C’est un modèle de langage un peu mystérieux, accessible uniquement sur le site https://chat.lmsys.org, qui semble avoir des super pouvoirs dignes de ChatGPT. Mais attention, suspense… Personne ne sait d’où il sort !
Quand on lui pose la question, ce petit malin de GPT2-chatbot clame haut et fort qu’il est basé sur l’archi de GPT-4 sauf que voilà, ça colle pas vraiment avec son blaze GPT-2…
Du coup, les théories vont bon train. Certains pensent que c’est un coup fourré d’OpenAI, qui l’aurait lâché en mode ninja sur le site de LMSYS pour tester un nouveau modèle en douce, possiblement GPT-4.5 ou GPT-5. D’autres imaginent que c’est LMSYS qui a bidouillé son propre chatbot et qui lui a bourré le crâne avec des données de GPT-4 pour le rendre plus savant que Wikipédia.
Moi, je pencherais plutôt pour la première hypothèse. Pourquoi ? Et bien ce GPT2-chatbot partage des caractéristiques bien spécifiques avec les modèles d’OpenAI, comme l’utilisation du tokenizer maison « tiktoken » ou encore une sensibilité toute particulière aux prompts malicieux.
Au travers de mes propres tests réalisés hier soir, j’ai pu constater que les différences entre GPT2-chatbot et GPT-4 étaient assez subtiles. Les textes générés par GPT2-chatbot sont effectivement mieux construits et de meilleure qualité. Lorsque j’ai demandé à Claude (un autre assistant IA) de comparer des textes produits par les deux modèles, c’est systématiquement celui de GPT2-chatbot qui ressortait gagnant.
Ma théorie personnelle est donc qu’il s’agit bien d’une nouvelle version améliorée de ChatGPT mais je ne pense pas qu’on soit déjà sur du GPT-5. Plutôt du GPT-4.5 grand maximum car les progrès, bien réels, ne sont pas non plus renversants. C’est plus une évolution subtile qu’une révolution.
Les internautes ont aussi leurs hypothèses. Certains imaginent que GPT2-chatbot pourrait en fait être un petit modèle comme GPT-2 (d’où son nom) mais boosté avec des techniques avancées comme Q* ou des agents multiples pour atteindre le niveau de GPT-4. D’autres pensent qu’OpenAI teste en secret une nouvelle architecture ou un nouvel algorithme d’entraînement révolutionnaire permettant d’obtenir les performances de GPT-4 avec un modèle compact. Les plus optimistes voient même en GPT2-chatbot les prémices de l’AGI !
Prêt à tester les talents cachés de GPT2-chatbot ?
Alors direction https://chat.lmsys.org, sélectionnez « gpt2-chatbot », cliquez sur « Chat » et c’est parti mon kiki !
Vous avez droit à 8 messages gratos en mode « tchatche directe » et après, faut passer en mode « Battle » pour continuer à jouer. Un petit conseil : pensez à repartir d’une page blanche en cliquant sur « New Round » à chaque fois que vous changez de sujet, sinon il risque de perdre le fil.
On verra bien dans quelques semaines quelle théorie sortira gagnante de ces discussions.
De nouveaux ennuis arrivent pour OpenAI, la société derrière ChatGPT. L'activiste autrichien Max Schrems, très actif contre les géants du net dès qu'il est question de données personnelles, a lancé une procédure contre le créateur du célèbre chatbot.
UGREEN continues to push forward with its NASync series of NAS devices and although the range is pretty broad, the device in the lineup that business/professional users are looking at as an affordable alternative to Synology and QNAP is the big 8-Bay model – The UGREEN DXP8800 PLUS NAS. Pretty much the ‘top end’ model of the series, this is an 8 SATA and 2 Gen 4 M.2 NVMe SSD System, rolling out the gate with dual 10GbE connectivity, Thunderbolt 4 ports, a PCIe upgrade slot, an i5 10 Core Processor and up to 64GB of DDR5 memory. It’s ALOT. First arriving at $899 for early backers, now at $974, this system is a huge saving when compared with the $1899 Synology DS1823xs+ and $2000-3500 QNAP TVS-h874 series. But what is the catch? What compromises have UGREEN made? Ultimately, does the UGREEN DXP8800 PLUS NAS deserve your money and your data? Let’s discuss it in today’s review.
Other UGREEN NAS Reviews:
The DXP4800 PLUS 4-BAY NAS Review – VIDEO– WRITTEN
The DXP480T 4-BAY NVMe SSD NAS Review – VIDEO– WRITTEN
The DXP8800 PLUS 8-BAY 10GbE NAS Review – VIDEO– WRITTEN
Important– The UGREEN DXP8800 Plus NAS is still in the mid stages of crowdfunding. The unit provided for review by UGREEN might not represent the finished product if/when crowdfunding is concluded and eventual fulfillment begins. UGREEN is an already long-established and trusted brand, but nevertheless, it is important to keep in mind that this is still a product that is initially being made available via crowdfunding and therefore an element of additional care is always advised, compared with a comparable product purchased via traditional retail outlets.
UGREEN DXP8800 PLUS NASync Review – Quick Conclusion
Much like the rest of the NASync series, the UGREEN DXP8800 PLUS 8-Bay NAS is incredibly good value in terms of hardware and, if you are looking for the very best desktop NAS hardware for the price point available in the market – the DXP8800 PLUS is truly unbeatable in its specifications, build quality and overall physical presentation. Even going full ‘DiY’ and trying to build a system of this calibre yourself (case, cables, i5 embedded mobo, 2 port 10GbE card, 2 NVMe, 8 SATA, case, cooling, etc), you would struggle to beat the sub $999 of this system by a meaningful margin. Add to this the fact that UGREEN have now softened their stance on 3rd party NAS OS’ on their NAS devices having no aggressive impact on your 3-year hardware warranty has won a lot more users over, as the DXP8800 PLUS becomes the perfect TrueNAS or UnRAID NAS for users who don’t want the hassle of building from scratch, chasing multiple warranty’s and silicon paste under the fingernails! Genuinely, it is impossible to fault the DXP8800 PLUS on a hardware level (it’s not even that noisy, compared to other 8-Bay NAS in the market at least).
When it comes to software and performance, however, things are a little more complicated. The UGREEN NAS software (UGOS) is still very much in beta, and it feels likes it. The system (at time of writing) has still yet to complete initial crowdfunding and development of the software is still on-going (so we are still judging a software OS that hasn’t finished). But nevertheless, the absence of services such as 2 factor authentication, WORM, a comprehensive security monitor, volume encryption, a virtual machine hypervisor, broader 3rd party cloud sync and backup tools, etc – the absence of these (as well as inconsistencies in the software and performance, that arguably are possibly related to it’s beta status) lead to it being hard to recommend the DXP8800 PLUS on a software level. However, this system will not see physical fulfilment to backers till at least June/July at the very earliest, which is still a decent amount of time to polish the software and roll out beta’s of individual services that are promised on the UGREEN roadmap. Perhaps you are looking at the DXP8800 PLUS series for TrueNAS/UnRAID/OMV etc, or simply to set it up for local SMB storage for your backups and then use the docker app to run Plex. For those users, the DXP8800 is an absolute bargain. Just remember that we are still talking about Kickstarter and crowdfunding (still an odd move by such a big brand) and therefore this needs to be treated as such, not comparable to traditional retail! Overall, I am hugely impressed and look forward to seeing where this system, UGOS and UGREEN go in the exciting world of NAS in the next year or two. The DXP8800 PLUS is a BEAST of a NAS in terms of hardware, but the software is still WiP.
SOFTWARE - 6/10
HARDWARE - 10/10
PERFORMANCE - 7/10
PRICE - 10/10
VALUE - 9/10
8.4
PROS
PCIe Expandability 8 HDDs + 2x Gen 4 M.2 in 1 box under $999 Good Balanced CPU choice 10GbE Dual Ports! An SD Card Slot (wierdly rare!) 10/10 Build Quality Great Scalability Fantastic Mobile Application (even vs Synology and QNAP etc) Desktop/Browser GUI shows promise Established Brand entering the NAS Market Not too noisy (comparatively) Very Appealing retail package+accessories
CONS
10GbE Performance was less than expected Crowdfunding choice is confusing Software (still in Beta) is still far from ready 18/4/24
UGREEN DXP8800 PLUS NASync Review – Presentation
You really do have to hand it to UGREEN. The presentation of the DXP8800 Plus is genuinely top-tier. This brand’s experience in computer accessories has clearly influenced the presentation of their NAS system, opting for glossy retail packaging that boldly showcases the system’s capabilities over a standard dull brown box.
Inside the shiny box is a well-organized shipping container, with the system secured by rigid foam and an accessory kit containing everything needed to get started. As previously mentioned, retail packaging and device protection during transit are often overlooked by brands, risking damage. Despite being largely unpopulated, except for an internal 2280 SSD for the OS, minimizing the risk of damage, the extra effort on protection is appreciated.
The DXP8800 Plus includes nearly everything needed for setup, aside from hard drives. Given the early stage of the system’s crowdfunding campaign, additional storage options may later become available.
The included kit, while basic, ensures users new to hosting their own servers have everything required.
It’s the attention to detail that impresses – from M.2 NVMe heat pads of notable quality and thickness for thermal dissipation, to the included Cat 7 network cables with high-quality gold/copper ends, differentiating them from standard cables.
Even the instruction manual, a rarity as most NAS brands now direct users online, stands out with its glossy presentation and offers more than basic setup guidance.
One thing I wanted to note (especially after reviewing the DXP4800 PLUS and DXP480T NAS systems previously) is that the DXP880 8-Bay NAS arrives with 3 years of warranty, when the bulk other devices in the series arrive with 2-Years. It’s a small but significant difference, as most users who are looking at 8-Bays of storage tend to be doing so for business-related use – so that extra year will certainly be noted and appreciated!
However, the choice of a 3rd party CWT internal power supply (PSU), though expected at this scale, given UGREEN’s reputation for high-quality power adapters and cables. While not a deal-breaker, it’s curious to see a non-UGREEN PSU used, especially when the DXP480t model reviewed elsewhere came with a branded UGREEN PSU. This inconsistency in their approach to PSUs is puzzling.
Overall, the presentation of the DXP8800 Plus from UGREEN, a newcomer to the NAS market intending to launch via Kickstarter, is exceptionally well done. Despite some accessory quality inconsistencies, the overall package is commendable for a pre-release sample. Now, let’s proceed to discuss the system’s design.
UGREEN DXP8800 PLUS NASync Review – Design
At first glance, the DXP 8800 Plus appears to be a fairly standard 8 NAS enclosure, and you might be forgiven for thinking it’s just reiterating the typical case design prevalent among numerous companies. However, there’s more to its design and efficiency than meets the eye. For starters, the external enclosure is entirely metal, enhancing heat dissipation directly from the base panel housing the M.2 modules. Additionally, UGREEN has infused the design with their unique stylistic choices, evident in the presentation of individual bays and the arrangement and accessibility of various ports and connections.
The inclusion of small design flourishes, like the rear removable mesh metallic fan panel that magnetically attaches to the casing, is particularly appreciated. While such a feature is familiar to prosumer PC cases, it’s surprisingly rare in NAS designs – puzzling, given NAS systems’ continuous operation and higher likelihood of accumulating dust and debris. Despite being a relatively minor detail, this fan cover’s presence in UGREEN’s first product impresses me aesthetically and functionally.
The internal fans are two low noise standard 92mm PC fans, that can be fully controlled in their RPM by the system software manually, or left to automatically adapt to the system’s needs.
Handling individual storage bays, however, presents a mixed reaction. The bold numeric design distinguishes it aesthetically from other NAS brands that often opt for bland, nondescript bays. The tool-less, click-and-load trays that forego the need for a screwdriver for drive installation and the inclusion of individual locking mechanisms (with keys) are commendable features.
Yet, these trays feel somewhat flimsy compared to the more robust trays found in desktop solutions from Synology and QNAP. While they secure the hard drives and align with the internal enclosure runners, the internal locking mechanism doesn’t inspire confidence in its security. The trays’ perceived cheap production quality slightly detracts from the overall positive aesthetic. Despite this, the system supports the latest 22TB hard drives (testing of 24TB Seagate Ironwolf Pro HDDs in progress), which means daily interaction with these trays will be minimal.
The main storage area features a pre-constructed PCB with eight integrated SATA and power connectors. The system documentation indicates that SAS drives are unsupported, a non-issue for this system’s scale and price point.
Upon removing the base’s metallic panel, the two M.2 NVMe SSD bays and upgradable DDR5 SODIMM ports are revealed. Space constraints make heat sink installation challenging, but UGREEN has anticipated this with the inclusion of thick heat pads in the accessory kit, facilitating heat dissipation through the external casing.
UGREEN’s entry into 24/7 service storage with the DXP 8800 Plus is noteworthy, especially for a brand new to this sector. Their effort to differentiate through design and functionality is largely successful, although the storage trays’ quality could be improved. Overall, the system’s design is a strong point, and I look forward to discussing ports and connectivity next.
