Le système ADM 5.0 est disponible en version stable pour les NAS ASUSTOR. Outre le passage au noyau Linux 6.6 LTS, découvrez notre récapitulatif des nouveautés.

The post NAS ASUSTOR : ADM 5.0 est disponible, quelles sont les nouveautés ? first appeared on IT-Connect.

Après plusieurs mois en bêta, ADM 5.0 est désormais officiellement disponible pour l’ensemble des NAS compatibles. Cette nouvelle version majeure du système d’Asustor introduit de profondes évolutions, tant sur le plan technique que fonctionnel. Voici ce qu’il faut retenir…

ADM 5.0 est disponible pour tous… ou presque

Lancée initialement en version bêta en février, ADM 5.0 sort enfin dans sa version stable. Ce n’est pas qu’une simple mise à jour cosmétique : Asustor a procédé à un grand nettoyage de printemps du système pour ses NAS : nouveau noyau Linux, refonte de composants clés, ajustements graphiques… tout y passe pour faire d’ADM 5.0 une base plus moderne, fiable et sécurisée.

Nouveautés

L’évolution la plus structurante d’ADM 5.0 réside dans l’adoption du noyau Linux 6.6 LTS. Cela permet à Asustor de proposer une compatibilité accrue avec le matériel récent, un niveau de sécurité élevé, tout en posant les bases pour les futures versions de l’OS.

Côté sécurité, ADM 5.0 renforce ses défenses avec plusieurs améliorations :

• ADM Defender (pare-feu intégré) a été amélioré ;
• OpenSSL et Samba sont mis à jour :
• Prise en charge des clés SSH pour les connexions chiffrées.

On notera également la mise à jour de plusieurs composants système : MariaDB, PHP, Python, Apache, etc. Pour en savoir plus, n’hésitez pas à consulter le journal des modifications officiel.

Peaufinage de l’interface

Asustor ne s’est pas contenté de changer le moteur. L’interface utilisateur reçoit elle aussi quelques ajustements, notamment :

• Une barre d’outils personnalisable sur le bureau d’ADM ;
• L’éditeur de texte intégré débarque enfin (à télécharger depuis l’App Central) ;
• Des optimisations visuelles discrètes, mais bienvenues.

ADM 5.0 pour qui ?

La mise à jour vers ADM 5.0 est disponible dès maintenant via les paramètres système des NAS. Elle concerne tous les modèles récents, notamment les séries AS63, 64, Nimbustor, Nimbustor Gen2, Lockerstor, Lockerstor Gen2, Lockerstor Gen3, Lockerstor Pro, Flashstor et Flashstor Gen2.

Asustor précise que les « séries de NAS AS31, AS32, AS40, AS61 et AS62 ne recevront plus de mises à jour de fonctionnalités en raison de la récente cessation du support des fournisseurs pour les pilotes. ADM 4.3 sera la dernière version majeure de ces modèles. Seules les mises à jour de sécurité et les corrections de bugs critiques seront fournies ».

Précautions

Avant de vous lancer, il est recommandé de sauvegarder ses données. Aussi, nous vous recommandons de mettre à jour toutes les applications installées via App Central pour éviter les incompatibilités.

Attention : le retour à une version antérieure n’est pas possible après installation.

En synthèse

ADM 5.0 signe une évolution attendue et bienvenue pour les utilisateurs de NAS Asustor. En apportant un socle plus moderne, une meilleure sécurité et quelques raffinements ergonomiques, le fabricant montre qu’il continue à faire évoluer son écosystème avec sérieux. Un passage obligé pour qui souhaite tirer le meilleur de son NAS en 2025…

Lors du Computex 2025 à Taipei, plusieurs annonces importantes ont été faites dans l’univers des NAS avec  Synology, QNAP et ASUSTOR. Ces 3 fabricants taiwanais ont présenté des solutions allant du NAS domestique aux serveurs de stockage pour les entreprises avec des avancées sur les performances et l’intégration de l’intelligence artificielle.

Synology : Stockage NVMe enterprise et la nouvelle Série DS+

PAS7700 : Un PAS décisif vers le stockage Flash Enterprise

Synology passe à la vitesse supérieure avec le lancement de sa gamme Parallel Active Station (PAS), inaugurée par le modèle PAS7700. Ce système 4U en cluster dual-node, entièrement NVMe, marque un tournant dans la stratégie de la marque vers les solutions de stockage hautes performances pour l’entreprise.

Le PAS7700 affiche des performances impressionnantes annoncées : jusqu’à 2 millions d’IOPS en lecture aléatoire 4K et 30 Go/s en lecture séquentielle 64 KB. Chaque nœud embarque 24 emplacements pour les nouveaux SSD U.3 NVMe conçus en interne par Synology, une première pour le constructeur. L’unité peut être étendue via le PAX224, pour atteindre jusqu’à 8 Po de capacité logique, grâce à une technologie de réduction de données intégrée affichant un ratio moyen de 5:1.

Renouvellement de la série DS+ avec du 2,5 GbE

Synology a également dévoilé 6 nouveaux modèles de sa série DSx25+, incluant les DS225+, DS425+, DS725+, DS925+, DS1525+ et DS1825+. La principale nouveauté réside dans l’arrivé du port réseau 2,5 Gb/s sur l’ensemble de la gamme, répondant enfin aux attentes des utilisateurs.

À noter qu’il se murmure que Synology sortirait ses propres switchs (estampillés Synology) d’ici la fin de l’année.

Politique controversée des disques certifiés

Une décision qui fait débat concerne la nouvelle politique de Synology imposant l’utilisation de disques testés et validés par ses soins. Ivan Lebowski, Sales Team Leader France et Afrique de Synology, justifie cette approche : « nous voyons trop d’utilisateurs venir vers nous parce qu’ils rencontrent des problèmes avec des disques pour lesquels nous ne pouvons pas leur apporter de support ».

QNAP : innovation autour de l’IA et du stockage évolutif

QuTS Mega et stockage à l’échelle du PétaOctet

QNAP a impressionné avec QuTS Mega, son système d’exploitation NAS évolutif (scale-out) conçu pour les déploiements haute capacité. Cette architecture permet à plusieurs nœuds NAS de fonctionner dans un environnement clusterisé unique, supportant une mise à l’échelle linéaire de la capacité et des performances.

Le système supporte jusqu’à 96 nœuds avec une capacité totale utilisable pouvant atteindre 45 PétaOctets. QNAP a démontré cette technologie avec un boîtier JBOD de 60 baies compatibles SAS ou SATA, offrant un débit de 12 Gb/s par lien.

Solutions IA et connectivité Thunderbolt 5

On continue avec le TVS-AIh1688ATX. Il s’agit d’un NAS équipé d’un Intel Core Ultra (24 cœurs) accompagné d’unités de traitement neuronal (NPU 13 TOPS). Il est compatible Thunderbolt 5 (en option) destiné aux workflows de travail à destination des créatifs. Ce QNAP dispose de 2 ports USB 4 (par défaut) et 2 ports réseau 10 Gb/s.

QNAP a fait plusieurs démonstrations de la prochaine version de QSirch basée sur l’IA pour retrouver facilement des documents, pouvant également lire le contenu de ces derniers… tout en respectant la confidentialité. En effet, l’IA fonctionne en local et n’a pas besoin d’accès extérieur pour fonctionner.

Nouveaux modèles d’entrée de gamme

Les TS-262A et TS-462A renouvellent l’entrée de gamme avec un processeur Intel N5095 à 2,2 GHz (boost jusqu’à 2,9GHz), avec jusqu’à 16 Go de RAM DDR4 et avec 2 emplacements M.2 NVMe. On notera la présence de 2 ports USB 2.0, 2 ports USB 3.2 Gen 2, ainsi qu’un port 2,5 Gb/s. Ces modèles abandonnent le port HDMI et l’emplacement PCIe présents sur la génération précédente.

ASUSTOR : évolutions mesurées, mais ciblées

Lockerstor Gen2+ : Amélioration de la connectivité

Au Computex 2025, ASUSTOR a dévoilé des mises à jour ciblées de ses NAS, à commencer par le Lockerstor 6 Gen2+ (AS6706T). Ce modèle voit sa connectivité évoluer avec le remplacement des ports 2,5 GbE (rouges) par des ports 5 GbE (bleus), offrant une bande passante doublée tout en restant rétrocompatible avec les réseaux existants.

Solutions rackables professionnelles

Côté entreprises, ASUSTOR renforce sa présence sur le segment professionnel avec les Lockerstor 12R Pro Gen2, déclinés en formats 3U et 4U. Ces NAS rackables embarquent des processeurs AMD Ryzen 7 Pro, 16 Go de mémoire DDR5 ECC et 2 ports réseau 10 Gb/s, visant les infrastructures virtualisées ou les besoins en stockage à haute disponibilité.

En synthèse

Le Computex 2025 confirme la transformation du marché du NAS vers des solutions plus performantes et spécialisées. Synology mise sur le stockage flash enterprise et l’écosystème fermé, QNAP pousse l’innovation vers l’IA et le stockage évolutif, tandis qu’ASUSTOR se concentre sur l’amélioration ciblée de ses produits existants. Ces évolutions répondent aux besoins croissants en performances et en capacité des utilisateurs professionnels, tout en soulevant des questions sur l’ouverture des écosystèmes et la compatibilité des composants tiers.

Synology vs QNAP NAS – Which Should You Buy in 2025?

When choosing a NAS solution in 2025, two brands dominate the conversation: Synology and QNAP. These Taiwan-based companies have evolved their offerings significantly over the years, adapting to changing user needs in backup, multimedia, virtualization, and enterprise storage. Synology, with a strong emphasis on software polish and ecosystem integration, continues to appeal to users who prioritize stability and consistency. QNAP, by contrast, leans into offering higher-spec hardware, customization, and flexibility, targeting tech-savvy users who want granular control over their system. This article explores how the two compare across hardware, storage capabilities, software platforms, security, pricing, and overall value. Both Synology and QNAP share a lot of baseline features: multi-platform support across Windows, Mac, and Linux; mobile apps for Android and iOS; web-based GUIs; encryption; multi-user access; and strong community ecosystems. Yet important distinctions emerge as you look deeper. These differences often boil down to Synology delivering a more consistent, “appliance-like” experience, while QNAP offers broader hardware choices and wider compatibility. Neither brand is universally better, but each fits different user priorities. Let’s break down how Synology and QNAP stack up in detail for 2025.

Synology vs QNAP NAS – Hardware Comparison

In terms of hardware variety and specification, QNAP clearly maintains an advantage in 2025. QNAP offers a wider range of NAS models across every price tier, providing more options for users looking for features like 2.5GbE or 10GbE ports, Thunderbolt connectivity, PCIe expandability, and support for AI or GPU cards. Many QNAP systems at even mid-tier levels offer multi-core CPUs, 2.5GbE as a minimum, and M.2 NVMe slots for caching or storage pools. Synology, while offering a hardware range from ARM-based entry units to Xeon-powered enterprise models, typically emphasizes efficiency and stability over raw horsepower, often shipping systems with lower-core-count processors and 1GbE networking by default.

However, Synology’s hardware strategy is tightly coupled to its software-first philosophy. Devices are designed to maximize compatibility, power efficiency, and seamless operation with DSM. Some newer 2025 Synology models do offer improvements — such as M.2 NVMe storage pools and optional 10GbE upgrades — but their pace remains slower compared to QNAP’s frequent hardware refresh cycles. For users whose priority is high performance, customization, or bleeding-edge hardware, QNAP offers far more compelling options. For those seeking low-power, quiet, turnkey systems, Synology still provides highly reliable appliances.

Synology vs QNAP NAS – Storage Services and Scalability 

Storage capabilities represent a growing area of divergence. Synology’s storage ecosystem emphasizes stability and data integrity through Btrfs file systems, SHR (Synology Hybrid RAID), fast RAID rebuilds, and snapshot technology. However, Synology has dramatically tightened its drive compatibility rules from 2025 onwards, particularly in the Plus series and higher, limiting users to certified Synology drives for initialization. This hardline approach restricts flexibility, as users cannot freely install third-party HDDs or SSDs. Meanwhile, users still benefit from technologies like SHR, making mixed-drive RAID arrays easier to manage, though concerns remain about SHR’s future viability under Synology’s evolving drive policies.

	SERVICE	SYNOLOGY	QNAP	Notes
File Services	SMB, AFP, NFS			Cross-platform sharing
	WebDAV			Remote access
	FTP/FTPS			Standard protocols
	Rsync/Remote Sync			Sync across systems
RAID & Storage	Basic, JBOD, RAID 0/1/5/6/10			Core RAID support
	SHR (Hybrid RAID)			Synology-exclusive
	Qtier Auto-Tiering			QNAP-exclusive SSD/HDD tiering
	ZFS Support	(DSM 7.2+ select models)	(QuTS hero)	Synology uses Btrfs more widely
	Storage Pools			Pool-based management
	Thin Provisioning			On supported file systems
	Storage Snapshots	(Btrfs-based)	(ZFS/ext4-based)	Both support snapshot schedules
	Inline Deduplication	(Btrfs)	(ZFS)	Both support dedup, method differs
	SSD Cache (Read/Write)			Model-dependent
	Encryption (AES-256)			Volume/folder-level encryption
Backup & Sync	Hyper Backup / HBS3	(Hyper Backup)	(Hybrid Backup Sync 3)	Functionally equivalent
	Active Backup for Business			Enterprise-grade backup (free)
	Snapshot Replication			Data versioning support
	Cloud Sync			Multi-cloud sync integration

QNAP’s storage flexibility is far greater. Users can utilize almost any NAS-rated or server-class drive from vendors like Seagate, Toshiba, and WD, without vendor lock-in. Beyond standard RAID levels, QNAP offers Qtier for intelligent auto-tiering between SSDs and HDDs and supports ZFS through its QuTS hero operating system. ZFS integration introduces enterprise-grade features such as inline deduplication, compression, triple-parity RAID options, and even faster rebuilds. Expansion is another strong suit for QNAP, with broad support for external expansion enclosures over USB and PCIe, while Synology supports far fewer expansion units. In short, QNAP offers a more powerful, flexible storage environment but demands more technical knowledge to manage effectively.

