING_987$ # Token à changer
      DATABASE_URL: postgresql://user:POSTGRES_PASSWORD_987$@postgres:5432/ghostfolio-db?connect_timeout=300&sslmode=prefer # PWD PG à changer
      JWT_SECRET_KEY: RANDOM_STRING_987$ # Clé secrète à changer
      REDIS_HOST: redis # Utilisation du nom du service Redis comme hôte
      REDIS_PORT: 6379
      REDIS_PASSWORD: REDIS_PASSWORD_987$ # PWD REDIS à changer

  postgres:
    image: library/postgres:15-alpine
    container_name: gf-postgres
    restart: unless-stopped
    cap_drop:
      - ALL
    cap_add:
      - CHOWN
      - DAC_READ_SEARCH
      - FOWNER
      - SETGID
      - SETUID
    security_opt:
      - no-new-privileges:true
    healthcheck:
      test:
        ['CMD-SHELL', 'pg_isready -d "ghostfolio-db" -U user']
      interval: 10s
      timeout: 5s
      retries: 5
    environment:
      POSTGRES_DB: ghostfolio-db
      POSTGRES_USER: user
      POSTGRES_PASSWORD: POSTGRES_PASSWORD_987$ # PWD PG à changer
    volumes:
      - ./db:/var/lib/postgresql/data # Stockage local des données PostgreSQL

  redis:
    image: library/redis:alpine
    container_name: gf-redis
    restart: unless-stopped
    user: '999:1000'
    cap_drop:
      - ALL
    security_opt:
      - no-new-privileges:true
    command:
      - /bin/sh
      - -c
      - redis-server --requirepass "REDIS_PASSWORD_987$"  # PWD REDIS à changer
    healthcheck:
      test:
        ['CMD-SHELL', 'redis-cli --pass "REDIS_PASSWORD_987$" ping | grep PONG'] # PWD REDIS à changer
      interval: 10s
      timeout: 5s
      retries: 5

Installation

1. Ajoutez le fichier compose.yaml dans le dossier Ghostfolio
2. Ouvrez Container Manager et naviguez vers le menu de gauche « Projets« . Cliquez sur le bouton Créer
3. Remplissez les champs requis et suivez les instructions (voir capture ci-dessous)
4. Appuyez sur Suivant, puis encore Suivant et enfin Effectué
5. Attendez quelques minutes que les conteneurs soient prêts

C’est fini !

Utilisation

Maintenant, vous pouvez ouvrir un nouvel onglet de votre navigateur et tapez au choix :

• http://NomDuNAS:3333/fr/
• http://AdresseIP:3333/fr/

Le /fr/ à la fin permet de profiter directement d’une interface en français. Vous devriez voir apparaitre cet écran :

Cliquez sur le bouton en haut à droite Démarrer (ou Get started si vous êtes en anglais) pour créer du compte administrateur. Cliquez sur le bouton Créez Compte puis une boite de dialogue s’ouvre. On voit bien le compte ADMIN sur la capture ci-dessous en haut.

Cliquez sur Copier vers le presse-papier (ou Copy to clipboard en anglais) et coller la clé secrète dans un fichier que vous mettre en sécurité ou via Bitwarden par exemple. Puis appuyez sur le bouton Accepter et continuer (ou Agree and continue en anglais).

Attention : si vous cliquez sur Annuler à cette étape, vous ne pourrez plus créer de compte admin.

Premiers pas avec Ghostfolio

Si son utilisation est tout à fait possible avec un téléphone, nous vous recommandons de commencer avec un ordinateur. Pour bien démarrer, nous allons commencer par passer en l’interface Euro, ajouter une plateforme et créer un premier compte. Pour commencer, cliquez en haut sur Contrôle Admin.

Devise et taux de conversion

Allez dans le menu de gauche Données de marché. Vous cliquerez sur le bouton + en bas à droite, puis sur le bouton radio Devise et vous saisissez EUR avant de valider. Si rien ne se passe ici (visuellement), ce n’est pas grave.

Ajout d’une plateforme

On profite d’être dans ce menu Contrôle Admin pour allez dans Paramètres (à gauche), puis dans la section Plateformes vous cliquerez sur le bouton Ajouter une Plateforme. Vous mettez un libellé de la banque que vous souhaitez et son adresse Web avant de valider (voir la capture d’écran ci-dessus).

Devise de base

Avant d’aller plus loin, cliquez en haut à droite sur le pictogramme représentant une silhouette (en haut à droite) et cliquez sur Mon Ghostflio. En face de Devise de base, vous sélectionnerez EUR. La validation est automatique.

Création d’un compte

Maintenant, passez par le menu Comptes. Vous devriez voir une ligne (créée par défaut) qui se nomme My Account. Vous cliquez sur les 3 points à droite et vous aurez le choix entre Modifier ou Supprimer. Nous vous recommandons de faire Modifier, de changer son nom, de mettre la Devise et la plateforme.

Autres paramètres

À noter que vous pouvez désactiver la collecte de données, ainsi que l’inscription de nouveaux utilisateurs dans Contrôle Admin (voir capture ci-dessus).

Toutes ces premières étapes peuvent sembler fastidieuses, mais vous n’aurez plus à les faire. Vous pouvez désormais profiter pleinement de Ghostfolio…

Synology vient de lancer sa nouvelle caméra de surveillance Wi-Fi intelligente : la CC400W. Ce modèle, comme les précédents BC500 et TC500), intègre directement des fonctionnalités d’intelligence artificielle et simplifie l’installation grâce à une connectivité sans fil…

Synology CC400W : une caméra intelligente polyvalente

La caméra CC400W cible principalement les particuliers et les petites entreprises. Avec ses dimensions compactes (110 mm de hauteur et 54 mm de largeur) et sa conception étanche certifiée IP65, elle convient parfaitement à une utilisation polyvalente aussi bien en intérieur qu’en extérieur. Sa connectivité Wi-Fi double bande (2,4 GHz et 5 GHz) facilite son installation en évitant tout câblage superflu (hormis l’alimentation). Plusieurs options de fixation sont proposées : murale, plafond ou magnétique.

Des performances vidéo

Côté performances vidéo, la CC400W offre une résolution élevée de 2560 × 1440 pixels à 30 images par seconde, garantissant ainsi des images nettes et détaillées. Son large angle de vue de 125 degrés et sa technologie d’exposition à grande plage dynamique (HDR) assurent une qualité optimale même dans des environnements très contrastés. Pour la vision nocturne, des LED infrarouges haute puissance permettent une couverture efficace jusqu’à 10 mètres.

La caméra intègre également un système audio bidirectionnel permettant une communication directe à distance. Grâce aux codecs H.265 et au contrôle intelligent du débit binaire, elle optimise l’utilisation de la bande passante et du stockage sans compromettre la qualité visuelle.
Intelligence artificielle embarquée : sécurité renforcée

L’atout majeur de la CC400W réside dans ses capacités avancées d’intelligence artificielle embarquées. Elle détecte précisément les personnes et les véhicules, génère des alertes en temps réel en cas d’intrusion et propose un suivi automatique des événements suspects. Associée aux modèles DVA de Synology, elle peut même réaliser des analyses poussées telles que la reconnaissance faciale, l’identification des plaques d’immatriculation ou encore le comptage précis des personnes.

Intégration simplifiée avec Surveillance Station

Pour faciliter la gestion quotidienne, la CC400W s’intègre facilement dans Surveillance Station. Cette intégration intuitive permet une configuration rapide sans nécessiter l’achat supplémentaire de licences.

Sécurité et confidentialité au cœur du dispositif

Enfin, Synology met égalalement l’accent sur la sécurité et la confidentialité : la caméra est conforme aux normes NDAA/TAA, chiffre les données via HTTPS et SRTP, reçoit régulièrement des mises à jour de sécurité et dispose d’un stockage local sécurisé sur carte micro SD afin d’assurer un accès continu aux images enregistrées.

Prix et disponibilité

La caméra Synology CC400W est disponible dès maintenant au prix de 196€. Pour plus d’informations, rendez-vous sur la page officielle du fabricant…

Is the Samsung 9100 Pro SSD Your DREAM Gen5 SSD?

Samsung has officially entered the PCIe 5.0 market with the release of the 9100 PRO Series SSD, its first high-performance consumer Gen 5 NVMe SSD. Unlike previous Samsung SSD releases that focused on mainstream users, this drive is built for professionals, power users, and AI-driven workloads. Featuring sequential read speeds of up to 14,800 MB/s and write speeds reaching 13,400 MB/s, the 9100 PRO is aimed at content creators, data analysts, and enterprise users who require fast and reliable storage solutions. Available in 1TB, 2TB, 4TB, and an upcoming 8TB model, this SSD is one of the highest-capacity consumer NVMe drives ever released by Samsung. With Samsung’s in-house controller, V-NAND TLC (V8) flash memory, and LPDDR4X DRAM-based caching, the 9100 PRO is designed to offer both high-speed data transfer and long-term durability. Power efficiency has also been improved by up to 49% compared to its predecessor, the 990 PRO, making it a more energy-conscious choice for intensive applications. However, despite its impressive technical specifications, the 9100 PRO enters a market where PCIe 5.0 SSDs have been available for nearly two years from competitors such as Seagate and Crucial. This review will assess whether Samsung’s late entry to the Gen 5 SSD market delivers a significant performance advantage or whether its delayed release puts it at a competitive disadvantage. In this review, we will examine the hardware and design of the 9100 PRO, compare it against Samsung’s previous generation 990 EVO and EVO Plus SSDs, and analyze its performance across multiple benchmarks to determine if it truly offers a measurable advantage over existing PCIe 5.0 SSDs. Finally, we will consider its pricing and availability, and whether this drive is a worthwhile investment for users looking to upgrade their storage solutions in 2025.

Samsung 9100 SSD Review – Quick Conclusion

The Samsung 9100 PRO SSD is a true PCIe 5.0 Gen4x4 drive, delivering industry-leading speeds of up to 14,800 MB/s read and 13,400 MB/s write, making it one of the fastest consumer SSDs available. Unlike many competitors using third-party controllers from Phison and Micron NAND, the 9100 PRO is fully in-house, featuring Samsung’s Presto PCIe 5.0 controller and V-NAND TLC (V8) for tighter hardware-firmware integration, improved power efficiency (up to 49% better than earlier Gen5 SSDs), and high endurance (up to 4,800 TBW on the 8TB model). Random performance is excellent, reaching 2,200K IOPS read and 2,600K IOPS write, making it a strong choice for AI workloads, video production, and large-scale data processing. However, heat remains a challenge, as the drive can reach 81°C under sustained workloads, requiring active cooling or Samsung’s optional heatsink model. Pricing is premium, with some PCIe 5.0 competitors offering similar speeds at lower costs due to earlier releases. Additionally, while Samsung has a strong reputation for SSD reliability, firmware issues in past models like the 990 PRO and 980 PRO have left some users cautious. Despite these drawbacks, the 9100 PRO stands out as one of the most refined PCIe 5.0 SSDs, offering a high-endurance, fully in-house solution for demanding users.

BUILD QUALITY - 9/10

HARDWARE - 9/10

PERFORMANCE - 9/10

PRICE - 7/10

VALUE - 7/10

8.2

PROS

Industry-Leading Speed – Offers sequential read speeds up to 14,800 MB/s and write speeds up to 13,400 MB/s, making it one of the fastest consumer SSDs available.

Fully In-House Design – Uses Samsung’s proprietary Presto PCIe 5.0 controller and V-NAND TLC (V8), avoiding reliance on third-party controllers like Phison and Micron NAND, ensuring better hardware-firmware integration.

High Endurance Rating – Provides up to 4,800 TBW on the 8TB model, making it ideal for high-intensity workloads like AI computing, video editing, and large-scale data transfers.

Improved Power Efficiency – Samsung claims 49% better power efficiency compared to previous PCIe 5.0 SSDs, reducing heat output and improving overall energy consumption.

Strong Random Performance – With up to 2,200K IOPS random read and 2,600K IOPS random write, it excels in workloads that involve frequent small file transactions, such as databases, virtual machines, and AI training models.

Multiple Capacity Options – Available in 1TB, 2TB, 4TB, and 8TB, making it one of the first consumer PCIe 5.0 SSDs with an 8TB variant.

Heatsink Version Available – Samsung provides an optional D8-compliant heatsink, ensuring better thermal regulation for sustained performance, especially for gaming consoles like PlayStation 5.

A True Gen 5 SSD – Unlike the safe and comparatively underwhelming Samsung 990 EVO Plus, which only utilized PCIe 5.0 x2 lanes, the 9100 PRO fully utilizes PCIe 5.0 x4, delivering real next-generation speeds.

CONS

High Thermal Output – Can reach 81°C under sustained workloads, requiring adequate cooling solutions, either through the heatsink model or third-party cooling options.

Premium Pricing – Enters a PCIe 5.0 market where some competitors offer similar speeds at lower prices due to their earlier release, making it a costly investment for budget-conscious users.

Samsung’s Firmware History – While Samsung has a strong reputation for SSD reliability, previous firmware issues in the 990 PRO and 980 PRO raised concerns, making some users cautious about potential long-term stability.

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Samsung 9100 SSD Review – Design and Hardware

The Samsung 9100 PRO SSD follows a standard M.2 2280 form factor, making it compatible with most modern motherboards and laptops that support PCIe 5.0. The PCB layout varies by capacity, with the 1TB and 2TB models featuring NAND chips only on one side, while the 4TB and 8TB versions have NAND chips on both sides of the PCB. Unlike previous Samsung SSDs, such as the 990 EVO, which featured single-sided designs for improved compatibility in laptops, the higher-capacity 9100 PRO models require additional NAND space, making them better suited for desktops and high-performance workstations.