UGREEN DXP8800 PLUS NASync Review – Power Consumption
The DXP8800 PLUS is a beefy system and although I was expecting the system to be a little greedy on the power consumption anyway, it was still arguably a pinch higher than I expected. Initially, UGREEN stated that the power consumption of the 2 and 4 bay systems would be (for general system load):
Now, let’s put those numbers into perspective. Below is the power consumption of the DXP8800 PLUS NAS, populated with 4x Toshiba MG 8TB Enterprise HDDs, 4x Kingston DC600M SATA 480GB SSDs and 2x Kingston KC3000 NVMes, in both Idle and Active:
Based on the figures that UGREEN provided for the DXP4800 PLUS, the DXP8800PLUS was using twice the power. On the face of it, this seems reasonable (the latter system IS twice the scale in almost every way – also using a 10 Core i5 vs a 5 Core Pentium). Nevertheless, this is quite a hungry system and users looking at an 8-Bay 10G system like this, when moving away from more modest 2/4-Bay systems should be aware!
REALLY surprised at the noise level. Given the largely metal construction of the system, I expected it to hit the early 40’s in dBa, at the very least. But it was surprisingly low ambient volume (relative to other 8-Bay NAS of course). Then there is the fact that I used a combination of smaller 8TB HDDs and SSDs, which did reduce noise levels somewhat. If I had been using more aggressive 12-14TB HDDs, then the operational noise of these more industrial built drives would have been much different – but then we would be measuring HDD noise and not system noise.
UGREEN DXP8800 PLUS NASync Review – Ports and Connections
One of the earliest things to notice about the connectivity on offer on the DXP 8800 Plus NAS is that this system brings back support for SD cards. This may seem almost insane to the average photo and video editor, but SD card readers on NAS devices have been largely absent for almost a decade, despite enormous protestations from photo and video editors for years.
Therefore, it’s kind of impressive that UGREEN has opted to provide an SD card slot and a front-mounted USB Type-A 10Gbs connection, AND 2x Thunderbolt 4 USB-C conenctions on the DXP8800 Plus when practically every other brand in the NAS industry does not. It’s going to be a tremendously convenient feature for those wanting to ingest media directly into the system via numerous storage methods and camera systems, making it that much more convenient than many others in the market.
The front-mounted Thunderbolt 4 USB-C ports can only be used with the UGREEN DXP8800 PLUS as the ‘host’ and connected devices as ‘clients’. In ‘normal speak’, that means that these ports can only be used for accessories (storage etc) that are managed by the NAS. That means that currently you cannot use the Thunderbolt 3/4 USB-C port on your PC or Mac to connect with the NAS for a ‘Thunderbolt NAS’ connection, much as you would find from several QNAP Thunderbolt NAS (Guide on this HERE) devices.
Flipping the device around, we see that the system has even more USB ports that can be utilized by the system in a host-client relationship. That means that the UGREEN NAS system will act as the host device for connected storage drives and supported peripherals. Unfortunately, this does mean that you cannot directly connect to this device using those USB ports, and the USB 2.0 connections are pretty much exclusively designed for connecting printers and office peripherals, uninterruptible power supplies, or keyboard/mouse in KVM setups alongside the visual output.
The visual output of this system is a 4K 60 frames per second HDMI 2.0 connection (8K output is possible if you scale the memory up). The software for the UGREEN NAS system is still in beta, and currently, the HDMI output is limited to command line access.
Currently, there is no graphical user interface afforded to the HDMI output, such as you would find on a QNAP or Asustor NAS system, but as this is a relatively niche feature for many, I’m not going to give them too much of a hard time over this.
Although the lack of the Thunderbolt direct connectivity will be a blow for some, the majority of users will be much ,much more impressed with the network connectivity of the DXP8800 PLUS. The system arrives with two 10GbE network ports (which is exceptional at the under $999 price tag, at least during crowdfunding).
Just to put this into perspective, the Synology DS1823xs+ is an 8 Bay NAS that has 1x 10GbE connection (and 2x 1GbE) with a 4 Core / 8 Thread AMD Emb.CPU and arrives at $1800 without TAX. Likewise, the QNAP TVS-h874T4 arrives with several versions with 10GbE and/or Thunderbolt 4 connectivity (with Intel i3/i5/i7/i9 CPUs) and that system starts at around $1999 and can reach as high as $3999). We need to factor in that the DXP8800 Plus is a crowdfunding product (so therefore hardly comparable to traditional retail as a regular over the counter purchase), but whether you purchase it at the $974 crowdfunding or intended $1499 RRP (Realistically, I imagine it will sit at around $1299-1399 at full retail) – this is a HUGE saving on hardware and for a 10GbE ready system, exceedingly hard to beat. Remember though, HAVING 2x 10GbE is not the same as being able to fully USE 20GbE – that depends on so many factors (Shared internal PCI lanes and PCIe switches, SATA and NVMe controllers internally, as well as the actual media you choose to use to try and saturate the connection.
Nevertheless, this DXP8800 PLUS arriving with the two 10GBASE-T (Copper) connections with Aquantia controllers internally to manage it, is very appealing. But it does not stop there. The DXP8800 PLUS is one of a small % of the NASYnc series to feature a PCIe upgrade slot too. It’s a half-height slot and x4 speed (so largely going to be used for NIC upgrades), but nevertheless worked a treat.
Overall, in terms of ports and connectivity, I’m really happy with everything I found on the DXP8800 Plus, and the increased scalability in terms of improving upon the network connectivity down the line, as well as the price point of the base level of network connectivity, combined with a decent degree of functionality and modern storage expandability to boot. The lack of Thunderbolt direct connectivity is a shame, but this is already something of a rarity in the market anyway (QNAP dominate this and despite the likes of QSAN and Promise trying to emulate this previously, they have hit walls) and UGREEN do state they are investigating this at development. Overall, I am really happy with the hardware thus far. Let’s dig a little deeper.
UGREEN DXP8800 PLUS NASync Review – Internal Hardware
As mentioned earlier, it’s surprisingly confident of UGREEN to launch so many different NAS devices simultaneously for their first foray into network-attached storage. Not only have they provided several different storage scales and architectures, but they are also supporting three different internal hardware CPUs in terms of CPU. The scale in terms of price and capabilities of each system varies.
The DXP8800 Plus arrived with an Intel i5 10-core processor (2p + 8e), integrated graphics, 20 PCIe lanes, and a maximum 55W TDP. Despite its compact SOC form, this 12th generation Intel i5 processor offers substantial power, benchmarking well against the N100 and Pentium 8505 models in other UGreen NAS models. Testing this processor, especially in this early crowdfunding prototype, presents challenges. Though UGREEN have softened their position on 3rd party OS support (and it’s impact on your hardware warranty if you pursue this), it is still not the intended USE CASE of what UGREEN state this system is to be deployed in (to verify their claims on it’s performance). See video below for more information on this:
Consequently, we’re limited in our ability to benchmark using third-party OSs or reference previous benchmarks for similar architectures. The UGreen NAS’s operating system, still in beta, requires further optimization to fully showcase what the hardware can achieve.
This processor is well-equipped with sufficient PCIe lanes to manage the 8 SATA drives and 2x M.2 NVMe SSDs, offering respectable speeds through SSH (at least on slot #1 – more on that later). The main concern with this processor selection is the lack of ECC memory support, crucial for high-speed flash systems to minimize bit errors during intensive operations.
Although SOC processors that support ECC are rare, especially from Intel, using one for this system and potentially for the DXP8800 Plus could significantly impact the price and development timeline. Nevertheless, this CPU is arguably the best choice for such a compact system in 2024, balancing power efficiency, heat management, and performance capabilities.
Arriving with integrated graphics, supporting up to 64 gigabytes of memory (arriving with 8GB of DDR5 SODIMM and two slots), there is a lot to like here. It is especially surprising when you realize that the brand already provides closely priced N100 and Pentium models next to this device in UGREEN’s NAS portfolio. This processor performs exceedingly well with Plex Media Server and, thanks to those 20 lanes, also means there’s a decent spread of available hardware architecture across the whole device.
But do keep in mind that this system does not support ECC memory. Indeed, none of the UGREEN systems support ECC memory, and although they make a point of highlighting the on-die checks associated with DDR5, most experienced storage enthusiasts tend to prefer traditional ECC memory support. Nevertheless, 8GB is a good amount of memory to start with, and it’s great to know that you are not locked in with presoldered and fixed memory on the board, which is a move often used by more economical brands to save some money and dedicate lanes more efficiently. The layout of the internal architecture is still yet to be confirmed at the time of writing this review, but digging a little into the backend via SSH revealed that each of the M.2 NVMe slots on the base of this system are Gen 4 x 4.
However, further digging into the 2nd M.2 slot showed that it has been downgraded the 8GT/s x2 :
Not entirely sure what to make of this, as this IS a prototype review unit. But it does seemingly though a little initial shade on the whole ‘two Gen 4×4 slots’. I will need to investigate this further with the brand and when I get a further update on this, I will let you know by updating the article here. Meanwhile, the OS SSD bay that hosts the UGOS NAS software arrives on that Phison E13 Gen 3 SSD, that is downgraded the Gen 3×1 (SO, SUB 1,000MB/s performance – which is fine for the Operating System SSD, but does mean that data passing through it (or at least managed to a large degree) might be potentially bottlenecked.
So, how this all separates out on the system chipset and whether these are being delivered into PCIe switches to spread the architecture out for the rest of the system storage, double network connectivity, and dedicating lanes to all those available connections, is definitely an area that leaves pause for thought.
(image below from other UGREEN NAS Systems)
Which I had difficulty identifying, but I suspect is a Marvell AQtion Aquantia AQC113/AQC114/AQC114CS/AQC115Cs, comprising (from official pages) a high-performance,Scalable mGig, Ethernet MAC+PHY Controllers designed to support the following network rates: 10GBASE-T/5GBASET/ 2.5GBASE-T/1000BASET/100BASE-TX/10BASE-Te. When equipped with a PCI Express Gen 4 x4, this family of Scalable mGig Ethernet MAC+PHY Controllers easily handle the 10 GbE line-rate performance. The AQC113, AQC114, AQC114CS, AQC115C device family combines a mGig Ethernet MAC Controller with a full-reach, low-power, highperformance, multi-gigabit, single-port Gen 4 Ethernet Alaska PHY transceiver into a single, monolithic device that is designed using the latest 14nm, multi-gate, FinFET process technology.
(image below from other UGREEN NAS Systems)
The USB controller/manager appears to be an ASM1543, (from the ASmedia pages) a one Four to two differential channels mux switch with integrated Type-C Configuration Channel Logic Circuitry, using for USB3.1 type-C mux and CC detection application. The signal performance of mux switch is up to 10Gbps SuperSpeedPlus USB bus with low insertion loss and return loss, and it also supports USB plug orientation, configurable as DFP role or UFP role through the setting of strapping pins, and implementing the strapping for the setting/detection of Type-C current mode, following USB3.1 Revision 1.0 and USB Type-C Connector and Cable Revision 1.3 standard specification.
(image below from other UGREEN NAS Systems)
Next, we find a Richtek RT3624BE, (from the manf pages) a synchronous buck controller which supports 2 output rails and can fully meet Intel IMVP9.1 requirements. The RT3624BE adopts G-NAVPTM (Green Native AVP) which is Richtek’s proprietary topology derived from finite DC gain of EA amplifier with current mode control, making it easy to set the droop to meet all Intel CPU requirements of AVP (Adaptive Voltage Positioning). Based on the G-NAVPTM topology, the RT3624BE features a new generation of quick response mechanism (Adaptive Quick Response, AQR) to optimize AVP performance during load transient and reduce output capacitors. The RT3624BE integrates a high accuracy ADC for platform and function settings, such as ICCMAX, switching frequency, over-current threshold or AQR trigger level.
(image below from other UGREEN NAS Systems)
In terms of the SATA storage management, I found a ASMedia ASM116 SATA host controller(AHCI). (TBC) Which is upstream PCIe Gen3 x2 and downstream eight SATA Gen3 ports. It’s a low latency, low cost and low power AHCI controller. With four SATA ports and cascaded port multipliers, ASM1164 can enable users to build up various high speed IO systems, including server, high capacity system storage or surveillance platforms.
(image below from other UGREEN NAS Systems)
Earlier in March when I was testing the (late alpha, early Beta) version of the NAS software, system and services, the performance numbers I got were not hugely encouraging internally. However, there have been numerous improvements on the system software and I am pleased to confirm that the M.2 NVMe slot 1 was indeed 4×4 bandwidth and that some brief 1GB transfer/creation testing showed some early 5.5GB/s benchmarks on the Gen 4×4 SSD I has inside the system.
Now we cannot rule out the impact of caching internally and these tests are NOT reflective of everyday (i.e non synthetic) use, but it was definitely an encouraging sign. However, when I tried to repeatedly move 1GB of data between each of the NM,2 NVMe, the performance would drop down to 1.1-1.5Gb/s, which further suggested some lane sharing and a possible bottleneck by a controller and/or that downgrade perhaps. Again, this is a beta software/system and UGREEN repeated that this system is still undergoing optimization.