Synology DSM vs QNAP QTS/QuTS  – Software Compared

Synology’s DSM (DiskStation Manager) remains the benchmark for NAS operating systems in terms of polish, consistency, and ease of use. Its streamlined UI, consistent app design, and stable system management tools make it highly user-friendly. DSM’s integration with Synology Drive, Hyper Backup, Active Backup for Business, and its Office suite provide turnkey productivity and backup solutions. However, Synology is moving increasingly toward a closed ecosystem, prioritizing first-party apps and services over broader third-party integration. Applications like Surveillance Station remain best-in-class, but recent trends — such as discontinuing Video Station — indicate Synology’s increasing control over its ecosystem.

Category	Feature	Synology	QNAP	Notes
Core OS	OS	DSM (DiskStation Manager)	QTS / QuTS hero	QuTS hero is ZFS-based
	Web GUI Dashboard			Both have polished interfaces
	Mobile Apps			DS apps (Synology), Qfile/Qmanager (QNAP)
Virtualization & Containers	Docker Support			QNAP supports LXC too
	Virtual Machines	(VMM)	(Virtualization Station)	QNAP offers GPU passthrough
	GPU Passthrough	(limited)		QNAP supports more virtualization use cases
AI / Surveillance	Surveillance Station		(QVR Pro/Elite)	QNAP includes more free camera licenses
	AI Facial Recognition	(DVA series)	(QVR Face Tiger)	Hardware-dependent
	Smart Object Detection			Both support this in premium models
Media Services	Plex Media Server			Supported by both
	DLNA/UPnP Streaming			Basic media server support
	Video Transcoding (HW Acceleration)	(some models)	(broader support)	QNAP supports external GPUs
	Audio Station / Music Station			Web/mobile access to music
Cloud & Remote Access	QuickConnect / myQNAPcloud	(QuickConnect)	(myQNAPcloud)	Brand-specific DDNS/remote access services
	HybridShare / HybridMount	(HybridShare)	(HybridMount)	Mount cloud storage as local; brand equivalent
Productivity & Apps	Synology Office (Docs, Sheets, Slides)			Google Docs-like suite for Synology only
	Notes / Tasks / Calendar			Productivity tools
	Mail Server & Chat			Business collaboration tools
App Ecosystem	App Center			QNAP has a broader variety
	Package Manager CLI	(synopkg)	(qpkg)	Command-line support for installs

QNAP’s QTS and QuTS hero systems offer greater flexibility and third-party support at the cost of consistency. Users can deploy a much wider range of apps, including those for AI recognition, media streaming, and backup tasks, often with deeper customization options. QNAP’s app ecosystem embraces both QNAP-native and third-party applications, with tools like HybridMount and Hybrid Backup Sync offering robust cloud and backup integrations.

However, design inconsistencies and a more complex setup process make QNAP platforms better suited to technically proficient users. QNAP systems offer more functionality out of the box but can feel less cohesive than Synology’s more curated environment.

Synology vs QNAP NAS – Security 

Synology continues to lead in NAS security in 2025. The company’s multi-layered approach — including an in-house Security Response Team, bug bounty programs, pen-testing partnerships, and rapid patching policies — maintains its reputation as one of the most secure NAS ecosystems. Security Advisor, SSL certificate management, encrypted folders, and proactive system audits are standard across DSM systems. Remote access via QuickConnect is tightly controlled to minimize exposure. This emphasis on hardening and responding quickly to vulnerabilities makes Synology a strong choice for users prioritizing security with minimal manual intervention.

	Service	Synology	QNAP	Notes
Security & Access	2FA (Two-Factor Authentication)			User-level protection
	VPN Server (OpenVPN, L2TP, PPTP)			Standard features
	Firewall + IP Blocking			Security policy management
	SSL Certificate Management			Let’s Encrypt, custom certs
	Security Advisor			Built-in vulnerability scanner

QNAP has made substantial strides in recent years to bolster its security posture, responding to earlier criticisms following ransomware incidents. The introduction of its own PSIRT team, participation in Pwn2Own, and improvements to myQNAPcloud services represent real progress. However, QNAP’s security tools, like Security Counselor, often need to be manually installed and configured. While they now offer multi-factor authentication and SSL options, the user experience around setting up and maintaining a secure environment still lags slightly behind Synology. Power users comfortable with managing network-level protections can achieve strong security on QNAP, but casual users may find Synology’s default setup safer out of the box.

Synology vs QNAP NAS – Price Point and Value 

QNAP consistently offers better raw hardware value for the price across its product range. A mid-tier QNAP NAS typically features higher-core CPUs, 2.5GbE or 10GbE networking, and expandability features like PCIe slots and multiple M.2 NVMe slots — features that, with Synology, are only available at much higher price points.

Additionally, QNAP’s lack of strict HDD compatibility listing (as currently the case for the Synology 2025 series, at the time of writing) and broader compatibility with storage and memory components can significantly reduce the total cost of ownership for DIY-minded users. Synology’s pricing, while generally higher, reflects its software development investment and the overall polish of its systems.

Buyers are paying for a more turnkey experience, better documentation, and consistent performance across the board. Moreover, Synology’s inclusion of powerful free tools like Active Backup for Business and Synology Drive adds enterprise-grade features without additional licensing costs, which in some cases offsets the hardware premium. Nonetheless, for users whose priority is maximum hardware performance and component freedom, QNAP usually offers a stronger return on investment.

Synology vs QNAP NAS – Conclusion and Verdict 

Choosing between Synology and QNAP in 2025 depends largely on user priorities. Synology remains the best choice for users seeking a polished, consistent, stable, and secure NAS experience. Its streamlined DSM platform, reliable first-party apps, and strong support infrastructure make it ideal for small businesses, prosumers, and general users who want a “set it and forget it” solution. However, Synology’s movement toward hardware and software lock-in may be off-putting to users who value flexibility or those unwilling to buy only Synology-branded components. QNAP, by contrast, excels in offering more powerful hardware, greater configuration freedom, and broader third-party app support. Users who want to customize, expand, virtualize, and maximize their system’s capabilities — and who are comfortable managing more complex setups — will find QNAP to be the more empowering platform. While its software consistency and security history lag slightly behind Synology, the gap has narrowed considerably. Ultimately, Synology is the stronger pick for users valuing simplicity and long-term stability, while QNAP offers more opportunities for those willing to trade simplicity for flexibility and raw performance.

NAS Solutions	NAS Solutions
+ Better Software (In almost every respect!) + Much Better Global Support Presence + More business desirable + Larger Range of solutions – Compatibility restrictions on HDD and Upgrades More and more – Underwhelming hardware (comparatively)	+ Better Hardware for Price + Wider Variety of Solutions and Hardware Profiles + Supports ZFS and/or EXT4 (with ZFS platform now available on latest Intel Celeron Systems) + Wide accessory range and compatibility – Software can often feel inconsistent – Hit by Security Issues if the past
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Asustor Rolling Out Gen5 Rackmount NAS – The AS7212RDX and AS7216RDX Lockerstor Pro Gen2

At Computex 2025, Asustor unveils its latest additions to the Lockerstor rackmount family—the Lockerstor R Pro Gen2 series, comprising the 12-bay AS7212RDX and 16-bay AS7216RDX NAS systems. Positioned as high-performance, scalable solutions for small to medium businesses and enterprise deployments, these new models mark a notable hardware shift for the brand. Powered by AMD’s latest Ryzen 7 Pro processors and featuring support for PCIe Gen 5, 10GbE networking, and DDR5 ECC memory, this generation is clearly engineered for intensive multitasking, virtualized environments, and high-throughput applications. In addition to core hardware improvements, the systems ship with the ADM 5 software platform, which brings expanded storage and network configuration options, enhanced snapshot tools, and a wide ecosystem of applications. Combined with support for the new Xpanstor 12R expansion chassis and backed by a 5-year warranty, the Lockerstor R Pro Gen2 series is clearly being positioned to compete in the same space as rackmount solutions from QNAP, Synology, and TrueNAS, but with a focus on open upgrade paths and hardware flexibility. In this article, we break down the hardware, software, and overall direction of this release based on what we’ve seen firsthand on the Computex show floor.

Lockerstor R Pro Gen 2 Hardware Specifications

The Asustor Lockerstor R Pro Gen2 series, comprising the 12-bay AS7212RDX and the 16-bay AS7216RDX, represents a significant upgrade in rackmount NAS architecture, engineered specifically for small to medium-sized businesses and enterprise-grade environments. At the heart of both systems is the AMD Ryzen 7 Pro processor, based on a 5nm process with 8 physical cores. This processor line, typically used in high-efficiency workstations, delivers balanced compute performance and thermal control, making it suitable for multi-threaded tasks such as virtualization, container deployment, and high-volume file services. The systems ship with 16 GB of ECC DDR5 memory as standard, offering improved memory bandwidth and error correction capabilities vital to maintaining consistent data integrity under sustained load.

Category	AS7212RDX (12-Bay)	AS7216RDX (16-Bay)
Form Factor	2U Rackmount	2U Rackmount
Drive Bays	12 x 3.5″/2.5″ SATA/SAS	16 x 3.5″/2.5″ SATA/SAS
Expansion Support	Xpanstor 12R SAS Expansion Unit	Xpanstor 12R SAS Expansion Unit
Processor	AMD Ryzen 7 Pro (8-Core, 5nm)	AMD Ryzen 7 Pro (8-Core, 5nm)
Memory (Standard)	16 GB DDR5 ECC	16 GB DDR5 ECC
Memory (Max)	TBC (likely >96-128 GB, ECC supported)	TBC (likely >96-128 GB, ECC supported)
M.2 Slot	1 x M.2 NVMe (PCIe Gen 5.0 x4)	1 x M.2 NVMe (PCIe Gen 5.0 x4)
PCIe Expansion	1 x PCIe Gen 5.0 x8	1 x PCIe Gen 5.0 x8
Network Ports	2 x 10GbE + 2 x 1GbE RJ-45	2 x 10GbE + 2 x 1GbE RJ-45
Power Supply	Dual Redundant 80 PLUS Platinum	Dual Redundant 80 PLUS Platinum
Hot-Swappable Drives	Yes	Yes
Cooling	Redundant Hot-Swappable Fans	Redundant Hot-Swappable Fans
Chassis Dimensions	TBC	TBC
Weight (Approx.)	TBC	TBC
Warranty	5 Years	5 Years

In terms of storage acceleration and flexibility, both units are equipped with a single M.2 NVMe slot supporting PCIe 5.0, offering a notable increase in throughput compared to earlier PCIe 3.0 or 4.0 implementations. This slot is intended for either SSD caching or as a standalone high-speed storage tier, useful for workflows involving small file I/O, databases, or active archive datasets. Both systems also feature dual 10-Gigabit Ethernet and dual 1-Gigabit Ethernet ports, enabling high-speed networking with support for link aggregation, load balancing, and network redundancy. For those requiring more, a PCIe Gen5 x8 expansion slot is available, compatible with a wide range of enterprise accessories including SAS expansion controllers or additional 25/40/100GbE NICs, offering clear upgrade paths for future network scaling.

Operational resilience is enhanced by redundant 80 PLUS Platinum-certified power supplies, designed to minimize energy waste while providing reliable failover in the event of a PSU failure. The hot-swappable nature of these components, combined with tool-less access to the drive bays and internal fan modules, supports minimal disruption during maintenance or component replacement. Both models use a standard 2U rackmount form factor and support a variety of enterprise-class SATA or SAS drives. Additionally, they are fully compatible with Asustor’s Xpanstor 12R SAS JBOD expansion unit, allowing businesses to scale storage capacity with minimal downtime. Asustor includes a 5-year hardware warranty with these units, placing them firmly in the enterprise support tier and aligning with long-term deployment cycles common in business environments.

Lockerstor R Pro Gen 2 ADM Software

ADM 5, the latest iteration of Asustor’s NAS operating system, is pre-installed on the Lockerstor R Pro Gen2 series and delivers a broad set of administrative, storage, and security features geared toward SMB and enterprise users. The interface is browser-based, with a modular design that separates key configuration areas—such as access control, storage, network, and service management—into distinct application windows. While this layout may require some initial familiarization, it provides logical compartmentalization that benefits ongoing maintenance and delegation of user privileges. On the storage side, ADM supports both Btrfs and EXT4 file systems. Storage pools—representing RAID arrays—must be mapped directly to volumes, meaning that each volume corresponds to a single RAID pool, and the OS does not currently support multiple volumes on a single pool. Snapshot functionality is implemented at the volume level rather than on a per-folder basis, which could be limiting for users seeking granular rollback capabilities. Nevertheless, snapshots can be scheduled at hourly intervals, locked to prevent automatic deletion, and restored manually or automatically, including optional pre-restore snapshot creation. The system also includes scrubbing and defragmentation tools for Btrfs volumes.