The drive also includes a thermal pad on the back, which assists in heat dissipation when used with compatible motherboard heatsinks. Samsung offers a pre-installed heatsink variant for improved temperature management, utilizing a PCI-SIG D8-compliant design for the 1TB, 2TB, and 4TB models, while the 8TB heatsink version features a thicker 11.25mm design for enhanced cooling, making it compatible with PlayStation 5 storage expansion requirements.

At the core of the 9100 PRO SSD is Samsung’s Presto PCIe 5.0 controller, which represents a significant advancement over previous controllers used in Samsung SSDs. This custom in-house design allows the 9100 PRO to achieve nearly full PCIe 5.0 bandwidth saturation, enabling up to 14,800 MB/s read and 13,400 MB/s write speeds. Unlike the 990 EVO, which used a more power-efficient but limited PCIe 4.0 controller, the 9100 PRO benefits from an advanced controller architecture that enhances throughput and reduces latency.

Built on a 5nm process, this controller lowers power consumption compared to earlier PCIe 5.0 SSDs, improves thermal efficiency, and integrates advanced ECC and wear-leveling algorithms for better long-term reliability. Additionally, Samsung’s Presto controller features a larger DRAM buffer and optimized NAND channel management, allowing the 9100 PRO to deliver high sustained speeds under extended workloads.

Unlike the 990 EVO and 990 EVO Plus, which were DRAM-less SSDs relying on Host Memory Buffer (HMB) technology, the Samsung 9100 PRO integrates dedicated LPDDR4X DRAM, providing better caching and improved sustained write performance. The amount of DRAM scales with the drive’s capacity, with 1GB for 1TB models, 2GB for 2TB, 4GB for 4TB, and 8GB for 8TB.

This ensures that larger models handle large file transfers, database workloads, and AI-driven tasks more efficiently. The Presto controller’s enhanced memory mapping further improves the effectiveness of DRAM caching, ensuring lower latency and higher sustained write speeds. This is a notable advantage over competing PCIe 5.0 SSDs, many of which cut costs by removing DRAM and relying on slower caching solutions.

The 9100 PRO utilizes Samsung’s latest 3-bit MLC V-NAND (V8), which delivers higher density, improved durability, and greater efficiency compared to previous NAND generations. This 3-bit MLC (commonly referred to as TLC) enables faster read and write cycles, lower power consumption per operation, and improved reliability. Unlike older NAND designs used in PCIe 4.0 SSDs, the V8 NAND architecture allows for greater endurance and a more efficient distribution of read and write cycles, making it better suited for high-performance tasks such as video editing, AI computing, and professional content creation.

The 4TB and 8TB models benefit from additional NAND dies, increasing parallel processing capabilities and enabling higher performance under heavy workloads. Compared to Samsung’s previous consumer SSDs, the 9100 PRO’s NAND offers greater consistency in performance, reducing the risk of slowdowns due to write amplification and NAND wear over time.

Samsung rates the 9100 PRO with a Total Bytes Written (TBW) endurance rating of up to 4,800 TB for the 8TB model, with lower capacities following a scaled endurance pattern of 600 TB (1TB), 1,200 TB (2TB), and 2,400 TB (4TB). This results in a Drive Writes Per Day (DWPD) rating of approximately 0.328, meaning users can rewrite around one-third of the drive’s full capacity daily for five years before reaching the warranty limit.

Samsung claims on the 9100 PRO peak sequential read/write speeds (though based on hugely synthetic tests on an AMD Ryzen 9 7950x 16-Core Processor CPU@4.5GHz system) make it one of the fastest PCIe 5.0 SSDs available in 2025. These speeds nearly double those of the 990 EVO (more on that shortly) released around 4-5 months before. Additionally, random read and write speeds exceeding 2.2M and 2.6M IOPS, which is a major improvement for workloads requiring frequent small file transactions, such as AI modeling, LLM training, and cloud storage applications. However, real-world performance may vary depending on factors such as cooling, system architecture, and workload type, which will be explored in the performance testing section of this review.

Samsung also emphasizes the power efficiency gains of the 9100 PRO, stating that the new controller and NAND design allow for up to 49% better efficiency than the previous generation 990 PRO. Power consumption during active operation is rated at 7.6W for the 1TB model, 8.1W for the 2TB, and 9.0W for the 4TB version, ensuring lower power draw compared to other PCIe 5.0 SSDs with similar performance ratings. This efficiency improvement helps reduce heat output and extends the lifespan of the drive, making it a more suitable option for professional and high-end workstation environments.

Samsung 9100 SSD vs the Samsung 990 EVO PLUS – Gen5 SSDs Compared

The Samsung 9100 PRO and Samsung 990 EVO Plus cater to different segments of the SSD market, with the 9100 PRO targeting high-performance workloads and the 990 EVO Plus designed for mainstream users seeking a balance between speed and efficiency. The most significant difference lies in interface and speed, as the 9100 PRO utilizes PCIe 5.0 x4, allowing for sequential read speeds up to 14,800 MB/s and write speeds up to 13,400 MB/s. In contrast, the 990 EVO Plus uses a PCIe 4.0 x4 / 5.0 x2 interface, capping its speeds at 7,250 MB/s read and 6,300 MB/s write.

While this makes the 990 EVO Plus one of the fastest PCIe 4.0 drives, it falls considerably behind the 9100 PRO, particularly in random performance, where the 9100 PRO achieves up to 2,200K IOPS read and 2,600K IOPS write, compared to the 990 EVO Plus’s 1,050K IOPS read and 1,400K IOPS write. The 9100 PRO also integrates LPDDR4X DRAM, ensuring smoother performance under heavy workloads, whereas the 990 EVO Plus relies on Host Memory Buffer (HMB) technology, which is dependent on system RAM and may lead to performance inconsistencies in extended write operations.

Beyond speed, endurance and power efficiency also differ significantly between the two drives. The 9100 PRO offers a higher TBW rating, reaching 4,800 TB on the 8TB model, compared to the 990 EVO Plus’s maximum of 2,400 TBW for its 4TB version. This makes the 9100 PRO more suitable for AI computing, professional video editing, and enterprise applications where large amounts of data are written daily. Power consumption is another key factor, with the 9100 PRO consuming between 7.6W and 9.0W under active operation, while the 990 EVO Plus operates at a lower 4.3W to 5.5W during reads and 4.2W to 4.8W during writes.

While the 990 EVO Plus is more power-efficient, the 9100 PRO compensates with significantly higher performance and an improved energy efficiency rating, reducing power consumption by 49% compared to previous Samsung PCIe 5.0 drives. Overall, while the 990 EVO Plus is a strong option for users looking for a high-speed PCIe 4.0 SSD, the 9100 PRO is a better fit for professionals requiring the fastest speeds, highest endurance, and improved thermal performance.

Samsung 9100 SSD Review – Performance Tests

Performance testing for the Samsung 9100 PRO was conducted on a Windows 10 system with a 12th-generation Intel Core i5 processor, 16GB DDR5 RAM, and a PCIe 5.0-enabled motherboard. The operating system was installed on a separate PCIe 4.0 SSD, while the 9100 PRO was tested in an available PCIe 5.0 slot.

Benchmarking tools included ATTO Disk Benchmark, CrystalDiskMark, AJA System Test, and real-world file transfer tests to assess sequential and random performance under different workloads. The drive was tested in both bare PCB configuration and with a third-party heatsink, as the proprietary Samsung heatsink version was unavailable for this review.

In ATTO Disk Benchmark, which measures transfer speeds across different file sizes, the 9100 PRO achieved sequential read speeds of between 11.3 GB/s and 11.5 GB/s, with occasional peaks reaching 12.5 GB/s under optimal conditions. These results, while slightly lower than Samsung’s claimed 14.8 GB/s read speed, remain among the highest reported for consumer PCIe 5.0 SSDs. Write speeds in ATTO remained stable at approximately 11.0 GB/s to 12.0 GB/s, showing consistent performance across multiple test runs.

Meanwhile, CrystalDiskMark testing at a 16GB file size reported read speeds of up to 11,881 MB/s and write speeds of 12,444 MB/s, with random IOPS reaching up to 1.5 million under ideal conditions. While the drive’s performance fluctuated slightly depending on workload type, overall speeds remained close to manufacturer specifications, confirming its status as one of the fastest SSDs available in 2025.

For real-world testing, a 52GB mixed dataset comprising 1,711 files across 42 folders was transferred to the 9100 PRO from another PCIe 4.0 SSD. The transfer was completed in just over 34 seconds, with speeds sustaining well above 9,000 MB/s for most of the operation. These figures align with high-end PCIe 5.0 expectations, demonstrating the drive’s ability to maintain consistent performance under heavy workloads.

Additionally, AJA System Test, which simulates video production workloads, recorded sustained read speeds of nearly 10,000 MB/s, making the 9100 PRO a strong choice for video editing professionals working with large 8K or RAW footage files. Notably, write performance remained stable even during long transfers, likely due to Samsung’s expanded Intelligent TurboWrite 2.0 cache, which allocates up to 442GB of SLC cache on the 4TB model to handle large sequential writes without immediate slowdowns.

During testing, the 9100 PRO’s temperatures fluctuated between 45°C and 55°C at idle, while sustained workloads pushed temperatures above 81°C under extended high-speed transfers. While Samsung’s new 5nm Presto controller is more power-efficient than previous PCIe 5.0 designs, high-speed Gen 5 SSDs inherently produce significant heat, requiring adequate cooling solutions to prevent throttling. In testing with a third-party heatsink, thermal recovery was fast, and the drive quickly dropped back to safe temperature ranges within seconds after peak workloads ended. However, without a heatsink, performance throttling was observed after extended write operations, reinforcing the importance of active cooling for sustained performance in PCIe 5.0 SSDs.

Overall, the Samsung 9100 PRO delivers competitive and consistent performance across synthetic benchmarks and real-world testing. It consistently reaches 11.5 GB/s to 12.5 GB/s in most workloads, proving it to be among the fastest PCIe 5.0 SSDs available. Real-world file transfers confirm the drive’s ability to sustain high write speeds, while Samsung’s Intelligent TurboWrite 2.0 technology minimizes performance drops even under heavy loads. However, thermal management remains a key consideration, as sustained high-speed operations push temperatures close to throttling limits without a heatsink. Despite this, power efficiency is improved over previous PCIe 5.0 SSDs, making it a strong option for professionals requiring high-performance storage for AI, video production, and data-heavy workloads.

Samsung 9100 SSD Review – Verdict and Conclusion

The Samsung 9100 PRO SSD delivers top-tier PCIe 5.0 performance, offering sequential read speeds up to 14,800 MB/s and write speeds reaching 13,400 MB/s, making it one of the fastest consumer SSDs currently available. Unlike many PCIe 5.0 SSDs that rely on third-party controllers from Phison or NAND from Micron, the 9100 PRO benefits from Samsung’s fully in-house design, including its Presto PCIe 5.0 controller and V-NAND TLC (V8). This ensures better integration between hardware and firmware, resulting in more stable performance, improved power efficiency, and better overall optimization for workloads like AI computing, video production, and high-speed data processing. Additionally, Samsung claims 49% improved power efficiency over previous PCIe 5.0 SSDs, helping to reduce thermal output compared to some early PCIe 5.0 models. Its high endurance rating (up to 4,800 TBW on the 8TB model) also positions it as a strong choice for users who require reliable, long-term performance.

However, there are some key drawbacks to consider. Thermal performance remains a challenge, as the 9100 PRO can reach temperatures above 81°C under extended workloads, meaning a proper cooling solution is necessary to prevent thermal throttling. While Samsung offers a heatsink version, those using the bare PCB model may need to invest in additional cooling for sustained performance. Additionally, real-world speeds, while impressive, do not always match Samsung’s maximum advertised performance, particularly once the TurboWrite cache is exhausted. Furthermore, Samsung’s reputation for SSD reliability is generally strong, but firmware issues in previous models, such as the 990 PRO and 980 PRO, led to concerns over long-term stability. While Samsung has since addressed those problems, some users may remain cautious about potential firmware-related risks. Despite these concerns, the 9100 PRO still stands out as one of the best PCIe 5.0 SSDs available, offering fully in-house hardware, high endurance, and leading-edge performance for users who need the fastest storage available today.

Need More Help Choosing the Right Storage Solution?

Choosing the right data storage solution for your needs can be very intimidating and it’s never too late to ask for help. With options ranging from NAS to DAS, Thunderbolt to SAS and connecting everything up so you can access all your lovely data at the touch of a button can be a lot simpler than you think. If you want some tips, guidance or help with everything from compatibility to suitability of a solution for you, why not drop me a message below and I will get back to you as soon as possible with what you should go for, its suitability and the best place to get it. This service is designed without profit in mind and in order to help you with your data storage needs, so I will try to answer your questions as soon as possible.

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Bonjour à tous,

J’espère que vous allez bien. Aujourd’hui est un jour un peu particulier pour moi : je prends une année de plus et change de décennie. Si, pour certains, ce cap marque un tournant important dans leur vie ou leur état d’esprit, j’avoue que cela n’a jamais été mon cas. Bien sûr, j’ai évolué au fil des ans, mais le passage d’une dizaine n’a jamais eu d’impact significatif sur moi.

Je tiens également à vous remercier pour vos commentaires et encouragements. Certains me suivent depuis de nombreuses années, d’autres plus récemment, mais vos retours ont toujours été précieux dans la construction de Cachem. Vos derniers messages à propos du précédent édito m’ont rassuré, et sachez que chacun de vos conseils a été un véritable soutien. C’est avant tout la passion et l’envie de partager qui me motivent à écrire chaque jour.