External performance over 10GbE was also an area that I really, REALLY hope this is sees significant optimization. I was hitting a bottleneck of around 650-700MB/s on upload and download (on a 10Gbe / 1,000MB/s connection). The performance numbers below were over 10GbE (with the MTU set at 1500 – As the software is currently not allowing me to scale it to 9000 MTU/Jumbo frames). Below is the tests for 4x 8TB Toshiba HDDs in RAID 5, 4x Kingston DC600M SATA SSDs in RAID 0 and 1x Kingston KC3000 Gen4 NVMe SSD.I then went ahead and conducted a windows 10GbE transfer to the RAID 5 array:
Further testing confirmed performance dips when transferring data between SSDs, indicating a shared pathway. Despite this being a pre-release sample, and acknowledging potential future optimizations, the observed SSD performance, though still faster than many market alternatives, fell comparatively short of expectations given the hardware capabilities (though still higher than the majority of M.2 SSD performance offered by other brands providing HDD SATA + M.2 solutions right now).
The UGREEN NAS’s software, still in beta, promises further insights into the brand’s direction with their NAS solution and its accompanying software and services, warranting a closer examination as development progresses.
UGREEN DXP8800 PLUS NASync Review – Software
At the time of writing, the UGREEN NAS software is still in beta, with the mobile application is live now. Reviewing the software included with the DXP8800 Plus—as a final product—feels somewhat premature. The NASsync software beta reveals many baseline functions and long-term plans, detailed in the video below in our initial overview and first impressions of the UGREEN NAS software:
it’s on track to become a smooth and user-friendly experience, comparable to giants like Synology and QNAP, especially in terms of the web browser experience. Unlike opting for the complexity of TrueNAS or the streamlined, container-focused UI of UnRAID, the UGREEN NAS software is more akin to Synology DSM. The foundation is clearly laid out for expansion in terms of features and tools for the user’s disposal. However, there are notable absences of baseline applications such as container or virtual machine support, and a multi-tiered backup solution within the web GUI (though the UGREEN NAS mobile and desktop clients are in development, expected to preview in March). Basic services for file management, shares, user account control, and an app center—soon to be linked to a repository—are all user-friendly but present some inconsistencies, likely due to its beta status and ongoing development. The physical product may be closer to final development, but the software needs more time for optimization. SMB services were less consistent than desired, and settings changes sometimes didn’t save or recall correctly. This is common for beta software finding its footing, yet it’s important to note that the hardware feels more refined than the software at this stage, months before user delivery. In brief:
What I liked:
Intuitive UI with services located logically and responsive controls.
The mobile application for iOS and Android is one of the best I have ever used in NAS!
Baseline services such as network interface management, user account control, firewall handling, and SSH interface control are all present.
A clearly defined app center awaiting connection to an online repository.
Helpful tips and guidance are available on most pages, aiding new users.
Support for modern services like SMB3 multi-channel and domain services in the beta.
Clear account and resource management accessible from the desktop, likely appealing to most users.
The inclusion of a remote access relay service and UGREEN account creation from day one, simplifying remote access for new users with built-in firewall and domain tools.
UPDATE 5/4/24 – The HDMI output is now full controllable via the mobile application and is intiuative
UPDATE 5/4/24 – A Docker application has now been added with access to numerous repository options!
UPDATE 5/4/24 – SSH is now disabled by default
What I disliked:
Absence of two-factor authentication in the software.
Lack of virtualization applications at this stage.
Sporadic SMB performance.
The Security Advisor tool is only suitable for Antivirus and Anti-Maleware protection, not to scan the system for security weaknesses and advisory actions
The HDMI output cannot be used by the desktop/browser user to the same extent as the mobile application + cannot be used by container tools (Plex, Home Automation, etc)
In-progress language integration, leading to occasional default displays in Chinese or error messages in Chinese despite English settings.
Improvements needed:
Expansion of app integration and desktop client tools for easier system-client bridging.
Introduction of a default application for device discovery on the local network, a basic service offered by many NAS brands.
More information on UGREEN account and remote access security.
Acknowledging this is a beta, it’s fair to reserve full judgment until the software fully rolls out. As it stands, this beta is promising yet lacks some established NAS software fundamentals. Hopefully, we’ll see significant advancements as the release approaches.
UGREEN DXP8800 Plus NAS Storage Review – Verdict and Conclusion
Much like the rest of the NASync series, the UGREEN DXP8800 PLUS 8-Bay NAS is incredibly good value in terms of hardware and, if you are looking for the very best desktop NAS hardware for the price point available in the market – the DXP8800 PLUS is truly unbeatable in its specifications, build quality and overall physical presentation. Even going full ‘DiY’ and trying to build a system of this calibre yourself (case, cables, i5 embedded mobo, 2 port 10GbE card, 2 NVMe, 8 SATA, case, cooling, etc), you would struggle to beat the sub $999 of this system by a meaningful margin. Add to this the fact that UGREEN have now softened their stance on 3rd party NAS OS’ on their NAS devices having no aggressive impact on your 3-year hardware warranty has won a lot more users over, as the DXP8800 PLUS becomes the perfect TrueNAS or UnRAID NAS for users who don’t want the hassle of building from scratch, chasing multiple warranty’s and silicon paste under the fingernails! Genuinely, it is impossible to fault the DXP8800 PLUS on a hardware level (it’s not even that noisy, compared to other 8-Bay NAS in the market at least).
When it comes to software and performance, however, things are a little more complicated. The UGREEN NAS software (UGOS) is still very much in beta, and it feels likes it. The system (at time of writing) has still yet to complete initial crowdfunding and development of the software is still on-going (so we are still judging a software OS that hasn’t finished). But nevertheless, the absence of services such as 2 factor authentication, WORM, a comprehensive security monitor, volume encryption, a virtual machine hypervisor, broader 3rd party cloud sync and backup tools, etc – the absence of these (as well as inconsistencies in the software and performance, that arguably are possibly related to it’s beta status) lead to it being hard to recommend the DXP8800 PLUS on a software level. However, this system will not see physical fulfilment to backers till at least June/July at the very earliest, which is still a decent amount of time to polish the software and roll out beta’s of individual services that are promised on the UGREEN roadmap. Perhaps you are looking at the DXP8800 PLUS series for TrueNAS/UnRAID/OMV etc, or simply to set it up for local SMB storage for your backups and then use the docker app to run Plex. For those users, the DXP8800 is an absolute bargain. Just remember that we are still talking about Kickstarter and crowdfunding (still an odd move by such a big brand) and therefore this needs to be treated as such, not comparable to traditional retail! Overall, I am hugely impressed and look forward to seeing where this system, UGOS and UGREEN go in the exciting world of NAS in the next year or two. The DXP8800 PLUS is a BEAST of a NAS in terms of hardware, but the software is still WiP.
PROS of the UGREEN DXP8800 PLUS NAS
CONS of the UGREEN DXP8800 PLUS NAS
PCIe Expandability 8 HDDs + 2x Gen 4 M.2 in 1 box under $999 Good Balanced CPU choice 10GbE Dual Ports! An SD Card Slot (wierdly rare!) 10/10 Build Quality Great Scalability Fantastic Mobile Application (even vs Synology and QNAP etc) Desktop/Browser GUI shows promise Established Brand entering the NAS Market Not too noisy (comparatively) Very Appealing retail package+accessories
10GbE Performance was less than expected Crowdfunding choice is confusing Software (still in Beta) is still far from ready 18/4/24
Click the Link Below to find out more about the UGREEN NASync NAS Series on the brand’s official Site:
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Après son lancement en français le mois dernier, Scamio, ce puissant chatbot de détection des arnaques piloté par l’IA signé Bitdefender, est désormais disponible sur WhatsApp et peut aider les consommateurs et les professionnels dans leurs usages numériques quotidiens. Communiqué – En un seul clic (cf visuel ci-dessous), ce chatbot aide les consommateurs à vérifier […]
Les agences fédérales américaines ont dévoilé une enquête sur l'Autopilot de Tesla, dans laquelle elles affirment que le programme d'assistance à la conduite du groupe d'Elon Musk, donne un faux sentiment de sécurité au conducteur.
« La France est le premier pays européen à inaugurer une IA 100 % souveraine et à la mettre au service de nos services publics », a fait savoir le Premier ministre Gabriel Attal le 23 avril. Cette IA, c'est Albert, un chatbot pour appuyer l'administration.
Une entreprise américaine commercialise un robot-chien d'un genre un peu particulier : il est équipé d'un lance-flammes sur le dos. La société met en avant plusieurs usages pacifiques, mais le nom de la machine transpire l'hostilité : Thermonator.
Tesla est prêt à partager sous licence sa conduite autonome (FSD) à ses concurrents. Un premier constructeur serait déjà en train de négocier avec Tesla.
Mercedes secoue le monde automobile avec le lancement de Drive Pilot aux États-Unis, le premier système de conduite autonome de niveau 3 commercialisé directement auprès des consommateurs. Ça y est les amis, le futur nous rattrape ! Bientôt, on pourra enfin lâcher le volant et vaquer à d’autres occupations pendant les longs trajets…
Concrètement, dans certaines conditions bien spécifiques, Drive Pilot permet au conducteur de détourner son attention de la route pour se concentrer sur des activités non liées à la conduite, comme consulter ses mails, surfer sur internet ou regarder un film. Mais attention, il faudra toujours rester prêt à reprendre le contrôle du véhicule à tout moment si nécessaire. J’imagine qu’en cas de problème, la voiture saura vous tirer de votre session de TikTok avec des bip bip.
Pour cela, Drive Pilot s’appuie sur une multitude de capteurs ultra-perfectionnés : caméras, radars, LiDAR, capteurs à ultrasons… Un véritable concentré de technologies de pointe pour analyser l’environnement en temps réel. Un puissant ordinateur de bord exploite ensuite toutes ces données pour prendre les meilleures décisions de conduite de manière autonome.
Il y a cependant quelques conditions à respecter pour pouvoir activer Drive Pilot : Le système ne peut être utilisé que sur certaines portions d’autoroutes spécifiques, avec un marquage au sol suffisamment clair et visible, une densité de trafic modérée à élevée et une vitesse limitée à 60 km/h. Ça fait beaucoup de conditions à la con quand même.
Le conducteur doit aussi rester visible par la caméra située au-dessus de l’écran conducteur. On est donc encore loin d’une conduite 100% autonome en toutes circonstances, mais c’est un premier pas très prometteur ! Pour l’instant, seuls les propriétaires des dernières Mercedes Classe S et EQS pourront profiter de Drive Pilot, moyennant un abonnement annuel à 2500$ (lol). Bref, c’est une technologie encore réservée à une élite friquée, mais on peut espérer que Mercedes la démocratisera rapidement sur des modèles plus abordables.
Malgré ses limitations actuelles, Drive Pilot représente une avancée majeure vers une conduite plus sûre, plus confortable et plus… productive. Fini le stress des embouteillages, ce temps pourra être mis à profit pour avancer sur son travail, discuter avec ses proches ou se détendre devant un bon film. Tout ça pendant que l’IA gère la conduite de manière sereine et vigilante.
Bien sûr, de nombreux défis restent encore à relever avant de voir des voitures 100% autonomes partout sur nos routes. Les questions de responsabilité juridique en cas d’accident, de sécurité face au piratage ou encore d’éthique et de contrôle humain sont complexes. Et il faudra aussi s’assurer de la fiabilité totale du système pour éviter tout bug ou panne aux conséquences potentiellement dramatiques.
Mais une chose est sûre, la conduite autonome sera l’un des enjeux majeurs de la mobilité du futur. Avec des acteurs de poids comme Comma, Mercedes, Tesla ou Waymo qui investissent massivement sur le sujet, on peut s’attendre à des progrès rapides et à une démocratisation progressive de cette technologie dans les années à venir.
Une Tesla cache de nombreux secrets, pour la plupart inaccessibles au grand public. Un mode spécifique pour diagnostiquer certains problèmes, ou simplement en apprendre plus sur sa voiture, est tout de même disponible sans effort.
Imaginez le bazar si quelqu’un ajoutait par erreur tous les Jean-Michel de votre entreprise dans une conversation de groupe ! C’est un peu ce qui est arrivé chez Microsoft cette semaine. De nombreux employés prénommés Mike ou Michael ont eu la surprise de se retrouver sans le vouloir dans une boucle d’échanges par mail.
Michael Schechter, le VP de Bing, raconte s’être réveillé avec une quantité inhabituelle d’emails non lus. Sur le coup, il a cru à un gros plantage en prod pendant la nuit, mais non, en fait c’est juste une personne qui s’est amusée à créer un groupe avec beaucoup de gens qui s’appellent Mike ou Michael chez Microsoft. Et pas de bol pour eux, ils sont nombreux !
