QNAP TS-464 or the Synology DS423+ NAS Drive – Which Should You Buy?

Choosing Between the Synology DS423+ and QNAP TS-464 NAS is more than just about how you are spending your money at checkout! Making a move away from 3rd public cloud storage can be a big, BIG decision for some users. The ‘freemium’ and low cost monthly subscription to the likes of Google Drive and DropBox seems like a drop in the ocean, right up until you realise that over the years you have spent hundreds of pounds and you face the fact that you are going to need to consider moving that data onto something more long term and ‘in house’. For many users, this is their first encounter with two of the bigger brands in the world of NAS, Synology and QNAP and although at a glance they seem to provide the same kind of solution, even a brief second glance reveals that these two brands have very, very different ideas of where you should be spending your money. Synology is the sleek, apple-esc presented solution that promises a smooth and uncomplex experience, with an arguably more rigid and fixed architecture. Whereas QNAP is the more customizable and flexible in its hardware and software, but has a slightly higher learning curve and requires more time to configure perfectly. Both brands provide an excellent range of NAS solutions with each of the solutions in today’s comparison being quite similar in price, but what you are getting for your money, the range of software included, the scope of hardware that is available and how they translate to upgradable and scalability is incredibly different! So, today we are going to compare the Synology DS423+ NAS released in March 2023 (HEAVILY comparable to the 2020 gen DS920+) against the spring 2022 released QNAP TS-464 NAS.

Synology DS423+ vs QNAP TS-464 NAS – Design

The design of the QNAP TS-464 and Synology DS423+ are both very uniform to the brands, utilizing existing designs in their respective Home/Prosumer/SMB ranges. Both are 4-Bay desktop solutions that are designed to be deployed easily and pretty much anywhere. They are largely the same in physical volume, with the Synology DS423+ arriving the tiniest pinch larger, but both systems provide a similar level of storage on their four SATA and 2x NVMe M.2 SSD bays. The Synology has the more traditional shape of the lockable storage media bays being immediately visible, but finish this with an incredibly modernistic shape and matt surface design. The front of the system features a single USB backup port, as well as 5 LEDs for system/drive activity and those two M.2 SSD bays are located on the base of the system. The QNAP TS-464 NAS uses a more glossy and slightly coloured design by comparison (featuring a copper side panel), with the 4 drive bays of the system being covered by a slidable and lockable semi-translucent panel. The QNAP also featured the same LED/USB present, but there are more LEDs on the QNAP and the USB here is both a USB 3.2 Gen 2 Port (10Gb/s) and is accompanied by a one-touch copy button. This is one of the early examples of how things in the NAS market have moved forward in hardware but Synology has instead doubled down on their focus of it’s DSM software platform above all else. The QNAP TS-464 is certainly the more expensive NAS of the two, with the DS423+, despite being newer and having a different position in the brand’s portfolio (see the DS923+ to learn more), but the hardware you are getting for that price tag is notably different and will become a clear divide between these two. Because of the compact design, both systems need to factor in intelligent cooling, as they will likely be in operation 24×7. This is another clear area where the brands have gone in different directions here.

QNAP TS-464 NAS 168mm × 170mm × 226 mm	Synology DS423+ NAS 166 mm x 199 mm x 223 mm

The ventilation on the Synology DS423+ is certainly more visible but in a much more ‘branded’ and slick way. The QNAP TS-464 features no front-facing ventilation, instead using two small areas of ventilation on the sides of the chassis and the base of the TS-464 featuring further ventilation under each of the storage bays. The Synology on the other hand has much more passive airflow, with each of the individual storage bays being surrounded by a slit of ventilation and the side panel of the DS423+ having the Synology logo featured as further ventilation. Higher-end Synology desktop models feature metal mesh panels inside these logos to capture dust, but this is less of a concern in the more compact and discreet DS423+. Overall, I would certainly say that the Synology DS423+ have more visible efforts to maintain system temperature than the QNAP TS-464 (which is a real surprise when you see how the hardware these two systems are sporting compares) but both maintain a good operation temperature.

QNAP TS-464 NAS	Synology DS423+ NAS

When you look at the rear of the TS-464 and DS423+ NAS, you see another big difference in how each system maintains their respective internal temperatures, with the QNAP featuring a single 120mm fan that covers the bulk of the internal hardware airflow path and the Synology featuring two 92mm fans that cover around 70% of the rear of the chassis. Of the two, I would say the QNAP TS-464 is the noisier in operation of the two (when populated with 4x 4TB WD Red HDDs) by the tiniest of margins, but it isn’t really till you entertain the idea of enterprise HDDs or drives larger than 10TB that you need to worry about ambient sound around these two systems. Both the DS423+ and TS-464 can have the rotations per minute (RPM) of their fans changed manually or left on automatic as the system changes the internal cooling to ensure maximum efficiency.

QNAP TS-464 NAS	Synology DS423+ NAS

Overall, the design of the Synology DS423+ is still the better-looking system of the two and although I personally really like the copper and glossy look of the QNAP TS-464 NAS, I know that the bulk of users will want to ‘set up and forget’ their NAS, so these aesthetic design choices are less important to them. Equally, although the QNAP fan has the potential to cool its respective system much more, I think the Synology features a better balance of active airflow and passive ventilation overall. The QNAP still wins pretty big on its inclusion of a USB 3.2 Gen 2 One Touch Copy button enabled port for faster and more manual backup options (as well as still allow automated and connection-triggered backups as the Synology), but overall on points, this round belongs to the Synology DS423+ NAS.

QNAP TS-464 versus Synology DS423+ NAS – Internal Hardware

This is an area where you really see how both brands focus their priorities on the solutions they offer, as well as how the components common to NAS have evolved in the 2 years between their respective releases. The Synology DS423+ arrives with a familiar architecture to it’s predecessor (the DS420+) and is a fairly tried and tested formula by the brand. Synology was the first company to introduce NVMe SSD storage bays into desktop NAS systems around 5 years ago (something that QNAP has only really been catching up on in the last 2 YEARS). Likewise, Synology has made a few very brand-specific decisions in their system architecture that this rather more proprietary brand is often keen to implement. For example, the default DDR4 memory inside (2666Mhz SODIMM) is actually soldered to the main internal board (4x 256MB Modules), with an additional empty memory slot to allow an additional 4GB Synology-branded memory module. As the DS423+ has a CPU that has a maximum 8GB of memory, this is an oddly artificial limitation that results in the DS420+ only allowing 6GB of max memory, an odd move that is perhaps done out of system PCI/Bandwidth, rather than any kind of manufacturer restriction. The QNAP features a newer gen CPU (as you would expect after the later release) and this CPU allows up to 16GB of memory (4GB in the default model) across two upgradable slots. Likewise, returning to those M.2 NVMe slots, both system feature 2 bays that can be used for SSD storage upgrades, although both the DS423+ and TS-464 support SSD caching (when a pool of SSDs is used to speed up data write/read in conjunction with the larger HDD RAID array), Synology ONLY RECENTLY allowed NVMe Storage Pools on their platform, whereas QNAP  has allowed NVMes as standalone storage pools, for app booting, running the OS from and even their own special internal tiering system known as QTier. This is the first of several key differences between the QNAP TS-464 and Synology DS423+ NAS that show the divide in hardware between these units.