Côté séries TV, j’ai poursuivi mon revisionnage de Kaamelott (Livre II), j’avais besoin d’un peu de légèreté. J’ai également découvert Paradise, avec Sterling K. Brown, que j’ai beaucoup apprécié. Enfin, j’ai enchaîné en une soirée la série Adolescence, une expérience assez bouleversante où l’on suit différents protagonistes en temps réel, sans interruption. Le concept et le scénario sont vraiment captivants. Enfin, je viens de démarrer Douglas Is Cancelled…

Sur ce, je vous souhaite une excellente journée !
FX

ORICO est une société chinoise peu connue dans le domaine des NAS. Pourtant, elle s’apprête à lancer sur le marché avec sa nouvelle gamme de boîtiers réseau nommée CyberData. Ce lancement se fera via la plateforme de financement participatif Kickstarter, offrant ainsi aux souscripteurs des réductions pouvant atteindre 40%. Découvrons ensemble ces nouveaux produits…

ORICO et NAS

Un peu comme UGREEN l’an passé, ORICO veut également lancer une nouvelle gamme de NAS via un financement participatif. La série CyberData comprend 6 NAS qui pourraient en intéresser plus d’un..

CF500 : l’entrée de gamme

Le CF500 est un NAS équipé de 5 emplacements pour disques HDD/SSD et 2 emplacements pour SSD NVMe. Il repose sur un processeur Intel N150 Quad Core atteignant 3,6 GHz, épaulé par 8 Go de RAM DDR5 (extensible jusqu’à 32 Go).

Connectique :

• 2 ports USB 2.0
• 2 ports USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10 Gb/s)
• 1 sortie audio-vidéo HDMI 2.0
• 1 sortie DisplayPort 1.4
• 1 port réseau 2,5 Gb/s

CF500 Pro : plus de puissance

Le CF500 Pro reprend la base du CF500 avec les mêmes emplacements de stockage, mais booste les performances avec un processeur Intel i3 N305 (8 cœurs, 3,8 GHz) et toujours 8 Go de RAM DDR5 (extensible à 32 Go).

L’autre amélioration de ce modèle, c’est l’ajout d’un port réseau 10 Gb/s.

CF6 : 100% SSD

Le CF6 est conçu exclusivement pour les SSD avec 6 emplacements au format M.2. ORICO ne précise pas s’il s’agit de SSD SATA ou NVMe, il est donc fort probable que ce soit du SATA. Sous le capot, on retrouve un Intel i3 N305, mais avec 16 Go de RAM DDR5 (extensible jusqu’à 64 Go).

Connectique :

• Identique au CF500 Pro

CF56 : hybride

Le CF56 combine 5 emplacements pour disques HDD/SSD et 6 emplacements pour SSD M.2, offrant ainsi une solution hybride. Il est alimenté par un processeur Intel i3 N305, avec 16 Go de RAM DDR5 (extensible jusqu’à 64 Go).

Connectique :

• Aucun changement par rapport au CF6

CF56 Pro : toujours plus

Le CF56 Pro reprend l’architecture du CF56, mais monte en gamme avec un processeur Intel i5 1240P (12 cœurs, 4,4 GHz) et 16 Go de RAM DDR5 (extensible jusqu’à 64 Go).

Connectique améliorée :

• 2 ports USB 2.0
• 2 ports USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10 Gb/s)
• 2 ports USB4
• 1 sortie HDMI 2.1 (compatible 8K)
• 1 sortie DisplayPort 1.4a (compatible 8K)
• 2 ports réseau 10 Gb/s

CF1000 : le haut de gamme

Le CF1000 est le modèle le plus ambitieux de la gamme, avec 10 emplacements pour disques HDD/SSD et 2 emplacements pour SSD NVMe. Il est équipé du même Intel i5 1240P et des 16 Go de RAM DDR5 (extensibles jusqu’à 64 Go).

Connectique :

• Identique au CF56 Pro

CyberDATA OS

ORICO accompagnera ces NAS d’un système d’exploitation maison, CyberData OS. Peu d’informations sont disponibles à ce stade, mis à part quelques captures d’écran visibles sur la page Kickstarter.

Voici ce qu’indique le fabricant : « Un système d’exploitation innovant, entièrement auto-développé, qui combine intelligence local, contrôles intuitifs et mises à jour en temps réel. Il permet une collaboration transparente des données entre platesformes et appareils, connectant les applications sur les smartphones, les ordinateurs et les téléviseurs pour une expérience unifiée et des fonctionnalités étendues ».

On sait que le système de fichier sera le ZFS. Il sera possible d’héberger des machines virtuelles (Windows et Linux) et Docker sera également de la partie. Il sera également possible de faire tourner un IA en locale (uniquement pour les modèles CF56 Pro et CF1000).

En synthèse

Avec CyberData, ORICO veut clairement s’imposer sur le marché des NAS en misant sur un excellent rapport qualité/prix et une approche de financement participatif. Si la promesse est tenue, ces NAS pourraient bien séduire les professionnels comme les particuliers en quête de solutions performantes et abordables.

Rendez-vous sur la page d’annonce pour suivre la campagne et profiter des offres de lancement !

source

How to Install TrueNAS Scale/Core on a Terramaster NAS

If you’re new to private server storage, you’ve probably heard the phrase “everything runs on Linux.” While that’s not entirely true (many other platforms exist with their own foundations), Linux remains the dominant base for much of the software we use daily—including Network Attached Storage (NAS). When it comes to NAS, most new or less experienced users fall into two main categories:

1. DIY Enthusiasts – Those who prefer to build their own systems, optimizing costs and flexibility with open-source platforms like TrueNAS Scale (the Linux-based counterpart to the popular TrueNAS Core on FreeBSD).
2. Turnkey Buyers – Those willing to pay extra for a prebuilt system, even if it means dealing with some software limitations.

But what if you want the best of both worlds? Good news—you can have it! In this guide, I’ll show you how to transform TerraMaster’s highly affordable NAS solutions (arguably the best value on the market right now) into a TrueNAS -powered, ZFS-backed NAS system. Even the 2024/2025 models come well-equipped with multiple NVMe support (the F8 SSD PLUS as a particular stand out device), 2.5GbE networking, embedded graphics CPUs, and more, making them a fantastic base for a Linux NAS.

Best of all, setting this up is much easier than you might think, completely reversible, and provides you with the customization and flexibility of TrueNAS while still benefiting from a prebuilt 24/7 server at an unbeatable price. Sounds great, right? Let’s get started with the step-by-step guide!

Note – You can watch my FULL 30 Min+ beginners Guide to installing TrueNAS on a Terramaster NAS Here

TrueNAS on Terramaster – What You Need?

Before you begin, it’s important to note that simply owning a TerraMaster NAS isn’t enough. To get TrueNAS up and running, you’ll need to complete a few preliminary checks and have a few extra items—many of which you may already have at home or in the office. If not, a quick $10 purchase online should cover it.

To upgrade your TerraMaster NAS to TrueNAS , make sure you have the following:

• A Terramaster NAS Drive with (minimum) an Intel 64bit x86 CPU and a minimum 2GB of Memory (recommended 8GB+)
• Download the latest stable release of TrueNAS here as a system image (you will be converting this to USB later on) – DOWNLOAD
• Any Data that is currently on the Terramaster NAS RAID that is mission critical to be backed up or moved (as it will be completely formatted)
• A USB drive no bigger than 9mm x 17mm x 20mm ( I STRONGLY recommend THIS ONE here from Sandisk, as it is low price and incredibly small, even at 32GB)

• I recommend not using a USB larger than 32GB, due to the constraints of 1st party software to format larger than this in FAT32. Don’t be tempted to spend like $2 more for a 64GB, as the TrueNAS installation will occupy the full USB space (as you will create a system-image-USB) and space is utterly irrelevant when the TrueNAS installation is so small
• A Disk Image to USB conversion too. I recommend ‘Rufus’, currently in ver 3.19 and can be run in a portable .exe form that doesn’t require installation – DOWNLOAD
• A basic USB Keyboard (example HERE but really, any will do) and an HDMI Monitor (or simply any device that has an HDMI input – NOT output) such as a TV or Capture card
• Hard Drive and/or SSD media (you should already have these, but just in case) for your storage
• Optional – Download Advanced IP Scanner HERE, as it is a really useful tool for analyzing your network and finding your new TrueNAS NAS for remote access

That is about it. Most of these (maybe not the USB drive at that physical size) you will almost certainly already have to hand.

Can I Reverse the TrueNAS Installation back to Terramaster TOS?

Almost certainly, yes! However, there is one key consideration. When switching from TerraMaster’s TOS to TrueNAS , the internal drives (HDDs and/or SSDs) will be formatted to ZFS, meaning they won’t be recognized by TOS if you choose to switch back later.

The good news? Reverting back is incredibly easy—all you need to do is replace the internal USB drive and reboot the system. However, switching between NAS operating systems will wipe the data on the drives, so be sure to back up your important files elsewhere before proceeding.

Now that you’re ready, let’s move on to installing TrueNAS on your TerraMaster NAS!

TrueNAS on a Terramaster NAS – Step 1, Download TrueNAS

Head to the TrueNAS website HERE and download the latest stable release of the software to your local PC, Linux or Mac system. Make sure to remember where you downloaded it.

TrueNAS on a Terramaster NAS – Step 2, Download Rufus USB Image Tool

Head to the Rufus website and download the latest version of that tool – I recommend downloading the standalone executable file here, as then it will immediately run when you double click the file, without installation etc. It may redirect you to Github, but it will be the same executable file. Once again, remember where you downloaded it.

TrueNAS on a Terramaster NAS – Step 3, Preparing the USB

Connect the small form factor USB Drive to your system (again, this is the one I used from Sandisk) and after a few seconds, it should appear as an available USB Drive. The drive MAY need formatting (you will be prompted to do so), if that is the case, then you can format it via the system prompts and by default, it will format it to FAT32 (as long as your USB is less than 32GB). If you are not presented with a system prompt to format your USB, then you can head into My PC, or My Computer via a windows computer and right-click the drive, select ‘format’ and format it that way.

If you have used the USB for other things previously, there is a chance that the drive has existing partitions in place. For that, the quickest way to completely remove any partitions is to open up the bottom-left windows system menu as normal, and then just type diskpart and open the command-line GUI tool. From there, use the command list disk to show the available drives that are connected, you will see your USB (normally disk 1 or 2, but can differ depending on your system layout and can be spotted by the storage amount). From there, type select disk # (where # is the drive number that your USB is shown as) and then type clean, which which will then remove any index structure for the drive (i.e the partitions and existing format) and then you can go back to the My Computer/My PC page and format the drive to FAT 32 as normal.

TrueNAS on a Terramaster NAS – Step 4, Creating a USB Installer Image of TrueNAS

Open the Rufus application and from there you will see the USB Drive (listed as NO NAME, or ‘UNTITLED’, ETC) at the top. From there, look to the select image/find image option (depending on the ver. of Rufus or your USB Image Creator tool of choice) and find the TrueNAS disk image you downloaded earlier). If the drive is not listed, it may have downloaded as a compressed/archive file. If that is the case, head to the location of where you downloaded TrueNAS (in your file explorer, not in Rufus) and right-click the file you downloaded. If the option to ‘extract‘ is visible, then you can extract it (i.e unpack it to the original form) in that same download directory. From there, head back into RUFUS and then the TrueNAS system image should be visible. Select it, then run the Rufus System image creator tool and create your USB bootable TrueNAS disk image.

REMEMBER! This will completely format your USB drive and any files that are on that USB will be destroyed. The system image creator tool will turn the USB into a pure boot image tool – the USB will not be usable for traditional storage again unless you completely format it again.

TrueNAS on a Terramaster NAS – Step 5, REMOVE THE USB FROM YOUR PC!!!!!!!!!

Really, really important and sometimes overlooked. Once the USB creation is completed, you need to remove the USB (using the eject hardware safely option at the bottom right of your windows machine taskbar as normal). DO NOT accidentally leave the USB in your USB Ports for any longer than necessary. If you leave it in and your system reboots at any point (eg in a normal ‘end of day shut down, go home, reboot tomorrow’ scenario), then the system might boot directly into the TrueNAS installation and although it is easy to exit from, it can change your system default boot preferences, maybe even remove your primary boot drive as the OS drive – requiring a little messing with a windows installation disk to change it back. The odds of this are very small, but not zero, so make sure to safely remove your USB drive when the TrueNAS system image creator tool is completed.

TrueNAS on a Terramaster NAS – Step 6, Opening up your Terramaster NAS

This next step is going to differ depending on the Terramaster NAS Drive you are choosing to use. For this guide, I am using a 2022/2023 generation F4-423 4-Bay NAS, but the general steps are the same for any Terramaster NAS (though the location of the USB will differ) (the F8 SSD PLUS for example has a particularly secluded USB key internally). With the Terramaster NAS disconnected from the network and from any power source. From there you will need to remove the external casing. In the case of most Terramaster NAS, the chassis is held by 4-6 screws on the rear of the casing that, when removed, allow you to remove the rear pannel+fans and slide the internal framework out the front of the casing (be sure to check the fans are not disconnected accidentally in this process). IMPORTANT – Remove any HDD/SSD Media during the dismantling of the Terramaster NAS chassis, as it would be so, SO easy to harm these with accidentally dropping/motion damage. No need to remember the order of the drives when you re-install them, as they are going to be formatted during the TrueNAS installation.