Face à cette situation ubuesque, Michael a eu le réflexe de demander à Copilot (l’assistant d’IA de krosoft) de résumer le fil de discussion et croyez-moi, ça vaut son pesant de cacahuètes ! D’après Copilot, les participants ont commencé par demander des explications sur le but de ce groupe, tout en notant avec amusement qu’ils avaient le même prénom. Évidemment, ça n’a pas manqué de partir en vrille et chacun y est allé de sa petite blague, de jeux de mots rigolos comme renommer le groupe en « Mikerosoft« . Certains se sont même demandé avec humour si ce n’était pas un piège pour les virer !
Le plus drôle dans l’histoire, c’est que malgré les nombreux messages, personne n’a compris qui avait créé ce groupe ni pourquoi. Un beau mystère ! En attendant, les participants en ont profité pour faire connaissance. Si ça se trouve, il y en a même qui en ont profité pour corriger des bugs… roooh.
Ça rappelle quand même qu’il faut toujours faire attention avec les emails de groupe ou les mises en copie. Une erreur est vite arrivée et on a vite fait d’envoyer des conneries et de les regretter après ! Une histoire similaire a d’ailleurs eu lieu dans les années 90 selon Eric Lippert. Un type voulait contacter « Mike de Microsoft » qu’il avait rencontré à une conf sauf qu’il a réussi à chopper les adresses des 600 Mike de la boîte. La presse avait titré à l’époque « Heureusement qu’ils ne cherchaient pas Bill » !
L’histoire ne dit pas s’il vont s’organiser un barbecue ou séminaire entre Mike, mais je troue que « Mikerosoft », ça sonne quand même mieux que Microsoft, non ?
Meta a lancé son chatbot le 18 avril 2024. Baptisé Meta AI, il ressemble à ChatGPT ou Gemini. Cependant, il n'est pas encore disponible dans l'Union européenne. Pour s'en servir quand même, le recours à un VPN est nécessaire.
Boston Dynamics a présenté la toute nouvelle génération de son robot humanoïde Atlas. Pour l'occasion, l'entreprise en a profité pour glisser un petit tacle à Elon Musk, dont la société Tesla s'est lancée dans la robotique ces dernières années.
Par erreur, Microsoft a déployé la nouvelle application Copilot, correspondante à son IA, sur Windows Server ! Ceci est lié à une mise à jour du navigateur Microsoft Edge. Voici ce qu'il faut savoir !
Si vous utilisez Windows Server 2022 et que vous avez constaté la présence d'une nouvelle application nommée "Microsoft Copilot" dans la liste des programmes installés, sachez que vous n'êtes pas seul. Au-delà de son nom, elle est facilement identifiable grâce à son logo désormais utilisé un peu partout par Microsoft. De plus, sa taille est surprenante : seulement 8 Ko.
Que se passe-t-il ? Tout a commencé par l'introduction de "Copilot" dans les versions "Preview" de Windows Server 2025. En effet, depuis plusieurs mois, nous avons accès à des versions de Windows Server 2025 qui donnent un aperçu des nouveautés à venir et des changements opérés par Microsoft.
S'il y a bien un changement qui n'a pas plus, c'est l'ajout de l'IA "Microsoft Copilot" à Windows Server 2025. Suite aux nombreuses réactions négatives, Microsoft a pris la décision de retirer Copilot de Windows Server 2025. Mais, alors, comment cette application est-elle arrivée sur Windows Server 2022 ?
Microsoft Copilot ajouté par une mise à jour du navigateur Edge
Sur la page de son site destinée à évoquer "les problèmes connus", Microsoft s'est expliqué : "Les mises à jour de la version 123.0.2420.65 du navigateur Edge, publiées à partir du 28 mars 2024, peuvent installer de manière incorrecte un nouveau package (MSIX) appelé "Microsoft chat provider for Copilot in Windows" sur les appareils Windows. En conséquence, l'application Microsoft Copilot peut apparaître dans les applications installées dans le menu Paramètres." - Ceci affecte Windows Server, ainsi que Windows 10 et Windows 11.
Autrement dit, ceci ne correspond pas à l'ajout complet de Microsoft Copilot à Windows Server 2022, et cela ne permet pas d'utiliser l'IA directement depuis la barre des tâches du serveur. "Il est important de noter que le fournisseur de chat Microsoft pour Copilot dans Windows n'exécute aucun code ou processus, et n'acquiert, n'analyse ou ne transmet aucune donnée relative à l'appareil ou à l'environnement à quelque titre que ce soit.", précise Microsoft, afin de rassurer ses clients.
Cette application vise à préparer l'activation future de Microsoft Copilot sur certains appareils Windows, dont les serveurs Windows Server ne devraient pas faire partie. Désormais, l'entreprise américaine cherche une solution pour supprimer cette application : "Nous travaillons sur une solution et fournirons une mise à jour dans une prochaine version de Microsoft Edge."
Tout le monde n'a pas vocation à être « prompt engineer ». Cela ne veut pas dire pour autant qu'il n'y pas de bonnes pratiques à appliquer pour rédiger des prompts efficaces (ou instructions) sur les chatbots, comme ChatGPT et Gemini. Google propose un guide pour manipuler plus adroitement l'intelligence artificielle, et obtenir des réponses plus pertinentes.
Lors du lancement de l’Alfa Romeo Milano, le dirigeant de Stellantis Carlos Tavares a glissé une information surprenante. Un constructeur chinois était intéressé par l'achat d'une des marques automobiles de Stellantis.
Depuis mon dernier article sur Penpot et ses fonctionnalités de Flex Layout, l’outil n’a cessé d’évoluer pour offrir encore plus de possibilités aux designers et développeurs. Aujourd’hui, je souhaite vous présenter en détail une fonctionnalité très attendue : les CSS Grid Layout.
Pour rappel, Penpot est un outil libre et open source de conception d’interfaces pour applications web et mobiles. Intuitif et puissant, il permet de créer rapidement des prototypes et maquettes interactives, tout en générant le code CSS correspondant, prêt à être intégré dans vos projets.
Si les Flex Layout permettaient déjà de créer des designs responsives en adaptant les éléments à la taille de l’écran, les CSS Grid Layout vont encore plus loin en offrant un contrôle total sur le positionnement et le dimensionnement des composants. Concrètement, les CSS Grid Layout vous permettent de définir une grille sur laquelle placer vos éléments. Vous pouvez spécifier le nombre de lignes et de colonnes, leur taille, les gouttières entre elles. Chaque élément peut alors occuper une ou plusieurs cases de cette grille, s’étendre sur plusieurs lignes ou colonnes.
Cette approche offre une grande flexibilité pour créer des mises en page complexes et adaptatives. Vous pouvez par exemple concevoir facilement une page avec un header sur toute la largeur, une sidebar sur la gauche, un contenu principal au centre et un footer en bas, le tout en quelques clics et sans une ligne de CSS.
Autre atout des CSS Grid Layout : la possibilité de nommer chaque zone de votre grille. Fini les .col-md-4 ou .row-2 peu parlants, vous pouvez utiliser des noms comme « header », « main-content » ou « sidebar » pour structurer votre design de façon sémantique.
Pour vous aider à prendre en main cette fonctionnalité, je vous ai préparé une nouvelle vidéo tuto dédiée aux CSS Grid Layout. Je vous y montre comment créer vos premières grilles, les configurer, placer vos éléments et profiter de la puissance des CSS Grid Layout dans vos conceptions. Même si vous n’êtes pas familier avec le CSS Grid, vous verrez que Penpot rend son utilisation très intuitive.
Découvrez la vidéo ici ! Et pour vous inscrire sur Penpot, c’est par ici !
What exactly IS the DXP480T? Ever since UGREEN launched their NASync range of NAS devices on Kickstarter, there has been a lot of interest in this computer accessories and peripheral company making its big move into Network Attached Storage. No doubt hoping to challenge this market’s leaders Synology and QNAP, UGREEN have revealed a 6 system series (the DXP range) and although the first 5 of them are interesting enough, it is the compact yet powerful NVMe Flash-equipped NASync DXP480T that has drawn many a hungry I.T user’s eye! Arriving with a 10 Core Intel i5 Processor, DDR5 memory, PCIe Gen 4 Architecture, 4x m.2 2280 NVMe SSD bays, 10GbE networking, Thunderbolt 4 ports and Wifi 6E connectivity – There is ALOT crammed into this tiny little box! Add to this the ‘still in development’ UGOS NAS software that is included with the system and the $479-519 price tag for early access on Kickstarter (going up to $799 RRP when it hits ACTUAL retail) and what you have here is a fantastic proposition for photo and video editors that are looking for a small footprint, low noise, but high-performance private server. But is it too good to be true? Is there too much hardware in there to stay cool? And why is a big brand like UGREEN turning to crowdfunding? Let’s discuss the DXP480T and whether it deserves your money and your data.
There is ALOT of like her in the UGREEN DXP480T Flash NAS! Right now there is little to no alternative to this product in the market. Flash/SSD NAS has been around for a long time and even M.2 NVMe NAS systems have been cropping up in one form or another for 2+ years. But desktop and home-accessible M.2 NVMe Flash NAS solutions? Barely any. Notable alternatives such as the storage-rich Asustor Flashstor 6 / 12 Pro or the performance-rich QNAP TBS-464 or TBS-h574TX have been launched in the last 12 months, but the DXP480T is more powerful than the former and less expensive than the latter. However UGREEN and it’s DXP/NASync series are still very, VERY new in the market (green?) and alongside their NAS software being still a good distance away from fully stable, the choice to launch this new series of devices on crowdfunding is still a little puzzling for 12-14 year established brand in the tech sector. The system is fantastically compact, powerful for the scale, very rich in hardware features and all of this rollout out on a price tag at both early backer Kickstarter and eventual retail RRP that is highly challenging to beat!
But this is still a product that is not finished yet and therefore we need to keep that in mind! If this NAS an unfinished game, it is not ‘Cyberpunk’ or No Man Sky’ levels of incomplete – but it is still a good 20-30% unfinished in terms of features and optimization. I will be certainly keeping an eye on UGREEN as they progress, and hopefully they will challenge the status quo of Synology and QNAP right now, but we will have to wait and see. Bottom line, the DXP480T is 100% the BEST M.2 NVMe NAS system for it’s scale in terms of hardware, it’s just the rest of the software development going through the usual beta testing that is holding it back from greatness. Recent softening by UGREEN with regard to users installing 3rd party operating systems (TrueNAS, UnRAID, Open Media Vault, Proxmox hypervisor, etc) with regard to hardware warranty has definitely resolved/calmed the apprehension by many users though, so the beta software hurdle might not even be an issue for you. The crowdfunding still at has 30 days left (at the time of writing) and 9,800 backers pledging over $4,00,000 of funding seems to indicate this! But as always, this is crowdfunding and not traditional retail, so use caution! The DXP480T is a solid and unique system and I hope to talk even more about this and UGREEN spin-offs in future!
SOFTWARE - 7/10
HARDWARE - 10/10
PERFORMANCE - 7/10
PRICE - 10/10
VALUE - 9/10
8.6
PROS
xceptional Hardware for the Price4 x M.2 NVMe Flash system at this scale+price is fantastic! Great CPU Power vs Efficiency in the i5-1235u 10GbE as standard is excellentWiFi 6E adds an extra and variable access method10/10 Build Quality Great Scalability Fantastic Mobile Application (even vs Synology and QNAP etc) Desktop/Browser GUI shows promise Established Brand entering the NAS Market Low Noise Very Appealing retail package+accessoriesThunderbolt 4 connectivity ensures FAST local backups The Operating System SSD does not occupy a storage bay (extra 2242 m.2 SSD included)
CONS
10GbE Performance was bit underwhelming Crowdfunding choice is confusing Software (still in Beta) is still far from ready 22/3/24 Only 1x Physical Network port means no wired failover Although 2 of the slots are 4x4 Speed, hardware lane limits mean 2 of the slots are 3x2
Ugreen DXP480T NAS Review – Retail Package
The retail kit for this system arrives impressively polished for a product still in its crowdfunding phase, featuring a well-decorated and well-presented retail package that efficiently packs a surprising amount of equipment into a modestly sized box.
Upon opening the stylish retail package, you’re welcomed by the system itself, encased in a protective matte plastic wrap. Remarkably compact for a four-bay (technically five) NAS system, it’s slightly larger than a mini PC, making it one of the smallest NAS systems reviewed on NAS compares.
The kit is comprehensive, excluding storage, including a gold-tipped Ethernet cable, thermal pads for M.2 NVMe SSD bays, extra screws, a setup manual, warranty information, and an external PSU.
Notably, the system comes with an official UGreen 140W PSU, reflecting the brand’s reputation for quality power supplies. The inclusion of first-party designed and branded components emphasizes the product’s proprietary nature, distinguishing it from rebranded hardware.
The entire retail kit’s presentation is thoroughly executed, showcasing a thoughtful design even in details like the instruction booklet—a feature many brands have phased out.
Every component’s quality is top-notch, setting the stage for a discussion on the DXP480T NAS’s design.