ADM 5 includes a wide range of file-sharing services, including SMB (with multichannel support), AFP, NFS, FTP, WebDAV, Rsync, and iSCSI. Each of these services can be configured through a dedicated “Services” panel, with advanced tuning options such as SMB encryption levels, access control lists, and port customization. iSCSI support includes LUN and target creation, authentication, and snapshot scheduling. The built-in File Manager allows users to open multiple file browser windows simultaneously within the same tab, streamlining operations like drag-and-drop transfers or cross-volume comparisons. Shared folders can be configured with granular access control, write-once-read-many (WORM) settings, and optional encryption. Users can also specify upload/download-only folder behavior for shared workspaces. Drive monitoring tools include support for SMART diagnostics, IronWolf Health Management (on supported Seagate drives), and drive lifespan tracking. However, NVMe SSD management features are currently limited, with no built-in benchmarking or thermal analysis tools. On the system security side, ADM Defender provides firewall configuration, IP blacklisting, and brute-force protection policies. Two-step verification, user session management, and auto-lock policies are configurable for each user account. Remote access can be managed through integrated VPN settings, EasyConnect tunneling, and port forwarding, although some tasks require navigating across multiple panels rather than a unified dashboard.

Asustor Lockerstor R Pro Gen 2 Thoughts and Verdict

Seeing the Asustor Lockerstor R Pro Gen2 series up close at Computex 2025, it’s clear that Asustor is starting to target the upper end of the SMB and mid-enterprise market with a platform that prioritizes performance, scalability, and resilience. The use of AMD’s Ryzen 7 Pro processor, DDR5 ECC memory, and support for PCIe Gen5 across both storage and expansion puts this NAS series in a position to compete directly with more established rackmount offerings. With the added flexibility of the Xpanstor 12R SAS expansion unit and redundant 80 PLUS Platinum power supplies, the platform clearly anticipates long-term deployment cycles and high-availability expectations. ADM 5, preloaded on both the 12-bay and 16-bay models, offers a wide range of file services and storage management tools. It’s not the most streamlined interface I’ve seen at the show, but its modularity does provide powerful customization if you’re willing to invest time into setup. Snapshot support, folder-level access controls, and multi-gigabit networking options all contribute to a solid enterprise feature set. While there’s still room for refinement in areas like NVMe SSD analytics and centralized configuration workflows, the ADM ecosystem is evidently maturing in pace with the hardware.

As it stands today at Computex, the Lockerstor R Pro Gen2 looks to be one of the most forward-looking rackmount solutions Asustor has released to date, and one of the most competitive solution at the show! The combination of PCIe Gen5 infrastructure, robust software support, and a competitive warranty makes this system a serious contender for IT environments seeking reliability without stepping into proprietary lock-in or over-complex licensing. Final availability and region-specific configurations are still to be confirmed, but what I’m seeing here suggests Asustor is closing the gap with its more dominant competitors in the rackmount NAS space.

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The Zimaboard 2 Single Board Server Review – The Best Yet?

In an increasingly saturated market of single-board computers and compact servers, the ZimaBoard 2 arrives with a clear goal: to offer an affordable, x86-powered, DIY-friendly alternative that bridges the gap between embedded systems and full-blown home servers. Developed by IceWhale, a brand that has already seen crowdfunding success with products like the original ZimaBoard, ZimaBlade, and ZimaCube, the ZimaBoard 2 aims to refine the company’s mission of delivering low-power, highly customizable devices for tinkerers, creators, and homelab enthusiasts. At its core, the ZimaBoard 2 is designed for users who want flexibility without complexity—whether that’s spinning up a lightweight virtualization platform, building a smart home hub, deploying a personal cloud, or running a local media server with minimal noise and energy consumption.

Unlike consumer-grade NAS systems or ARM-based boards, ZimaBoard 2 taps into the x86 ecosystem, offering broader OS compatibility and performance benefits while maintaining a compact, passively cooled footprint. This review explores the hardware, thermal and network performance, and software environment of the ZimaBoard 2, evaluating where it fits in the broader landscape of edge computing and personal infrastructure. As with previous IceWhale launches, this unit is being released initially through crowdfunding—a factor that calls for cautious optimism. Still, with a track record of fulfilling past campaigns, IceWhale appears confident in ZimaBoard 2’s readiness. Whether that confidence is justified, and whether the board truly earns its place in a crowded DIY server landscape, is what we’ll determine over the course of this review.

Zimaboard 2 Review – Quick Conclusion

The ZimaBoard 2 is a compact, x86-based single board server that strikes a balance between flexibility, efficiency, and affordability. It offers solid performance for its size, thanks to an Intel N150 processor, dual 2.5GbE ports, and a PCIe 3.0 x4 slot for meaningful expansion, making it suitable for tasks like media serving, light virtualization, and home automation. However, limitations such as non-upgradable 8GB RAM, slow onboard eMMC storage, and reliance on passive cooling require careful consideration for more demanding workloads. ZimaOS provides a user-friendly starting point with Docker support and basic file management, though advanced users may prefer to install alternative operating systems. Overall, the ZimaBoard 2 is a capable and well-engineered device for DIY server enthusiasts who understand its constraints and plan their use case accordingly

BUILD QUALITY - 10/10

HARDWARE - 8/10

PERFORMANCE - 8/10

PRICE - 9/10

VALUE - 10/10

9.0

PROS

x86 Architecture – Compatible with a wide range of operating systems including ZimaOS, Unraid, TrueNAS SCALE, and Proxmox.
Dual 2.5GbE LAN Ports – Offers strong networking capabilities for multi-service workloads and gateway setups.
PCIe 3.0 x4 Slot – Enables high-speed expansion for 10GbE NICs, NVMe storage, or combo cards.
Fanless, Silent Operation – Completely passively cooled, ideal for home or quiet office environments.
Compact and Durable Build – Small footprint with an all-metal chassis that doubles as a heatsink.
ZimaOS Included – User-friendly OS with a Docker-based App Store and basic VM tools, ready out of the box.
Flexible Storage Options – Dual SATA ports plus USB 3.1 support for connecting SSDs, HDDs, or external drives.
Low Power Consumption – Efficient 6W CPU with ~10W idle and ~40W max under heavy load scenarios.

CONS

Non-Upgradable RAM – 8GB of soldered LPDDR5x limits long-term scalability for memory-intensive tasks.
Slow/Small Default Internal Storage – 32GB eMMC is convenient but underperforms for OS-level responsiveness or high I/O workloads.
Thermal Headroom is Limited – Passive cooling alone may not be sufficient in closed environments or under sustained load without added airflow.
Not Launching on Traditional Retail, but instead on Crowdfunding.

NOTE – You can visit the Zimaboard 2 Crowdfunding Page (live from 10:30AM ET 22nd April 2025) by clicking the banner below. The entry price for early backers is $169, but that will revert to $179 (and $239 for a scaled-up storage and memory version). I DO NOT receive any kind of affiliate commission or sponsorship for this review (and this review, like all reviews at NASCompares, was done without the brand in question’s interference or input). You can use the link HERE to see the campaign for yourself and/or click the banner below:

Zimaboard 2 Review – Design and Hardware

The physical build of the ZimaBoard 2 continues IceWhale’s trend of delivering thoughtfully designed hardware. The full aluminum enclosure gives the board a sturdy, premium feel, while also serving as its main cooling surface. Every port is clearly labeled, and the board layout is practical and accessible.

The PCIe slot includes a pre-cut section to accommodate longer cards, allowing for flexibility even in this small form factor. IceWhale also includes eco-friendly packaging, a detail that reflects both brand identity and attention to user experience. A cardboard insert allows users to hold the board upright alongside drives, useful for initial setup before a case is selected.

Optional accessories like a SATA adapter board with combined data/power connectors and third-party-compatible drive cages help complete the DIY experience. However, there are some practical limitations to consider: the soldered RAM means users must carefully plan for memory demands, and the internal storage, while functional, will not satisfy users looking for fast OS performance.

At the core of the ZimaBoard 2 is the Intel N150 processor, part of Intel’s Twin Lake architecture, offering four cores with a base clock that boosts up to 3.6GHz. This chip represents a significant step forward compared to the Celeron N3450 used in the original ZimaBoard, delivering better single-thread and multi-thread performance while maintaining a low 6W TDP.

Complementing the CPU is 8GB of LPDDR5x memory clocked at 4800MHz. While the use of fast memory is a welcome improvement, the limitation lies in its soldered nature—users cannot expand beyond this capacity.

This decision may be acceptable for light workloads such as running a Plex server, Docker containers, or Home Assistant, but it could become a bottleneck for users planning to run multiple VMs or resource-heavy services. The N150 CPU does support hardware virtualization and Intel AES-NI, which is essential for tasks like encrypted storage or virtual machine deployment.

In testing scenarios, the CPU delivered solid performance across typical tasks, and managed to keep up during multi-tasked environments with multiple services active. However, users with ambitions for more demanding applications will need to balance those expectations against the non-upgradable memory ceiling.

ZimaBoard 2 comes with 32GB of onboard eMMC storage, a choice that is both practical and limiting. This eMMC module is soldered to the board and is intended to house ZimaOS out of the box, giving users a ready-to-use system upon first boot. While this inclusion lowers the barrier to entry and simplifies setup for beginners, it presents performance limitations and a lack of flexibility. In testing, write speeds hovered around 35MB/s during mixed I/O operations, which is noticeably slow for tasks that involve frequent read/write cycles.

Moreover, should a user opt to install a different OS—such as TrueNAS SCALE, Proxmox, or Unraid—they would either overwrite the bundled ZimaOS or need to boot from an external USB or PCIe-based drive. Since the internal storage is neither M.2 nor socketed, it lacks the speed and modularity enthusiasts often seek in modern setups. As a result, users planning to use ZimaBoard 2 as a primary virtualization or storage server are better off supplementing it with faster storage via USB 3.1, SATA, or the PCIe slot for booting alternative OS environments. This caveat underscores a recurring theme with ZimaBoard 2: it’s well-positioned for entry-level use but requires external upgrades for more ambitious workflows.

One of the ZimaBoard 2’s most compelling features is its inclusion of two SATA 3.0 ports alongside a full PCIe 3.0 x4 slot. This greatly expands the device’s potential beyond typical SBCs, offering users a reliable way to build custom NAS setups, integrate high-speed NVMe storage, or even install networking and accelerator cards. During testing, a Synology combo card featuring two M.2 NVMe slots and a 10GbE Ethernet port was installed in the PCIe slot. The board successfully recognized all interfaces, demonstrating full PCIe compatibility and allowing throughput measurements to confirm the system could push high-bandwidth traffic.

With up to 4GB/s of bandwidth over PCIe, users can install expansion cards for fast storage, additional networking, or even compute offloading—although the small form factor means thermal and power considerations become important quickly. The SATA ports, while standard in speed, proved perfectly functional for connecting 2.5″ SSDs or traditional HDDs. IceWhale’s own accessories, like SATA power adapters and drive cages, help streamline this process, though third-party solutions work just as well.

For users aiming to transform this board into a flexible micro-server, this PCIe slot is a gateway to many possibilities and a key reason ZimaBoard 2 stands out in its category.

In terms of networking, the ZimaBoard 2 comes equipped with two 2.5GbE Ethernet ports, both powered by Intel chipsets—a choice that emphasizes reliability and driver compatibility across various operating systems. These ports are more than just a checkbox feature; they performed reliably under load and achieved full link saturation during file transfer tests and when used in conjunction with PCIe expansion.

In more advanced setups, users can configure bonding or load balancing to maximize throughput or redundancy. Additionally, there are two USB 3.1 ports for attaching external drives, peripherals, or USB-bootable OS images.

The inclusion of a Mini DisplayPort 1.2 allows for 4K video output at 60Hz, which is useful for users who want to use the board as a lightweight desktop or for initial OS installation and diagnostics—though it does require an adapter to convert to standard HDMI. Notably absent is built-in Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, which aligns with its target audience of wired-first home labs and embedded installations. Overall, ZimaBoard 2 offers a well-rounded set of connectivity options that exceed expectations for its size, with the dual 2.5GbE ports making it particularly attractive for networking-focused use cases like firewalls, proxies, or containerized gateways.

Thermal management on the ZimaBoard 2 is entirely passive, with the aluminum enclosure doubling as a heatsink to dissipate heat away from the CPU and other key components. This fanless approach results in completely silent operation, which is ideal for home or office environments where noise is a concern.

However, the trade-off is that the board’s temperature will steadily rise over time, especially in enclosed cases or cabinets with poor airflow. During idle operation, with minimal system load and attached drives in standby, temperatures hovered around 50°C after an hour, increasing slightly to 52–54°C over a 24-hour window.

Under heavier usage—including Plex playback, VM activity, active networking, and full PCIe slot utilization—the system remained thermally stable but showed significant heat buildup. Power consumption in these high-usage scenarios peaked at approximately 39–40W, which is quite efficient given the workload.

Still, users planning to run the board continuously under load are strongly encouraged to introduce active airflow or leave the system in a well-ventilated space. The all-metal build is a clever and minimalist solution, but it has practical limitations that users need to plan for—especially if operating in warmer environments or planning to enclose the unit in a tight chassis.

When put through real-world workloads, the ZimaBoard 2 delivered performance that largely aligned with its specs and design goals. File transfers over the onboard 2.5GbE interfaces reached full saturation in controlled conditions, proving the CPU and I/O subsystems are capable of pushing maximum throughput without significant bottlenecks. PCIe expansion further unlocked performance potential—especially with the Synology combo card, where simultaneous NVMe and 10GbE performance were tested. While NVMe read speeds reached up to 1.6GB/s, write speeds hovered around 500–700MB/s depending on traffic from the 10GbE port.

These variances are expected, given shared PCIe lanes and bandwidth contention, but overall results were respectable. Multimedia performance was also acceptable, with Plex running smoothly and able to stream and scrape metadata while supporting light VM usage concurrently.