Now, if you take a closer look at the main controller board of the Terramaster NAS (the one with network/USB ports attached, not the one that the HDD/SSD bays are on), you will spot a VERY small USB module in a tiny USB port. It should look something like this:

Now, THIS is where the default Terramaster TOS NAS software installation is kept. This is NOT where the OS actually runs from, but this is where the system checks in it’s BIOS when booting to find installation media (IF the system does not already have an active OS on the drives). Very delicately (as it IS a small USB and likely tucked in next to some other delicate components) remove the USB there is there, put it somewhere safe (as you will need this if you ever want to return the Terramster back to a TOS software system) and then replace it with the USB from earlier that has the TrueNAS system image you created in Rufus. THIS is why you needed a very small USB, as otherwise there is simply no way you would fit a traditional USB flash stick in the space provided.

That is pretty much it. This only other thing to factor in here is IF your Terramaster NAS does NOT have an external HDMI port. Most Terramsater NAS released in 2020-2025 have an HDMI port on the rear that although largely useless in TOS, is still accessible (something you will need for TrueNAS initialization. However, some Terramaster NAS with Intel Processors have the HDMI Port located INSIDE the main chassis (especially the older great box 2019-2020 gen devices). So, IF your NAS has an inside HDMI port, you are going to need to connect an  HDMI monitor to it and run the initial installation (covering in a bit) with the chassis in this open state. After installation is complete, you can close the Terramaster NAS chassis up. Otherwise, if your NAS already has an external HDMI port, you can go ahead and reconstruct the NAS chassis. Essentially, if you NAS has integrated graphics (Intel Celeron, Pentium, N100, N305, Core, etc), you will have an HDMI output.

NOTE – If you plan on upgrading the memory of your NAS to 8GB-16GB (in order to use ALL of the features of TrueNAS to their fullest extent), I would recommend doing so at this point before rebuilding the physical chassis again, as many Terramaser NAS have the 2nd SODIMM memory slot in really tight locations.

TrueNAS on a Terramaster NAS – Step 7, Accessing the HDMI Port and Keyboard Control

Next, you need to start getting the system ready for Initialization and Setup. I would strongly recommend running the first-time installation via a direct interface with the Terramaster NAS. You will need to connect an HDMI Monitor/TV/Capture Card to the HDMI port of the NAS, a Keyboard (and/or mouse) to an available USB port) and then connect the power/network connections to the NAS and boot the device up.

After a few minutes, the TrueNAS GUI/Command will appear on your monitor and all you need to do is navigate the config choices to set up your TrueNAS NAS the first time.

Important – TrueNAS Scale/Core runs at its best when it is run on a separate drive from your storage. Much like an Operating System, you can install TrueNAS on an available SSD in a SATA or NVMe SSD slot in the Terramaster NAS, then (after initialization) you can go into the TrueNAS > Storage area and create a pool of storage using the available storage media bays,

It is NOT recommended that you install it on a USB drive, for reasons of speed and power-connections.

After you have completed the setup and are back at the initial TrueNAS boot menu, select the ‘SHUTDOWN‘ option (not reboot/restart, for reasons I will explain in a moment).

TrueNAS on a Terramaster NAS – Step 8, Remove the Boot USB Drive

Once your Terramaster NAS has fully powered down, you need to disconnect the storage, power and any other cables, then open up the Terramaster NAS again (if it was re-constructed from earlier) and then remove the USB drive you installed earlier with TrueNAS boot loader on it. You need to do this as otherwise, when you reboot the Terramaster NAS, it will reboot into the bootloader again. You can skip past this and/or it will not action a reinitialization without your input, but better to remove the USB and therefore allow the system to always immediately boot into the TrueNAS system. After you have reconstructed the terramaster NAS, you can go ahead and connect all the cables and power on the device.

Note – Do NOT replace the USB with the original Terramaster USB Drive that it arrived with, or the system will auto boot into the Terramaster TOS Installation setup.

TrueNAS on a Terramaster NAS – Step 9, Reboot the NAS

Upon rebooting the Terramaster into TrueNAS (can take up to 5 mins, but usually much quicker). You have two options with how to access the configuration and controls. You can use the HDMI+Keyboard if you choose for console/command level access, but it will be ALOT higher a learning curve than the network GUI.

Alternatively (much more recommended), use a program such as Advanced IP Scanner, which is free and VERY useful anyway, or even network command prompt) to scan your local area network and find where the Terramaster with TrueNAS is located (i.e it’s IP). This IP (eg 192.168.1.111) is what you put into the URL bar ofay web browser and it will load into the login GUI for TrueNAS . From here you will need to use the username ‘root’ in combination with the password that you created during initialization.

And that is about it. You now have TrueNAS installed as the default OS of your Terramaster NAS. From here you can do anything and everything that his highly regarded ZFS powered server software offers. Head into the Storage area and start creating pools, as well as areas for caching and lots more features.

TrueNAS Core was recently updated to ver.13 in a stable release of the FreeBSD format, as well as new improvements in the Linux-based version ‘TrueNAS ‘. The first thing you are going to need to do when setting up your TrueNAS > Terramaster NAS server is set up your storage. Do this by heading into the storage tab and following the handy steps on screen. After that, you can pretty much do anything on your new ZFS NAS!

You can find out more about TrueNAS in my full review below that covers everything I like and dislike about the platform:

Thanks for reading! I hope this guide has helped you make the most of your storage setup. If you’d like to support my work and help me create more guides, reviews, and tutorials on NAS and related topics, there are several ways to do so—I’d truly appreciate any support!

• Visit the “Support NAS Passion” page [HERE] to explore different ways to contribute.
• Use the links below when shopping for NAS hardware—purchasing through these links earns us a small commission (at no extra cost to you), which helps keep the site running.
• Spread the word! If you found this guide useful, share it with friends, colleagues, or on your favorite social media platform.

Thank you again for your support, and have an amazing week!

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If you like this service, please consider supporting us. We use affiliate links on the blog allowing NAScompares information and advice service to be free of charge to you.Anything you purchase on the day you click on our links will generate a small commission which isused to run the website. Here is a link for Amazon and B&H.You can also get me a Ko-fi or old school Paypal. Thanks!To find out more about how to support this advice service check HEREIf you need to fix or configure a NAS, check Fiver Have you thought about helping others with your knowledge? Find Instructions Here  

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WE LOVE COFFEE

Ubiquiti continue d’enrichir sa gamme UniFi avec trois nouveaux points d’accès Wi-Fi 7 : le U7 Lite, le U7 In-Wall et le U7 Pro XG. Ces nouveaux modèles visent à améliorer la connectivité sans fil et à répondre aux besoins variés des particuliers comme des entreprises.

UniFi et Wi-Fi 7

La famille UniFi s’agrandit avec des solutions adaptées à différents usages : un modèle compact et abordable, une version murale avec des ports réseau supplémentaires et une option haut de gamme pour les environnements exigeants. Tour d’horizon des nouveautés…

UniFi U7 Lite : économique et performant

L’UniFi U7 Lite est un point d’accès Wi-Fi 7 abordable, destiné à ceux qui souhaitent profiter de cette nouvelle norme sans se ruiner. Affiché à 114€, il propose des débits théoriques allant jusqu’à 688 Mbit/s sur la bande 2,4 GHz et 4,3 Gbit/s sur la bande 5 GHz. Il dispose d’un port RJ45 2,5 Gb/s et prend en charge le 2×2 MU-MIMO sur les deux bandes de fréquences. Compact et efficace, il constitue une excellente porte d’entrée vers le Wi-Fi 7.

UniFi U7 In-Wall : installation discrète

L’UniFi U7 In-Wall est conçu pour une installation murale, idéale pour les hôtels, les bureaux et les espaces professionnels nécessitant un réseau discret mais performant. Il reprend les mêmes performances Wi-Fi que le U7 Lite, tout en intégrant un switch avec deux ports RJ45 2,5 Gb/s supplémentaires, dont un avec alimentation PoE pass-through. Cette fonctionnalité permet d’alimenter directement d’autres appareils, tels que des téléphones IP ou des caméras de surveillance. Son prix : 222 €.

UniFi U7 Pro XG : la puissance

Le modèle haut de gamme, UniFi U7 Pro XG, se destine aux entreprises et aux utilisateurs ayant besoin d’une connectivité réseau ultra-performante. Il prend en charge le Wi-Fi 7 complet, y compris la bande 6 GHz, et dispose d’une connectivité filaire 10 Gb/s PoE. Avec ses capacités avancées, il représente une solution idéale pour les infrastructures nécessitant des performances réseau optimales. Son prix : 228€.

A noter également l’arrivée de l’U7 Pro XGS, qui propose une meilleure couverture en sans fil,  et une puce dédié pour scanner l’environnement.

Faut-il passer au Wi-Fi 7 dès maintenant ?

Avec ces nouveaux modèles, Ubiquiti accélère sur le Wi-Fi 7 et propose des solutions adaptées à tous les budgets et usages. Cependant, la question du passage au Wi-Fi 7 en 2025 mérite réflexion. Même si cette norme promet des vitesses d’un niveau jamais atteint et surtout une meilleure réactivité, le nombre d’appareils compatibles reste encore limité sur le marché. Faut-il anticiper l’avenir ou attendre une adoption plus large ?

Et vous, envisagez-vous d’adopter le Wi-Fi 7 dès cette année ? N’hésite pas à laisser un avis en commentaire…

Synology a officiellement dévoilé à Taïwan sa nouvelle série DSx25, composée de nombreux NAS. Comme nous l’avions annoncé précédemment, cette nouvelle gamme apporte son lot d’améliorations, mais risque d’en décevoir certains. Examinons de plus près ces nouveaux modèles…

Synology 2025 : une fuite dévoile les nouveautés

C’est sur le forum Chipsell que les premières informations sont apparues, notamment via l’image ci-dessous. Celle-ci résume succinctement les principales évolutions prévues dans les mois à venir. Synology introduit enfin le 2,5 Gb/s, mais les architectures (processeur et mémoire vive) restent globalement inchangées.

Synology DS225+

Commençons avec le Synology DS225+, un NAS 2 baies propulsé par un processeur Quad Core Intel J4125 cadencé à 2,0 GHz (mode Burst à 2,7 GHz), identique à celui du DS224+. Il devrait être équipé de 2 Go de RAM, extensibles jusqu’à 6 Go.

Synology fait ici le choix de recycler un processeur datant de 2019, ce qui peut surprendre. Certes, il a fait ses preuves, mais l’absence de mise à niveau matérielle pourrait décevoir.

Connectique :

• 2 ports USB 3.0 (dont 1 en facade)
• 1 port réseau 2,5 Gb/s
• Un second port réseau 1 Gb/s pourrait être présent

Synology DS425+

Le DS425+ est un NAS 4 baies qui conserve ses 2 emplacements NVMe. Il embarque le même processeur Intel J4125 que le DS225+ et offre 2 Go de RAM extensibles à 6 Go.

Connectique :

• 2 ports USB 3.0 (dont 1 en facade)
• 1 port réseau 2,5 Gb/s
• Un second port réseau 1 Gb/s serait également présent

Synology DS625slim

Le DS625slim est un NAS compact doté de 6 emplacements exclusivement pour SSD. Il reprend l’architecture du DS425+ avec un processeur Intel J4125 et 2 Go de RAM extensibles à 6 Go.

Connectique :

• 2 ports USB 3.0 à l’arrière
• 2 ports réseau (1 x 2,5 Gb/s et 1 x 1 Gb/s)

Synology DS725+

Le DS725+ est un NAS 2 baies avec 2 emplacements NVMe supplémentaires. Il est équipé d’un processeur Dual Core AMD Ryzen R1600 cadencé à 2,6 GHz (mode Turbo à 3,2 GHz) et 4 Go de RAM DDR4 ECC extensibles à 32 Go.

Connectique :

• 1 port USB 3.0 en facade
• 1 port USB Type-C* à l’arrière
• 2 ports réseau (1 x 2,5 Gb/s et 1 x 1 Gb/s)
• Suppression du port PCIe pour carte réseau 10 Gb/s

* il est possible de lui ajouter une baie d’expansion DX525 (5 baies)

Synology DS925+

Le DS925+, un NAS 4 baies, dispose de 2 emplacements NVMe accessibles par le dessous et est animé par un processeur Quad Core AMD V1500B (2,2 GHz) avec 4 Go de RAM DDR4 ECC extensibles à 32 Go.

Connectique :

• 1 port USB 3.0 en facade
• 1 port USB Type-C* à l’arrière
• 2 ports réseau 2,5 Gb/s
• Suppression du port PCIe pour carte réseau 10 Gb/s

* il est possible de lui ajouter une baie d’expansion DX525 (5 baies)

Synology DS1525+

Le DS1525+ offre 5 emplacements en facade et 2 emplacements NVMe. Il adopte également le processeur AMD V1500B, mais avec 8 Go de RAM DDR4 ECC extensibles à 32 Go.

Connectique :

• 4 ports USB 3.0 (dont 1 en facade)
• 2 ports USB Type-C* à l’arrière
• 2 ports réseau 2,5 Gb/s et 2 ports réseau 1 Gb/s (sous réserve de confirmation)
• Suppression du port PCIe pour carte réseau 10 Gb/s
• Un port PCIe sur le côté pourrait être présent

* il sera possible de lui ajouter 2 baies d’expansion DX525 (2* 5 baies)

Synology DS1825+

Le DS1825+ propose 8 emplacements en facade et 2 emplacements NVMe, avec la même base technique que le DS1525+ : AMD V1500B + 8 Go de RAM ECC extensibles à 32 Go.

Connectique :

• 4 ports USB 3.0 (dont 1 en facade)
• 2 ports USB Type-C à l’arrière
• 2 ports réseau 2,5 Gb/s et 2 ports réseau 1 Gb/s (sous réserve de confirmation)
• Un port PCIe reste présent le côté

Synology DS1825xs+

Le DS1825xs+ est une version haut de gamme dotée du processeur AMD V1780B (3,35 GHz de base, mode Burst 3,6 GHz) avec 8 Go de RAM DDR4 ECC extensible jusqu’à 32 Go.