Ugreen DXP480T NAS Review – Design
At a casual glance, you might easily assume that the DXP480T is a mini PC masquerading as a NAS. Given the influx of SOC-powered mini PCs from Eastern brands at low prices, this assumption wouldn’t be far-fetched. However, the DXP480T’s design is meticulously tailored to NAS functionality, with internal components arranged to optimize heat dissipation across its M.2 NVMe slots. This compact unit measures just 17.9cm x 14.2cm x 5.2cm, yet manages to house four M.2 2280 slots and an additional internal 2242 M.2 slot for the UGreen OS, making it one of the smallest NAS systems reviewed here on NAScompares and around half a kilo in weight!
Despite its compact size, the DXP480T does not support hot swapping due to its closed physical enclosure and the nature of M.2 drives, though E1.S drives are starting to challenge this norm. The chassis design is a balanced act of 50% active airflow and 50% heat dissipation, featuring plastic outer edges and a top composed of multiple heat dissipation panels connected to the internal hardware, alongside a large heatsink base with two built-in laptop-scale fans. This design emphasizes cleanliness and efficiency, given its storage capacity.
UGreen’s branding is prominent throughout, establishing a distinctive ‘house style’ for the NASync/DXP series right out of the gate. The system’s dimensions (18cm wide, 14cm deep, and 5.5cm tall, including rubber feet) enhance its appeal, offering a streamlined aesthetic without sacrificing functionality.
The fan-assisted panel, secured by two screws, hinges off to reveal the NVMe storage and the intricately designed heat dissipation panel surrounding it. Despite the limited physical space, UGreen has ingeniously incorporated ventilation from nearly every angle, maximizing passive airflow through mesh-covered vents on four of the system’s six sides.
This setup exposes four M.2 SSD slots, distinguished by build quality and clarity in design. However, the use of external face panels for active cooling restricts the use of SSDs with their own heatsinks. UGreen includes high-quality heat pads that align perfectly with SSD chips, compensating for this limitation.
Internally, the slots are divided into two speeds, likely due to the processor’s PCI lane availability, offering Gen 4 x 4 for the first two slots and PCIe Gen 3 x 2 for the remaining two. This strategic decision, driven by necessity, positions the DXP480T favorably against competitors, even if it means accepting some compromises in SSD speeds.
The minimalistic design extends to the system’s front, featuring only a single LED for power, omitting front-mounted USB ports for local backups. This choice, likely a trade-off for internal design efficiency, may disappoint some users looking for more convenient connectivity options.
In summary, the DXP480T’s design impresses with its compact form factor, efficient heat management, and thoughtful branding. While not without its limitations, particularly in external connectivity, UGreen’s meticulous attention to detail positions this NAS as a compelling option for users prioritizing sleek design and effective thermal management.
Ugreen DXP480T NAS Review – Ports and Connections
As previously mentioned, the DXP480T’s ports and connectivity are located at the system’s rear, which results in a somewhat crowded arrangement and necessitates a few compromises.
One significant compromise concerning the device’s ports is its network connectivity. The system features a default 10GbE over a copper RJ45 connection, offering potential bandwidth of up to 1000 megabytes per second. This feature stands out, especially when considering the device’s competitive pricing compared to other NAS devices released in the last two years. However, the downside is that this is the sole physical network port, limiting options for failover or assigning service priorities to different IPs and devices.
The system compensates for this single network port to some extent with wireless connectivity.
An internal M.2 Wi-Fi card connector houses a Wi-Fi 6E network adapter and two antennas, supporting both host and client interfaces.
However, the current beta version of UGreen’s UGOS NAS software does not stably support this feature, and full development completion is still pending.
Additionally, the DXP480T offers Thunderbolt 4 connectivity via two USB-C connections. While Thunderbolt-enabled NAS devices are becoming popular in post-production environments, the DXP480T’s Thunderbolt ports are limited to host use, not supporting direct connections to Mac or Windows devices as clients. UGreen is exploring options to enable two-way communication for these ports. The device also includes USB 3 and USB 2 connections for storage and peripherals, and while direct host-client interfacing over USB is not supported, these connections add to the system’s versatility. However, the lack of a front-mounted USB port for easy local backups is a notable omission.
There is also an HDMI output, however at this time it can only be used for multimedia via the UGOS and is actioned via the mobile application (with doubles as a remote control). Unfortunately, this is not possible via the desktop/browser GUI and also HDMI access as a parallel GUI (either via an app in the docker/container app, a 3rd party media app like Plex/Emby/Jellyfin or an official HDMI GUI Portal that is comparable to HD Station from QNAP or Asustor Portal)
Despite these limitations, the inclusion of 10 GBE and basic Thunderbolt connectivity in such a compact NAS device, at a competitive price point, is commendable. However, the potential long-term system temperature remains a concern.
Ugreen DXP480T NAS Review – Internal Hardware
When it comes to any kind of NAS system that focuses on SSD media, the internal hardware and layout of the system are paramount. SSD media, when overheated, will inevitably throttle, affecting both its performance and that of the surrounding system. Essentially, heat is the Achilles’ heel of flash SSD systems, and given the DXP480T’s compact size, significant effort will need to be made to manage this.
Equipped with a 10-core i5 processor, 8GB of DDR5 memory, ample storage bays, a dedicated OS SSD, a Wi-Fi card, and a 10G controller, it’s a challenge to fit all this into such a small enclosure. Initially, removing two screws around the storage media bays reveals a plastic layer.
Within, we find each of the individual 2280 M.2 NVMe slots. We also discover the SODIMM DDR5 memory slots, one of which is populated by a Samsung DDR5 memory module. Although the system doesn’t support ECC memory, it benefits from the native DDR5 support for on-die error correction. Nonetheless, many storage enthusiasts will likely be disappointed by the lack of ECC support in a flash server system.
As previously mentioned, the system includes a Wi-Fi 6 Intel wireless adapter connected to two internal antennas that encircle the system. It’s a tidy setup, and barring an upgrade to Wi-Fi 7 in the future, there’s little need for changes. It’s debatable how many users will utilize the 1.2Gbps connectivity offered by Wi-Fi 6E; though technically faster than traditional gigabit LAN, effective use requires close proximity. Despite this, it offers a form of failover for this system with a single physical ethernet connection.
The system also arrives with the UGreen NAS software pre-installed on a 2242 Phison E13 controller SSD, set in a Gen 3 x4 slot. Choosing to install the OS on a dedicated SSD, rather than through an eMMC or USB drive, will please some and annoy others. Typically, NAS brands use a bootloader on a small internal drive to install the OS on the main storage array, affecting the system’s performance based on the internal storage media used. Opting to install the OS directly onto an SSD ensures that system services and software run independently, not impacting the performance of the storage media, allowing for operation with new disks if necessary. However, this also means the OS drive lacks backup or redundancy, rendering the system inoperable should the drive fail, potentially damaging the storage media during intense operations. There are pros and cons, but overall, it seems preferable for the system software and services to reside on their dedicated SSD or partition.
Removing additional screws unveils the system’s core. It’s astonishing how much is packed into such a compact enclosure! The heart of the DXP480T features a custom micro-ITX board, housing an Intel i5 10-core processor (2p + 8e), integrated graphics, 20 PCIe lanes, and a maximum 55W TDP. Despite its compact SOC form, this 12th generation Intel i5 processor offers substantial power, benchmarking well against the N100 and Pentium 8505 models in other UGreen NAS models.
Testing this processor, especially in this early crowdfunding prototype, presents challenges. The DXP480T, like the rest of the UGreen NAS line-up, doesn’t officially support third-party OS installation without voiding the warranty. Consequently, we’re limited in our ability to benchmark using third-party OSs or reference previous benchmarks for similar architectures. The UGreen NAS’s operating system, still in beta, requires further optimization to fully showcase what the hardware can achieve.
This processor is well-equipped with sufficient PCIe lanes to manage the four M.2 NVMe SSDs, offering respectable speeds through SSH. The main concern with this processor selection is the lack of ECC memory support, crucial for high-speed flash systems to minimize bit errors during intensive operations.
Although SOC processors that support ECC are rare, especially from Intel, using one for this system and potentially for the DXP8800 Pro could significantly impact the price and development timeline. Nevertheless, this CPU is arguably the best choice for such a compact system in 2024, balancing power efficiency, heat management, and performance capabilities.
UGREEN DXP480T NASync NAS Tests
The Noise level of the system when in operation is very low and is genuinely only noticeable during busy periods when the twin base mini laptop style fans kick in. Here are the dB levels of the system when in idle/standby:
UGREEN DXP480T IDLE/STANDBY NOISE:
And here is the noise level of the system when the fans are in full active/use:
UGREEN DXP480T ACTIVE USE / FULL FAN NOISE:
The construction of the DXP480T flash NAS deserves high praise. Rather than modifying a mini PC case, UGreen designed a compact flash system from scratch, demonstrating considerable care and attention to component placement. The hardware is undoubtedly attractive, further emphasized by our deep dive into this and the DXP4800 Plus models. Yet, the performance and capabilities of the software remain to be seen.
Ugreen DXP480T NAS Review – Performance & Software
The performance of the UGREEN DXP480T is something of a mixed bag. Clearly, compromises have needed to balance between the hardware resources on offer here and to keep the system’s smaller scale. For example, the 2x Gen 4×4 slots are only possible thanks to the scaling back of the 2x Gen 3×2 slots. They COULD have scaled all the slots (with a decent enough PCIe switch/controller) to all be 3×2 via bifurcation, but I think I prefer the 2 higher-performing slots at least giving me the chance to hit 5-7GB/s. I do wonder what they mean for those who plan on spreading a RAID 5 on the 4 M.2 NVMes – as this effectively means you have 2 drives with more bandwidth and irregular write across the 4 disks potentially (though realistically, it will just end up capping at the speed of drives 3 and 4). The performance of the DXP480T Flash system can be broken down into 2 main areas. Internal Performance and External Performance.
The Storage manager of UGOS features it’s on benchmarking tools that can be used per drive. The initial performance when I was using an early version of the software was severely unoptimized, but regular updates for the UGOS beta has rolled out almost weekly and with each, there has definitely been improvements in the system responsiveness and the performance of the drives. At the most recent test of the software, the Gen 4×4 slots of the system (populated with Phison E18 4×4 M.2 NVMes from Seagate Firecude 530 and Addlink A95) were hitting 5,100-5,500MB/s (5.5GB/s) performance. This is still around 1000MB/s less than what these drives are capable of (factoring in the mobile SoC processor and 8GB RAM), but as the software and services are still in beta, this performance might continue to improve throughout development. Then I ran the same test on the PCIe Gen 3×2 slots on the DXP480T. These ports were populated by Teamgroup T-Force Gen 3×4 SSDs, which have a reported 3,100MB/s performance when used in a x4 slot. However, as slot 3 and 4 of the DXP480T are Gen 3×2, I wondered how this would shake out. I was pleased to see a speed of 1.5-1.8GB/S – exactly what I wanted to see!
Then I accessed the system via SSH and used putty to directly benchmark the SSDs over cl. There was definitely some internal caching taking place in the early tests, however, the performance was still averaging around 5.5-6GB/s, which was very pleasing.
However, in order to ascertain if the SSDs in slots 1 and 2 were sharing any controller/switch (maybe even a larger lane being separated into the other 2 slots) I actioned data transfer between SSD 1 and SSD 2. The speed unsurprisingly halved, but was still much, much between the 1-1.5GB/s I encountered when performing this test 2 weeks and 2 firmware updates ago! Now I was hitting 2.5-3GB/s. For internal bandwidth saturation internally on this scale, that is still pretty good.
Then I performed numerous Windows 10GbE transfer tests. The Windows transfer of 20GB of data hit a clean 1,000MB/s saturation when I was using synthetic testing, but traditional transfers on Read activity (to my Windows 10, Gen 4×4 SSD OS Client) peaked at 550MB/s, but the Write was a little under 500MB/s. This decreased fairly rapidly over sustained performance as very clear oversaturation took hold. Upon raising this with the brand in advance of this review for comment, UGREEN told me that SMB performance and transfers are still undergoing optimization. I hope this is the case!
This continued to be the performance mark when I ran an AJA benchmark.
Crystal disk was run twice (using 2 different file size scales, 64MB and 1GB) and once again Read largely saturated the connection, whilst Write was still only 50-65% saturating the available 10GbE bandwidth.
Then I ended on an ATTO Diskbenchmark test that was..frankly.. wild! It was a fairly consistent 700-800MB/s on average, but the perpetual and sustained performance of ATTO benchmarks to the system definitely revealed some of the areas where optimization is still needed and the system was quickly oversaturated (fans ramping up quickly, the memory use very high for the comparatively simple task).