In these scenarios, RAM utilization climbed past 50% and CPU usage approached 100%, but the board remained operational and responsive. It’s clear that ZimaBoard 2 is well-suited to low-to-moderate workloads, and can punch above its weight with strategic expansion. However, pushing it into more demanding territory—like simultaneous virtualization, AI inferencing, or high-speed file serving across multiple interfaces—will begin to test its limits.

The lack of active cooling makes thermal planning essential for any serious workload. But overall, the ZimaBoard 2 feels polished and reliable, with a design philosophy that caters well to its core audience of DIY server builders and edge compute experimenters.

Zimaboard 2 Review – Software

ZimaBoard 2 ships with ZimaOS, a custom-built operating system from IceWhale that is based on CasaOS—a lightweight, open-source platform designed for simplicity and ease of deployment. ZimaOS retains the core principles of CasaOS but adds refinements tailored to the Zima ecosystem, particularly features that emerged during development of the more powerful ZimaCube. The out-of-the-box experience is beginner-friendly, offering an intuitive web dashboard called “LaunchPad,” which centralizes access to installed applications, system controls, and file management.

ZimaOS is pre-installed on the board’s eMMC storage, enabling immediate setup without requiring users to flash a drive or download additional software. Despite the modest resources of the ZimaBoard 2, the OS performs responsively, even with several services running in parallel. The interface is clean, albeit minimalistic, focusing on usability over deep customization.

For users who are new to home servers or Docker deployments, the learning curve is surprisingly gentle. Though it lacks some of the granularity of more established platforms like OpenMediaVault or TrueNAS, it’s clear that IceWhale has designed ZimaOS to get users up and running quickly without sacrificing key functionality.

One of the more distinctive features of ZimaOS is its integrated App Store, which acts as a curated hub for Docker-based applications. Unlike traditional NAS interfaces that require command-line Docker commands or extensive Portainer configuration, ZimaOS simplifies deployment through one-click installation and automated environment setups.

Popular applications like Plex, Jellyfin, Stable Diffusion, and more are available by default, with the option to add third-party sources for broader container variety. Behind the scenes, the system leverages containerization frameworks to handle resource isolation and volume mappings, but much of this complexity is hidden from the end user.

Application setup is further eased by pre-configured defaults such as port assignments, directory structures, and even PUID/PGID settings, reducing friction for non-technical users. For those with more experience, ZimaOS still allows you to tweak or override these settings manually. Notably, ZimaOS also includes a basic virtualization interface that supports downloading and running lightweight VMs using prebuilt images.

While this feature is better suited to the higher-specced ZimaCube due to memory and cooling constraints, its presence on the ZimaBoard 2 is still a nice touch and shows that the OS is aiming to grow into a more comprehensive platform. Overall, the application and container ecosystem here punches above its weight, especially considering the resource constraints of the board itself.

In terms of storage and file sharing, ZimaOS delivers a capable if somewhat minimal feature set that prioritizes simplicity over enterprise-style depth. Users can create RAID groups—a new feature compared to earlier CasaOS iterations—manage individual drives, and set up file-level sharing using standard protocols like SMB.

The file manager, accessible through the main dashboard, allows for browsing, copying, and sharing content in a familiar web-based interface. Integration with IceWhale’s own client tool enables a peer-to-peer feature called “peerdrop,” which links multiple Zima-based systems or client devices (like phones and laptops) for rapid syncing and data exchange.

This is especially useful for users who want an easy method to upload media, backup devices, or move files between multiple systems on a local network. Remote access can be enabled through a simple relay-based mechanism, which generates shareable links for specific files or folders, complete with read/write controls. While more advanced access control, encryption, or user quotas are not present in this build, the essentials for home or small office use are here and function as expected.

Cloud integration is also available, allowing the addition of third-party storage such as Google Drive or Dropbox for backup or syncing purposes. Though ZimaOS doesn’t try to replace full-fledged NAS operating systems in terms of depth, it successfully delivers the features most users will need, and its lightweight design ensures responsiveness even on modest hardware like the ZimaBoard 2.

Zimaboard 2 Review – Conclusion & Verdict

The ZimaBoard 2 is a competent and thoughtfully assembled single-board server that builds meaningfully on IceWhale’s earlier efforts, especially the original ZimaBoard and the ZimaBlade. Its design clearly targets users who want more flexibility and performance than traditional ARM-based boards can offer, but who also value power efficiency, silence, and a small footprint. The use of an Intel N150 CPU, 8GB of LPDDR5x memory, dual 2.5GbE ports, and a PCIe 3.0 x4 slot makes it viable for a variety of home server roles—from basic NAS and smart home coordination to lightweight container hosting and local media streaming. Features like onboard SATA, USB 3.1, and a DisplayPort connection further add to its utility. However, there are hardware limitations that may affect long-term suitability for advanced deployments. The soldered RAM cannot be upgraded, and the internal eMMC storage, while useful for initial setup, is too slow for OS-level responsiveness in more demanding use cases. Passive cooling, while appreciated for silence, also imposes some thermal limitations depending on the deployment environment.

On the software side, ZimaOS offers a decent out-of-the-box experience that caters to users with minimal technical background. It handles core tasks like application deployment, file sharing, and system monitoring without requiring advanced configuration, and its Docker-based App Store simplifies access to popular tools. For more experienced users, the system supports third-party OS installation, which is likely how many will ultimately use the ZimaBoard 2. Still, as a bundled solution, ZimaOS has matured significantly and now presents itself as a lightweight, capable, and non-intrusive platform for those who prefer to get started immediately. In the broader context of DIY server hardware, ZimaBoard 2 occupies a middle ground: more powerful and modular than Raspberry Pi-class systems, yet more constrained than full x86 mini PCs or enthusiast-grade NAS hardware. For those who understand and accept these trade-offs, and are willing to plan around its limitations, the ZimaBoard 2 offers a reliable and flexible foundation for compact, energy-efficient computing at the edge.

NOTE – You can visit the Zimaboard 2 Crowdfunding Page (live from 10:30AM ET 22nd April 2025) by clicking the banner below. The entry price for early backers is $169, but that will revert to $179 (and $239 for a scaled-up storage and memory version). I DO NOT receive any kind of affiliate commission or sponsorship for this review (and this review, like all reviews at NASCompares, was done without the brand in question’s interference or input). You can use the link HERE to see the campaign for yourself and/or click the banner below:

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Le Lockerstor 4 Gen3 (AS6804T) d’ASUSTOR est un NAS 4 baies haut de gamme destiné aux utilisateurs exigeants. Il est équipé d’un processeur AMD Ryzen V3C14 capable d’atteindre 3,8 GHz et de 16 Go de mémoire. Ce NAS promet des performances de très haut niveau. Cependant, son prix le destine plutôt au mon de de l’entreprise. Rentrons immédiatement dans le vif du sujet…

Test de l’ASUSTOR AS6804T

Cela faisait plusieurs mois que nous attentions avec impatience ce nouveau NAS. Le boitier s’adresse aux utilisateurs les plus exigeants, qu’ils soient professionnels ou passionnés de technologie. Sur le papier, il faut avouer qu’il a tout pour plaire… voire un peu plus.

Contenu de la boîte

Commençons par découvrir le contenu de la boîte :

• L’AS6804T en lui-même ;
• 4 câble réseau RJ45 Cat.6 ;
• Des vis de fixation pour les disques/SSD ;
• L’alimentation externe avec son câble ;
• Un guide de démarrage rapide ;
• Un livret de garantie.

La présence de 4 câbles réseau Cat.6 est une excellente surprise, mais 2 auraient été suffisant. En revanche, Asustor ne fournit pas de dissipateurs thermiques pour les SSD NVMe, ce qui peut sembler regrettable étant donné la sensibilité de ces supports à la chaleur.

Design et connectivité

Le châssis en métal du Lockerstor 4 Gen3 inspire confiance.  La ventilation est assurée par un ventilateur de 120 mm à l’arrière et un caloduc en cuivre dédié au refroidissement du processeur. En façade, on retrouve 4 emplacements pour disques durs (ou SSD SATA), ainsi qu’un écran LCD deux lignes, qui accentue l’orientation professionnelle du produit.

Sur le plan de la connectivité, il offre :​

• 2 ports 10 Gb/s RJ45 ;
• 2 ports 5 Gb/s RJ45 ;
• 2 ports USB4 (type C)* ;
• 3 ports USB 3.2 Gen 2 (type A) dont 1 en façade.

La connectique est de très haut niveau avec ces nombreux ports réseau (10 Gb/s et 5 Gb/s) et tous ces ports USB haute vitesse. Forcément, cela se ressent dans le prix de ce produit.

À noter : aucune sortie HDMI sur ce modèle, ce qui pourrait en surprendre plus d’un. Nous y reviendrons.

* Attention, les ports USB4 sont limités. Par exemple, il n’est pas possible d’y connecter un PC/NAS directement, ni de carte graphique externe (eGPU).

Intérieur du AS6804T

Passons à l’intérieur du NAS… Tout d’abord, on y trouve 4 emplacements M.2 NVMe PCIe Gen 4 (x1) pour SSD​ ultrarapide. Nous reviendrons sur les performances un peu plus loin. Le NAS est construit autour d’un processeur Quad-Core AMD Ryzen V3C14 cadencé à 2,3GHz (avec un mode turbo jusqu’à 3,8 GHz). Un choix intéressant de la part d’Asustor, mais ce dernier ne dispose pas d’iGPU (carte graphique intégrée)… cela limite les capacités de transcodage vidéo matériel et explique l’absence de sortie HDMI. Le NAS est livré avec 16 Go de RAM ECC DDR5 (extensible jusqu’à 64).

Pour information, ce processeur obtient un score de 11 882 points selon CPU Benchmark (avec une marge d’erreur). C’est un très haut niveau… À titre de comparaison, l’AMD Ryzen V1500B a un score de 4 829 points (le processeur du DS925+ de Synology).

Il est important de noter la présence d’un emplacement PCIe 4.0, pour une carte réseau uniquement selon le fabricant. Le NAS dispose déjà de 4 ports réseau, on peut s’interroger sur la nécessité d’en ajouter encore un cinquième. Mais ne jugeons pas, il y a peut-être de la demande… la possibilité d’installer une petite carte graphique aurait aurait été une alternative bienvenue.

Installation du NAS

L’installation est simple et efficace. Les disques durs 3,5″ se montent sans outils. Pour les disques 2,5″, comme les SSD SATA, des vis sont fournies. Le fond du boîtier est renforcé pour amortir l’insertion des disques, un détail important notamment pour la fonction MyArchive.

Asustor ne fournit pas de radiateur pour les SSD NVMe, contrairement à d’autres fabricants. C’est dommage, car la chaleur est l’ennemi des performances de ces supports de stockage. La ventilation du boîtier reste cependant efficace.

ADM 5.0

Les NAS de la série Lockerstor Gen3 sont les seuls à pouvoir bénéficier d’ADM 5.0. Les autres NAS sont encore en version ADM 4.3 officiellement, au moment où sont écrites ces lignes.

ADM 5.0 est une mise à jour importante au regard de sa numérotation. Voici quelques améliorations importantes :

• Mise à niveau du noyau Linux vers la version 6.6 LTS avec de nombreux correctifs de sécurité
• Mises à jour d’OpenSSL pour améliorer la compatibilité et les performances
• SMB Multi-Channel passe (enfin) en version stable
• Améliorations de l’expérience utilisateur :
  • La barre d’outils ADM peut être masquée automatiquement
  • ADM adopte par défaut la langue du navigateur
  • Mise à jour des options régionales et des fuseaux horaires
  • Affichage optimisé du Gestionnaire de stockage pour une lecture plus efficace des informations

L’interface a subi quelques retouches ici et là, mais rien de vraiment révolutionnaire… d’un autre côté, Asustor nous a habitués aux fils des années à opérer seulement à des petites touches. L’ensemble est stable, fonctionnel et rapide.

On appréciera l’accompagnement au premier démarrage qui est d’excellente qualité, que nous vous recommandons de suivre. S’il peut sembler un peu intrusif, il est essentiel pour mettre en place les bonnes pratiques : stockage, partage et sécurité.

Par contre, nous avons noté quelques petits bugs notamment d’affichage. Rien de vraiment bloquant, mais ils peuvent être gênant. Un redémarrage du NAS a corrigé la plupart des soucis rencontrés.

On a particulièrement apprécié l’arrivée d’un éditeur de texte dans ADM et qu’il est possible de lancer directement depuis l’Explorateur de fichiers intégré.

Performances de l’AS6804T

Pour la première partie de nos tests, nous allons évaluer les performances des transferts à travers un réseau 10 Gb/s (entre le NAS et des ordinateurs). Ensuite, nous analysons les capacités du processeur et plus particulièrement ses performances de virtualisation et de transcodage vidéo.

Vitesses dans les transferts

Depuis plusieurs années, nous avons mis en place un protocole de tests rigoureux pour fournir des données fiables et comparables avec les performances des autres NAS. Pour cela, nous utilisons 4 applications de mesure différentes (2 sous macOS et 2 sous Windows) et réalisons en plus des transferts de fichiers de tailles variées dans les deux sens (NAS -> Ordinateur puis dans un second temps Ordinateur -> NAS) :

• Petites tailles : 100 fichiers de 500 Ko à 12 Mo (MP3, photos, documents Office)
• Tailles moyennes : 30 fichiers de 12 à 350 Mo (DivX, images RAW, archives ZIP)
• Fichiers volumineux : 10 fichiers avec une taille comprise entre 4 et 10 Go (MKV, ISO)

À partir de ces tests, nous calculons une moyenne des transferts que nous représentons sous forme de graphiques, exprimée en mégaoctets par seconde. Plus le nombre est élevé, plus le NAS est rapide. Pour nos tests avec l’ évaluation de l’AS6804T, nous avons configuré un premier volume avec 2 SSD NVMe en RAID 0, puis en RAID 5 avec 3 SSD en RAID 5. Nous avons utilisé des WD Red SN700, certainement les meilleurs de leur catégorie.