Model	QNAP TS-464	Synology DS423+
Price	£559               $650              €675	£508               $549              €569
Storage Media Support	4x SATA, 2x m.2 NVMe 3×1 for Cache/Pools/QTier	4x SATA, 2x NVMe SSD Cache/Pool Bays
CPU Model	Intel N5105/N5095	Intel J4125
CPU Frequency & Cores	Quad-Core 2.0-2.9Ghz	Quad-Core 2.0-2.7Ghz
CPU Benchmark Score	CPU benchmark 4161	CPU benchmark 3006
Memory Default/Max	4-16GB SODIMM DDR4	2-6GB SODIMM DDR4 (4GB onboard)
PSU Power & Design	90W External PSU	100W External PSU
Physical Fans	1x 120m FAN	2x 92m FAN

Of course, the clearest difference that most PC builder-minded people are going to notice is the CPU. NAS systems are designed to be operational for days, weeks, months and even years at a time. Therefore, in order to maintain optimal performance, as well as lower power consumption and lessen the damage that long-term operation can inflict on a processor, the CPUs used in NAS are a great deal more modest. In the case of the Synology DS423+ and QNAP TS-464 NAS, they feature Intel Celeron processors, each featuring an embedded graphics component (allowing graphical operations, multimedia handling and visual data to be handled by a specialized area of the processor), quad-core architecture and a base level clock speed of 2.0Ghz that can be burst (turbo/increased when needed). However, the newer generation N5105/N5095 CPU in the QNAP is able to reach a higher overall clock speed and also is more efficient (i.e uses a little less hardware resources to get a task done than it would take on the J4125 typically, so, therefore, can do more tasks overall when the full CPU power is utilized). Indeed, CPUBenchmark rated the newer CPU 30%+ higher in it’s scoring than the J4125 (again, as you would expect for a CPU released more than a year later by Intel), so this processor means that more can be done on the QNAP (in like for like tasks) and also this CPU allows a greater range of hardware to be built into the system. CPUs are one of the largest quantifying factors of how a NAS is built and this is because they can only handle a certain amount of connected hardware (storage bays, ports, expansion slots, etc) when connected to a larger controller/motherboard. This is commonly referred to as the # of PCI lanes and the chipset used in the build of the system. Because this newer Intel N5105 / N5095 CPU has more lanes to use at once than the J4125, it allows the newer NAS drive to have more hardware.

QNAP TS-464 NAS – Intel N5105/N5095 CPU

Synology DS423+ NAS – Intel J4125 CPU

These additional CPU resources, as well as the increased maximum memory and flexibility of how the M.2 NVMe SSD slots can be used ultimately mean that in terms of internal hardware, the newer released QNAP TS-464 wins over the Synology DS423+ NAS. It is worth remembering that the M.2 NVMe SSD slots on the QNAP TS-464 are PCIe Gen 3 x1 (down to the Celeron CPU still not having anywhere near the scope in it’s flexibility that the likes of an Intel Core, Ryzen or Xeon might have) and will bottleneck at 1,000MB/s, but this is still better than nothing and there is still the lingering question of the Gen 2 slots on the DS423+ being 2×2 or 2×4 – which will potentially limit the M.2 NVMes on the DS423+ further still. So the QNAP still seems to have a better balance of NVMe SSD support in its architecture overall.

Synology DS423+ or QNAP TS-464 NAS – Ports & Connections

Now ports and connections on the Synology DS423+ and QNAP TS-464 NAS is an area that is INCREDIBLY diverse in it’s approach by either brand. Once again, the reasons clearly to do with the CPU choice and position on their respective brand portfolios, but also the brand’s own decisions in build architecture/priorities still massively continue to be a contributing factor here. The Synology DS423+ NAS certainly comes across as the weaker of the two here in its connectivity and although a lot of the QNAP’s advancements in connectivity could be described as ‘future upgrades and simply facilitating extras or addons’, it still manages to provide a greater deal of connectivity to the day 1 user than the Synology system here. The port(s) that almost certainly will be the one that jumps out immediately on each system is the network connections. The DS423+ NAS arrives with 2x 1GbE ports which, although allowing link aggregation to create 2GbE with a smart switch, was still a little underwhelming in 2023 when released and looking increasingly out of step with modern network tech in 2024 (as we had already started seeing 2.5GbE arriving at the same price as 1GbE with a number of client hardware devices in 2020). The newer QNAP TS-464 features 2x 2.5GbE (so 5GbE via link aggregation and a supported switch) which now that some ISPs and budget switch manufacturers are providing affordable 2.5GbE solutions, will be incredibly useful. Then the is the additional PCIe upgrade slot on the QNAP NAS that allows upgrades towards 10GbE, dual-port 10GbE cards and even combo cards to add 10G and further M.2  NVMe bays via a single card. Again, there ARE upgrades and not something in the baseline model, but you can not argue with the future-proofing available here. Additionally, the DS923+ NAS released in December 2022 had the option to upgrade to 10GbE – something hugely absent here in the eyes of many on this 4xSATA and 2xNVMe DS423+ NAS. There is simply no avoiding that the 2023 released DS423+ looks a little dated in 2024, in large part to those 1GbE ports are something of a limiting factor.

Model	QNAP TS-464	Synology DS423+
Network Ports	2x 2.5GbE	2x 1GbE
USB 3.2 Ports	2x USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10Gb)	2x USB 3.2 Gen 1 (5Gb)
USB 2.0 Ports	2x USB 2.0	0
HDMI Ports	1x HDMI 2.0 4K 60FPS	n/a
PCIe Upgrade Slots	PCIe Gen 3×2 Slot (2Gb/s)	n/a

After the network and PCIe differences that favour the TS-464, the distance between the 2023 and 2022 NAS hardware architecture here is further extended. The Synology DS423+ features a further USB 3.2 Gen 1 (5Gb/s) port, but LACKS the option to upgrade it’s storage down the line with an expansion (such as with the eSATA port on the DS920+ and DS923+ NAS supporting the DX517 official expansion). QNAP counters this on the TS-464 with the inclusion of another USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10Gb/s) port, as well as some (obviously less useful) USB 2.0 ports. These USB 2.0 Ports are primarily designed to be used in conjunction with the optional visual output (HDMI 2.0 4k 60FPS) on the QNAP as a KVM (Keyboard, video and mouse) setup with the included parallel HD Station application and its tool. The HDMI and direct interface of the QNAP is still pretty niche as a service on this system, but it has a number of useful multimedia, surveillance and VM utilities that can be quite impressive. Expansions on the TS-464 are more diverse than the 5-Bay DX517 on the DS423+ (which again, is NOT supported anyway), with QNAP offering 2, 4, 6, 8 and 12-Bay expansion chassis (arriving in JBOD or hardware RAID enabled) that connect over USB or an inclusive PCIe card. Overall, it comes as no surprise that in terms of hardware, the QNAP TS-464 still takes the first place, as the Synology DS423+ (like most of the brand’s solutions) is prioritizes the DSM platform and it’s tools/services over the hardware. Let’s discuss the software on each of these brands.

QNAP TS-464 or the Synology DS423+ NAS – Software

When you are choosing to buy a Synology or QNAP NAS, it is always worth bearing in mind that you are not just buying a bunch of hardware, but you are actually getting a fully-featured software solution. Both the Synology DS423+ and QNAP TS-464 arrive with each brand’s premium NAS software and services platform, DSM and QTS respectively. Both of these platforms include a traditional operating system level of accessibility and control, that can be accessed via pretty much any web browser or desktop OS, as well as numerous tailored mobile client applications. The Synology DSM platform is a lot more comparable in design and control with Mac OSX and is by far the more user-friendly option of the two. The QNAP QTS platform is a lot more comparable to Android in its initial GUI and then more like Windows in it’s navigation, arriving as the option with a greater deal of configuration and control, but with a steeper learning curve. Another big difference between QTS and DSM is how they present their services, with QNAP providing a larger degree of support of 3rd party applications (both in the app center and in the configuration of their own range of 1st party applications. Synology DSM on the other hand proves a larger and more impressive range of fist party tools that are designed to replace/improve upon the 3rd party tools you might be using, with many of it’s applications being comparable to top tier 3rd party paid tools in the market (the Synology collaboration suite, the Surveillance Station application and pretty much everything in Synology Drive, just as a start). The QNAP platform also, in it’s efforts to be as widely compatible and configurable as possible, occasionally stems into over-complexity and risks the user tripping over itself as it tries to manage the larger scale of configuration Whereas, although the Synology DSM platform may seem a pinch more closed and fixed, it manages to prevent the users from accidentally ruining their own storage system. Here is a full breakdown of the key applications that are included with the QNAP TS-464 and Synology DS423+, broken down into categories:

	QNAP TS-464	Synology DS423+
Browser Support	Supports all Browsers	Supports all Browsers
	Browser File Management	Browser File Management
	Photo/Music/Video Tools	Photo/Music/Video Tools
	Multimedia Console	Synology Drive
	AI Photo Recognition	AI Photo Recognition
	Edge m.2 Coral TPU Support
Storage Services
	SED Drive Support	SED Drive Support
	QTier	Synology Hybrid RAID
	Hybrid Mount	Hybrid Share
	ISCSI Target/LUN	ISCSI Target/LUN
	vJBOD
	Snapshots	Snapshots
	SSD Cache (Read/Write/Both)	SSD Cache (Read/Write/Both)
	Cloud Sync / QSync	Cloud Sync
	Ex-FAT is Free	Fast RAID Rebuild
	RAID Resync control	RAID Resync control
	Secure Erase	Acrtive Backup Suite
	Lots of Expansions (TR/TL)	Hyper Backup
	HBS 3	Synology CMS
	Qfiling and Qsirch
Business Applications
	QVR Pro – 8 Camera Licenses (+USB Camera Support)	Surveillance Station – 2 Camera Licenses
	Virtualization Station	Virtual Machine Manager
	Ubuntu Linux Station 18/20	Docker Support
	Container Station	Active Backup 365 & Workspace
	Hypervisor Protector	Synology Office, Chat, Calendar
	QMailAgent	Synology Mail / MailPlus
	HD Station	Synology C2 and Services
	BoXafe
	Security Councillor	Security Councillor
	Malware Remover	Synology VPN Plus
	McAfee Anti-Virus Scanning	Log and Notification Center
	QVPN	Auto Blocking on SSH, Telnet etc
	Log and Notification Center	256 bit Encryption
	Auto Blocking on SSH, Telnet etc	2 Step Authentication
	256 bit Encryption	Firewall App
	2 Step Authentication	Access Protection and Allow/Deny list
	Firewall App	Synology Secure SignIn
	Access Protection and Allow/Deny list	Synology C2 Password

As you can see, both NAS brands provide similar levels of software, services and features, but they are presented in very different ways. Once again, I cannot emphasise enough how much more the QNAP platform is configurable but ALSO how it can often give you too much configuration and risk overwhelming less experienced users. The Synology DSM platform, for all its comparative rigidicy, is still overall the better software experience and you definitely see that Software over hardware priority from the brand clearly here. I have made long, LONG reviews on each of the NAS brand’s and their software platforms, which you can watch below for much, much more information on their respective strengths and weaknesses.

QNAP QTS 5.0 Review	Synology DSM 7 Review

Ultimately, it will come as no surprise that Synology come out on top in terms of software compared with the QNAP. That is not to say that the QNAP QTS platform is not good, it really, really is and some of the applications that are included for home and business users are often genuinely impressive, unique and provide facilities to the end-user that are wholly unavailable on any other NAS platform (eg Multimedia Console as a single portal media manager, the 2-3 Click VM storages and repository that are available in Virtualization Station, Linux Station and Container Staton or the QuMagie AI-powered tool that is able to cover a greater range of subjects and categories that any other NAS photo tool out there). However, the QNAP QTS platform is not quite as polished, as user-friendly and as responsive as the Synology DSM platform overall. If you want a better idea how these two NAS software platforms compare directly (i.e face to face), then you can check out my DSM vs QTS video below:

Alternatively, if you are NOT interested in using the software included with your NAS, there is always the option to install TrueNAS – Something that is surprisingly easy on the QNAP NAS (see video below):

QNAP TS-464 or the Synology DS423+ NAS – Conclusion

Ultimately, choosing between the Synology DS423+ and QNAP TS-464 largely comes down to a question of hardware vs software. The QNAP TS-464 is by a long distance the more advanced in hardware in practically every way (thanks of course to the brand’s focus in this direction) which leads to that system having a tremendously large scope in terms of what you can do with it, how far the storage can be expanded and how upgradable the system can be. The QNAP is the better future-proof hardware choice and despite the Synology NAS platform having a stronger software platform, it still has a vast array of software and services available in QTS nonetheless. For those that are hardware-focused or want a NAS to support their existing 3rd party client tools and apps, the QNAP TS-464 is by and larger the better choice. The Synology DS423+ NAS on the other hand, despite its 2-3 year older hardware (already premiered in the 2020 released DS920+) and arguably safer/sensible stance on hardware in general, is still a great NAS that will likely becoming more popular and palatable in the 4-Bay NAS market as the pricing becomes a bit more flexible (as many will still weigh the DS423+ with the older DS920+ that still has stock floating around and opt for the latter). Add to that the core strength and first-party focus of DSM leading to this hardware+software solution providing you with a huge array of polished and premium feeling tools at your disposal. As long as you are happy to do things ‘Synology’s way’ and are looking for an easy to use system that will not tax the end-users brain, you will find Synology the better software choice overall.

QNAP TS-464 NAS – Spring/Summer 2022		Synology DS423+ NAS – Spring 2023
Reasons to Buy it? Better Hardware inside and out More Expansion/Upgrade Options Able to run more simultaneous apps/clients at once Faster USB Ports (10Gb/s) Larger bandwidth PCIe upgrade slot (PCIe 3×2 vs 2×2/2×4) Higher CPU Frequency, Efficiency & Proficiency M.2 SSD Useable Tiered Storage Option		Reasons to Buy it? Much more user-friendly Synology Hybrid RAID for flexibility Overall Better 1st Party Software Better Surveillance Access/Streaming Lower Price Point as it in the SOHO part of Syn’s Portfolio Quieter Operation First Party Accessories (HDD, SSD, Memory, etc) Available
Buy on Amazon	Where to Buy	Buy on Amazon	Where to Buy

 

Les mini PC sont très en vogue depuis quelque temps, grâce à leur faible encombrement, leur puissance et leur faible consommation énergétique. Depuis quelques semaines, j’ai eu l’occasion de tester le nouveau mini PC de chez Geekom : le XT12 Pro. Ce modèle ressemble très fortement au modèle A7 testé précédemment. Cependant, il y a quand même quelques petites différences visibles et d’autres plus importantes sous le capot. Dans cet article, nous examinerons de près les caractéristiques de ce mini PC dont le prix démarre à partir de 749€. Test du Geekom XT12 Pro CPU Intel Core i9-12900H (Alder Lake) : […]
Lire la suite : Test du Geekom XT12 Pro, mini PC à base d’Intel de 12ème génération (Alder Lake)

AOOSTAR GEM10 SSD NAS Review – SUPER COMPACT FLASH!

With so, SO many Chinese players entering the OS-free NAS scene in the last couple of years, several names have bubbled to the top (natural selection in IT?) and one name that is making big waves is Aoostar! At a glance, you could easily lump them into the ever  growing pile of ‘mini PC’ companies that spam your Facebook pages, AliExpress and eBay. But what has set them apart is their specifically NAS-tailored development of their server releases. The mini PC crossover from SoC/Mobile scale processors of your favourite Intel Core or Ryzen processor is nothing new, but the growing market for NAS systems that need to spread the focus towards storage and network connectivity is all too often a leap that separates the men from the boys – and what has make Aoostar a player in this arena it would appear. Back in December ’23, I reviewed the Aoostar R1 and Aoostar R7, and I was massively impressed by what these affordable UnRAID/TrueNAS-ready boxes were achieving! Today is the turn of the Aoostar GEM10 – An m.2 NVMe Flash NAS System that features Gen4 SSD architecture, USB4, 32GB DDR5 Memory, 2.5G and oCulink. So, does the Aoostar GEM10 NAS deserve your hot data? Let’s find out in today’s review.