There is definitely some good performance potential here in the DXP480T – as long as UGREEN continue to improve and optimize. This is a prototype review unit (i.e a review unit provided prior to crowdfunding) and certainly feels that way – but numerous software patches that arrived BEFORE the crowdfunding arrived that improved things granularly and I have no reason to believe that this will not continue from now till when/if the system begins fulfilment at crowdfunding and eventual full retail. Watch the video below to see the tests in full (it skips ahead directly to the testing):
Click Below to SKIP AHEAD to the Performance Testing of the DXP480T NAS
At the time of writing, the UGREEN NAS software is still in beta, with the mobile application is live now. Reviewing the software included with the DXP480T —as a final product— feels somewhat premature. The NASsync software beta reveals many baseline functions and long-term plans, which you can watch in the video version of the UGREEN UGOS NAS Software Beta Review in the video below:
Regarding Power Consumption Tests of the UGREEN DXP480T NAS
NOTE– Power consumption tests were performed on the DXP480T during an earlier software beta revision. However, 3 further software and system service updates have been issued since these power consumption tests were performed 3 weeks ago and UGREEN (and a fellow YouTube Reviewer) have stated that this has improved the power efficiency of the system. Therefore in the interests of fairness (as the performance testing was performed on this later software revision (v1.0.0.0334), I have withdrawn my power test result and will be retesting soon and presenting it here + in a later video, as time allows.
The TL;DR on the UGREEN NAS software
The software is on track to become a smooth and user-friendly experience, comparable to giants like Synology and QNAP, especially in terms of the web browser experience. Unlike opting for the complexity of TrueNAS or the streamlined, container-focused UI of UnRAID, the UGREEN NAS software is more akin to Synology DSM. The foundation is clearly laid out for expansion in terms of features and tools for the user’s disposal. However, there are notable absences of baseline applications such as container or virtual machine support, and a multi-tiered backup solution within the web GUI (though the UGREEN NAS mobile and desktop clients are in development, expected to preview in March). Basic services for file management, shares, user account control, and an app center—soon to be linked to a repository—are all user-friendly but present some inconsistencies, likely due to its beta status and ongoing development. The physical product may be closer to final development, but the software needs more time for optimization. SMB services were less consistent than desired, and settings changes sometimes didn’t save or recall correctly. This is common for beta software finding its footing, yet it’s important to note that the hardware feels more refined than the software at this stage, months before user delivery. In brief:
What I liked:
Intuitive UI with services located logically and responsive controls.
The mobile application for iOS and Android is one of the best I have ever used in NAS!
Baseline services such as network interface management, user account control, firewall handling, and SSH interface control are all present.
A clearly defined app center awaiting connection to an online repository.
Helpful tips and guidance are available on most pages, aiding new users.
Support for modern services like SMB3 multi-channel and domain services in the beta.
Clear account and resource management accessible from the desktop, likely appealing to most users.
The inclusion of a remote access relay service and UGREEN account creation from day one, simplifying remote access for new users with built-in firewall and domain tools.
UPDATE 5/4/24 – The HDMI output is now full controllable via the mobile application and is intuitive
UPDATE 5/4/24 – A Docker application has now been added with access to numerous repository options!
UPDATE 5/4/24 – SSH is now disabled by default
What I disliked:
Absence of two-factor authentication in the software.
Lack of virtualization applications at this stage.
Sporadic SMB performance.
The Security Advisor tool is only suitable for Antivirus and Anti-Maleware protection, not to scan the system for security weaknesses and advisory actions
The HDMI output cannot be used by the desktop/browser user to the same extent as the mobile application + cannot be used by container tools (Plex, Home Automation, etc)
In-progress language integration, leading to occasional default displays in Chinese or error messages in Chinese despite English settings.
Improvements needed:
Expansion of app integration and desktop client tools for easier system-client bridging.
Introduction of a default application for device discovery on the local network, a basic service offered by many NAS brands.
More information on UGREEN account and remote access security.
Acknowledging this is a beta, it’s fair to reserve full judgment until the software fully rolls out. As it stands, this beta is promising yet lacks some established NAS software fundamentals. Hopefully, we’ll see significant advancements as the release approaches.
Ugreen DXP480T NAS Review – Verdict and Conclusion
There is ALOT of like her in the UGREEN DXP480T Flash NAS! Right now there is little to no alternative to this product in the market. Flash/SSD NAS has been around for a long time and even M.2 NVMe NAS systems have been cropping up in one form or another for 2+ years. But desktop and home-accessible M.2 NVMe Flash NAS solutions? Barely any. Notable alternatives such as the storage-rich Asustor Flashstor 6 / 12 Pro or the performance-rich QNAP TBS-464 or TBS-h574TX have been launched in the last 12 months, but the DXP480T is more powerful than the former and less expensive than the latter. However UGREEN and it’s DXP/NASync series are still very, VERY new in the market (green?) and alongside their NAS software being still a good distance away from fully stable, the choice to launch this new series of devices on crowdfunding is still a little puzzling for 12-14 year established brand in the tech sector. The system is fantastically compact, powerful for the scale, very rich in hardware features and all of this rollout out on a price tag at both early backer Kickstarter and eventual retail RRP that is highly challenging to beat! But this is still a product that is not finished yet and therefore we need to keep that in mind! If this NAS was an unfinished game, it is not ‘Cyberpunk’ or No Man Sky’ levels of incomplete – but it is still a good 20-30% unfinished in terms of features and optimization. I will be certainly keeping an eye on UGREEN as they progress, and hopefully they will challenge the status quo of Synology and QNAP right now, but we will have to wait and see. Bottom line, the DXP480T is 100% the BEST M.2 NVMe NAS system for it’s scale in terms of hardware, it’s just the rest of the software development going through the usual beta testing that is holding it back from greatness. Recent softening by UGREEN with regard to users installing 3rd party operating systems (TrueNAS, UnRAID, Open Media Vault, Proxmox hypervisor, etc) with regard to hardware warranty has definitely resolved/calmed the apprehension by many users though, so the beta software hurdle might not even be an issue for you. The crowdfunding still at has 30 days left (at the time of writing) and 9,800 backers pledging over $4,00,000 of funding seems to indicate this! But as always, this is crowdfunding and not traditional retail, so use caution! The DXP480T is a solid and unique system and I hope to talk even more about this and UGREEN spin-offs in future!
PROS of the UGREEN DXP480T NAS
CONS of the UGREEN DXP480T NAS
Exceptional Hardware for the Price4 x M.2 NVMe Flash system at this scale+price is fantastic!
Great CPU Power vs Efficiency in the i5-1235u
10GbE as standard is excellentWiFi 6E adds an extra and variable access method10/10 Build Quality
Great Scalability
Fantastic Mobile Application (even vs Synology and QNAP etc)
Desktop/Browser GUI shows promise
Established Brand entering the NAS Market
Low Noise
Very Appealing retail package+accessoriesThunderbolt 4 connectivity ensures FAST local backups
The Operating System SSD does not occupy a storage bay (extra 2242 m.2 SSD included)
10GbE Performance was bit underwhelming
Crowdfunding choice is confusing
Software (still in Beta) is still far from ready 22/3/24
Only 1x Physical Network port means no wired failover
Although 2 of the slots are 4×4 Speed, hardware lane limits mean 2 of the slots are 3×2
Click the Link Below to find out more about the UGREEN NASync NAS Series on the brand’s official Site:
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UGREEN NASync NAS Storage Software Early Beta Review
Many of you might have already heard about the NAS solution (the NASync DXP series) coming from UGREEN soon. Arriving initially on Kickstarter on the 26th March, this product will hopefully be rolling out to backers in mid-summer 2024, with it no doubt arriving at traditional retail after then. As good as the hardware all sounds on the DXP2800, DXP4800, DXP6800, DXP8800 and DXP480T), what about the software? UGREEN NAS devices arrive with the UGOS software (alongside some client toosl for PC, Mac, Android and iOS) and many users want to know if it is any good, what state the current beta is in, and ultimately how good is this inclusive software. So, today I am going through the UGREEN UGOS NAS software (at the time of writing, version 1.0.0.0483), discussing what I like, what I don’t and indications of where UGREEN seems to be headed with this Debian-based platform
UGREEN UGOS NAS Software (Beta) Review – The TL:DR
In a rush? let’s get to the point! Here is what I think of the UGREEN NAS software for desktop and NAS:
What I liked About the UGREEN UGOS Software Beta
What I did not like about the UGREEN UGOS NAS Software Beta
The Mobile Application is exceptionally good, for an ‘in development’ system
The building blocks for future apps and services are there
All the RAID, Caching, Maintenance and Sharing protocols are in place (BTRFS too)
Storage Manager is intuitive and clear
Very good help/assistance services
Search functionality and File Management tools are smooth, responsive and user-friendly
AI services in photo tools are good and diverse
Quick Repair for on RAID drive blocks is nice extra
The Manual Deduplication tool is also a nice extra touch
System power, controls, schedules and operation management is all very user-friendly
All the system options, UX and placement are exactly where they should be
File Service controls, Firewall Controls and Network management controls are clear and fully featured (for the most part, MTU was fixed)
Lack of 2FA/OTP Authentication
Inconsistencies in fonts and design at points
Lack of WORM and Encryption at key points vs others in the market
A rigid/fixed Photo Album is inflexible
Multimedia applications are few and far between currently
Currently no VM/Container tool
3rd Party OS support invalidates hardware warranty
Further drive performance optimization is needed (getting better with each update, but still not ‘there’ yet)
File transfer notifications not prominent enough
Security Manager priorities are poor and do not factor in system insecurities (i.e anti-ransomware protocols) and instead prioritize virus’ and malware
Backup and Sync Tools are still very early days and do not support Cloud services
Desktop Client tool feels unfinished ATM
UGREEN UGOS NAS Software Beta Review – Mobile Application
Although I will get onto the PC/Mac desktop user experience in a while, I wanted to start this software review with the mobile application as 1) It will likely be the most frequently used means for new/novice users to interact with the UGREEN NAS, and 2) because it is arguably further along in terms of development and polish than the browser GUI. The mobile application is available for iOS and Android and is genuinely exceptionally well presented. The main application dashboard allows you to manage multiple UGREEN NAS devices on the LAN/Network, or remotely via the UGREEN account relay services. Upon logging in, you are presented with a single mobile dashboard to manage..well… everything. In my testing and evaluation, I only found 2-3 things that are not possible in the mobile app that were possible via the desktop. The UX is smooth, clear and was responsive the entire time. ALL of the testing )(and screenshots below) were conducted with the app connecting with the NAS remotely over 5G/4G SIM (cellular) mobile services and not network/WiFi.
Rather than providing multiple tailored apps for photos, videos, system management, etc, UGREEN have instead opted for a Swiss army knife ‘1 app’ approach. All applications running on the NASync system are accessible and usable via the app (with the exception of the management of the Sync and Backup target tools – more on that later). In most cases the apps run in a tailored GUI (eg the photo apps is more thumbnail-focused with native tools to hand via overlay buttons, whereas config controls are more ‘textual’ and rigid). This also extends to the ‘Control Panel’ of the system, which has practically all system controls to hand and is usable to the same degree at the desktop via a browser. Really impressed with the work that has gone into the design and UX here.
Pretty much all the system information is accessible (supporting copy/paste click tools too) and further live hardware information is readily available (something often undercut or inaccessible in many NAS mobile apps, in efforts to ‘keep it simple’).
Interestingly, the hardware power controls via the mobile app are also pretty extensive. I expected ‘Power On and Off’ and maybe a Wake On LAN option sure, but I was not expecting fan controls, LED controls, scheduled power scheduling customization, drive hibernation controls and system file service actions. These are rarely all available in NAS mobile apps (for fear of overcomplicating mobile tools). It’s ALOT to take in, but overall I think it’s a good thing. Novice users might disagree.
File management services (ie a File/Folder’ explorer) is also built into the app that gives FULL access and control of the files on the NAS. There the basic ‘copy, paste, cut’ options and ‘upload from phone’ options, but it also then expands towards uploading specific file types (unusual), shared folder creation on the fly, changing access rights and permission to existing shared storage areas – it’s a lot of control to include in the swiss army knife single app, when they could have likely got away with a basic file manage option included with the system manager tool. Colour me impressed.
This level of control and management also extends to the main storage manager (i.e Pools, Volumes, etc). You can action complete Storage Pool creation (i.e RAID building), Volume creation, SSD cache options, manage permissions and even action RAID rebuilding when needed. Really impressed with the presentation and depth of control in this mobile tool.
The task manager tool in the mobile GUI is handled like any other application, with its own design and layout, but (much like the desktop experience i will discuss later) lacks historical analytics on the system hardware – something I hope UGREEN resolve later. Media Server services can be managed via the app, as well as accessing and pushing of links/3D barcodes and files to the download manager for HTTP/BT downloads.
The Photos tool is quick slick and responsive but is perhaps still in needs of a little more optimization, as although the thumbnail generation was quick snappy, the layout always felt quite ‘squished’. That said, all the photography options and control of the AI categorization services were present here. The Map view (using scraped metadata from mobile photos) worked great and all facial recognition tags that were actioned on the NAS Desktop GUI were carried over smoothly. As were sharing links that were created, that could be managed and customized with ease too.