RAID 0

En lecture, le NAS dépasse les 1000 Mo/s sans difficulté. En écriture, les performances sont un peu en retrait, mais restent excellentes.

RAID 0 avec le chiffrement activé

La lecture reste rapide, mais l’écriture chute à environ 300 Mo/s. Cela reste acceptable, mais en deçà de nos attentes.

RAID 5

Très bon niveau global, mais les performances ne franchissent pas un nouveau cap malgré l’utilisation de SSD NVMe et du 10 Gb/s. Nous sommes cependant dans le haut du panier.

Performances générales de l’AS6804T

Le processeur AMD Ryzen V3C14 s’en sort remarquablement bien sur les tâches complexes : chiffrement, machines virtuelles, conteneurs Docker, etc. Côté puissance brute, rien à redire. En revanche, l’absence d’iGPU rend le transcodage vidéo matériel impossible. Pour les flux Ultra HD/4K via Plex ou Jellyfin, cela fonctionnera suivant le périphérique utilisé pour le décodage (côté client). Nous n’avons pas réussi à le mettre en porte-à-faux.

Consommation électrique et nuisance sonore

Le ventilateur (120 mm) reste relativement discret, bien qu’audible à proximité. Côté consommation électrique, en utilisation normale avec 3 SSD, elle varie entre 15,5 et 16,1 W. Lors de transferts intensifs avec chiffrement ou transcodage, elle ne dépasse pas 35,5 W.

The U.S. Tariffs and Their Looming Impact on NAS and Storage Tech

The United States has recently announced a sweeping set of import tariffs on goods from nearly every major trading partner in the world. This policy shift, driven largely by the country’s growing trade deficits with nations like China, the European Union, Vietnam, and others, imposes additional fees ranging from 15% to 50% on products entering the U.S. The implications go far beyond international politics—they’re about to hit consumers directly, especially in the realm of network-attached storage (NAS), data drives, and related IT infrastructure. For businesses and tech enthusiasts alike, this could drastically reshape buying decisions and the way storage technology is sourced and maintained in the years ahead.

Most NAS brands, regardless of their international reputation or market share, are headquartered—and more importantly, manufactured—outside the United States. While brands like Synology, QNAP, TerraMaster, and Asustor dominate the global NAS market, they are based in Taiwan and China—countries now subject to tariffs as high as 46%. Even U.S.-founded companies aren’t immune; Seagate and Western Digital, for instance, produce the bulk of their drives in Thailand, Malaysia, and other tariff-affected countries. Likewise, 45Drives, a Canadian company with a strong presence in the U.S. market, assembles its products in Nova Scotia. This global web of production means almost no storage brand will emerge from this tariff structure unscathed.

However, it’s not just the tariffs themselves that are concerning—it’s the uncertainty they create in the supply chain. Distributors, wholesalers, and resellers operate on tight margins and forecasting models. With the risk of sudden pricing hikes or shifts in demand, many are likely to reduce inventory levels rather than gamble on unstable costs. If distributors begin ordering fewer units or delaying shipments while waiting for clarity, that can result in long-term effects on availability down the chain. For consumers and IT professionals, this may translate into fewer options, slower shipping times, and inconsistent stock at retailers, especially for higher-end or business-class hardware.

This reduction in stock won’t be immediately obvious but will likely manifest in 3 to 6 months as upstream inventory runs out. Unlike the global chip shortages of previous years—which were driven by raw material scarcity and manufacturing delays—this looming shortage will stem from financial caution and policy volatility. Retailers might maintain listings but hold little-to-no actual stock, while lead times on specialized or enterprise-grade NAS solutions could stretch uncomfortably long. Resellers will be hesitant to overstock and risk capital loss, creating an environment where supply is bottlenecked before it even hits the storefront.

Another critical layer is the manufacturing cost ripple effect. Even products partially or fully assembled in the U.S. will see increased base costs if their components—be it PCBs, chips, enclosures, or storage platters—originate from affected countries. These costs are added long before the end product even appears on a website or in a store. What this means is that even before the tariff surcharge is applied to the final product, the wholesale cost has already been inflated. Once one manufacturer adjusts their pricing to reflect these new realities, competitors are likely to follow. The result will be a new pricing baseline that is unlikely to ever return to previous levels, even if some tariffs are eventually eased.

Some may hold out hope that this will prompt a new era of domestic manufacturing, particularly for brands looking to sidestep tariffs altogether. While this is a possibility, it’s far from an immediate solution. Setting up manufacturing in the U.S. involves immense logistical, financial, and regulatory challenges. Even if companies begin the process today, meaningful change is at least two to three years away. And critically, even if production is moved stateside, prices are unlikely to fall—once the market accepts a higher cost structure, manufacturers rarely roll back pricing, especially if demand remains strong. Historically, many brands have relied on international redistribution centers to navigate or lessen the impact of tax and tariff regimes. Countries like Singapore, Thailand, and the Netherlands have served as strategic re-export hubs, helping companies reduce costs and navigate trade restrictions. These setups have allowed goods to flow more freely into Western markets with minimal added expense. However, the comprehensiveness of the new U.S. tariff list is expected to close many of these loopholes. As more countries are swept into the tariff net, fewer workarounds remain viable, which means both gray market and authorized resellers will struggle to avoid passing costs along to the buyer.

This brings us to the practical question: should consumers and businesses buy their NAS systems now or wait? While there’s no one-size-fits-all answer, those who anticipate needing storage solutions in the next three to six months may be better off acting sooner. The intersection of declining stock availability, rising manufacturing costs, and pending tariff implementation could create a narrow window where current prices and availability are the best we’ll see for a while. Delaying too long risks not only paying more but facing potential wait times for critical systems. That said, users with stable systems and strong backup routines may prefer to ride out the uncertainty, at least temporarily. Ultimately, the storage industry—like much of the tech sector—is facing a period of turbulence. Boardrooms across the globe are likely holding emergency meetings to re-evaluate supply chains, regional assembly strategies, and consumer pricing models. But without clear long-term policy direction, many companies will be hesitant to make bold changes, opting instead for a wait-and-see approach. For now, the best advice is to monitor inventory levels closely, stay informed about regional pricing trends, and—if you’re in the U.S.—think seriously about whether a short-term investment in your storage infrastructure might save you money and headaches down the line.

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Asustor vient de publier la version Beta de son logiciel interne ADM 5.0. Aperçue pour la première fois avec les NAS Lockerstor Gen3 (AS68), cette version marque une étape importante dans l’évolution du système. Le fabricant confirme ainsi la feuille de route annoncée en novembre dernier. Cependant, tout n’est pas rose…

ASUSTOR ADM 5.0 Beta

Annoncée depuis plusieurs mois, ADM 5.0 avait été présentée en juin 2024 lors du Computex. En octobre, 3 nouveaux NAS (AS6804T, AS6806T, AS6808T et AS6810T) avaient été annoncés… et ces derniers sont livrés avec cette nouvelle version. Depuis, plus aucune information n’avait été communiquée jusqu’à présent…

Désormais, ADM 5.0 Beta est disponible en téléchargement. Toutefois, cette version étant encore en cours de développement, il est fortement déconseillé de l’installer sur un NAS en production contenant des données sensibles. Asustor se dégage de toute responsabilité concernant les problèmes pouvant survenir suite à son utilisation.

ADM 5.0 Beta : principales nouveautés

Regardons de plus près ce qu’indique ASUSTOR à propos de cette nouvelle version.

Nouveautés

• ADM Defender propose des profils de pare-feu personnalisables et une protection proactive contre les adresses IP suspectes
• Prise en charge des clés SSH pour une authentification plus sécurisée et pratique
• Text Editor, une nouvelle application pour créer et modifier des fichiers texte (à télécharger depuis l’App Central)

Modifications majeures

• Mise à niveau du noyau Linux vers la version 6.6 LTS avec de nombreux correctifs de sécurité (disponible uniquement sur certains modèles)
• Mises à jour d’OpenSSL pour améliorer la compatibilité et les performances
• SMB Multi-Channel passe (enfin) en version stable
• Améliorations de l’expérience utilisateur :
  • La barre d’outils ADM peut être masquée automatiquement
  • ADM adopte par défaut la langue du navigateur
  • Mise à jour des options régionales et des fuseaux horaires
  • Affichage optimisé du Gestionnaire de stockage pour une lecture plus efficace des informations
• ADM Maintenance remplace les anciennes options de mise à jour, réinitialisation d’usine et sauvegarde des paramètres
• Web Center permet désormais d’utiliser plusieurs versions de PHP pour différentes applications
• Renforcement de la sécurité :
  • Suppression d’un dossier partagé nécessite la validation par mot de passe administrateur
  • Meilleure gestion des certificats Let’s Encrypt avec choix d’algorithmes de chiffrement
  • Amélioration de la gestion des domaines Active Directory
• Gestion de l’alimentation :
  • Un NAS connecté à un onduleur en faible consommation s’éteindra correctement
  • Capacité de LUN iSCSI portée à 1024 To lorsque l’allocation dynamique est activée

Corrections

• Correction de bugs dans l’Explorateur de fichiers et Web Center
• Amélioration des traductions
• Divers correctifs de stabilité.

Vous l’aurez compris, cette nouvelle version apporte de nombreuses améliorations. Pour en savoir plus, n’hésitez pas à suivre ce lien…

Compatibilité avec ADM 5.0 Beta

Cette liste correspond à celle déjà publiée en novembre dernier sur le Forum des NAS. Comme indiqué précédemment, les NAS AS68 et FS68 disposent déjà d’ADM 5.0 en version finale.

Fin du support pour certaines séries

Comme prévu, certains modèles ne recevront plus de mises à jour et resteront sur ADM 4.3 :

• AS31 (série lancée en 2015)
• AS32 (série lancée en 2016)
• AS40 (série lancée en 2018)
• AS61 (série lancée en 2015)
• AS62 (série lancée en 2016)

Synthèse

L’arrivée d’ADM 5.0 Beta est une version attendue pour des utilisateurs de NAS Asustor. Elle apporte de nombreuses améliorations en matière de performance, sécurité et expérience utilisateur. Toutefois, cette version est encore en phase de test et son installation est déconseillée sur un NAS de production.

Pour plus d’informations, consultez la page officielle d’Asustor…

Why NAS Drives are NOT for Everyone – 5 Reasons You Do Not Need a NAS

Network Attached Storage (NAS) is often promoted as the ideal solution for data management, offering advantages like local control, redundancy, and flexible access. However, while NAS has many benefits, it is not the right choice for everyone. Depending on individual needs, alternatives such as cloud storage or Direct-Attached Storage (DAS) may provide a simpler, more cost-effective, or more practical solution. This article explores five key reasons why a NAS may not be the best choice for certain users. From the convenience of cloud storage to the high upfront costs of NAS devices, we will break down the potential drawbacks and alternative solutions that might better fit specific use cases. Understanding these factors can help users make an informed decision about their storage needs.

Disclaimer – NAS devices provide a robust and flexible storage solution, but they are not necessary for all users. Those with simpler storage needs—such as single-device backups or direct file access—may find that a Direct-Attached Storage (DAS) device better meets their requirements. External hard drives and SSDs offer straightforward, cost-effective alternatives without the complexity of network management. Cloud storage remains a convenient and accessible option, particularly for those who need remote access without dealing with hardware setup. While it comes with long-term costs and data security considerations, cloud services offer ease of use and automation that may be preferable for some users. Additionally, a hybrid NAS and cloud approach can provide the best of both worlds, allowing users to maintain local storage while leveraging cloud redundancy for added backup security and accessibility. Choosing the right storage solution depends on specific use cases, technical expertise, and long-term data management goals.

1. The Convenience of Cloud Storage is Unquestionable

One of the primary reasons a NAS may not be necessary for some users is the convenience of cloud storage. Services like Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, and iCloud offer instant accessibility, making it easy to store, sync, and retrieve files from any internet-connected device. Unlike NAS, which requires setup, configuration, and ongoing maintenance, cloud storage is designed to be user-friendly. Users can simply sign up, upload files, and access them from anywhere, without needing to worry about network configurations, remote access tunnels, or firewall adjustments. This simplicity makes cloud storage an appealing option for users who want a hassle-free experience without managing hardware.

Beyond ease of use, cloud services are also optimized for redundancy and failover protection, ensuring that data remains safe and accessible even if hardware failures occur on the provider’s end. Large-scale cloud platforms have multiple data centers worldwide, meaning that even in the event of a regional outage, files remain available from alternative locations. Cloud storage is particularly advantageous for those who travel frequently or work remotely, as accessing a NAS over the internet can introduce latency, security challenges, and connectivity issues. For example, transferring large files to a NAS while on the road may require complex VPN configurations and reliable internet access, whereas cloud storage offers seamless access without any additional setup. This makes cloud storage a more practical choice for users who prioritize mobility and convenience over local ownership.

Example of the complexity of a NAS to Cloud Sync:

2. Simplicity of Direct-Attached Storage (DAS) for Single Users vs NAS is Indisputable

For individuals who primarily work from a single device, a NAS may be unnecessary and even overcomplicated. A Direct-Attached Storage (DAS) device—such as an external hard drive, SSD, or even a RAID-configured DAS—provides a more straightforward and often more cost-effective solution. Unlike NAS, which requires a network connection and some level of system administration, a DAS device simply connects directly to a computer via USB, Thunderbolt, or eSATA and is ready to use instantly. This plug-and-play functionality makes DAS ideal for users who just need additional storage or a backup solution without any complexity.