Where to Buy? Aoostar GEM10 3x Gen4x4 M.2 NVMe NAS (AliExpress $465) – HERE Aoostar GEM10 3x Gen4x4 M.2 NVMe NAS (7940HS Amazon) – HERE Aoostar GEM12 3x Gen4x4 M.2 NVMe NAS (7840HS Amazon) – HERE Aoostar GEM10 3x Gen4x4 M.2 NVMe NAS (6800H Amazon) – HERE

AOOSTAR GEM10 SSD NAS Review – Quick Conclusion

The Aoostar GEM10 is making some pretty bold hardware promises, given it’s scale! The ‘dazzle’ of how powerful mini PCs have been getting in the last few years has definitely become a little duller, as it grows more common. But given how Aoostar has merged this into a much more NAS-tailored system in a meaningful way that clearly cost some $ at the R&D level needs to be appalled. This is not a small SSD NAS with is covered in Mini-PC caveats – this IS a NAS and one that I think might well be the most powerful for it’s scale in the market right now (especially at $499+). That said, it certainly ain’t perfect! Network scalability is a mixed bag, the way memory has been approached (in architecture and ECC support) is debatable, the CPU choices in the range of 4 with the differing process and PCIe layouts is a big baffling and the full utility of oCuLink in this NAS context is still far from fleshed out. BUT, There are prosumer concerns for the more technically minded and IT sophisticated, which I think does not make up the bulk of this device’s target demographic. I struggle to call this system turn-key (due to it’s lack of an included NAS OS, even a 3rd party one, as seen in the UnRAID license-ready LincStation N1), but it’s certainly miles more user-friendly than full DiY. I have often spoken of the growing middle ground between full NAS DiY from the ground up and full ‘out the box’ turnkey from brands like Synology and QNAP. The Aoostar GEM10 is a FANTASTIC example of the kind of product that can evolve from this – well build, powerful, 3rd party OS ready and a step above the churned-out Chinese budget fodder found elsewhere in the ‘pre-built OS free NAS sector’. Recommended – IF you have the time to set it up right!

DEAL WATCH – Is It On Offer Right Now? These Offers are Checked Daily

AOOSTAR GEM10 SSD NAS Review – Design

The design of The GEM10 is a little beefier than most mini PCs (though, obviously much smaller than comparable desktop NAS devices running on MITX boards), and a lot of this space is needed for the chunky cooling system internally.

The GEM10 arrives at just 10.7cm x 10.7cm x 6cm in size and just a little under 1KG when fully populated with SSDs. The retail kit includes an external power adapter, instruction manual (which arrives in 2 languages and is a little space tbh), mini screwdriver and thermal pads. Depending on whether you purchase the version with SSD and 32GB DDR5 Media, this will change the # of thermal pads inc.

There is ventilation on practically every side of the device – which given the 8-core 4.7Ghz , 16 thread architecture of the device and it’s three Gen4 M.2 slots should NOT come as a big surprise! This tony little chassis has a lot crammed in and the potential for temperature-related system bottlenecks and throttling is MASSIVE!

Alongside the passive ventilation panels on all 4 sides and the top section (above where the CPU is located), the system also features who internal active cooling fans built into the top and base. Even a casual check through the vented panels reveals the internal heatsink of that CPU. This is a decent amount of cooling provisioning for the scale of the system, even for a Ryzen SoC like this one, for when SSD NAS operations truly kick off!

The base fan is not silent, but it manages to be pretty mild (in the grad scheme of things), as it is parallel with the desk when deployed. I will say that full control of this fan (and the CPU fan) is debatable, as the system does not arrive with NAS software (no Aoostor 1st party NAS OS, or an included UnRAID/TrueNAS/OMV license either). So, how much control you have over these cooling measures is going to be debatable.

For such a compact chassis, you can definitely feel the weight of the internals. The external casing is largely plastic, which I was a little surprised by. Nevertheless, you cannot fault that the brand has clearly factored cooling and ventilation in to their device, whilst still keeping an eye on keeping it fantastically compact. Let’s discuss the connectivity of the Aoostar GEM10.

AOOSTAR GEM10 SSD NAS Review – Ports and Connections

Credit where it is due – Aoostar has done a 10/10 job here to get as many ports featured on this device as they have, given the scale of the GEM10. The ports are located on the front and rear panel, and although there are the usual ‘mini PC’ telltale ones (audio in/out for example, that has practically no use in traditional NAS outside of a locally deployed VM), I will definitely give them credit for keeping pretty much everything else very NAS friendly – with a fun little twist at the end!

The ports are largely separated into network ports and storage ports (at least when you use NAS software) with the front featuring 2x USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10Gb/s), USB 4 (40Gbps) and an Oculink port (more on that later).

The rear on the other hand features two 2.5GbE ports (so, a little good news / bad news there), twin HDMI 4K/8K outputs and two more USB 3.2 Gen 2 10Gb ports. So, although this mini NAS is a little more on the expensive side compared to other Mini SSD NAS that have been launched from China in the last 18 months, I will say that this device features some of the very ports hardware ports out there I have been at this price point.

We are starting to see more and more USB4 NAS-ready devices arrive on the market from China, as the booming industry for NAS-ready Mini ITX and Micro ITX boards scene grows more and more. However, once again, the extent to which you can use this functionality is hugely NAS OS-dependent. So, although I am willing to bet that most NAS software you install on this will happily give you USB 4 speeds on a connected external SSD drive, I do not think we will see this for use as a direct PC/Mac-to-NAS connection anytime soon – QNAP still dominates the market on Thunderbolt NAS devices that allow such a feature.

The GEM10 arriving with two 2.5G ports is mixed news really. Obviously, these two (even if your NAS OS of choice supports LAG, Trunking, SMB MultiChannel or even Load Balancing) mean a total network connection potential of 550MB/s or so (half a gigabyte) network throughput, so these are going to be massively oversaturated with even a single SSD inside. That said, there are still a lot of users who will be happy with this (at least you have 2x ports for failover) as they prioritize internal performance, IOPS and throughput for complex databases, VMs, containers and more. Given the scale of the system, you won’t be surprised to learn that a PCIe slot is simply not available for any kind of NIC upgrade card. You CAN use 2.5G/5G-to-USB adapters (again, NAS OS dependant) as the system has several USB ports available, but the system also arrives with another trick up its sleeve – oCuLink.

OCuLink is a relatively new kind of technology that allows the benefits and scalability of PCIe to be available over an external connection. Hotswapping and plug-n-play is still not in anyway advised, but it does mean that the GEM10 has the potential to add PCIe-connected hardware upgrades (via supports Oculink-to-PCIe enclosures). oCuLink is predominantly associated with eGPU upgrades to allow the power of graphics cards to be added to systems with ease, but the potential to use this for improved network connectivity with 10G/25G/100G cards is MASSIVE!

Noise-wise, I cannot say that the GEM10 is silent by any means. Because of the two FANS inside (base and CPU fan) during peak periods, the ambient noise was noticeable. It was still very much on a small scale and the only really problematic at less than 1 metre distance, but they were definitely there! In idle, the fans were non-existent in noise and I had to check a couple of times to see that it was on! But when the SSDs were in heavy write (as well as during the initial 15 secs of boot), the fans were around 32-35 db.

The power use of the Aoostar GEM10 was pretty reasonable. Obviously, we have to factor in that this is an exclusively M.2 NVMe system and therefore this does seemingly scale the power use down, but this is still a pretty beefy CPU inside (comparative to the non SoC version of course). Idle power use was a conservative 10-12W (this was after the initial boot, running UnRAID and then the system was left to go into IDLE, with all drives in idle).

During heavy active use (UnRAID, accessing all drives and the CPU at 50-60% utilization) the power use was at 34-38W. Had this been a SATA HDD system, it would likely have hit the 50-60W scale easily. Pretty good for the size of the system.

Keep in mind that the CPU supports power adjustment at BIOS and, depending on your NAS OS choice, could result in even better power consumption numbers in your own bespoke setup. Overall, I am not going to say that the GEM10 gives you anything incredible in the connectivity department – but I will say that it is a complete gamechanger when compared to what is on offer from the bulk of Mini-PC NAS hybrid devices in the market. Aoostar have clearly spent serious time and R&D to finesse their NAS range (the GEM10, GEM12, R1 and R7 series are great examples) that are designed to be more than just a mini PC that is pretending to be a NAS. The GEM10 here has the kind of connectivity that I would love to see on more traditional turnkey NAS devices. But what good is all that connectivity, without the right H/W inside to fulfil it! Let’s discuss the internal hardware.

AOOSTAR GEM10 SSD NAS Review – Internal Hardware

The base of the system come away with the removal of four base screws. Doing so reveals the individual storage bays, the WiFi 6 wireless NIC structure and the base cooling and active fan provisioning.