Mobile synchronization was 50% good news and 50% bad news. The good news was that photo backups from your phone are smooth and can be tailored quite well to your network/storage needs (even including some useful destination sorting options). However there was NOT an option to arrange scheduled or automatic backups of the REST of my phone storage – just the photos. That is a shame, as I cannot be the only user who would quite like to automatically backup my WHOLE phone storage periodically on a schedule (maybe 1AM whilst I sleep?). Unfortunately, you are currently forced to manually upload files and folders to the File manager application. Hopefully UGREEN will roll out a ‘whole phone storage’ backup option down the line in future updates.
On the whole, I am really impressed with the mobile application for managing your UGREEN NAS and it feels like this has been a priority for the brand in the software development for this soon-to-land-on-kickstarter NAS. Let’s move over to the desktop and go through the system management of your UGREEN NAS on your web browser.
UGREEN UGOS NAS Software Beta Review – Browser GUI Presentation
The UGREEN NAS OS is accessible via the web browser, either over the local area network or remotely via the use of UGREEN’s online services with the use of a free account. This is pretty much the same as other turnkey NAS brands, but we have yet to see how well it will handle multiple users using this service on mass. Neverthless, if you only plan on local network access, this will work fine. The web based GUI (at least, in version 1.0.0.0483 that I used) was very responsive and did not require any internet access.
As you might expect, the user account that you create during initialization can be customized once you login (the super user admin account is disabled by default). The range of customization to the account is a little limited in the beta. You can change your user avatar, change your password, view your activity, check your storage quota and connect it with a UGREEN account. There is a lack of 2-step authentication in the beta (2FA/OTP etc) which I was a little disappointed by, but aside from that, this is all what I would have expected.
Changing the browser GUI is fairly normal and the range of changes (wallpaper, languages, time etc) are present, but that’s about it. Again, all standard stuff that is good to see, but not going to blow you away.
clicking the grid of menu dots at the top right shows you the app control deck that shows the tools and services you have installed. These can also be dragged onto the actual GUI desktop much like you would find on your local OS desktop from Windows, Mac or Chrome. I will add thought that the font of the text does seem quite dated.
Ther is a support option on the desktop and App list that opens up into a dedicated support portal. I tested this with the internet services disconnected and can confirm that all of the ‘App Guide’ options are locally accessible (i.e offline accessible), whereas the Information center requires internet access to open up and get further support.
The search functionality of the App Guide also works fast and it has pretty much everything you would need to get the basics/fundamental assistance you might need on the first phase of owning the device.
Eg, the network settings option below gave a decent amount of advice and information for IPV4/IPV6 gateways. There was certainly something of a conflict in the fonts and presentation again, but this is a beta.
The ‘Contact us’ tab of the support section provided numerous tools for getting in touch with UGREEN. There was the usual contact number, online messaging/IM platform and support portals, but what really stood out was the online remote access support option that could allow UGREEN to access your system for maintenance or support. This is not unusual (lots of NAS brands do it), but I am glad to see it present here and controllable from the user end. When my system was updated between versions, I encounter an issue (related to my system not being on a whitelist of approved beta OS devices) and I used this system to allow UGREEN in. I was able to monitor the access comfortably. I would nevertheless feel better if I knew I could lock this behind a unique 1 use key everytime though.
The main GUI also has a search functionality built into the top bar that was responsive and allowed me to quick search for filesacross the system, as well as utilize the ‘Universal Search’ function to search deeper and use tailored filters.
The Universal search function broke down searches quite well and even provided further image and file information as I searched – something generally not included in search tools at the surface level on a NAS, due to the indexing of the metadata being something of a pain at this level (though widely accessible in a file manager). Overall, I was happy with the zippy responsiveness of the search functionality. It will be interesting to see how much offline AI search functionality could be added here down the line.
UGREEN UGOS NAS Software Beta Review – Storage Manager
The storage manager is very well presented and showed me all the information that I wanted/expected. A graphical display of the populated bays, drive temp, suggestions of further actions I could/should perform and the additional context options were intuitively on the left-hand side.
A nice extra touch that I liked was the fact you can add storage widgets to the primary storage manager page. This means you can add specific monitoring for your needs.
For the more analytically minded, there is a much more text-rich breakdown of the storage in the control panel:
You can break down the storage manager view to the individual disks (which will depend on the UGREEN system being used) and from here you can view drive health (SMART), run performance tests individually, run scheduled checksum, check temps and more.
In a previous version of the UGOS UGREEN NAS software, when I ran the performance test on the Gen 4×4 slots of the DXP4800 Plus, I got quite poor speeds (around 1.5GB/s, instead of the expected 5-6GB/s at the very least). So, I was looking forward to retesting.
I am pleased to confirm that in this newer OS version, the 4×4 slot for this Gen4 NVMe was able to hit a comfortable 5.1GB/s Read or 5.5GB/s Write. Still not the 6GB+ I would have liked to have seen, but I appreciate that they are still optimizing this. Also, I would like to see further clarification on the actual test (block/file size for the test, something a little more analytical). Additionally, despite me running 3-4 different SSD performance tests, the layout of the GUI only allows me to see the first one (with no means to display the results of the later tests). Still, at least there is improvement here.
Alongside drive health and performance tests, there is also an option to directly wipe an HDD or SSD inside the UGREEN NAS. However, there was no clarification on the method/scale of this wipe (eg is this a secure wipe, writing out each block, or a casual format that just deleted the index). It would be nice to know more about the depth of this Data Wiping.
The Storage Management tab showed more information on the individual pools an volumes. I had a RAID 5 and BASIC pool in one UGREEN NAS system and RAID 0 and RAID 1 in another one.
You can choose to use EXT4 or BRTRFS as the file system of choice for the volumes, though there was no support of Write Once, Read Many (WORM) – which in 2024, is a bit of a pain!
There IS however, support of RAID resync priority options and even a Quick Repair option (whereby the system will prioritize only the areas of a disk during a RAID rebuild that would have data, then zero’s out the rest in order to vastly speed up the RAID rebuild of partially full Storage pools).
Creating Storage Pools and volumes feels easy and intuitive. They have kept it simply, which is going to be great for movies (but experts might find it limiting). There is support of the usual RAID configurations of RAID 0, 1, 5, 6 10, but no flexible RAID system (like Synology Hybrid RAID – SHR or TRAID).
You can apply schedule drive health tests (not uncommon on NAS devices).
Additionally, there are options present to control the USB drive via the storage manager to prohibit access generally or completely.
Overall, the storage management is a little sparse BUT it is definitely ease to use, intuitive and provides the majority of base-level functionality a new NAS user is going to need. I am disappointed at the lack of more prosumer options such as WORM (though I will forgive the lack of a flexible RAID system like SHR, as that is not exactly common in the world of NAS anyway). UGREEN are clearly focusing on the fundamentals here (perhaps looking at Synology and DSM for…inspiration?). I hope to see further optimization and explanation around the performance benchmarking tools, but apart from that I am happy. Let’s discuss the object file/folder access in the Web Browser GUI and the quality of the UGREEN File Browser.
UGREEN UGOS NAS Software Beta Review – File Manager
Much like turnkey solutions currently in the market from Synology and QNAP (with DSM and QuTS respectively), the UGREEN NAS software includes a browser-based File Manager. This allows you to see and interact with data on your NAS in a much more native way, as well as take advantage of traditional copy, paste, archive, uncompress and deletion tools. The File Browser also integrates native ‘right click’ context options whilst in use in your web browser. Again, as mentioned earlier, non of this is ‘new’ to the industry, but it is still good that this new NAS software in the market is nailing the fundamentals.
Folders can be created in the file manager that can be standard breadcrumb, personal folders that are related to an individual user, or shared folders that can be used by network-connected client devices or applications. Control and access (i.e Read/Write Rules) can be set to individual users and groups. There was no option to apply any encryption or write once rules to these shared folders however.
The context menus of the file manager also allow users to share files/folders easily, with support of sharing with other UGREEN NAS users or via a unique link. Rules for it’s use (date of expiry, number of access sessions, password protection, etc) can be applied during their creation.
Additionally, files can be directly shared from the Universal Search tool (discussed earlier) with similar share rule controls in place.
The overall/global settings of the file manager are all fairly standard, but more interestingly there are also a few extra options in the management tab. These include controls for your user personal folder, a management portal for existing shared links, a private collection folder option (to add specific files as needed on the fly), recycle bin management (date of true deletion, where it is applicable etc) and more interestingly, a File deduplication option.
The File Deduplication option (unlike backend deduplication which works automatically and, in the case of ZFS, in line) allows you to manually select folder directories and action the system to scan for duplicate files (so, photos, music, docs, etc) and then it will allow you to action space-saving measures. This feature felt a little unfinished and poorly optimized, but does show promise and is definitely positive feature!
I can also confirm that playback of video files, via the File Manager was smooth. It definitely required compression/license support on your respective browser/os, but files played and there was options to downgrade video quality, minimize in the corner of the screen and navigate playback easily. I would still much, MUCH rather a native video playback application (as I assume 3rd party client devices such as Amazon Fire TV, Roku, PS5, etc are going to rely on 3rd party network players), but this is still a positive development. On the other side, no Plex Media Server application in this current version of the beta, and no container application to create a custom deployment. Hopefully, this will be resolved soon.
When it came to checking photo viewing i nthe file manager, I can confirm that it i s supported and a Picture Preview service is included. Later on we will discuss the standalone AI powered photo application.
Unfortunately, audio playback was not possible and any attempts to playback .MP3, .WMA or .WAV all resulted in just a download prompt and no playback i nthe browser. Not a big deal, but without an audio player tool in place, it does make checking/previewing audio data rather clunky.
Copy/Paste/Cut actions on files generate a File Copy task in the notifications panel at the top right of the screen. This is all good and was dynamic/animated, however there was no clear indication that this was taking place (eg the notification appearing upon actioning the copy/paste) and no indication in the file manager. Not a massive deal, but it left me wondering if the action was actually happening. I should not need to actively check the task center to know that my ‘write action’ is occuring.
The File Manager is a robust tool that, although not currently as feature-rich as the one found in QNAP QTS or Synology DSM, it gives you pretty much everything you are going to need for basic/day-to-day file management in the web browser. It definitely still needs tweaks and optimization, but it’s in a very good state currently and even has a few options like manual deduplication and ‘collection options that are being presented uniquely in their platform. Let’s discuss system management via the Control Panel.
UGREEN UGOS NAS Software Beta Review – Control Panel
The control panel is pretty much exactly as you might expect, pretty clear UI and although I would appreciate an ‘advanced’ tab (as compressing all the system controls into 12 icons seems quite strict), it is definitely not an intimidating presentation here. To go through ALL of the settings would effectively quadruple the length of this UGREEN UGOS Beta review, but I will cover elements that stood out for me (both good and bad).
I like that the system is arriving (even in this beta) with a completely customizable and user-friendly scheduled On/Off organizer. Those of you who want to ensure the system is only in operation during peak/necessary periods (for reasons of noise, power consumption or security) will appreciate how fleshed out this section is.
Likewise, the system software already has fan controls in place (I tested on both the DXP4800 PLUS and DXP480T, both responded immediately).
There was also an option to reset all your network connections to default (setting all static IPs, subnets, etc back to dynamic and default), as well as the option to factory reset the system. I think the wording of the later needs to be improved, as it is not hugely clear about the implications of this choice.
Finally, there was the support of LED controls. This is something I hoped for, as the LEDs of the 3.5″ SATA UGREEN models are exceptionally bright (white) and alongside the option to dim them, there was even a scheduled option that allows you to set a plan to lower them during specific periods of the hour (and day/weel). It’s a small option, but I do appreciate it!
Alongside the network management options (that we will cover more later on in the article) there is also established support for bonding/trunking of the ports. Again, not ‘new’, but a welcome addition to this launch beta software.
There are established management and controls for the remote access via the UGREENLink service (As well as creating a dynamic domain name for the system for remote access). I did not explore this during my time with the beta, as I want to hold off till closer to the established product for a more realistic expectations vs experience on this one!
When it comes to terminal/backend access, the option for Telnet was disabled, but the option for SSH was ‘enabled’. I have mixed feelings about this, as although I did use SSH and Putty to access the system to verify the PCI layout and some disk testing for the system reviews, I KNOW it would be much better to have this disabled by default. As this is a Beta software package, there is a good chance that this will be disabled in the full software release (only enabled here for troubleshooting, debugging and maintenance), but nonetheless, I would like to see this ‘off’ by default in the full release.
The system task manager was fairly standard, showing plenty of system service and process information. There was no option to ‘kill/Hibernate’ services (as you might find in your Windows Task Manager), but that is not unusual in NAS software, for fear of corrupting the system services.
The graphical system resource display of the task manager was very detailed, clear and intuitive. It covered pretty much EVERYTHING and was very responsive. My only real complaint here would be that there was no option to record the task manager analytical information. i.e going into it showed you the current system resource use from that moment, nothing from the past. Adding an option to allow the system to maintain a record (even as a check box option, as featured in Synology DSM) would allow much, MUCH better long-term analytical benefits for this 24×7 system.