Connectique :

• 2 ports USB 3.0 (dont 1 en facade)
• 2 ports USB Type-C à l’arrière
• 1 port réseau 10 Gb/s
• 2 ports réseau 2,5 Gb/s et 1 port réseau 1 Gb/s
• Un port PCIe reste présent le côté

En synthèse

La nouvelle gamme Synology DSx25 est une évolution plus qu’une révolution. L’introduction de la connectivité 2,5 Gb/s est une avancée bienvenue, mais les processeurs inchangés sur plusieurs modèles peuvent décevoir. L’absence d’iGPU avec les processeurs AMD et la suppression des emplacements PCIe sur certains modèles interrogent également. Il faudra attendre leur sortie officielle pour juger de leur véritable intérêt face à la concurrence.

Et vous, que pensez-vous de cette nouvelle gamme Synology 2025 ? N’hésitez pas à laisser un commentaire…

Merci Ludo33

source

New Synology NAS for First Half of 2025 Revealed – DS925+, DS1825XS+, DS625Slim, DS1525+ and More

After what seems like quite a while for many, we have finally got pretty large confirmation that Synology are refreshing a large number of their Desktop (and a couple of Rackmount systems) devices – as well as launching a few new storage media options. This new information arrives via ChipHell user ‘nineeast‘ in a recent forum post. I am still in the process of identifying the event that the photo below was taken from, but given the preponderance of people taking photos, it won’t be long before this spreads further. This is of course the potential that this is a hoax… but (as you will see later in the article) the chiphell post is not the only source. Nevertheless, it looks like Synology are getting set to refresh a huge number of solutions, launching their DS925+, DS425+, DS225+, DS1525+, DS1825+, DS725+, DS625slim, DS1825xs+ and RS2825RP+ between now and Summer 2025. So, let’s discuss what these refreshed devices bring and whether they deserve your data.

*Update* In order to better track each of the new Synology NAS revealed at this event, I have made update pages for each device below. Additionally, as mentioned in the video, I am canvassing user feedback on these new releases (ideally existing Synology NAS users and/or SIs – system integrators) for a follow up video soon. put your feedback in the comments below or in the Reddit thread HERE

• Synology DS925+ NAS News https://nascompares.com/news/synology-ds925-nas-news/
• Synology DS1525+ NAS Leak https://nascompares.com/news/synology-ds1525-nas-revealed/
• Synology DS425+ NAS Revealed https://nascompares.com/news/synology-ds425-nas-revealed/
• Synology DS1825+ NAS News https://nascompares.com/news/synology-ds1825-nas-news/
• Synology DS425+ NAS News https://nascompares.com/news/synology-ds425-nas-revealed/
• Synology DS1825xs+ NAS Revealed https://nascompares.com/news/synology-ds1825xs-nas-revealed/
• Synology DS225+ NAS News https://nascompares.com/news/synology-ds225-nas-revealed/
• Synolgoy DS625slim 6-Bay NAS Revealed https://nascompares.com/news/synolgoy-ds625slim-6-bay-nas-revealed/
• Synology DS725+ NAS Revealed https://nascompares.com/news/synology-ds725-nas-revealed/

Credit to nineeast on Chiphell forum

Which Synology Solutions were Revealed at the Synology Event?

The big deal here is that it is tremendously rare for Synology to reveal their roadmap of solutions, let alow share it with users in such a detailed fashion. Synology have always been tremendously restrained when it comes to revealing their product refreshes (and new product lines). That said, refreshes of products in their portfolio periodically is pretty normal, and most Synology solutions will see a refresh every 2.5-5years (depending on the product tier, with XS series devices generally having a longer refresh cycle), and many have been wondering about when a refresh to the x22/23 range of devices would arrive, and in what form it would take. The TLDR list of solutions shown were:

The biggest takeaway in these shared images seems to be that the bulk of the solutions in this 2025 year refresh are going to remain largely the same, but with two main changes across the board.

Credit to nineeast on Chiphell forum

Thise changes are 1GbE network interfaces will be upgraded to 2.5GbE interfaces universally, and expansion devices that would have previously used eSATA as a means of connectivity will now be USB-C (as well as a reshuffle of the CPUs in the product tiers/families around), but we will get onto that latter point in a moment. Further information and images have also been shared by user ‘ERROR204‘ on imnks, another storage *& network related forum, as well as bringing further information on the expansion devices. The DS1525+, DS925+ and DS725+ will serve as refreshes of the DS923+, DS723+ and DS1522+ NAS. It’s unclear whether they will be using that mini PCIe upgrade card like the existing series (the E10G20-T1-MINI) as the slide below indicates that they will not, but the DS925+ and DS1525+ will see the R1600 Dual Core / 4 Thread Ryzen processor in their predecessor replaced with the v1500B 4 Core / 8 Thread CPU (previously used in the 6/8/12 Bay desktop NAS devices. The DS725+ however will remain as the R1600, but will see the 1GbE NICs upgraded to 2.5GbE.

Credit to ERROR204 on imnks.com

Interestingly, the default memory on the DS725+ will increase to 4GB of ECC Memory (as opposed to the 2GB in the DS723+ predecessor). However the slide below also indicates that it will no longer support the mini PCIe 10GbE adapter. So it’s a mixed bag in the DS725+ refresh really. This slide also indicates that the USB-C connected expansion will seemingly remain at 6Gb/s transfer speeds – which is a little odd, given USB 3.2 Gen 1 is 5Gb/s and USB 3.2 Gen 2 is 10Gb/s – something to ponder.

Credit to ERROR204 on imnks.com

Next is the ‘media’ series of devices and also a return of the Synology SLIM series. The DS625slim arrives (refreshing the DS620slim from 2020) and the DS425+ and DS225+ arrive as refreshes for the comparatively (for Synology’s MO) new DS224+ and DS423+ NAS. These will be continuing to use the existing Intel J4125 Quad Core Celeron CPU from 2019/2020 (something I know will not please everyone), but will also see upgrades to 2.5GbE from the 1GbE on their predecessors. Additioanlly, I think we can assume the DS425+ will have the 2x M.2 NVMe slots of it’s predecessor.

Credit to ERROR204 on imnks.com

Now the DS925+ (a refresh of the DS923+) has the upgrade from the R1600 CPU to the V1500B CPU we mentioned earlier, alongside the new USB-C expansion support (the DX525) and 2.5GbE NICs, so I think we can assume the DS1525+ will be similarly reprofiled from the DS1522+, but I am unsure if it will have 2x USB-C ports instead of 2x eSATA (almost certainly, but not 100%). I think many user are going to have mixed feelings once again about the CPU choices present here in the bulk of these new refreshes.

Credit to ERROR204 on imnks.com

Now onto those two 8 Bay devices, the DS1825+ and DS1825xs+ (serving as refreshes of the DS1821+ and DS1823xs+ respectively). As covered in my video in 2024 about previously leaked information on the DS1825+, it seems that both of these devices will have the same CPU as their predecessor devices, but will see upgrades from their 1GbE ports towards 2.5GbE (with the DS1825xs+ maintaining it’s 10GbE copper connection). All other specifications (M.2 slots, expandability, memory, etc) will all seemingly remain the same – though I think we can once again assume that expansion ports will be USB-C in line with the DX525 box.

For many, it will be a little disappointing that we did not see a 6-Bay model arrive and in fact there has not actually been a 6-Bay Synology NAS since 2020 (when the DS1621+ and DS1621xs+ were launched), increasing fears that Synology are eliminating that tier of their portfolio. However, there is ZERO confirmation on this and the 6 Bay option in the Synology store is still present for the DS1621+ and DS620slim, though the DS1621xs+ has disappeared (likely replaced internally with the 8 bay XS option).

Finally, there is the storage media that was listed. Some drives we already knew about. For example, the SAT5221 Series of SATA SSDs already appeared on vietcorp (HERE), but the HAT3320 is seemingly a refresh/new line in the Synology Plus series of hard drives – and there have been rumours circling for a while that these would be Seagate Ironwolf drives, but currently unconfirmed.

Finally, there is the Synology SNV5420 series – a new M.2 NVMe media drive range, but it is currently unclear if this is a complete refresh of the SNV3400/SNV3410, or as the naming convention seems to indicate, a higher performance/class of M.2 NVMe SSDs. This is something that has been LONG DEMANDED as Synology still have a solid insistence on their systems/add-on cards with M.2 NVMe Support HAVE TO be their own media drives if you want to use the slots of Storage pools, yet the SNV3400 range and it’s variations are comparatively low speed and high priced vs the rest of the M.2 NVMe SSD market as a whole.

So, that’s everything we know so far. Let’s now discuss what we think together in the comments!

The New Synology 2025 Product Line Up – What I Like and What I Don’t!

I have mixed feelings about the entire Synology refreshed line up – on the one hand I DO think there is a meaningful refresh here on the DS925+ and DS1525+ NAS. No one was expecting Synology to completely change this product family, as they have already made it pretty clear that these two system profiles are designed now more for the SMB user, small business, container deployer and those with file processing needs – i.e not multimedia as the focus. So, them upgrading this from the R1000 CPU in the x23 series to a V1000 CPU (doubling the cores and threads) will be tremendously welcome – as will 2.5GbE out the box (though I would like more clarification on the E10G22-T1-MINI 10GbE upgrade card support – as it looks like this is now not supported and that would be a real shame). Also, as much as its a bummer to see the V1500B CPU that Synology have already had on their products in 2020 in these 4 and 5 Bay solutions, they ARE good follow up CPUs over the R1600 in profile, and still have a length support time with AMD backing them up. All that said, the DS725+ seems pretty hard done by here, in fact the DS425+, DS225+ and DS725+ all seem to essentially be the same NAS, but with the 1GbE NICs swapped out with 2.5GbE. I mean, if the price remains exactly the same as the DS423+, DS224+ and DS723+ (and no other hardware surprises arrive in the form of no NVMe slots, etc), then these are…technically…refreshes. But more like a DS224+II, than a whole new DS225+.

Regarding the Intel Celeron devices, I am a little puzzled more than anything else. 2.5GbE on these is good (even if we overlook the fact that 2.5GbE has been fairly standard on ALL NAS systems in place of 1GbE since 2020 from everyone else), but the J4125 CPU is a CPU that has long since retired by Intel (indeed, Intel Celeron naming itself is long gone in favour of the Alder Lake and Twin Lake N processors). So unlike the strong support afforded to the AMD processors I mentioned above, the J4125 seems a remarkably dated choice right now. Still, better some kind of graphical capable CPU in the line up than none at all. Still, odd choice. As there are a lot of holes in these specifications, it’s tough to make a full list of what is good and bad, plus we have to acknowledge that things CAN change during development. So, I’ll hold off for now with anything concrete on my own thoughts, but again, I would love to chat in the comments here or on YouTube for your own thoughts.

Things we still need confirmation on!

As I just mentioned, there are still a lot of gaps in these specs and till we have the full picture, we can’t judge anything! So, here are the questions I still have about these new refreshes that remain unanswered for now:

• HDD and SSD Compatibility, will it be largely the same as the existing 22/23/24 series devices (i.e largely Synology drives, but a few Seagate/WD/Toshiba drives), or will these new series be the first to arrive with strict Synology-only drive media and/or pre-population?
• How is the USB-C 6Gb/s? Is it an adapter, or a USB-C Port on the old lane internally?
• Where is the 6-Bay?
• Ambiguity at best, complete removal at worst, of the 10GbE upgradability of the 2/4/5 Bay V1500B option NAS’. Is this for real?
• Is the SNV5420 a new high performance M.2 NVMe?
• Why refresh all of these at the same time? Some solutions like the DS1823xs+ or DS224+ are very early in their expected run, so a refresh so soon seems unnecessary. So why now?

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UniFi Launch a MASSIVE range of 10GbE PoE APs and Switches – The New XG/XGS Series

The UniFi U7 Pro XG and U7 Pro XGS is ANOTHER expansion of Ubiquiti’s WiFi 7 access point lineup (I swear, it’s like the 3rd/4th this year or something), bringing 10GbE Power over Ethernet (PoE) support to the series for the first time. These APs aim to address a major limitation of previous models—network bandwidth bottlenecks at the wired uplink—by allowing full utilization of multi-gigabit wireless speeds. The inclusion of 10GbE uplinks ensures that high-throughput devices, particularly those leveraging WiFi 7’s Multi-Link Operation (MLO) and wider channel support, are not constrained by a 2.5GbE or lower-speed connection to the wired network.

Accompanying the launch of these access points is a new range of UniFi XG series switches, designed to deliver PoE+ and PoE++ power while providing high-bandwidth connectivity across multiple wired and wireless clients.

The XG switch lineup includes four models: two high-capacity rackmount switches (24-port and 48-port) aimed at enterprise and data-heavy environments, a 10-port rackmount switch, and an 8-port desktop model designed for smaller-scale deployments. These switches not only ensure full 10GbE connectivity for the new APs but also introduce 25G uplink capabilities in the higher-end models, allowing for future network scalability and aggregation improvements.

With these new releases, Ubiquiti is targeting high-performance network environments, including businesses, prosumers, and enterprises that require low-latency, high-bandwidth connectivity across multiple access points. The transition from 2.5GbE to 10GbE in UniFi’s AP lineup reflects a broader industry shift toward higher-capacity wired backbones to match advancements in wireless technology. These products are particularly suited for scenarios involving high client densities, large-scale WiFi deployments, multi-gigabit internet connectivity, and demanding applications such as cloud computing, video conferencing, and real-time data transfer. By integrating 10GbE PoE APs with a full suite of supporting switches, UniFi is providing a comprehensive ecosystem for users looking to future-proof their network infrastructure. Whether deployed in corporate, hospitality, industrial, or high-end residential environments, these devices represent a step forward in ensuring WiFi 7 performance is not bottlenecked by wired limitations.