The base fan is encased in its own panel and the intervening panel is a metal plate that sits directly connected to the M.2 SSDs. This is pretty smart (in a way) as it ensures that the heat being generated by the SSDs (Gen4 m.2 SSDs remember) will be passed (via the thermal pads) directly into the metal panel and dissipated into the airflow of the fan. Not an unusual method, but a smart tradeoff of the limited space and creative cooling.

The system arrives with three gen 4×4 SSD bays (according to the specifications tables, but there is room for debate, given the 4 different CPU configurations that are available in the Ryzen 7 7840HS, 7735H, 6800H and Ryzen 9 7940HS), so I will be digging into the BIOS and SSH later on to check. Plus, it becomes clear wh the included thermal pads that the GEM10 arrives with were so thin – there is very VERY little space between the individual M.2 bays and the metal fan-assisted panel. You can FORGET any kind of m.2 heatsinks in between, even particularly aggressive heatshields on SSDs are going to be a little tight.

If you purchase the pre-populated 1TB model, it arrives via a BIWIN 1TB Gen 3×4 SSD (available here for specs on Amazon). On the one hand, having an OS drive is always going to be handy, and in the case of some NAS OS such as TrueNAS, you need a clearly separate operating system OS drive target. But the drive being Gen3 means that you are already potentially underusing that Gen4 slot (you only have x3 total!). Additionally, if you plan on NAS software such as UnRAID (running from an USB) it means that you will need to replace this drive with something a little more uniform and higher performance soon-ish! Just a note to keep in mind when buying a pre-configured version of the GEM10.

Interestingly, another move by Aoostar here to manoeuver so much connectivity into this slim size (and be as efficient as possible with the 20 lanes afforded to that SoC Ryzen AMD chip) is that alongside those 3 Gen4 slots, they have added an adapter into a 4th slot that separates into a wireless NIC adapter slot and into that oCuLINK connector on a riser board. Obviously, this does bring up the question of removing the adapter card to remove wireless connectivity and the oCuLink, in favour of a 4th SSD. That’s one to ponder, for sure!

The WiFi 6 card is a fairly common $20-30 AX200NGW Intel adapter, that has 2×2 connectivity via two antennae that run from the card to two sides of the enclosure – so 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz, and 800Mb and 1.2Gb wireless bands afforded to you. Once again, the NAS OS you use makes all the difference and very few NAS OS’ actually support wireless connectivity in both connections (i.e to attach the NAS to your WiFi network AND connecting to the NAS over WiFi directly as it’s on AP.

Accessing the underside of this board, to access that CPU proved very difficult, as it would undermine the later tests in this article (so I will be coming back to this at a later date and/or in the review). The CPU in the model I reviewed was the AMD Ryzen 7 6800HS mobile SoC and 32GB of memory (pre-attached via individual flash cells – no upgrading). The R7 6800HS integrates all eight cores based on the Zen 3+ microarchitecture. They are clocked at 3.2 (guaranteed base clock) to 4.7 GHz (Turbo) and support SMT / Hyperthreading (16 threads). The chip is manufactured on the modern 6 nm TSMC process. The HS variant offers a 10 W reduced TDP and therefore a lower sustained performance than the H version.

AMD Ryzen 7 6800HS

Product Family

AMD Ryzen Processors

Product Line

AMD Ryzen 7 Mobile Processors with Radeon Graphics

# of CPU Cores

8

# of Threads

16

Max. Boost Clock

Up to 4.7GHz

Base Clock

3.2GHz

L1 Cache

512KB

L2 Cache

4MB

L3 Cache

16MB

Default TDP

35W

Processor Technology for CPU Cores

TSMC 6nm FinFET

Unlocked for Overclocking

No

CPU Socket

FP7

Max. Operating Temperature (Tjmax)

95°C

*OS Support

Windows 11 – 64-Bit Edition

Windows 10 – 64-Bit Edition

RHEL x86 64-Bit

Ubuntu x86 64-Bit

*Operating System (OS) support will vary by manufacturer

PCI Express® Version

PCIe® 4.0

System Memory Type

DDR5

Memory Channels

2

Max Memory Speed

4x1R

DDR5-4800

4x1R

LPDDR5-6400

Graphics Model

AMD Radeon 680M

Graphics Core Count

12

Graphics Frequency

2200 MHz

The new Zen 3+ is a refresh of the Zen 3 architecture and should not offer a lot of changes. The chip itself however, offers a lot of new features, like support for USB 4 (40 Gbps), PCI-E Gen 4, DDR5-4800MT/s or LPDDR5-6400MT/s, WiFi 6E, Bluetooth LE 5.2, DisplayPort 2, and AV1 decode. A big novelty is the integrated GPU Radeon 680M, that is now based on the RDNA2 architecture and offers 12 CUs at up to 2.2 GHz. It should be the fastest iGPU at the time of announcement. This Ryzen 7 has a default TDP of 35 W (also known as the long-term power limit). Which is definitely too high to allow for passively cooled designs. The CPU is cooled by a pre-attached double copper pipe radiator that fans out into the edges of the case.

The scope of this processor is great and exactly the kind of processor you would want if you want to have fast and stable performance from a RAID’d group of SSDs in such a compact system. The fixed memory, although of a decent amount at 32GB (4x 8GB Cells, attached to PCB, not SODIMM), is annoying that it is fixed – additionally, there have been mixed reports online supporting the overclocked speed potential of the LPDDR5-6400 in this configuration.

Plus, there is a lot of ‘grey’ when it comes to ECC support here too – as the 6800HS DOES support ECC memory, but it is very much BIOS, physical config and OS dependant to a degree – so ECC is only really going to be a ‘thing’ here if Aoostar have included it! All that aside, if you are less interested in hardware tinkering and OC’ing the architecture and just looking for fast and stable performance in the default config 0 this has ALOT of the building blocks in hardware that you would want to see on a competent flash NAS.

AOOSTAR GEM10 SSD NAS Review – Software and Performance

The Aoostar GEM10 NAS unit I received arrived with Windows 11 on board and an included OS SSD (this drive is available included, alongside the 32GB pre-attached memory). This software will almost certainly be abandoned after purchase, in favour of the system having UnRAID, TrueNAS, OMV, etc installed by the end user, but whilst it was there, I took a moment to check the Geekbench scores for the CPU and GPU. The GEM10 scored a highly respectable 2039/9435 Single/multi core rating.

The GPU score (something that many plex/vm/container users are going to be concerned with) was pretty good for a smaller class system, at 29336.

Digging into the terminal/SSH we were able to learn a little more about the PCIe allocation across the system. That SSD that was included with the device in m.2 NVMe SSD Bay #1 was indeed a PCIe Gen 4×4 slot, without any kind of downgrade in place – nice to see!

Likewise, slots 2 and 3 were also both 4×4 and not downgrade – surprisingly rare in 2024, with so many flash systems in the market needing to lower the speeds of m.2 bays for reasons of resource use, bifurcation or just heat generation.

Performance testing on these bays was reasonable, with the Seagate Ironwolf 525 SSD (with a reported maximum performance of 5GB/5,000MB/s) hitting in excess of 4GB/s Read on sustained/repeated 1GB file tests.

Likewise, the maximum reported write performance of this drive of 4.4GB/s / 4,400MB/s by Seagate, was not too far off the 3.85GB/s average performance that the drive reached in the GEM10 in sustained 1GB write testing.

Then I tested the performance of copying data between 2 of the M.2 NVMe SSDs. This ended up hitting quite a low number at 1.155GB/s. This was not unusual (shared channel/lane etc vs system overhead etc). but I would have liked/hoped to have at least seen this hit closer to 2GB at least. Still not, terrible, just not great.

The top performance you should be expecting will be MASSIVELY influenced by the drives you chose to use and the NAS OS you choose to install. In the UnRAID and Seagate 525 Ironwolf setup I use, the power use, noise, performance and response times I observed were all pretty solid. But there’s plenty of room for improvement/error in other configurations compared with a standard turnkey solution, especially at this scale.

I reached out to Aoostar on some of the areas of this GEM10 Review that users frequently asked about with Mini PC styled NAS devices, and Aoostar was able to provide the answers to the most recurring questions below

Q – Why Does the Aoostar GEM10 not have ECC Memory?