Regarding software updates, the system has configurable options to allow the system OS updates to be actioned automatically or manually, with the system periodically pinging the UGREEN update server to check it’s status (which can be disabled). I will add that during my early time with the UGREEN DXP4800 PLUS and DXP480T, I had difficulty upgrading my software to the newer version for this beta review and it turned out to be related to my address/serial requiring adding to a white list. I am sure this is not going to be an issue when the software and hardware fully rolls out, but those reading this wondering why their beta software is not showing the same version as them might find this is the issue.
Also, the UGREEN NAS systems arrive with UPS support to allow automatic pinging in the event of a power cut/brown-out and the system safely power itself down safely straight away, or maintain operation for a given period. This is a small thing and relatively common in NAS circles, but nonetheless nice to see in their software out the gate!
As mentioned, I could probably go through everything in the control panel and make this article a few thousand words longer… but I won’t! There are user/group controls, time and language controls (the later of which seemed to still present Chinese text periodically, but this IS a beta) and lots of system information options. Overall, it’s a decent control panel and backend, but maybe adding a few tips/guidance in places and perhaps an Easy/Advanced tab in a ver.2 of the software down the line might be appealing. Let’s discuss system security maintenance.
UGREEN UGOS NAS Software Beta Review – Security
Now, let’s be a bit neutral here for a sec! We are talking about a BETA of the UGREEN NAS software, so I understand that this is an in development product and therefore the potential for vulnerabilities, fixed default credentials and loose ends are going to be high. However, I DO think we need to use this UGOS beta for a good indication of what UGREEN are layout the tracks down for (both good and bad!). The system arrives with a Security Manager tool that allows you to action ad-hoc/scheduled system scanning. This generates logs and also allows you to select actions for files deemed suspicious or compromised.
I will say though, that it wasn’t hugely clear on what exactly was being actioned in this tool. It might well be a question of an ‘in development’ GUI overlaying the tool, but I assumed that a security manager on the UGREEN NAS would work through a list of pre-defined security parameters (eg weak passwords, SSH left enabled, default ports, firewall usage, etc).
This Security Manager seemed to be prioritizing the search for Malware/Exploitative Files/Virus’ etc – which is actually comparatively rare as an attack vector in modern in NAS circles compared to RANSOMWARE attacks – which only require a path INTO the NAS to inject code and get the system to lock up the data, which is then used to blackmail users into exchanging bitcoin for the key. This security manager didn’t give me a vibe that it was addressing this. Still, it IS a beta and I will 100% welcome being corrected on this.
The majority of the File services (except SMB) were disabled by default (and SSH was enabled, but again this might be Beta related).
The system also arrives with Firewall management services (disabled by default, but easy to enable).
I would say though that these controls do need a little more explanation for beginners (I say this to most NAS brands really) as a lot of users will blanketly enable this service, or worse play with their port services, without understanding the significance of the action. This does need a little more tips/explanation I think (there is a single ‘?’ tip, and that’s it).
There is also a log center that keeps track of the activity on the system. It’s all clear, if a little basic and reports can be exported logs from this GUI.
Alternatively, there is a notification configuration in the Log center to ensure that events and alerts are delivered to important system users as needed. The configuration and filtering of this is a bit sparse, but the structure is there to work upwards from.
Network management is also present and alongside the usual traffic controls (i.e MB/s limits to specific physical connections and even user network quota in other sections) are present, there is also fairly standard network configuration options. These include the jumbo frames / MTU, adapting the IP to fixed/dynamic, bonding the connections (mentioned earlier) and prioritizing connections. There is no options for virtual networks and management here (understandably not a priority as the physical connections are only 2x tops and there is no container/VM manager to necessitate this kind of service), and although an earlier version of the beta provided spotty network and SMB services, this has now been resolved in this software version.
The system’s default ports (for both encrypted and non-encrypted non-certificate access) can be adjusted at anytime via the control panel, as well as the option to apply custom certificates when needed too. Standard stuff, but positive to see it here on the outset.
With regard to security, what we find here in the UGOS beta is a lot of the entry-level stuff and fundamental building blocks, but still not quite enough for me to think this beta software is as watertight as TrueNAS or Synology DSM (understandable, given the beta status and maturity). The structure is there, it just needed building on and hopefully, this is what we will see as the software develops towards delivery. The security Manager tool needs to be better displayed, a deeper focus on system integrity checks in these scans, integration of 2FA/OTP services, etc. Until I see these features getting added (alongside assurances that SSH will indeed be ‘off’ be default), I would not be too cosy making this beta software internet-connected. Let’s discuss the individual applications that are included with this Beta of UGREEN UGOS currently.
UGREEN UGOS NAS Software Beta Review – App Center
At the time of writing and in the current beta version, the Application center has approx 15 applications (5-6 of which I would consider base-line / default). I fully expect more to appear when the software is more polished and closer to launch, as well as hopefully support of popular 3rd party applications to be adapted to the UGOS ANS system (Plex, Emby, TailScale, etc), but right now it is a little sparse (understandable for a beta – I KNOW I keep saying that!).
There is also the option to manually install applications, but these still need to be installed in the UGOS format.
Updates to the individual applications can be actioned manually, or set to automatically apply when the system is aware of a patch/update. These do NOT require the system to reboot, but will require the application or service to restart. All perfectly normal in a NAS.
Individual applications are displayed in a familiar format (name, version, description, images, etc) but also have the option to ‘stop’ when needed or restart. Again, all is fairly par of the course for NAS systems in 2024. Additionally, when installing applications to choose which storage volume you want to application to run from. This is less of a concern currently, but if the previously promised/discussed VM/Container tools arrive in time for full OS launch, these will certainly benefit from living on a faster media volume!
The Application center is all pretty much what you would expect. It’s nailed down all the framework and structure, it’s responsive (though you cannot install multiple apps at once, currently it is 1 at a time – optimization needed no doubt) and I cannot really fault the GUI of it. It’s just a little empty right now and until a better arrangement of tools and services are included, I will hold off any further judgement.
UGREEN UGOS NAS Software Beta Review – Multimedia
How the system handles your multimedia is going to be pretty important to a lot of users. In the beta version I was provided with, there was only a small handful of 1st party media applications to use, something that will no doubt change as time goes on (in particular, the support of 3rd party applications, thanks to the Debian base of the operating system). The main media apps that were included in my version of the OS was the Photos application and a DLNA Media Server app.
The Photos application boasts the support of AI recognition (something that is available from several of the established NAS brands and their OS right now), as well as easy file sharing, private/public photography areas, smart filters and metadata scraping for custom album creation. The thumbnail generation was very prompt and I was left impressed by it.
Additionally, you can switch between the full-screen display mode and the folder view at the touch of a button, which is nice. But that brings me to the whole ‘folder limit thing’…
One thing I was less impressed about however, was the fact the photo application requires a fixed directory for it’s media library. So, you currently cannot point the application at any custom folder to crawl for your media, but instead, it needs to be in a specific user folder. This is similar to what you find in the Synology Photos application, and many users (myself included ) weren’t huge fans of it then either!
Now, one of the reasons for this MIGHT be because the Photos application has an impressive range of AI core services available (scene/object recognition, faces, pets, offensive, duplicate and locational data scraping) that I imagine requires a lot of pre-set locations to run at their most efficient/effective.
The facial recognition is a little basic at the moment, but DOES work. It crawled the 5 sample albums that I uploaded quickly and it was roughly as successful as other NAS brand’s efforts in this area.
Merging user’s faces was quick and easy, though I did not find it especially good at searching for group users based on their names (eg text searching for photos with those 2 users tagged via facial recognition), but using the smart filters on the main page, right side, worked fine.
Likewise, the system did a good job of scraping the geolocational data from the photos, and then displaying them in a map format. It was a little temperamental (always starting in China), but you would be surprised how many NAS brands get this map view wrong, or not even provide it at all.
Additionally, the OCR/AI Text crawling that occurred during the indexing periods was very good and any photo that had text was immediately pre-crawled for words that would be displayed when clicking the relevant icon in the preview window.
Not to give the AI/Software too much credit, as a lot of the information is kept in the metadata of the images. Nevertheless, it was good that the system was able to take advantage of this so quickly and factor it into some intelligent searches and categorization. That said, the ‘object recognition was virtually zero and I assume this is something still WiP – annoying, but ok.
The duplication removal tool was also integrated here into the photo applications, as well as the management of the file sharing that you might be actioning. The blurred photo removal tool was a little hit and miss, but then again these 5 albums were already pre-curated and therefore there was;t much smudge/blur photography for it to get its feet into.
Image sharing provided pretty much all the configuration and security precautions we say previously (password, validity period, download #s, etc). There weren’t any restrictions for HTTPS, or encrypted transfers though. There was also an option to restrict to registered NAS system users only.
As mentioned, the only other media application that I was able to see in the beta software I used was the DLNA media server application.
This was super basic and only provided an on/off switch, then the option to choose which directories could be accessible for multimedia sharing on the local area network:
1st party multimedia playback support is probably one of the weakest areas of the UGREEN NAS UGOS software in this beta and I sincerely hope it gets addressed closer to launch. Additionally, the option to conveniently install 3rd party multimedia applications via a verified app center section that includes Plex, Jellyfin, Emby etc would make things significantly better!
UGREEN UGOS NAS Software Beta Review – Backups and Synchronization
Much like the multimedia support of the UGREEN UGOS NAS services, the backup and synchronization tools afforded to the OS are still ‘in progress’ in this beta. There are a few services in place and clear indications of things to come, but its still not a complete backup package yet at this time of writing. The Sync and Backup tool allows backing up of data from 3rd party and UGREEN NAS servers to sync with your NAS over RSync.
This works in either direction of course, but the range of supported targets ends there. There isn’t currently a desktop client backup/sync tool in place (hopefully this is something that might well get integrated into the UGREEN PC Client in time) and supported Sync/Backup platforms still does not include cloud services (Google Drive, DropBox, etc).
There are a few ‘coming soon’ options greyed out and the option to manually select a connected USB drive via the ‘local folder’ option is available,
But it still feels like it needs more time in the oven. There general structure is in place, but the scope of what yo can do with it in the desktop browser GUI is still in its early beta stages clearly.
Backups and Sync jobs DO at least have versioning supported, which does mean that wether you are syncing a local folder or remote system, the roll back option is still available.
Indeed, the system configuration backup is also available, but only the system backend – not the whole system data as an image backup. This configuration backup can be sent to a local folder (inc connected USB) or to your UGREEN account.
The backup and synchronization tools definitely need more time in development and although I am really pleased to see them here, I do think they are a good way away from completion to a stable and satisfactory degree for your 3-2-1 backup routines right now.
UGREEN UGOS NAS Software Beta Review – Desktop Client Tool
At the time of writing this review, UGREEN rolled out a range of client tools for PC, Mac, iOS and Android. Although the Mobile application review and write up is still in progress (but TLDR, it is VERY polished in comparison to the desktop browser GUI), the desktop client tool was available and although it works, the scope of what you can do with it is a little limited. You can use it to scan your local area network for a UGREEN NAS, or enter remote UGREEN account login credentials and sign in.. and.. that’s about it!
The UGREEN NAS Desktop client then opens up a faux browser window (akin to a remote desktop) to view the GUI of the NAS. That is really it. It’s not much different from the browser and is not a big difference in resource consumption on your local system either. I was hoping to see ‘mapping network drive’ options, remote system setting configuration, local folder sync or even a terminal input. But no, just allowing a browserless access portal.
This written review of the UGREEN UGOS NAS software is still very much ‘in progress’ and I will be adding further details later on, as well as detailing the mobile application.
What I liked About the UGREEN UGOS Software Beta
What I did not like about the UGREEN UGOS NAS Software Beta
The Mobile Application is exceptionally good, for an ‘in development’ system
The building blocks for future apps and services are there
All the RAID, Caching, Maintenance and Sharing protocols are in place (BTRFS too)
Storage Manager is intuitive and clear
Very good help/assistance services
Search functionality and File Management tools are smooth, responsive and user-friendly
AI services in photo tools are good and diverse
Quick Repair for on RAID drive blocks is nice extra
The Manual Deduplication tool is also a nice extra touch
System power, controls, schedules and operation management is all very user-friendly
All the system options, UX and placement are exactly where they should be
File Service controls, Firewall Controls and Network management controls are clear and fully featured (for the most part, MTU was fixed)
Lack of 2FA/OTP Authentication
Inconsistencies in fonts and design at points
Lack of WORM and Encryption at key points vs others in the market
A rigid/fixed Photo Album is inflexible
Multimedia applications are few and far between currently
Currently no VM/Container tool
3rd Party OS support invalidates hardware warranty
Further drive performance optimization is needed (getting better with each update, but still not ‘there’ yet)
File transfer notifications not prominent enough
Security Manager priorities are poor and do not factor in system insecurities (i.e anti-ransomware protocols) and instead prioritize virus’ and malware
Backup and Sync Tools are still very early days and do not support Cloud services
Desktop Client tool feels unfinished ATM
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