DAS also offers direct hardware integration with professional applications, making it a preferred choice for photographers, video editors, and graphic designers. Many creative professionals rely on high-speed DAS devices because they provide lower latency and faster data transfer rates than a network-based NAS. A high-speed Thunderbolt RAID array, for example, can provide much faster read and write speeds than a NAS connected via 1GbE or even 2.5GbE networking. Additionally, for users who need to transfer large amounts of data quickly, physically shipping an external drive remains a viable and often faster option than uploading terabytes of data to a NAS remotely. If a user primarily works from one computer and does not need network-based file access, a DAS setup can be a much more practical and efficient choice than investing in a NAS.

3. Cloud and DAS = Lower Power Consumption and Long-Term Operating Costs

One often overlooked factor when deciding on a NAS is its ongoing power consumption. Unlike DAS devices, which only require power when in use, a NAS typically runs 24/7, constantly consuming electricity even when idle. While modern NAS devices offer power-saving features such as scheduled shutdowns and sleep modes, they still draw more power than a simple external hard drive. This can be a concern for users in areas with high electricity costs, those who live in mobile homes, or people who rely on solar or backup power sources. Over the course of a year, the difference in power consumption between a NAS and a simple external drive can add up, making it an important consideration for budget-conscious users.

Example of Power Consumption of a 6-Bay NAS with 6x HDD and 2x SSD (Intel N305 i3 CPU):

Beyond electricity costs, there’s also the issue of long-term maintenance. Hard drives inside a NAS are designed to run continuously, meaning they wear out faster compared to drives that are powered on only when needed. Each mechanical hard drive has a limited number of operational hours before failure becomes more likely. In contrast, an external hard drive that is only used periodically for backups can last much longer. Additionally, NAS devices require ongoing software updates, security patches, and general monitoring to function optimally. For users who do not want to deal with the responsibility of maintaining a dedicated storage system, a NAS may be more trouble than it’s worth, especially when compared to simpler alternatives like external hard drives or cloud storage.

Example of Noise Level of a 4x HDD and 2x SSD NAS (Lincstation S1 NAS):

4. Cloud Mean Avoiding Vendor Lock-in and Data Migration Challenges

NAS systems operate as full-fledged computing devices with their own proprietary operating systems, which can make migrating data between different NAS brands or platforms a challenge. For example, if a user sets up a Synology NAS and later wants to switch to a QNAP or another brand, they may encounter significant roadblocks in moving their existing file structures, metadata, and system settings. Unlike traditional external storage solutions that use universal formats like NTFS, exFAT, or APFS, NAS devices often use specialized file systems optimized for their specific ecosystems. This means that simply swapping out drives between NAS brands is not always possible without extensive data transfers and reconfigurations.

In contrast, DAS devices and cloud storage solutions provide more flexibility for users who may need to migrate their data in the future. A USB hard drive can be connected to any computer with minimal effort, and cloud services typically offer built-in tools to migrate data between providers. Additionally, NAS users often rely on specific applications and configurations tied to their system, making it more difficult to transition to a different storage solution later. While there are workarounds—such as using standard file transfer protocols like SMB or FTP—these solutions require extra time and effort, which may not be practical for users who need a simple and easily portable storage option. For those who value long-term flexibility, avoiding NAS vendor lock-in may be a more prudent choice.

5. NAS = High Initial Costs and Uncertain Return on Investment for Some

Perhaps the most significant reason some users should avoid a NAS is the cost. Compared to external storage solutions, NAS devices are considerably more expensive, especially when factoring in the price of both the NAS enclosure and the hard drives required to populate it. Even budget NAS devices start at a few hundred dollars, and higher-end models with advanced features can cost well over $1,000, not including the drives. When comparing cost per terabyte, NAS drives are generally more expensive than external USB drives due to their enhanced durability and NAS-optimized firmware. For users who do not need advanced features like RAID redundancy, Docker applications, or network-wide accessibility, the extra cost of a NAS may not be justifiable.

Beyond the initial purchase, users must also consider the long-term costs associated with NAS ownership. Hard drives wear out over time and will eventually need to be replaced, adding to the overall expense. Additionally, while NAS devices provide a wide range of powerful features, many users may not fully utilize them. If someone only needs basic storage and backup capabilities, a NAS might be an unnecessary investment, and they may be better off with a simple DAS setup or cloud-based storage solution. Before committing to a NAS, potential buyers should carefully evaluate whether they will take full advantage of its features or if a more affordable and straightforward alternative would better suit their needs.

While NAS devices offer powerful features and advantages for data management, they are not always the most practical option. For users who prioritize convenience, cloud storage may be a better fit. Those who work primarily from a single device may find a Direct-Attached Storage (DAS) setup more efficient. Additionally, factors such as power consumption, vendor lock-in, and long-term costs should all be carefully considered before investing in a NAS. Ultimately, the best storage solution depends on individual requirements. A NAS can be a great investment for those who need centralized, multi-user access and advanced functionality, but it is not the only option. Evaluating storage needs based on cost, performance, and ease of use will help determine whether a NAS is the right fit or if an alternative solution would be more suitable.

Recommended NAS Solutions Based on Data Storage Needs:

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You NEED A NAS Drive – And Here Is Why

In today’s digital world, data storage plays a crucial role in both personal and professional environments. Many individuals and businesses rely on cloud storage for convenience, but it’s not always the best option. While cloud services provide accessibility and automation, they come with limitations, including long-term costs, security concerns, and restrictions on data ownership. For those who value control over their files, a Network Attached Storage (NAS) device offers a compelling alternative. This article explores five key reasons why a NAS can be a better choice for data management compared to cloud storage. From total data ownership to long-term cost savings, we examine how NAS devices provide more flexibility, security, and performance for those looking to store and access their data efficiently.

Disclaimer!

While NAS devices offer significant advantages in terms of data ownership, security, and long-term cost efficiency, they are not the ideal solution for everyone. Users with simpler storage needs, such as those requiring direct, high-speed access to a single device, may find that a Direct Attached Storage (DAS) setup better suits their requirements without the additional complexity of network management.

Additionally, cloud storage remains a convenient and accessible option, particularly for those who need a quick and automated solution without the upfront cost of dedicated hardware. Cloud services provide seamless access from anywhere and can be a great short-term or supplementary storage method. For many users, a hybrid approach—combining NAS with cloud storage—strikes the right balance. This setup allows users to enjoy the accessibility of the cloud while benefiting from the control and security of a NAS, particularly when implementing structured backup routines. Each storage solution has its strengths, and the best choice depends on individual needs and use cases.

1. A NAS Server = Total Data Ownership

Owning a NAS (Network Attached Storage) means complete control over your data, something that cloud storage simply cannot provide. When you use cloud services, you are essentially handing over your files to a third party, entrusting them to manage and store your data. While this is convenient, it also introduces several risks, including data breaches, sudden policy changes, or service discontinuations. Many cloud providers state in their terms of service that they reserve the right to scan, analyze, or even remove content that violates their policies, which can be vague and subject to interpretation. A NAS eliminates this uncertainty by giving you full ownership—your data resides physically in your home or office, and no one but you determines what happens to it.

Beyond ownership, NAS systems offer better control over data distribution. You decide where backups are stored, how often they occur, and who has access. This is especially important for photographers, videographers, and businesses that require compliance with strict data protection regulations, such as GDPR or HIPAA. For example, a small business handling client records can store sensitive customer data on an encrypted NAS, ensuring compliance without relying on cloud providers that may store files in different jurisdictions. Another key advantage is preventing data from being used to train AI models or sold to advertisers—something that is an increasing concern with major tech companies. Owning a NAS ensures that your data is truly private, unmonitored, and secure from external influences.

2. A NAS Means Bespoke Security Settings

Cloud providers implement security measures, but these are designed for general use, meaning they cannot be customized to fit specific needs. While cloud services offer encryption, user authentication, and basic access controls, they often lack advanced security features that enterprises or tech-savvy users require. With a NAS, you can tailor security settings at a granular level, ensuring that only the right people can access specific files and folders. You can configure user authentication with two-factor authentication (2FA), enforce strict password policies, and even limit access based on IP addresses or device types. For example, you can allow a work computer to access files but block access from unknown mobile devices, significantly reducing the risk of unauthorized entry.

Additionally, NAS security extends beyond simple user access. If you integrate a NAS with a managed switch and firewall, you can create network segmentation, restricting access to only certain parts of your infrastructure. Air-gapping—a security practice that physically or digitally isolates a device from external networks—can be used to create periods where the NAS is completely inaccessible, making data leaks or cyberattacks virtually impossible. Scheduled access times add another layer of protection, ensuring that even if credentials are compromised, unauthorized users cannot gain entry outside of designated periods. NAS devices also provide real-time security alerts that can be customized to notify administrators about unusual activity, such as multiple failed login attempts, unauthorized file transfers, or new device connections. This kind of tailored security is simply not possible with generic cloud services, making a NAS the superior choice for those who prioritize privacy and control.

3. A NAS Can Mean True Deletion When Needed

Deleting data from cloud storage is not as straightforward as it seems. Most cloud services use a soft-delete approach, meaning that when you delete a file, it isn’t immediately erased. Instead, it is moved to a trash folder where it remains for 30 to 90 days before being automatically purged. Even after this period, many cloud providers create multiple copies of your files across their servers for redundancy, making it difficult to ensure that your data is completely gone. In some cases, metadata or indexed portions of your files may still exist within the provider’s infrastructure, and depending on the terms of service, your data may even be retained for analytics or AI training.

With a NAS, true deletion is possible because you have full control over your data. When you delete a file, it is removed from your storage pool, and if you want absolute certainty, you can use secure erasure tools to overwrite the data multiple times, making recovery impossible. Many NAS systems include built-in data-wiping features that follow Department of Defense (DoD) 5220.22-M standards, ensuring complete removal of sensitive information. For highly sensitive data, you can physically destroy storage drives—a practice commonly used by corporations and government agencies. Some companies specialize in secure drive destruction, ensuring that data cannot be recovered by any means. For personal use, simply reformatting or physically damaging a hard drive provides an additional layer of security. This level of control over data deletion is something that cloud storage cannot match, making NAS the ideal choice for those who need true data removal capabilities.

4. NAS vs Cloud = Cost Savings in the Long Term

At first glance, cloud storage seems like an affordable option. Many services offer free storage up to a certain limit, and paid plans start as low as a few dollars per month. However, the long-term costs can quickly add up. Subscription-based storage models require continuous payments, meaning that over several years, you could spend far more on cloud storage than you would on a one-time NAS purchase. Additionally, most cloud providers offer tiered pricing, meaning that as your storage needs grow, your monthly fees increase significantly. Businesses and content creators with terabytes of data often find themselves paying hundreds of dollars annually just to store their files.

Another hidden cost of cloud storage is data retrieval, known as egress fees. Many cloud providers limit how much data you can download within a given timeframe, and if you exceed this limit, you are charged extra. For example, Amazon S3 and Google Cloud charge egress fees that can quickly add up when transferring large amounts of data. In contrast, a NAS has no such limitations—once you own the device, you can access and transfer files as much as you want without paying additional fees.

If you plan to store data for more than three to five years, a NAS will almost always be the more cost-effective choice. Even budget NAS devices with included hard drives, such as the $199 models with 4TB of storage, offer better long-term value than many cloud subscriptions. Investing in a NAS early ensures that you avoid rising costs while maintaining full control over your data.

5. A NAS (Almost Always) Means Performance and Speed Benefits

Cloud storage is convenient for remote access, but it is heavily dependent on internet speeds, network congestion, and provider limitations. Upload and download speeds are constrained by your ISP, meaning that large file transfers can take hours or even days. Most cloud services also impose bandwidth limits or throttling policies, reducing transfer speeds during peak hours. For users who need fast access to large files—such as video editors, photographers, or IT professionals—cloud performance is simply not sufficient.

A NAS, on the other hand, offers significantly better performance, particularly for local access. Even basic NAS systems with gigabit Ethernet can achieve speeds of 100 MB/s (megabytes per second), far exceeding most cloud transfer rates. Higher-end models support 2.5GbE, 5GbE, or even 10GbE connections, allowing speeds of up to 1,000 MB/s—nearly 100 times faster than standard cloud storage. For example, a team of video editors working with 4K footage can stream and edit files directly from a NAS without any noticeable lag, something that would be impossible with cloud storage due to latency issues. NAS devices also support SSD caching, RAID configurations for redundancy, and multiple simultaneous users, ensuring high performance even under heavy workloads.

Another advantage of NAS is its ability to function as a local media server. Unlike cloud services that require constant internet access and may throttle streaming quality, a NAS can store and stream high-resolution content locally without buffering. This makes it ideal for home theaters, Plex servers, and shared family storage. Businesses can also benefit from NAS performance by hosting internal file-sharing platforms, reducing reliance on slow or expensive cloud-based collaboration tools. In short, NAS outperforms cloud storage in every aspect of speed and efficiency, making it the best choice for users who demand high-speed, reliable access to their files.

While cloud storage remains a popular choice, it is not without drawbacks. Issues such as long-term expenses, limited security customization, and potential data retention concerns make it less than ideal for users who require full control over their files. A NAS, by contrast, provides a dedicated, high-performance storage solution that allows users to take ownership of their data, manage access securely, and benefit from predictable costs over time. Ultimately, whether a NAS or cloud storage is the right choice depends on individual needs. Those looking for convenience and automatic backups may still find value in cloud services, while users who prioritize security, cost efficiency, and local performance will likely benefit from investing in a NAS. Understanding these differences can help individuals and businesses make informed decisions about their data storage strategy.