A – On the subject of ECC, currently 95% of the mini computers on the market don’t support ECC memory, it’s not that we don’t want to get it that way, it’s restricted by some part of the authority, so it leads to most of the mini computers on the market don’t support ECC memory at the moment. However DDR5 does support on die ECC, which provide a similar level of data inconsistency protection.

Q – Why is the Aoostar GEM10 at a maximum 32GB of memory when the CPU supports more?

A – Unfortunately, there is no 64G of inlay RAM available at this scale and deployment, it’s not that we don’t want to do this configuration. If you want to use dual-channel DDR5 RAM like other models, then the size will be bigger, and it will not be able to meet the “mini size” we advertise. But the 32G RAM capacity is good enough for most uses

Q – With so many configurations of the GEM10 and GEM12 series, how does a buyer avoid confusion on what they need?

A – In view of your confusion about the configuration of the GEM10 series of CPUs, let me introduce you to the GEM10 series of CPUs: GEM10 AMD R7 6800H CPU (inlaid memory 32G); GEM10 AMD R7 7735H CPU (inlaid memory 16G, currently discontinued); GEM10 AMD R7 7840HS CPU (32G of inlay memory); GEM10 AMD R9 78940HS CPU (32G of inlay memory). The best price/performance ratio is the GEM10 6800H CPU, but as a company that puts a lot of money into R&D and seeks to produce cost-effective products, the GEM10 Intel N100 SKU (32G of inlaid memory) is already ready, but we are still testing it for the engineering machine, and it should be officially launched in a few months.

Q – Why does the GEM10 use USB4 and not Thunderbolt4?

A – About Thunderbolt and USB4 ports. As we all know, the Thunderbolt interface is Intel’s project, so they produce their own mini-computers are equipped with the Thunderbolt interface. USB4 interface is more open, AMD does not have a proprietary interface of the project, and they, as a competitor to INTEL, want to get the authorization of the Thunderbolt interface is in fact very difficult, which is why the market is equipped with the AMD mini-computer are USB4 interface! . Our company will also launch the INTEL series of minicomputers next month, but I still don’t know whether the project team will license these minicomputers with Thunderbolt interfaces or USB4 interfaces

 

AOOSTAR GEM10 SSD NAS Review – Conclusion and Verdict

The Aoostar GEM10 is making some pretty bold hardware promises, given it’s scale! The ‘dazzle’ of how powerful mini PCs have been getting in the last few years has definitely become a little duller, as it grows more common. But given how Aoostar has merged this into a much more NAS-tailored system in a meaningful way that clearly cost some $ at the R&D level needs to be appalled. This is not a small SSD NAS with is covered in Mini-PC caveats – this IS a NAS and one that I think might well be the most powerful for it’s scale in the market right now (especially at $499+). That said, it certainly ain’t perfect! Network scalability is a mixed bag, the way memory has been approached (in architecture and ECC support) is debatable, the CPU choices in the range of 4 with the differing process and PCIe layouts is a bit baffling and the full utility of oCuLink in this NAS context is still far from fleshed out. BUT, There are prosumer concerns for the more technically minded and IT sophisticated, which I think does not make up the bulk of this device’s target demographic. I struggle to call this system turn-key (due to it’s lack of an included NAS OS, even a 3rd party one, as seen in the UnRAID license-ready LincStation N1), but it’s certainly miles more user-friendly than full DiY. I have often spoken of the growing middle ground between full NAS DiY from the ground up and full ‘out the box’ turnkey from brands like Synology and QNAP. The Aoostar GEM10 is a FANTASTIC example of the kind of product that can evolve from this – well build, powerful, 3rd party OS ready and a step above the churned-out chinese budget fodder found elsewhere in the ‘pre-built OS free NAS sector’. Recommended – IF you have the time to set it up right!

PROS of the GEM10 Flash NAS

CONs of the GEM10 Flash NAS

Insanely Compact, especially for the hardware configuration 8 cores and 16 threads to play with on an SSD NAS – Yum Yum Dual LAN Connectivity = failover USB 4 Support and 4x 10G USB oCuLink inclusion is unusual, but adds potential scalability 32GB LP Memory TONNES of cooling and ventilation No 3rd party NAS OS Locks or Limitations Gen 4 Architecture on the SSD Bays Scope to add a 4th M.2 SSD Bay (removing oCulink and WiFi6 Card)

Low Noise, but definitely not silent! ECC Support and Memory overclocking is debatable Confusion of CPU configurations

Where to Buy? Aoostar GEM10 3x Gen4x4 M.2 NVMe NAS (AliExpress $465) – HERE Aoostar GEM10 3x Gen4x4 M.2 NVMe NAS (7940HS Amazon) – HERE Aoostar GEM12 3x Gen4x4 M.2 NVMe NAS (7840HS Amazon) – HERE Aoostar GEM10 3x Gen4x4 M.2 NVMe NAS (6800H Amazon) – HERE

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER
[contact-form-7]
Join Inner Circle

This description contains links to Amazon. These links will take you to some of the products mentioned in today's content. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Visit the NASCompares Deal Finder to find the best place to buy this device in your region, based on Service, Support and Reputation - Just Search for your NAS Drive in the Box Below

Need Advice on Data Storage from an Expert?

Finally, for free advice about your setup, just leave a message in the comments below here at NASCompares.com and we will get back to you. Need Help? Where possible (and where appropriate) please provide as much information about your requirements, as then I can arrange the best answer and solution to your needs. Do not worry about your e-mail address being required, it will NOT be used in a mailing list and will NOT be used in any way other than to respond to your enquiry. [contact-form-7] TRY CHAT Terms and Conditions   Alternatively, why not ask me on the ASK NASCompares forum, by clicking the button below. This is a community hub that serves as a place that I can answer your question, chew the fat, share new release information and even get corrections posted. I will always get around to answering ALL queries, but as a one-man operation, I cannot promise speed! So by sharing your query in the ASK NASCompares section below, you can get a better range of solutions and suggestions, alongside my own.

WE LOVE COFFEE

 

Bonjour à tous, J’espère que vous allez bien. Pour ma part, tout se passe pour le mieux. J’ai un peu ralenti l’écriture sur Cachem ces dernières semaines. Entre les vacances et les jours fériés, je me suis octroyé quelques jours de déconnexion. Cependant, cela ne signifie pas que je vous ai oubliés… je vous assure. J’ai encore un peu de bricolage à faire et après cela, on repasse au rythme habituel 😉 Comme il y a  moins de nouveautés chez Synology, QNAP et Asustor… j’en ai profité pour sortir 2 tests de chez TerraMaster (le NAS F4-424 et le DAS […]
Lire la suite : Édito du 17 mai 2024

Asusor Reveal the Lockerstor Gen 3 NAS series in 4, 6, 8 and 10-Bay

With the recent reveal of the Asustor Flashstor Gen 2 and a recent refresh of a number of their cost-effective units being refreshed to Gen 2 versions, you would be forgiven for thinking that this slightly smaller brand in the world of NAS might have little more to offer in 2024. However, alongside the Flashstor Gen 2, Asustor have also revealed the Lockerstor Gen 3 – the 3rd iteration of their very popular Prosumer Desktop series (first launched back in 2020). Asustor has tended to scale up and double many elements of their devices with each refresh, and the Lockerstor Gen3 is no exception to this rule. Arriving in 4, 6, 8 and 10 Bay configurations, the AS68 series features a more raw performance-focused CPU, DDR5 ECC Memory, scaled-up network bandwidth and four faster M.2 SSD support. All the while arriving in the family enclosure design as it’s predecessors and supporting the full range of ADM’s software and services (with promises of ADM 5 rolling out later this year). Let’s discuss this new desktop HDD and M.2 NVMe SSD Hybrid NAS for 2024.

What Are the Hardware Specifications of the Asustor Lockerstor Gen 3 NAS Series?