Update – The U7 Pro XG and U7 Pro XGS APs are NOW Available. The Pro XG Swtich Series is still TBC at time of writing

The UniFi U7 Pro XG and U7 Pro XGS 10GbE PoE WiFi 7 APs – Design and Connectivity

The UniFi U7 Pro XG and U7 Pro XGS maintain the familiar circular form factor that UniFi access points are known for, but with some notable refinements. The XGS model is slightly larger than the XG, a difference primarily due to its additional spatial streams and enhanced internal architecture. Both APs feature a polycarbonate outer shell with a metal internal frame, which serves to improve heat dissipation and ensures they remain fanless despite their higher performance. This passive cooling approach helps maintain silent operation while keeping temperatures within optimal ranges, even under heavy loads.

A qwerky (yet nonetheless requested!) design change in these models is the introduction of dual-color options for the first time in UniFi’s AP lineup – kinda blows me away that this is weirdly rare in these products in 2025. Users will have the choice between black and white, allowing for greater flexibility in deployments where aesthetic considerations are important, such as in modern office spaces, high-end homes, or retail environments.

Additionally, UniFi has stickable interchangeable covers for other APs in their line up, though details on availability and customization remain unclear at launch if these will be available on the XG/XGS series

To accommodate higher power demands and increased performance, UniFi has optimized thermal efficiency in both models, leveraging passive cooling techniques to maintain stability under continuous high-load conditions. The metal internal frame aids in efficient heat dissipation, preventing thermal throttling and ensuring long-term reliability. While these APs have a higher power draw than previous UniFi models—22W for the XG and 29W for the XGS—this is a necessary tradeoff for their improved bandwidth and increased spatial streams. Given their fanless design, proper placement—such as ceiling or wall mounting in areas with adequate airflow—is recommended to maintain consistent performance over time.

The most important functional change in these APs is the 10GbE PoE uplink, replacing the 2.5GbE PoE standard found in previous UniFi WiFi 7 models. The addition of 10GbE PoE+ (XG) and PoE++ (XGS) allows these APs to fully utilize WiFi 7’s increased throughput potential without encountering a wired bottleneck. The shift to 10GbE connectivity makes these access points particularly suited for environments where high-bandwidth, multi-client performance is essential, such as large-scale office deployments, conference centers, and high-density public spaces.

With maximum power consumption rated at 22W for the XG and 29W for the XGS, both APs require PoE switches capable of delivering sufficient power at 10GbE speeds. This makes them best suited for deployment alongside UniFi’s new Pro XG series switches, which offer 10GbE PoE across multiple port configurations. For users without a 10GbE PoE switch, UniFi has also released a PoE to mains adapter a while back supporting 10GbE passthrough, allowing these APs to be powered while connected to a standard non-PoE 10GbE switch.

These refinements in design, thermal management, and connectivity demonstrate UniFi’s continued push toward enterprise-grade wireless networking, ensuring WiFi 7 devices can operate without artificial bottlenecks imposed by wired infrastructure.

The New U7 Pro XG/XGS APs vs the U7 Pro and U7 Pro Max APs

The U7 Pro XG and U7 Pro XGS build on the foundation of the U7 Pro and U7 Pro Max, but with a focus on eliminating wired bottlenecks. While all four models support WiFi 7, the key distinction between the Pro XG/XGS and the earlier U7 Pro models lies in their uplink capabilities. The U7 Pro and U7 Pro Max are limited to 2.5GbE PoE, which is adequate for most WiFi 7 workloads but can become a constraint when multiple high-bandwidth clients are connected simultaneously. The Pro XG and XGS, by contrast, introduce 10GbE PoE, ensuring that the wired infrastructure can keep pace with the wireless throughput.

The spatial stream configuration is another notable difference. The U7 Pro XG (6-stream) and U7 Pro XGS (8-stream) allow for higher simultaneous throughput across more devices, compared to the U7 Pro (4-stream) and U7 Pro Max (6-stream). This makes the XG and XGS models better suited for high-density deployments, particularly in offices, event spaces, and public environments where hundreds of devices may be connected at once. The Pro XGS, in particular, offers 4×4 MIMO on the 5GHz band, significantly improving performance and efficiency for mid-range frequencies compared to the U7 Pro Max.

Another area of distinction is power consumption. The Pro XG and XGS models require more power—22W for the XG and 29W for the XGS, compared to 21W for the U7 Pro and 25W for the U7 Pro Max. This is a necessary tradeoff for their higher performance and increased uplink capacity, though it does mean PoE+ or PoE++ switches are required. Additionally, the Pro XG/XGS feature an updated chassis design, a dual-color option (black or white), and interchangeable covers—features not found on the U7 Pro and Pro Max.

Ultimately, the U7 Pro XG and XGS are designed for users who need 10GbE uplink support, either because they already have a 10GbE network or plan to upgrade to UniFi’s new 10GbE PoE switches. For users with a 2.5GbE or slower wired infrastructure, the U7 Pro and Pro Max remain viable choices at a slightly lower price point. However, as WiFi 7 adoption grows and multi-gig networks become more common, the Pro XG and XGS offer better long-term scalability.

The New Pro XG Switch Series – ProXG 8/10/24/48 Port L3 Switches

Alongside the U7 Pro XG and U7 Pro XGS, UniFi has introduced a new lineup of 10GbE PoE switches, designed to provide sufficient power and bandwidth for these high-performance access points. The Pro XG switch series consists of four models, each tailored for different network scales. These include two rackmount models (24-port and 48-port), a 10-port rackmount version, and a compact 8-port desktop model. Each switch is L3-capable, allowing for advanced network segmentation and routing, and includes PoE+ or PoE++ support, ensuring seamless integration with UniFi’s latest APs and other PoE-powered devices.

Pro XG 24 PoE Switch

The Pro XG 24 PoE Switch is a 1U rackmount switch designed for mid-sized network deployments that require a balance of high-speed wired connectivity and PoE power delivery. It features 16x 10GbE PoE+++ ports and 8x 2.5GbE PoE+++ ports, making it suitable for networks that mix WiFi 7 access points with multi-gigabit wired clients.

Additionally, it includes 2x 25G SFP28 ports for uplinks to higher-speed network infrastructure or aggregation switches. With a total PoE budget of 720W, it provides ample power for multiple APs, IP cameras, or other PoE devices without the risk of power limitations.

Pro XG 48 PoE Switch

For larger-scale environments, the Pro XG 48 PoE Switch offers a higher port density and greater PoE capacity. It includes 32x 10GbE PoE+++ ports and 16x 2.5GbE PoE+++ ports, making it a high-performance choice for dense enterprise networks. Like the 24-port version, it also features 4x 25G SFP28 uplinks, ensuring sufficient bandwidth for connecting to core switches or high-speed backbones.

The PoE budget is increased to 1080W, making it an ideal choice for deployments that include multiple high-power PoE devices such as security cameras, VoIP phones, and UniFi’s latest APs.

Pro XG 10 PoE Switch

The Pro XG 10 PoE Switch is a compact rackmount switch aimed at smaller business or prosumer setups that still require 10GbE PoE connectivity. It features 10x 10GbE PoE+++ ports and 2x 10G SFP+ uplink ports, providing a balance between port availability and high-speed connectivity.

With a total PoE budget of 400W, this switch is suitable for environments where a handful of high-performance APs and a small number of wired clients need reliable power and bandwidth. Its 1U form factor allows for easy integration into existing rack setups while maintaining L3 switching capabilities for network segmentation and security.

Pro XG 8 PoE Switch

For users who need 10GbE PoE in a desktop-friendly format, the Pro XG 8 PoE Switch provides high-speed connectivity without the bulk of a full rackmount switch. It includes 8x 10GbE PoE++ ports and 2x 10G SFP+ uplinks, making it a suitable choice for small offices, home labs, or network expansions where rack space is limited.

The 155W PoE budget is lower than its larger counterparts, but still sufficient for a few high-powered APs or other PoE devices. Unlike the rackmount models, this switch does not include an LCD control screen and is instead managed entirely through the UniFi software interface.

The UniFi XG switch lineup is designed to complement WiFi 7 APs by eliminating network bottlenecks at the wired infrastructure level. These switches provide a scalable, high-performance backbone for enterprise, business, and prosumer deployments, ensuring that wireless speeds are not limited by outdated switch technology.

Should You Care About the UniFi XG Series of WiFi APs and Switches? Verdict & Conclusion

The UniFi U7 Pro XG and U7 Pro XGS introduce 10GbE PoE to UniFi’s WiFi 7 lineup, resolving a key limitation of previous models by eliminating the wired uplink bottleneck. The Pro XG (6-stream) and Pro XGS (8-stream) offer higher client capacity, better multi-device performance, and a redesigned chassis that introduces dual-color options for more discreet deployments. Their fanless design and metal internal structure improve thermal management, making them suitable for continuous high-performance use. However, higher power consumption (22W for the XG, 29W for the XGS) means that PoE+ or PoE++ infrastructure is required, which could be a drawback for users with older PoE switches. Additionally, while the 10GbE uplink is a significant upgrade, users without 10GbE-capable networks may not see immediate benefits. Despite this, for those already investing in high-bandwidth networking, these APs offer superior long-term scalability compared to the U7 Pro and Pro Max.

The Pro XG series switches provide a much-needed 10GbE PoE solution to support UniFi’s latest APs and other high-power PoE devices. The lineup includes rackmount options (24-port and 48-port models) with 25G uplinks, a compact 10-port rackmount switch, and an 8-port desktop model for smaller deployments. Each switch is L3-capable, offering advanced routing and VLAN segmentation, and they provide substantial PoE budgets ranging from 155W (desktop model) to 1080W (48-port model). These switches solve the lack of 10GbE PoE options in the market but come with some trade-offs, including higher power draw and potential noise levels in larger models. The desktop version lacks an LCD screen, and pricing—though not yet finalized—will likely position these above existing UniFi multi-gig PoE switches. However, for those building a true high-performance wired and wireless network, these switches represent a genuinely unique step forward in the standard of PoE devices in the market – no really.

We are currently testing the U7 Pro XG/XGS access points and the XG switch series, gathering real-world performance data on throughput, power efficiency, and thermal management. A detailed review will follow soon, focusing on WiFi 7 performance under load, 10GbE PoE implementation, and compatibility with existing UniFi infrastructure. Our tests will also evaluate how well these APs handle multi-client environments and whether the 10GbE uplink translates to real-world advantages over 2.5GbE models. If you’re considering an upgrade to WiFi 7 or planning a 10GbE PoE deployment, stay tuned for our full analysis, where we’ll break down whether these new devices are truly worth the investment.

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WE LOVE COFFEE

Synology vient de mettre à disposition une nouvelle version de son logiciel interne pour routeurs : SRM 1.3.1 Update 13. Cette mise à jour apporte plusieurs corrections, notamment des correctifs de sécurité importants. Examinons en détail les modifications apportées par cette version…

Synology SRM 1.3.1 Update 13

Un peu plus de 4 mois après la précédente mise à jour, Synology propose SRM 1.3.1 Update 13. Cette nouvelle version vient corriger plusieurs problèmes critiques. Voici ce qu’indique le journal des modifications :

• Les connexions IPv6 pouvaient échouer après un certain temps d’utilisation dans certains environnements Wi-Fi ;
• La connexion à Internet pouvait être interrompue après un redémarrage du routeur, notamment lorsqu’un réseau mobile était utilisé comme fournisseur d’accès Internet sans périphérique câblé connecté ;
• Correction de plusieurs vulnérabilités de sécurité.

Le dernier point est particulièrement intrigant, car Synology ne précise pas quelles failles ont été corrigées. En consultant la page des avertissements de sécurité du fabricant, aucune mention n’est faite de ces vulnérabilités pour le moment. Il est possible que certaines d’entre elles aient un risque d’exploitation élevé, incitant Synology à attendre qu’un nombre suffisant d’appareils soit mis à jour avant de détailler les failles corrigées.

À noter que SRM 1.2.5 ne bénéficie pas de cette mise à jour.

Télécharger et installer la mise à jour SMR

Cette mise à jour est disponible pour tous les routeurs Synology, à l’exception du modèle RT1900ac. Pour l’installer, vous avez 2 options :

• Téléchargement automatique : La mise à jour peut être installée directement via l’interface d’administration de votre routeur ;
• Installation manuelle : Vous pouvez télécharger le fichier depuis la page officielle de Synology ou depuis l’archive en ligne.

Le fichier d’installation pèse environ 72 Mo.

Si la mise à jour automatique ne vous est pas encore proposée, voici la procédure d’installation manuelle : 

1. Téléchargez le fichier .PAT correspondant à votre modèle de routeur
2. Accédez à l’interface d’administration du routeur
3. Allez dans : Panneau de configuration > Système > Mise à jour et restauration
4. Cliquez sur Mise à jour manuelle de SRM
5. Sélectionnez le fichier téléchargé et suivez les instructions affichées à l’écran
6. Patientez pendant le processus de mise à jour…

Votre routeur devrait redémarrer automatiquement. Pensez à vérifier que tout fonctionne correctement.

En synthèse

SRM 1.3.1 Update 13 est une bonne nouvelle. La mise à jour est importante car elle corrige plusieurs bugs critiques et renforce la sécurité des routeurs Synology… Même si le fabricant ne détaille pas les vulnérabilités corrigées. Il est fortement recommandé de mettre à jour son routeur, sans trop attendre.