Recommended NAS Solutions Based on Data Storage Needs:

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TerraMaster F6-424 Max NAS Review – LET’S GET SERIOUS?

Update – The Terramaster F6-424 Max NAS is NOW Available HERE on Amazon for $999

As TerraMaster continues to push the boundaries of affordable yet high-performance NAS devices, the F6-424 Max stands out as a flagship model designed to cater to the needs of power users, small businesses, and home lab enthusiasts. Released in September 2024 at a price point of $999.99, the F6-424 Max builds upon TerraMaster’s reputation for offering hardware that rivals premium competitors like Synology and QNAP but at a more accessible price. At the heart of this NAS is an Intel Core i5-1235U, a 10-core, 12-thread CPU that promises to handle everything from virtualization to media transcoding with ease. Coupled with dual M.2 NVMe slots, two 10GbE network ports, and support for up to 64GB of DDR5 memory, the F6-424 Max is aimed at users who require not just storage but also serious compute power.

Before diving into the detailed review of the F6-424 Max, it’s essential to understand how this model compares to its siblings, the smaller capacity F6-424, F4-424 and the F4-424 Pro. Each of these NAS units targets different segments of the market, from home users and enthusiasts to businesses requiring more power. Let’s take a closer look at the key differences between the F6-424, F6-424 Pro, and F6-424 Max.

TerraMaster F6-424 Max NAS Review – Quick Conclusion

The TerraMaster F6-424 Max is a robust 6-bay NAS system that offers a powerful mix of features and flexibility for a wide range of tasks. Powered by the Intel i5-1235U CPU with 10 cores and 12 threads, the F6-424 Max excels at resource-intensive applications such as Plex media streaming, 4K hardware transcoding, and virtual machine hosting. Its dual M.2 NVMe slots running at PCIe Gen 4 speeds significantly improve storage performance, especially when used for caching, while the two 10GbE ports offer high-speed networking environments, allowing for 20Gbps throughput via link aggregation.

In terms of software, TOS 6 brings notable improvements, although it still lags behind the more polished ecosystems of Synology DSM and QNAP QTS. That said, TerraMaster’s continuous software evolution with each new version of TOS ensures that users have access to more robust tools and security features. For its price point of $999, the F6-424 Max is a compelling option for those seeking high-performance NAS solutions with scalability in mind. While the Pro model offers competitive performance, the Max takes it a step further with advanced networking, making it ideal for environments where speed is a priority.

SOFTWARE - 6/10

HARDWARE - 8/10

PERFORMANCE - 8/10

PRICE - 9/10

VALUE - 9/10

8.0

PROS

Powerful Hardware: Intel i5-1235U with 10 cores and 12 threads for resource-heavy tasks.
Dual 10GbE Ports: High-speed networking capabilities with link aggregation for up to 20Gbps, ideal for large file transfers.
PCIe Gen 4 NVMe Support: Two M.2 NVMe slots offering exceptional performance for caching or additional high-speed storage.
Efficient Cooling: The large 120mm fan ensures quiet and effective cooling, making it suitable for home and office environments.
Improved TOS 6 Software: Enhancements in GUI, backup tools, and overall security bring TOS closer to its competitors.

CONS

Higher Price Tag: At just under $1K, it’s more expensive than TerraMaster’s other models, which may deter budget-conscious buyers.
No PCIe Expansion: Lack of a PCIe slot limits potential for future upgrades, such as adding 10GbE cards or more M.2 drives.
Presentation: The software has improved a lot, but still feels inconsistent in places compared with alternatives from brands such as Synology and QNAP.

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TerraMaster F6-424 Max NAS Review – Hardware TL;DR

The F6-424 Max is equipped with some of the most powerful hardware seen in a domestic 6-bay NAS from TerraMaster. Here’s a detailed breakdown of the key hardware components:

The Intel i5-1235U is the real powerhouse of the F6-424 Max, combining two performance cores with eight efficiency cores for excellent multi-threaded performance. Whether you’re running virtual machines, AI workloads, or 4K Plex streams, this processor handles it all with ease. The 8GB of DDR5 memory is a solid starting point, but the system can support up to 64GB for users with more demanding needs.

Another key hardware feature is the dual 10GbE network ports, which offer more than just fast networking—they enable link aggregation to provide up to 20Gbps of network throughput. This makes the F6-424 Max perfect for video editing teams, large backups, or any environment requiring high-speed network transfers.

TerraMaster F6-424 Max NAS Review – Chassis Design

The F6-424 Max arrives in a sleek, modern chassis that is not only visually appealing but also highly functional. The design has evolved significantly from TerraMaster’s older NAS models, taking cues from premium brands like Synology and QNAP. The brushed matte black plastic gives it a professional look while the ventilation design has been carefully optimized to improve airflow.

One of the standout features of the chassis is the dual 80mm fans at the rear of the unit. This fan works in tandem with the ventilated side panels, which are adorned with the TerraMaster logo, to ensure that the system remains cool even under heavy loads. The fans operate quietly, thanks to its smart cooling system, which adjusts fan speeds based on the internal temperature of the NAS.

The drive bays are hot-swappable and feature tool-less installation, making it incredibly easy to add or replace drives. The drive trays are constructed from durable plastic, and while they may feel a bit less premium compared to metal trays, they securely hold both 3.5” and 2.5” SATA drives. The trays slide effortlessly into the SATA connectors, and an intuitive push-to-lock mechanism prevents accidental ejection during operation.

On the front of the NAS, the LED indicators for system status, drive health, and network activity are discreet but easy to read. However, one minor complaint is the absence of a front-facing USB port, which could have made external drive backups or peripheral connections more convenient.

TerraMaster F6-424 Max NAS Review – Ports and Connections

The F6-424 Max comes packed with a variety of ports that make it a versatile system for both high-speed networking and peripheral connections. The most significant feature is the dual 10GbE ports, which allow for link aggregation, effectively doubling your network bandwidth to 20Gbps when connected to a compatible switch. This level of networking is particularly useful for users handling large data transfers, 4K video editing, or multiple virtual machines.

In addition to the 10GbE ports, the NAS includes three USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports, two of which are Type-A and one Type-C. These ports provide data transfer speeds of up to 10Gbps, making them perfect for connecting external storage devices or peripherals like printers or USB drives. One of the notable improvements in this model is the inclusion of the USB Type-C port, which adds an extra layer of versatility for modern devices.

The HDMI 2.0 port supports 4K video output at 60Hz, which is ideal for users who wish to use the NAS for multimedia purposes or need a direct console for diagnostics and maintenance. However, it’s important to note that TerraMaster still hasn’t implemented a local GUI platform like QNAP’s HD Station or Asustor Portal, so the HDMI port is mostly useful for users running third-party operating systems like UnRAID or TrueNAS.

Overall, the port layout of the F6-424 Max is well-suited for high-performance environments but lacks some of the extra features—such as PCIe expansion or additional USB ports—that would make it even more versatile for advanced users.

TerraMaster F6-424 Max NAS Review – Internal Hardware and PCIe Lanes

Opening up the F6-424 Max reveals a well-organized internal layout with some serious hardware under the hood. One of the most impressive aspects of the design is the integration of PCIe Gen 4 lanes, which significantly boosts the performance potential of the system. The Intel i5-1235U processor comes equipped with 20 PCIe lanes, and TerraMaster has used these lanes effectively to ensure that the NAS delivers exceptional I/O performance.

The two M.2 NVMe slots are directly connected via PCIe Gen 4 x4, which means that each slot can support full Gen 4 speeds of up to 8GB/s per drive. This is a massive improvement over the previous Gen 3 models, which were limited to 4GB/s. These NVMe slots can be used for caching, allowing users to speed up read/write operations when using slower mechanical drives in the main six bays, or they can be used as standalone storage pools for data-intensive tasks.

However, TerraMaster could have taken the hardware to the next level by offering a PCIe expansion slot. Many competitors in this price range, such as QNAP and Asustor, include a PCIe slot for adding additional network cards, SSDs, or Thunderbolt expansion cards. While the F6-424 Max is already a strong performer, the lack of expansion options could be a limiting factor for users who require more versatility from their NAS.

In terms of power efficiency, the F6-424 Max is highly optimized for its hardware class. Under full load, it draws around 70W, which is impressive considering the performance it delivers. The passive cooling on the Intel i5 CPU, combined with the large rear fan, ensures that the system remains cool without excessive noise or power consumption.

TerraMaster F6-424 Max NAS Review – TOS Software

Review of the TOS 6 software (in Beta) HERE

With the release of TOS 6, TerraMaster has made great strides in enhancing the functionality and usability of its NAS systems. TOS 6 offers improved snapshot capabilities, better backup management, and enhanced support for cloud synchronization services like Google Drive, Dropbox, and Amazon S3. This means users can seamlessly synchronize their local NAS data with cloud storage, providing a layer of protection against data loss.

Another notable feature of TOS 6 is TRAID, TerraMaster’s flexible RAID configuration system, which allows users to combine disks of different sizes while still benefiting from redundancy. This is comparable to Synology’s Hybrid RAID (SHR), making it easier to expand storage in the future without being tied to identical drives. Additionally, TOS 6 supports AES 256-bit encryption, ensuring that sensitive data is protected both in transit and at rest.

However, while TOS 6 has seen significant improvements, it still lacks some of the advanced features found in Synology DSM or QNAP QTS. For example, TerraMaster’s photo management app (Terra Photos) is still in its beta phase and lacks the advanced AI-driven organization features of Synology Moments or QNAP QuMagie. Additionally, while Plex Media Server runs smoothly on the F6-424 Max, TerraMaster’s native multimedia tools are not as polished, making it less appealing for users who rely heavily on NAS-based multimedia management.

TerraMaster F6-424 Max NAS Review – Conclusion and Verdict

The TerraMaster F6-424 Max is a standout NAS system in TerraMaster’s lineup, offering impressive hardware specifications and solid performance at a price point of $999.99. For users who need high-speed data transfers, intensive compute power, and flexibility in storage configurations, the F6-424 Max is an excellent option. The combination of the Intel i5-1235U CPU, dual 10GbE ports, and PCIe Gen 4 NVMe support ensures that the NAS can handle even the most demanding tasks, whether it’s virtualization, media transcoding, or large-scale backups.

That said, when compared to the F4-424 Max, which is priced at $799.99, the Max model offers significantly more networking power and potential for speed. However, the Pro model still provides fantastic performance for most home and small office users, making it a more budget-friendly alternative for those who don’t require 10GbE or advanced NVMe functionality.

In terms of software, Synology DSM and QNAP QTS are still more evolved, offering richer multimedia experiences and better integration for business applications. However, TOS 6 continues to improve with every iteration, closing the gap between TerraMaster and these larger players. With new features like TRAID, cloud sync, and improved snapshot management, TOS is becoming more user-friendly and robust. For users prioritizing performance, flexibility, and future-proofing, the F6-424 Max is a strong contender and offers excellent value for money. While there are areas where TerraMaster could improve, such as the lack of PCIe expansion and front-facing USB ports, the F6-424 Max delivers on its promise of high performance and scalable storage solutions.

PROS	CONS
Powerful Hardware: Intel i5-1235U with 10 cores and 12 threads for resource-heavy tasks. Dual 10GbE Ports: High-speed networking capabilities with link aggregation for up to 20Gbps, ideal for large file transfers. PCIe Gen 4 NVMe Support: Two M.2 NVMe slots offering exceptional performance for caching or additional high-speed storage. Efficient Cooling: The large 120mm fan ensures quiet and effective cooling, making it suitable for home and office environments. Improved TOS 6 Software: Enhancements in GUI, backup tools, and overall security bring TOS closer to its competitors.	Higher Price Tag: At just under $1K, it’s more expensive than TerraMaster’s other models, which may deter budget-conscious buyers. No PCIe Expansion: Lack of a PCIe slot limits potential for future upgrades, such as adding 10GbE cards or more M.2 drives. Presentation: The software has improved a lot, but still feels inconsistent in places compared with alternatives from brands such as Synology and QNAP.

Click the link below to take you to your local Amazon store and where to buy the terramaster F6-424 Max NAS.

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Should You Buy the Asustor Lockerstor Gen 3 NAS Series?

UPDATE – The Lockerstor Gen 3 NAS Series is NOW AVAILABLE in a 4 Bay ($1299) and 6 Bay ($1499) configuration, with an 8-Bay and 10-Bay system coming later in 2024.

The Asustor Lockerstor Gen 3 NAS series, which includes models ranging from the 4-Bay AS6804T, 6-Bay AS6806T, 8-Bay AS6808T, to the 10-Bay AS68010T, is designed to offer impressive performance, flexibility, and scalability for both home and business users. It packs several advanced features, including dual 10GbE ports, dual 5GbE ports, and USB 4.0, making it an attractive choice for those who need a powerhouse NAS solution. With the AMD Ryzen V3000 embedded processor, ECC memory support, and up to four M.2 NVMe slots, this series promises to deliver robust performance for demanding tasks. However, with prices starting at $1,299 for the 4-bay model, some may find the cost a bit steep compared to previous iterations or other NAS competitors. In this review, we’ll discuss five pros and five cons of the Asustor Lockerstor Gen 3 series to help you decide if it’s the right NAS solution for you.

Reasons to Consider the Lockerstor Gen 3 Series

The Asustor Lockerstor Gen 3 series is packed with powerful features that make it a great option for those needing high-performance storage. Let’s dive into the top five reasons to consider this NAS.