The previous release in the Lockerstor series (the AS67 range) was an Intel Celeron base system that, although provided popular features such as integrated graphics opening the door to improved plex transcoding and Intel QuickSync , also reduced the available number of PCI lanes across the system architecture and also lowered the overall system performance potential notable. The Locksterstor Gen 3 sought to remedy this with a significantly more capable processor that provided much more power, more lanes to play with, Gen4 architecture and support of ECC memory – which in a system that features such a bulk of storage and m.2 SSD bays, is going to be very desirable! Let’s take a look at the reported internal specifications fo the Lockerstor Gen 3 NAS:

Model	Asustor Lockerstor Gen3 Series
Model	AS6804 / AS6806 / AS6808 / AS6810
CPU	AMD Ryzen Embedded V3C14 (2.3-3.8Ghz) Zen3 Processor
Integrated GFX	N/A
Cores and Threads	4 Cores / 8 Threads
TDP	15W (Configurable to 10-25W at CPU level TBC)
CPU LANES	20 Lanes, Gen4
MEMORY	TBC – But DDR5 and ECC Support Indicated (32GB TBC)
M.2 DRIVE SLOTS	x4 Gen 4×1 via a sister/riser card
HDD	4 / 6 / 8 / 10 SATA
MAXIMUM DRIVE BAYS WITH EXPANSION	Additional 8 Bays via Offical Expansion
SUPPORTS SINGLE VOLUME LARGER THAN 16TB

Choosing the right CPU for a NAS is, frankly, not easy! It would be SO easy to just lump in some beast desktop gamer PC processor, but the reality is that the CPU is a NAS that needs to be able to run 24×7, needs to be powerful enough to get the jobs done but at the same time not be TOO power hungry as it will cost a fortune to run.. oh.. and it needs to manage it’s temperature well and not get too hot that it throttles. Not enough? Oh it also needs to support ECC memory to ensure data integrity from things like bitrot. have plenty of cores and/or vCPUs for VM allocation and needs to be affordable. SERIOUSLY!!!

This is why the processor that the Lockerstor Gen3 arrives with is such a great choice! There will be those of you who will be disappointed in the lack of integrated graphics, but it’s worth highlighting that the Lockerstor Gen 3 does not seem to be ‘replacing’ the Gen 2 model currently (as well as no 2-Bay option in the Gen3 series), but instead expanding the range – so those that want GFX will have the Celeron version. but those looking for a compact and powerful workhorse system will have the Lockerstor Gen 3 version with its AMD Ryzen V3C14 processor to play with. This processor manages to crank to up to 3.8Ghz when needed, on it’s 4 core and 8 thread architecture (so, technically 8 virtual CPUs to play with on your containers and VMs). Likewise, die hard storage enthusiasts will be pleased to note that this CPU not only supports DDR5 memory but also ECC (Error Correction Code / Error Code Correction) up to 32GB. We are still yet to 100% confirm the base included level or memory and if it is soldered or SODIMM deployed, as well as the quantity included in the 6 and 12 Bay models respectively. Power consumption on this processor, despite it’s scale of capabilities, is also an impressively low 15 TDP according to AMD (with configuration possible to allow 15W and 25W TDP – but how much of this will translate to the Lockerstor Gen3 and ADM is still TBC). Also, a minor but important note, AMD have a fantastic reputation in their Embedded Ryzen series and this processor is slated for support till 2032, a HUGE change up for the 3-4yr support cycle by Intel in a number of their Celeron processors. Here is how that CPU is broken down in the specs:

Product Line	AMD Ryzen Embedded V3000 Series
Model	V3C14
Release Date	September 27, 2022
Market	Desktop
Architecture	Zen 3+ (Rembrandt)
Socket	AMD Socket FP7
Foundry	TSMC
Process Size	6 nm
Package	FP7r2
Cores	4
Threads	8
Base Frequency	2.3 GHz
Turbo Frequency	Up to 3.8 GHz
TDP	15 W (configurable between 10-25W)
Memory Support	DDR5, up to 4800 MT/s, Dual-channel with ECC support
PCI-Express	Gen 4, 20 Lanes (CPU only)
Cache	L1: 64 KB per core, L2: 512 KB per core, L3: 8 MB (shared)
Features	AVX, AVX2, AMD Secure Processor, AMD Memory Guard, other performance enhancements
Longevity	Planned product availability until 2032

You might well have also spotted that this system arrives with 20 lanes of PCIe Gen 4 architecture – This is a HUGE scale up for the 9 Lanes of Gen 3 in the Lockerstor Gen 2 series. This means that the AS68/Gen3 has more than double to lane allocation to distribute across the system AND those individual lanes are twice the bandwidth. Here is a diagram layout of this processor series by way of reference:

Interestingly, the range arrives in a decent range of storage profiles too, in 4-Bay, 6-Bay, 8-Bay and 10-Bay of SATA storage. With full support of RAID 0/1/5/6/10, as well as support of BTRFS and numerous backup/archival tools included with the software – this is an impressively broad range of hardware options to arrive with this CPIU+RAM combo. There is support of 3.5″ HDDs and 2.5″ SSDs, also to Asustor’s credit, they are quite responsive and meticulous on their compatibility lists (certainly compared with the bulk of other NAS brands) and 24TB NAS HDDs and 8TB SSDs are already present on their support pages as compatible already.

However, the real kicker in terms of storage is that the 4x M.2 2280 support has been carried over from the Lockerstor Gen 2 series – making each device in the Lockerstor Gen3 series an impressive hybrid NAS system. However, the newer AMD V3000 embedded Ryzen processor means that these individual slots are Gen 4 (so 2000MB/s per lane), double that of the Gen2 series. Now, these ARE Gen 4×1 (almost certainly for reasons of available resources and what can be delivered efficiently), but that does still provide a decent amount of bandwidth per SSD slot which can be combed thanks to RAID storage pool support on these bays (alongside read/write caching of course).

Additionally, as the bays are only x1 speed, there is hope that excessive drive temperatures (leading to throttling) can be avoided. Until we have the unit here for review, we can only speculate on this, but fair play to Asustor, when I raised this concern in the launch of the Lockerstor Gen 2, they published a video specifically on the subject of SSD temperatures on the Flashstor series when it has 6-12 SSDs at x1 speeds (see below) to show that temperatures were notably lower.

Overall, the internal hardware of the Lockerstor Gen 3 is decent-sized jump over the Gen 2 series, but mainly in terms of bandwidth and power across the board (Gen 4 lanes, more CPU threads and higher clock speed). That said, unless you are well versed in the technicals – the scope of these improvements are going to be easy to miss. Let’s discuss the ports and connectivity of the Lockerstor Gen 3 NAS.

Lockerstor Gen 3 Series, Ports and Connections

People’s demands for their private server storage have certainly scaled up in recent years. Part of this is the improved speeds afforded to internet speeds thanks to Fibre and even cellular 5G coverage – but also, the standard of consumer client hardware and it’s network connectivity has also scaled up, allowing access to WiFi 6/6e at 1.2Gb and 2.5GbE connectivity becoming ‘baseline’ in 2024 for a lot of current tech. Then you have the increasing affordability of 10GbE and 2.5/5GbE network adapters in the market (with USB-connected adapters starting at as little as $15) meaning that a NAS device arriving now with ‘simple’ Gigabit/1GbE connection is going to look a touch bottlenecked. When your internet speed crosses the gigabit speeds, then the idea of your LOCAL network storage capping at the gigabit speed is at best annoying, and at worse hugely impactful on your workflow. So, it was always going to be the case that Asustor would roll out the Lockerstor Gen 3 with greater than gigabit connectivity – hell, they were possibly the FIRST turnkey NAS brand to roll out a 2.5GbE desktop NAS (the Nimbustor series in 2019). However, they kinda went a bit bananas on the Lockerstor Gen3. Here are the ports and connections:

Now, I can say that in more than a decade following NAS releases, I have NEVER seen a desktop system arrive with twin 10G ports AND twin 5G network ports – maybe a rackmount, but even then, given the relative lack of 5GbE integration in the market, 5GbE system are still surprisingly rare. There are also going to be users who say “Hold Up, NOTHING I use is 5GbE!”. So, why is the inclusion of 5GbE alongside those 10G a good thing? Well, much like the use of 2.5G ports by brands in recent years, the point is to allow the potential to FULLY use the full extent of the bandwidth on offer from the system architecture. Thanks to ‘auto-negotiation’ in most )(but crucially, not all) 10GbE connections, it means that if you were to connect a copper 10GbE switch/router/client to these 5GbE ports, you would still be able to get 550MB/s or so max bandwidth. Sure, it’s not 10GbE – but better that beating hugely throttled down to standard gigabit connectivity and the available bandwidth on the system going to waste!