Merci Nuance pour l’information

QNAP continue d’enrichir son catalogue avec un nouveau switch réseau : le QSW-2104-2T-R2. Ce modèle, équipé de 6 ports RJ45, offre 4 ports 2,5 Gb/s et 2 ports 10 Gb/s. Son design et ses caractéristiques rappellent fortement le QSW-2104-2T. Disponible dans les prochaines semaines, il promet une connectivité rapide et efficace…

QNAP QSW-2104-2T-R2

Réputé pour ses NAS, QNAP propose également des switchs accessibles et simples à utiliser. Le QSW-2104-2T-R2 s’inscrit dans cette lignée avec un fonctionnement plug-and-play : aucun paramétrage avancé n’est nécessaire. On le branche, et il fonctionne immédiatement. Il s’git d’un switch 6 ports RJ45 : 4 ports 2,5 Gb/s et 2 ports 10 Gb/s.

Le fabricant précise : « le QSW-2104-2T-R2 respecte la norme NBASE-T pour fournir des vitesses de 2,5G, 1G, 100M et 10G, 5G, 2,5G, 1G, 100M, avec une capacité de commutation totale allant jusqu’à 60Gbps. Il prend en charge les Jumbo Frames de 12 KB et le contrôle de flux IEEE 802.3x, optimisant ainsi les transferts de fichiers volumineux et limitant les pertes de paquets ».

Une différence à découvrir sous le capot

À première vue, le QSW-2104-2T-R2 reprend les spécifications du QSW-2104-2T . Cependant, l’ajout de la mention R2 dans son nom indique une évolution. QNAP ne détaille pas explicitement les changements dans sa présentation officielle, mais il est probable que les améliorations concernent les composants internes.

Comme son prédécesseur, ce modèle est dépourvu de ventilateur, garantissant ainsi un fonctionnement totalement silencieux.

Prix et disponibilité

Le QSW-2104-2T-R2 remplace officiellement le QSW-2104-2T et il est déjà disponible à la commande. Son prix affiché : 189,95€ TTC.

Pour plus d’informations, vous pouvez consulter la page produit de QNAP…

UniFi Express 7 Review – The Affordable UniFi Gateway?

UniFi has seriously hammered the subject of Wi-Fi 7 into their existing portfolio at an alarming speed, but it’s easy to forget that just half a year ago, there wasn’t a single Wi-Fi 7 solution in their lineup. Fast forward to February 2025, and they’ve now established every single kind of Wi-Fi 7 home/business appliance you could ever need. The latest entry into this product range is the compact and expandable UniFi Express 7. Serving as a compact and affordable entry point into establishing your own UniFi network, this device removes many of the physical Ethernet connections found on a typical router and instead prioritizes a small but easily expandable wireless networking solution to grow your network ecosystem. Arriving at $199, the UX7 was launched alongside the UniFi Dream Router 7 (UDR7) and UniFi Cloud Gateway Fiber (UCG-Fiber)—three very similar devices designed to serve different kinds of Wi-Fi/wired network deployments, all offering a similar level of network control that, until now, was only really available in the UniFi Dream Machine series. However, the UniFi Express 7 is the most compact of the three new releases, and with that, it also scales back some of the feature sets found in those more powerful devices. So, is the UniFi Express 7 the best gateway device for your needs? And does its focus on gradual network expansion over out-of-the-box hardware features make it the right fit for your growing home or business network? Let’s find out in this UX7 review.

UniFi Express 7 Review – Quick Conclusion

Honestly, I kind of wish UniFi had launched the UX7 about six months ago. The UniFi Express 7 gateway is an impressive little device, and when you factor in the license-free architecture, alongside its $199 price tag for a fully Wi-Fi 7, 6 GHz-ready box, it’s hard to call this bad value. However, launching this device between the UniFi Dream Router 7 (UDR7) and the UniFi Cloud Gateway Fiber (UCG-Fiber) makes it look like the weaker option of the three. And while the UX7 certainly has network expandability and appeal, I strongly recommend anyone considering it to first check out the UDR7 or UCG-Fiber. That said, for its niche, highly scalable, and modular network appeal, the UX7 delivers exactly what UniFi promises. It’s certainly worth the $199 price tag, but keep in mind that it is designed first and foremost as a network gateway. You will struggle to fully unlock its potential without integrating a UniFi switch or expanding into an existing UniFi network.

BUILD QUALITY - 8/10

HARDWARE - 8/10

PERFORMANCE - 8/10

PRICE - 9/10

VALUE - 8/10

8.2

PROS

Affordable Entry Point – At $199, it’s one of the most budget-friendly ways to start a UniFi network with Wi-Fi 7 capabilities.
Compact & Energy Efficient – Small footprint (11cm²), lightweight (422g), and low power consumption (22W max) make it ideal for home and office environments.
Wi-Fi 7 & Tri-Band Support – 2.4GHz, 5GHz, and 6GHz bands with Multi-Link Operation (MLO) for better speed, lower latency, and improved reliability.
10GBASE-T WAN Port – Supports high-speed internet connections, making it future-proof for faster broadband rollouts.
Scalable with UniFi Ecosystem – Easily integrates into an existing UniFi setup with mesh Wi-Fi, UniFi switches, and other devices.
Powerful UniFi Software – Full UniFi Controller suite with advanced network management, security, VLANs, and traffic analytics.
USB-C Power Input – Simple and universal power delivery, allowing for flexible placement and easy powering via third-party adapters.

CONS

Limited Wired Connectivity – Only one 2.5G LAN port (no PoE), making wired expansion less convenient compared to UDR7 or UCG-Fiber.
No Built-in Storage – Cannot run UniFi Protect or other UniFi applications natively, requiring external UniFi hardware for advanced services.

UniFi Express 7 Review – Design and Connections

Considering that this tiny device features tri-band Wi-Fi, 10G networking, and 2.5G networking, it’s kind of bonkers how small it is. Equipped with an internal quad-core ARM processor and 3GB of DDR4 memory, these modest yet highly capable internal components are more than enough to keep your data moving smoothly. The $199 launch price of the UX7 puts it slightly closer to the price of most Pro-sumer routers. While it’s not overpriced, some users may question whether there are better, more hardware-capable devices available at a similar price point in early 2025.

However, the main appeal of that price point is not exclusively about the hardware, and you have to factor in that this device is bundled with the UniFi software, offering full integration and utility of said hardware. This tiny box is able to host full control of a UniFi network, managing—via a single pane of glass interface—over 30 individual UniFi-connected/adopted devices and well over 300 clients at any given time. A big part of the appeal of UniFi products is that single ecosystem, and once you factor in that platform alongside the hardware, the $199 price tag starts to make a lot more sense.

Although the system features two copper connections on the rear, the priority of the device will always be Wi-Fi connectivity. This small box is able to cover up to 1,500 square feet of wireless connectivity, but do factor in walls and rooms—of course! A lot of this coverage depends on the antenna and frequencies your client devices choose to use, and in that regard, the UX7 continues to push the boundaries.

Scaling things up from the previous generation UniFi Express device, the UX7 supports Wi-Fi 7, Wi-Fi 6E, Wi-Fi 6, and traditional legacy Wi-Fi. Although the device has no external antenna, there are strategically placed antennas throughout the inside of this device. Thanks to the increased 6 GHz frequency access via the 2×2 6 GHz antennas inside and Wi-Fi 7’s utilization of 320 MHz channels, this opens the door to substantial performance increases in the UX7 over its predecessor.

Additionally, Wi-Fi 7 integrates Multi-Link Operation (MLO), which means Wi-Fi 7-supported client devices can create multiple simultaneous connections over different frequencies, drastically enhancing wireless performance—to the point where it dwarfs traditional wired connections.

The 6 GHz band has a shorter coverage distance than 5 GHz, and likewise 5 GHz has a shorter range than 2.4 GHz. Although Wi-Fi 7 certainly solves many issues related to maximizing available radio frequencies, keep in mind that distance will still be a factor. Because of the small scale of this device, there are questions about true distance coverage compared to a router with more antennas and external antennas. Depending on the number of simultaneous frequencies via MLO that your client device can utilize, the maximum performance potential of this device will differ. However, across all of the available bands, you can achieve:

• 688 Mbps maximum bandwidth on the 2.4 GHz frequency,
• 4.3 Gbps performance on the 5 GHz frequency,
• A whopping 5.7 Gbps potential on the 6 GHz frequency.

Consider these more of a guideline to the larger shared bandwidth across multiple client devices, but nevertheless, they still indicate the performance potential of this tiny box once it’s integrated into your network. Although we will delve into more detail about security and encryption later in the review, it’s also worth highlighting that this system supports encrypted protocols all the way up to WPA3 for wireless transmissions. The UniFi Controller software provides an almost unrivaled level of network security management and troubleshooting, with controls extending down to individual devices, groups, VLANs, and MAC addresses.

This means that even if you begin integrating third-party hardware into your network environment or stick to UniFi client devices as you expand upon this gateway device, the lock-and-door approach to your ISP services will always be significantly tighter thanks to having the UX7 as your gateway. Moving over to the wired connections, the system features a 2.5G Ethernet port that is utilized as a LAN connection. This means you can integrate an existing switch and expand your UniFi network toward more wired devices, as well as creating multiple virtual LAN arms in your network environment.

Unfortunately, this 2.5G port does not support Power over Ethernet (PoE), which means any connected devices will need their own power source. This is a shame, because both the simultaneously released UDR7 and UCG-Fiber devices each include a PoE port, making wired expansion with UniFi switches much cleaner and more convenient.

Nevertheless, it’s good that standard Gigabit Ethernet is absent in favor of 2.5G Ethernet, allowing for 2.5 times the performance of traditional and legacy networks.

Interestingly, the UX7’s WAN port is a 10GBASE-T copper connection! Most users would have assumed that this compact device would arrive with 10G SFP+, as is common with most UniFi devices. However, opting for traditional copper 10G means that as ISP services globally begin to exceed Gigabit speeds, the UniFi Express 7 gateway will not create a bottleneck, allowing your network to fully enjoy those higher speeds as they become available. This also means that this tiny box is future-proofing your internet service gateway for a considerable length of time as better connectivity options arrive. Nevertheless, I’m a little disappointed that you cannot set the 2.5G port as your WAN, thereby allowing you to dedicate the 10G connection as a wider LAN connection. This would have been beneficial when using it alongside a traditional 10G NAS system or a larger switch that would take greater advantage of 10G network speeds. Very few users in the next few years will have internet speeds exceeding 2.5G (regardless of whether you are a home or business user), so fixing the 10G connection as the only WAN port feels like overkill for many. CORRECTION! You CAN set the 2.5G as a WAN port, but you need to manually change the initial 10G WAN port to LAN or Disabled FIRST, then the option to select 2.5G as a WAN will appear!

Impressively, the device is powered by a standard USB-C PSU, which is included in the kit. It’s probably no surprise that this device is quite power-efficient, factoring in the ARM CPU alongside the system’s prioritization of Wi-Fi connectivity out of the box rather than LAN/physical WAN connections. At peak Wi-Fi bandwidth utilization, with an active 10G connection, UniFi reports that the device draws just 22 watts at peak usage. Realistically, the device will spend 90% of its time operating at a fraction of this power consumption. Another major difference between the UX7 and other UniFi network management devices released in the last 12 months is that this system does not feature any internal storage or expandable storage via an SD card or USB port.

This means that the system is unable to host popular UniFi add-on applications for surveillance, in-house communication hardware, or dedicated UniFi hardware appliances. These features can still be added via an expanded UniFi network client installation over time, which is why this device is so affordable compared to other solutions. It is designed around gradually expanding your hardware network. That said, it’s a real shame that this device does not include any baseline storage out of the box, as many users would have wanted to utilize it as the base for a convenient and easy-to-deploy UniFi Protect surveillance device. As mentioned earlier, the UX7 is quite a niche device, making it difficult to compare against an already well-provisioned router or business gateway device. The hardware design and connectivity of the UX7 are optimized for a small, compact UniFi gateway deployment, but it also includes provisions for future scalability with wireless access points (for mesh networking) and UniFi switches for expanded connectivity later.

In that vein, let’s now discuss the UniFi Controller software and how the Express 7 takes advantage of it today—while also promising greater expansion capabilities in the future.

UniFi Express 7 Review – Software and Services

IMPORTANT !!!- Currently the Software review of the Ux7 is in progress, but I have already reviewed the UDR7 device which is very similar indeed. So, whilst I complete the UCG-Fiber and UX7 review, I have included the software review of the other 2 devices below, as they are running near identical services and features (but with differences with regard to port/wifi features. I will be amending the below text very soon, but include it here to give a better understanding of what this UniFi controller software can do. Apologies for this in the meantime.

Realistically, no one should be spending inordinate amounts of time using the software that your router arrives with – that’s just a simple fact. Indeed, you want you router (or any network appliance) to just do it’s job! Therefore talking about just how good the UniFi network software is, and how the UniFi Dream Router 7 capitalized on it, is going get a mixed reaction depending on your own level of network knowledge and custom requirements. I will say straight away though that you will really, REALLY struggle to find a more capable and flexible router software at this price point. You will struggle to find ANY setting, config, adjustable parameter of control measure not included with the UX7. First off, there is the mobile application. As the UX7 hosts the UniFi network software, ALOT of the iOS and Android official UniFi applications are supported by the UX7.

Firs time setup of the router using the mobile application (you can use a desktop machine with your web browser if you prefer of course) is incredibly straight forward. The Router can be found via the local area network or Bluetooth within 2 minutes of it’s first power-on. One big misconception (I was guilt of this too a while back) was that you have to register a UI.com account online in order to use UniFi appliances. This is NOT true. You can set the device up without a UI account (and even WITHOUT an internet connection) and doing so just needs to you create a local administrator account. It is recommended to use a UI account of course, as it allowed for easier comms and access for your larger Unifi network, but it is by no means compulsory. You can also create a system backup (with your config data of users, settings, SSIDs, etc) and backup online if you choose – and then easier pull this backup if you wish during initialization easily.