1. High-Speed Network Connectivity

The Lockerstor Gen 3 series excels in providing excellent network bandwidth options, making it ideal for users with demanding network requirements. All models in this series come equipped with dual 10GbE and dual 5GbE network ports. The 10GbE ports offer 1GB per second of data transmission speed each, while the dual 5GbE ports offer around 500-550MB per second. This impressive configuration allows users to have multiple high-speed connections simultaneously, greatly enhancing performance for tasks like large data transfers and streaming.

The potential network throughput of up to 30Gbps makes this NAS series stand out from most competitors. Whether you’re setting up point-to-point connections with other devices, connecting through a managed switch, or utilizing SMB multichannel, the Lockerstor Gen 3 can handle heavy data loads effortlessly. This connectivity makes the series suitable for businesses and power users who need reliable, high-speed access to their data.

Furthermore, the inclusion of USB 4.0/Thunderbolt 4 adds another layer of flexibility. Users can connect directly to the NAS via Thunderbolt 4-enabled devices, taking advantage of up to 20Gbps per port. This allows for fast data transfers between the NAS and connected devices, bypassing traditional network bottlenecks. Video editors and professionals dealing with large file sizes will particularly appreciate the fast, point-to-point connections provided by the USB 4.0 ports.

2. Compact Design with Low Power Consumption

Despite its impressive hardware and performance capabilities, the Lockerstor Gen 3 series maintains a relatively compact footprint. This makes it ideal for home or small office environments where space may be limited, yet high-performance storage is essential. The chassis, which is built from metal with a plastic front, ensures durability while keeping the overall size manageable. Its design includes sufficient ventilation, allowing the system to remain cool even during heavy operation.

The power consumption of the Lockerstor Gen 3 series is another noteworthy feature. During testing, the NAS consumed between 30-50 watts depending on the level of utilization, which is impressive for a system that packs so much power. Even with 4 to 10 hard drives installed and multiple NVMe SSDs operating simultaneously, the power draw remained relatively low. This efficiency makes the series a cost-effective option for users looking for powerful hardware that doesn’t come with excessive energy costs.

Noise levels are also impressively low. The Lockerstor Gen 3 series is designed with a 120mm rear fan, copper heat pipes, and extensive internal ventilation, which help manage temperatures without producing excessive noise. Even during heavy workloads, the system remains quiet, making it suitable for environments where noise could be an issue. This balance of power, cooling, and quiet operation is one of the major advantages of the series.

3. Impressive Storage Options and Expansion

Storage scalability is another strong suit of the Lockerstor Gen 3 series. The NAS models come with 4, 6, 8, or 10 SATA bays, depending on the model, allowing for plenty of hard drive storage. Each bay can accommodate up to 24TB of storage, meaning even the smallest model, the 4-bay AS6804T, can hold up to 96TB of raw storage. For users needing more, the 10-bay AS68010T can store up to 240TB. This is ideal for data-heavy environments like video production, archival work, or large-scale backups.

The addition of four M.2 NVMe slots across the entire series further enhances the flexibility of the Lockerstor Gen 3 models. These slots can be used for SSD caching, RAID storage pools, or tiered storage solutions, providing users with faster data access.

The fact that these are Gen 4 NVMe slots also ensures high-speed performance, with each slot capable of up to 2GB per second throughput. Whether for fast-access storage or as a dedicated scratch disk for demanding applications, the inclusion of NVMe slots gives the series a significant advantage.

Users can configure their storage in various ways to meet specific needs, including combining HDDs for large-capacity storage while using NVMe SSDs for performance-intensive tasks. The ability to mix and match different storage types makes this NAS series particularly versatile for users with evolving storage requirements.

Additionally, with support for advanced RAID configurations, including RAID 0, 1, 5, 6, and 10, users have numerous options for optimizing performance and data redundancy.

4. Advanced ADM 5 Software Features

Asustor’s ADM 5 operating system plays a crucial role in making the Lockerstor Gen 3 series a competitive choice. ADM 5 is not just a basic NAS management interface; it offers a broad array of features tailored to both home users and enterprises. With support for a wide variety of network protocols, such as SMB, NFS, and iSCSI, it provides the flexibility required to integrate the NAS into various environments. Moreover, ADM 5 includes advanced tools for managing backups, virtual machines, and even Docker containers.

ADM 5 also introduces new features that make it easier to manage and secure data. For instance, the system offers extensive support for data backup, with the ability to sync files to cloud services like Dropbox, Google Drive, and Microsoft OneDrive. Local backups to other NAS units or external drives are also supported, ensuring that users can safeguard their data no matter what. Additionally, the system includes various security features like two-step authentication, port blocking, and IP blacklists, which are essential for protecting data in today’s increasingly connected world.

One area where ADM 5 shines is in its ability to run third-party applications, such as AI tools and multimedia apps, alongside the standard NAS functionality. Users can deploy virtual machines, run containerized applications, and manage multimedia libraries with ease. While some users may find the interface a bit overwhelming initially, the overall functionality is robust and meets the needs of power users and businesses alike. ADM 5 continues to improve with regular updates, adding more features and fine-tuning the user experience.

5. Powerful CPU and ECC Memory

At the core of the Lockerstor Gen 3 series is the AMD Ryzen V3C14 processor, a quad-core, eight-thread CPU based on AMD’s Rembrandt architecture. With a base clock of 2.3GHz and a turbo speed of up to 3.8GHz, this processor is designed to handle demanding tasks with ease. Whether running multiple virtual machines, performing large-scale data backups, or streaming media to several devices at once, the V3C14 can keep up with the workload without significant slowdowns. Its 20 PCIe Gen 4 lanes also ensure that data moves swiftly between the NAS’s various components.

One of the standout features of the Lockerstor Gen 3 series is its support for ECC memory. The system comes with 16GB of DDR5 ECC memory, which can be expanded up to 64GB. ECC (Error Correcting Code) memory provides an extra layer of data integrity by detecting and correcting memory errors that can occur during data transfer. This is particularly important for NAS devices that are expected to run continuously, as it helps prevent data corruption over time. The combination of ECC memory and the powerful Ryzen processor makes the Lockerstor Gen 3 series a reliable option for business-critical applications.

The memory and CPU combination ensures that the Lockerstor Gen 3 series can handle even the most resource-intensive tasks, including real-time data processing, virtualization, and large-scale data storage. The system’s design is optimized for high throughput, and the ECC memory further ensures data accuracy and consistency. Users who require high reliability, such as those in the creative industry or enterprise IT environments, will find that the Lockerstor Gen 3 series delivers the performance and stability they need.

Reasons to Be Cautious About the Lockerstor Gen 3 Series

While the Lockerstor Gen 3 series boasts many strengths, there are a few potential drawbacks to consider. Here are four aspects that might make you hesitate before purchasing this NAS.

1. High Price Point

One of the most significant factors to consider when evaluating the Lockerstor Gen 3 series is its price. With the 4-bay AS6804T starting at $1,299, this NAS series is notably more expensive than its predecessors or other competing models in the market. The 6-bay AS6806T is priced at $1,499, and the 8-bay and 10-bay models are expected to cost upwards of $1,699 and $1,899, respectively. For many users, especially those transitioning from the Gen 2 series, this price increase may come as a shock, making it harder to justify the upgrade.

It’s important to note that while the price is high, the hardware improvements over previous generations are substantial. The inclusion of dual 10GbE and dual 5GbE ports, USB 4.0, M.2 NVMe slots, and ECC memory support all contribute to the higher cost. However, for users who only require basic storage functionality or have lower network demands, the Lockerstor Gen 3’s price may be overkill. It’s essential to weigh the performance needs against the price before making a purchase.

Moreover, Asustor is still considered a smaller player in the NAS market compared to giants like Synology or QNAP. This may lead some users to hesitate when faced with a high price tag from a brand that does not yet have the same market dominance. While the Lockerstor Gen 3 series offers an impressive set of features, its premium price point may limit its appeal to a niche audience of power users and businesses with larger budgets.

2. Lack of Integrated Graphics

Another drawback of the Lockerstor Gen 3 series is the absence of integrated graphics. While the AMD Ryzen V3C14 processor is powerful, it lacks the integrated GPU that many users rely on for media transcoding or graphical workloads. This could be a significant limitation for users who use their NAS for streaming media via Plex or other similar applications, where on-the-fly video transcoding is required to adjust for different devices or network conditions.

Without integrated graphics, the Lockerstor Gen 3 series struggles to perform efficient real-time transcoding, especially for 4K or 8K media files. Users who plan to use their NAS for media streaming to various devices may find that the system becomes overworked when handling high-resolution media formats. This limitation makes the NAS less suitable for those who prioritize multimedia use, particularly if their library includes high-definition content that needs to be transcoded frequently.

For users who don’t need media transcoding or graphics processing, the absence of integrated graphics may not be a significant issue. However, for those looking to build a media server or run GPU-dependent applications, the lack of an iGPU could limit the system’s potential. It’s an important factor to consider, especially if you’re comparing the Lockerstor Gen 3 series to other NAS models that come with integrated graphics processors (IGP).

3. ADM Software Still Needs Refinement

Although Asustor’s ADM 5 software has made significant improvements over previous versions, it still has some rough edges that need polishing. One of the main complaints is that certain features and services are scattered across multiple apps, making it more difficult for users to find what they need. For example, backup and synchronization tools are split between different apps, creating confusion for users who may expect these functions to be consolidated in a single portal.

The overall user interface of ADM 5, while functional, can feel clunky, especially for newcomers to the NAS ecosystem. Some tasks, such as setting up backup routines or managing security protocols, require users to navigate through several different apps, which can be frustrating. Asustor could improve the user experience by centralizing these functions and streamlining the interface, similar to what competitors like Synology have done with their DiskStation Manager (DSM) software.

Despite these minor issues, ADM 5 is still a solid platform, particularly for users familiar with Asustor’s ecosystem. The software includes a wide range of features, such as support for AI-powered tools, cloud backups, and virtual machine deployment. However, for those new to Asustor or users expecting a more polished software experience, the learning curve may be steeper than with other NAS brands.

4. Limited Surveillance Features

The Surveillance Center app that comes bundled with the Lockerstor Gen 3 series is functional but somewhat lackluster compared to the offerings from other NAS brands. While it supports basic IP camera setups and can handle real-time streaming, it falls short in terms of advanced surveillance features. Competitors like Synology’s Surveillance Station or QNAP’s QVR Pro offer more robust options, such as advanced AI analytics, better camera compatibility, and a more user-friendly interface.

One of the issues with Asustor’s Surveillance Center is its dated interface, which feels out of sync with the more modern features available in ADM 5. The app supports a range of IP cameras and allows for KVM output, where users can attach a monitor for standalone operation. However, its overall performance and feature set don’t live up to the expectations set by its competitors. This may be disappointing for users who plan to use their NAS for surveillance in addition to regular storage tasks.

While Asustor does offer a beta version of an updated Surveillance Center app, it is not included with ADM 5 by default. The beta version brings improvements in browser support and a more responsive user interface, but it’s still in development and not officially part of the software package. As a result, users seeking a NAS primarily for surveillance purposes might want to consider alternative options from brands with stronger surveillance app ecosystems.

Lockerstor Gen 3 NAS Series. Are they Any Good? – Conclusion and Verdict

The Asustor Lockerstor Gen 3 series is undoubtedly one of the most feature-packed and powerful NAS systems available today. Its high-speed network connectivity, flexible storage options, and robust processing power make it an excellent choice for power users, businesses, and anyone needing high-performance data storage and management. The inclusion of ECC memory, multiple M.2 NVMe slots, and extensive ADM 5 software features further enhance its appeal, especially for those who require advanced data protection and cloud integration. However, the high price point and a few software shortcomings may be off-putting for some potential buyers. Additionally, the lack of integrated graphics could limit its appeal for multimedia-heavy tasks. That said, if you are looking for a versatile, future-proof NAS system with exceptional performance, the Lockerstor Gen 3 series is hard to beat.

SOFTWARE - 7/10

HARDWARE - 10/10

PERFORMANCE - 10/10

PRICE - 7/10

VALUE - 7/10

8.2

PROS

High-Performance CPU: Equipped with the AMD Ryzen V3000 Embedded processor, delivering efficient, server-grade performance for demanding tasks.
ECC DDR5 Memory: Includes 16GB of ECC DDR5 memory (expandable to 64GB), ensuring data integrity and reliability.
Comprehensive Connectivity: Dual 10GbE and dual 5GbE ports, along with two USB4 ports, provide a combined bandwidth of up to 30 Gbps for versatile network setups.
Advanced Data Protection: Offers RAID 5 and RAID 6 options for HDDs and NVMe drives, with hot-swappable capabilities and Btrfs support for snapshots.
USB4/Thunderbolt 4 Over IP: Supports direct connection to Mac and Windows systems via USB4 for fast data transfers and point-to-point editing.
Robust Build Quality: Sturdy metal chassis with minimal noise, even during heavy operations, and excellent heat dissipation with a copper heat pipe.
ADM 5 Software: Reliable, secure OS with essential features like snapshots, remote access, and simplified setup; supports third-party OS installations.
Efficient Power Consumption: Peaks at around 50W under heavy load, efficient for the system’s performance class.
Front LCD Display: The configurable LCD panel allows direct monitoring and setup, a handy feature for easy system management.
Excellent for Multi-User Environments: Multi-channel network support and high bandwidth make it ideal for collaborative, multi-client setups.

CONS

High Price Point: At around $1,299, it’s a premium option, potentially limiting appeal for home users and hobbyists.
No Integrated Graphics: Lacks GPU support, limiting multimedia transcoding and high-end streaming capabilities.
Software Limitations: ADM 5 is solid but doesn’t match the multimedia and AI features found in competitors like Synology and QNAP.
M.2 NVMe Slots Limited to PCIe x1: Each NVMe slot is limited to x1 speed, slightly capping potential performance for SSDs.

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