Upon creating local credentials or resisting an online account, the router performs an initial internet performance test and then goes about setting up your router. Much like other recent UniFi releases, the system has a ‘gamer’ style installation screen that shows tips and guides on how to get the most out of your router – very rare in a router I will say.

The setup process takes around 2-3 minutes and after that, you have pretty much FULL control and access to the Router’s configuration from your mobile phone. You can definitely tell that UNiFi have put the hours in with regard to the UX of the mobile application. Routers (and switches for that matter) are NOT easy systems to try and simplify – let along ocndence in a compact mobile UI. However they really have excelled in the latest version of their software.

Management of individual devices on the network are all presented intuitively in the app, and alongside their position/priority/bandwidth/consumption being presented, you can also use the app to institute controls and rules for 1, some or all devices on the fly – with instant implementation. Again, it’s no the fact that you can ‘do’ this that I am impressed by, it is the ease and intuitive way it is presented in a mobile app.

The same applies to the physical connections and wireless connections on the UX7 itself, with full remote control with the app to bridge, negotiate, failover, vLAN, disable, etc any port easily – as well as create new SSIDs, assign channels and push client devices around on the router side in 3-4 clicks. All of this is performed responsively and easily in the app.

On the subject of client devices, let’s discuss that WiFi 7 support. WiFi 7 opens up ALOT of performance and general bandwidth advantages. WiFi routers and client devices have been around now for around 10-12 months, as well as the increase in availability globally of greater than Gigabit internet services. Most internet service providers have already a router with their services – but not many provide WiFi 7 routers with their services, even at greater than gigabit speeds. So, what is the advantage? For the quicker (ish) version, watch my video below.

Now, you might well not have any devices right now that are WiFi 7, but plan on upgrading to WiFi 7 at some point in the further over a PCIe upgrade card. Even if you are using a system that lacks a PCIe upgrade clot, you can get small m.2 upgrade cards for a WiFi 7 / 802.11be upgrade for as little as $15-20 here. Hell, you do not even need to open up your system, as you can now get WiFi 7 to USB adapter upgrades for as little as $25-30, which is exactly what used when testing the router with my Windows 11 laptop for the earlier testing of the UDR7.

The USB-to-WiFi 7 Adapter I used in my testing of the UDR7 was this one HERE on Aliexpress.

This USB to WiFi 7 adapter allowed for immediate 802.11be connectivity between my laptop and the UniFi Dream Router 7, over the now available 6Ghz band. Although there is more to WiFi 7 and this router than just that additional frequency. The UX7 SUPPORTS 2.4Ghz and 5ghz (just like all WiFi 6 and 6E routers), but crucially alongside the 6Ghz band allowing for more active concurrent connections, you are also able to take advantage of 320Mhz bandwidth (till now WiFi 6/6E only allowed for up to the 160Mhz connections). This means that you have a greater bandwidth per connection – though you can only have a finite amount of connections at 320Mhz at once. This is COMBINED with WiFi allowing for overlapping connections too and 1 device enjoying multiple connections at once.

This means that not only can you match the speed of a normal wired gigabit connection, but you can ABSOLUTELY SMASH IT! As you can see below, using this USB adapter on my regular windows laptop, connecting to the UniFi Dream Router 7 over the 6Hz band – I was able to hit 2.8Gb/s wireless connectivity!!! That is even faster than using one of the physical 2.5GbE connections on the UX7.

It’s worth remembering though that WiFi 7 is NOT perfect and although it presents a lot of benefits for bandwidth improvements, reduced latency and increased encryption options, support of the wider frequencies and abilities of a larger WiFi 7 populated network are still a little ‘early days’.

By that, I mean that although you can hit high performance with 320Mhz connections, the actual radio frequency opened up right now (depending on your region) is pretty slim. The UX7 DOES show you the full radio spectrum, separated dynamically with each 20/40/80/160/320Mhz block that is spread across 2.4/5/6Ghz – but ALOT of it is still unavailable to use in many regions.

These limitations are likely going to reduce over time and, therefore you have to look at a decent % of the WiFi capabilities of the UniFi Dream Router 7 as ‘future proofing’ – but just keep in mind that although you can deploy ALOT of wireless (and wired) devices in a UX7 managed environment, those peak 802.11be/WiFi 7 bandwidth improvements are going to be shared only by a few client devices – in reality the real benefits are going to be felt with the opening up of the 6Ghz frequency allowing for more devices to be spread over all three frequencies and bands at 80/160Mhz.

Anotehr note to keep in mind is that the 6Ghz band has a shorter area of effect than 5Ghz (which likewise has a shorter area than WiFi 5). So WiFi7 is at it’s best in closer proximity without walls – more as a cable alternative if you are in the same areas as your UniFi router. But when I connected to a 10GbE NAS (connected to the 10GbE port of my UCG-Fiber), I was able to hit 187MB/s write easily (though read performance was oddly inconsistent – possibly related to the NAS, still investigating – TBC) in CrystalDiskMark.

Likewise, similar testing with the WiFi 7 USB Adapter, through the UX7 and at the 10GbE connected NAS hit 260MB/s+ easily. Once again, I would have easily respected this if I had been connecting with the NAS using the 2.5GbE ports – but I am hugely impressed that I was able to hit this benchmark over a WiFi connection (thanks to that 2.8Gbps 6Ghz setup). Respect!

Additionally, it is very easy to monitor the position, WiFi coverage, Channel and performance of any device connected to the UX7 controller software. Also allowing you to create rules on the fly to automatically manage them later as/when devices arrive.

These same controls also extend all the way down to the ISP input of the UX7 AND IF YOU HAVE MULTIPLE uNIfI AP/Nodes in your setup, can control how/where bandwidth is allocated and the priority of devices/nodes that are unique to your own deployment.

The dashboard features a grouped UI and analytics overview that allows you to see the price traffic that is going into a physical LAN, grouped VLAN or just a single devices on the network – allowing you to see the sites/services/geo data in real time too!

And likewise as before, you can extent these analytics all the way to the root UX7 router to see EVERYTHING happening in realtime in your network and internet connectivity.

Blacklisting (and whitelisting occasionally) or certain websites is also easy to action manually when needed too – or you can import an existing database of ‘bad’ site lists directly into the UX7 to simplify the process.

Once rules, priorities, orders of services and limits have been created, you can then apply them to individual devices, networks, groups, vLANS, etc – even to a physical LAN port if needed. These rules are completely customizable and if 1 parameter is changed on the fly, it immediately actions across all selected devices.

It’s also worth highlighting that UniFi has its own enterprise user identity service (‘Identity Endpoint’) that you can apply to devices if you want to ensure that connected devices on the LAN or WAN are truly secure (client auth tools on each device) and this extends to the VPN and UniFi network client device access too.

I also should stress that although the UX7 seems like a very, VERY proprietary router – UniFi do NOT lock you into having to create an account with them or use only their services. You can set the system up for LOCAL ONLY management and control if you choose. Or even hybrid the two and create 1 secure ‘Identity Endpoint sys admin’, but others are ‘local’ only – nice balance tbh.

And new users (super user or billy basic!) can be created, modified and deleted at any time!

Control and configuration of the UX7 are very straight forward and there are pretty high end configuration options in the backend of the system to control both the local network setup, as well as WiFi connectivity out the box (or added later in the case of systems like the UCG Fiber via the U7/U7 Pro/U6).

And professional SI’s/Technicians can set the system to ‘truly open’ if they wish, and this can be securely controlled as needed. This allows for opening up frequencies in the case of a WiFi setup down the road and advanced settings related to antenna gain/adaption.

The system configuration and control are surprisingly extensive for a $279 router and puts it well, well into the realms of an enterprise-grade solution, despite its Prosumer/SMB price point.

Unsurprisingly, the UX7 has internet speed test tools (either using the native web browser GUI or the WiFiman application for Android/iOS).

But its goes further, with the ability to monitor the packet management in your network (covered earlier) to such as extent that you can even block the server calls to specific sites/vendors that are going through the UniFi manager and block them SPECIFICALLY. Eg, want to keep google services, but NOT YouTube (either for work/professional reasons, or because of your kids homework deadline?) – you can do that REALLY easily.

And you can apply these rules easily and analytics with ease via the topographical network monitoring window. So you can visually see the devices in the network, then apply the rules, in case a new device gets sneakily added to circumnavigate any limits/restricts in palce.

And if you see a sudden spike in internet use, you can (in seconds) isolate the device that is causing it AND see what it is – allowing yo to block/monitor as needed.

Equally, you can set some pretty extensive security provisions to pre-emptively kick in when an unknown device arrives on the scene, or if an existing device in the network begins to be suspicious.

The same goes for creating day 1/100 rules for port forwarding, traffic management and Firewall rules. All of this is HUGELY customizable and most pages in the UniFi GUI feature both ‘simple/easy’ views, as well as much more complex advanced views as needed at the top of each page.

The multiple LAN ports can also be scaled up/down as needed if your existing network is not quite ready for the full network connectivity of the UCG-Fiber too.

And thanks to the UX7 featuring multiple WAN ports, you can decide how you want to handle multiple ISP services into your home/business, to separate/combine/balance between them with ease across your connected devices.

Additionally, each WAN port can be adjusted to a ‘WAN’ or ‘LAN’ roles as needed – even disabled. So, whether it is as a failover internet connection, or that you want to free up that 10GbE port for use as a LAN – The choice is yours!

Also, as mentioned earlier, as the system supported internal storage via the slot, you can go ahead and run UniFi Protect surveillance software too – as well as as an additional switch to the available LAN ports, for cameras or add a camera to the POE port.

There are actually several different surveillance, communications, display or smart appliances in the UniFi portfolio that can be installed on the internet storage drive + also means you have more scope for that POE ready port.

It gets to a point (perhaps) that there are TOO many security and configuration options, and people looking for just a router to ‘just do it’s job’ will be somewhat overwhelmed. Most of the important settings are already set pretty well, but I never the less recommend first time buyers take the time to explore the configuration options present in order to better understand what they are buying here in terms of it’s abilities to protect your network and internet services.

This extends right the way down to the more advanced prevention and intrusion protection measures (Dark Web blocking too). Again, pretty advanced for many, but take the time to look through them if you purchase the UX7.

And if in doubt, you can use the UniFi Teleport VPN service to anonymize your site-to-site exchanges (again, very ‘first party’ and more about SD-WAN level stuff, but does form part of the purchase here).

Also, keep in mind that the UX7 has the option to create Airgaps in it’s wired network AND WiFi connectivity (if you want to add that) that allows you to create automated access times – especially useful for businesses who want to lock down access outside of the usual 9-5 operational hours.

If you want to use WiFi services, yo can create multiple SSIDs of varying degrees of access – and yes, all the controls on security, speed, antenna, frequency, vLAN, etc are all present here too.

When creating those VLANS, you can add specific physical ports, IDs, WiFi APs etc to that vLAN to segregate your network as securely as possible.

And from there you can adjust the vLAN configuration in terms of it’s smooth operation and security directly from the network management panel (as well as view all active vLANS on one page if needed to see how they interact/clash + show each device you have moved in/out of them easily.

And again, all packet management/monitoring are available within the vLAN if you need.

If this all sounds tremendously intimidating, there is a much, MUCH easier 1 panel view in the ‘Insights’ tab that just shows each current network branch and it’s connections/clients in a list format.

Not good enough? How about a global view that shows the data packet exchange in real time with regard to each region (i.e worried that your data is being harvested to an overseas location, this will show you which countries are currently connected with on your UCG-Fiber for upload/download (websites? server? It’s easy to check and find out here!).

Bottom line – the bulk of the UniFi Control Software here is available on the majority of UniFi Router, Express, Cloud Gateway and Dream Machine devices – but the EXTENT to which you can use it is heavily dependent on the device you buy. In the case of the UX7, you have a fantastic balance of Day 1 control sure, but you have an even better management and scalability on the system for when your ISP services double/triple, as well as the number of devices in your network expand.

UniFi Express 7 Review – Verdict and Conclusion

If the UniFi Express 7 had been released about six months ago, I think it would stand out considerably more than it does right now. However, sandwiching its launch between the Wi-Fi 7 UDR7 and the highly LAN-capable UCG-Fiber device somewhat muddles the launch of the UX7. The UX7 is a highly capable and highly expandable appliance that serves as an affordable, low-footprint way for home and business users to begin integrating UniFi into their network. Had this cloud gateway device arrived before the Router 7 or Fiber device, I think its integration would have been hugely appealing. However, given the small $49–$79 price difference between the Router/Fiber devices that UniFi launched at the same time, the UX7 does feel a bit underwhelming by comparison. That isn’t to say that the UX7 is a bad device! It really isn’t. UniFi has crammed a huge amount of capability and expandability into an exceedingly small frame, at just 11 cm²!

This is by far the smallest tri-band Wi-Fi 7 fully capable router-style device that I’ve ever seen, and it arrives at a lower price point than Wi-Fi 7 alternatives from Amazon or Google right now. It is also substantially easier to expand into mesh networks, thanks to the U7, U7 Pro, U6, and U6 Wall devices. Equally, the ease of adoption and integration of UniFi switches into the UX7 down the road means that you can granularly and much more affordably expand your network of UniFi devices over the years. This is a great deal easier than having to spend more money upfront on hardware that you may not even fully utilize in your network for a few years to come. Future-proofing and expandability are once again the key selling points here, but just keep in mind that there are alternatives to this product (including from UniFi themselves) available right now. It would be wise to spend a little more time considering whether those slightly more hardware-rich devices—at less than $100 more from UniFi—might be better suited to your needs.

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