Although 5GbE support in switches natively is pretty thin on the ground, there are several different USB to 2.5GbE and 5GbE adapters you can buy on the market that allow you to make the most fo this bandwidth – especially if you are going to bypass the use of a switch entirely and opt instead for a direct connection between your client Mac/Windows/Linux machine and directly connect them to the NAS. This is something often used by photo/video editors that was to action post-production on projects directly on the NAS (rather than occupying local storage space). The 10GbE and 5GbE ports open up the external network connectivity on the Locksterstor Gen 3 towards 30Gb/s (shared across those connections of course – 5G+5G+10G+10G), and thanks to older combination services such as Link Aggregation and Port trunking, as well as newer and simplified services like SMB MultiChannel, that means that it is more than possible that a single client devicewith the right connections can open the flood gates to the bulk of this bandwidth! Add to that the potential RAID performance benefits afforded to 4-10 bays of SATA storage and the 4x Gen4x1 M2 NVMe storage, the potential to FULLY saturate that 30Gb/s external connectivity is also pretty good too!

All that positivity aside though, we do need to address that Asustor’s choice to opt for a less graphically enabled CPU means that HDMI and/or multimedia outputs (eg S/PDIF etc) are not available and no opportunity to add a GFX card to add them. So, the multimedia flexibility afforded to the Lockerstor Gen 2 is absent here. However, the Gen3 series DOES arrive with USB 10G connectivity for 1,000MB/s backup SSD drives, as well as supporting USB 4, which means 4,000MB/s bandwidth external drives too (though, in reality, most external USB 4 SSD drives will max around 3,300-3,500MB/s). The extent to which this USB 4 port can be used for non-storage peripherals (eg docking stations) is unknown right now, but the option to add a high performance USB4 Docking station and add further USB connections, network connections and more would certainly be something! Bottom line, the Locksterstor Gen 3 seems to be much more focused on file transmission and harnessing high bandwidth enabling, and the ports and connections are reflective of that! Let’s discuss the software and 3rd party NAS OS’.

Asustor Lockstor Gen 3 Software and Services

The Asustor Lockerstor NAS arrives with the latest version of ADM included. Additionally, this software receives frequent updates to ensure that the software runs the very best it can on this system, as well as keeping up to date with security patches and application versions.Also Asustor has also highlighted that they will be launching ADM 5 (the latest revision) alongside these devices – still awaiting confirmation on Beta status or full incremental rollout. The NAS software is accessible via a web browser and displayed very much like a normal computer operating system (desktop, user accounts, customizable themes, file management, running multiple tasks in windows that can be switched in the native tabs), but there are also a range of desktop client tools for accessing the NAS on your local machine natively, as well as a whole bunch of mobile applications that allow tailored access from your phone/tablet in more task-specific means (eg a photo app for viewing pictures and creating phone backup routines, a video app for enjoying your movies and boxsets, surveillance app to access your cameras, etc).  There is also a large range of support of 3rd party applications too in the ADM platform. Asustor is not as big a company as the likes of Synology and QNAP, whole put ALOT more money into their software development, but Asustor try to counter this by (when they do not have an in-house app) making native versions of 3rd party tools in their platform (example, they do not have a 1st party Virtual Machine app, but DO include huge support for VirtualBox). The platform is not quite as fully featured as DSM and QTS, but it is still a very smooth and accessible software platform. The app center has a few more 3rd party applications and slightly crowbarred software (eg the Amazon Media and Streaming service plugins) that is not updated up the original uploaders anywhere near enough (leading to running issues on these tools), but the 1st party apps run very well. The big takeaway on the Asustor software and it’s services is that the standard class of expected features of a modern NAS in 2024+ are here and run exactly as you would want, it is just some of the additional ones that other platforms have doubled down on (such as AI-related services in Photography and Surveillance for example) that are a little lacking. That said, the brand has definitely ramped up a number of the key security protocols and settings in the default setup. But what about 3rd party OS? What is the Asustor position on this?

Asustor have been surprisingly fluid on this one in the last 18 months. Originally, they (along with the bulk of NAS vendors) were steadfast in their position of  “if you install a 3rd party OS such as UnRAID or TrueNAS, it will invalidate your warranty”. However, this position has now changed and they are continuing to support users who opt for 3rd party NAS OS installations, but with the caveat that if that software actively harms the system and/or results in the system being deployed in a fashion outside of what they guarantee the system to operate under (eg, the 3rd party NAS OS software automatically or manually overclocks the heck out of the processor and cooks it! Or overwrites the internal eMMC flash module that contains the ADM bootloader) they will not be able to offer support. I think this is pretty reasonable. However, it is ALSO worth keeping in mind that the Lockerstor Gen 3 series is built using a non-integrated gfx CPU, so there is the question of 3rd party NAS installation without a KVM/Visual output and/or BIOS access – but there ARE ways and means to get around this of course!

When Will the Asustor Lockerstor Gen3 Be Released, And How Much Will It Be?

Unlike the previously mentioned Flashstor Gen 2 which seems comparatively early in it’s development, the Lockerstor Gen 3 seems a lot further along in it’s production and I would expect it to arrive somewhere in the first half of Q3 2024 (July-September). Nothing confirmed yet officially however. Pricing-wise, I would expect things to be pretty close to the Gen 2 pricing, but with maybe a$100 or so more on the price tag on each storage capacity tier – perhaps with the 10 Bay commanding a premium. We should know and learn more about the Lockserstor Gen 3 NAS next month at Computex 2024. Stay Tuned!

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER
[contact-form-7]
Join Inner Circle

This description contains links to Amazon. These links will take you to some of the products mentioned in today's content. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Visit the NASCompares Deal Finder to find the best place to buy this device in your region, based on Service, Support and Reputation - Just Search for your NAS Drive in the Box Below

Need Advice on Data Storage from an Expert?

Finally, for free advice about your setup, just leave a message in the comments below here at NASCompares.com and we will get back to you. Need Help? Where possible (and where appropriate) please provide as much information about your requirements, as then I can arrange the best answer and solution to your needs. Do not worry about your e-mail address being required, it will NOT be used in a mailing list and will NOT be used in any way other than to respond to your enquiry. [contact-form-7] TRY CHAT Terms and Conditions   Alternatively, why not ask me on the ASK NASCompares forum, by clicking the button below. This is a community hub that serves as a place that I can answer your question, chew the fat, share new release information and even get corrections posted. I will always get around to answering ALL queries, but as a one-man operation, I cannot promise speed! So by sharing your query in the ASK NASCompares section below, you can get a better range of solutions and suggestions, alongside my own.

WE LOVE COFFEE

 

Le fabricant Ubiquiti aime bien le changement, y compris avec son logiciel UniFi. Après le très simple UniFi, nous avons eu le droit au UniFi Controller, récemment renommé UniFi Network Application. Dans cet article, nous installerons cette nouvelle version et détaillerons la procédure de migration depuis une installation UniFi Controller existante. Pour ce tuto, nous utiliserons un NAS Synology avec Container Manager (Docker). UniFi Network Application et NAS Synology Les produits réseau UniFi présentent de nombreux atouts : qualité de fabrication, performance, fiabilité… La partie logiciel n’est pas en reste ! Elle offre une vue d’ensemble de son réseau et […]
Lire la suite : UniFi Network Application sur NAS Synology avec Docker

Review of the TerraMaster D5 Hybrid Storage System

In this review, we delve into the TerraMaster D5 Hybrid Storage System, a versatile and cost-effective solution designed to meet the diverse storage needs of both personal users and small businesses. Combining the high capacity of traditional HDDs with the rapid performance of NVMe SSDs, the D5 Hybrid offers an intriguing mix of speed and storage capabilities within a single device. It features user-friendly design elements like tool-free drive installation and moderate operational noise levels, all while leveraging USB 3.2 Gen 2 connectivity. This review explores the system’s specifications, performance, and overall value to help potential buyers determine if it aligns with their data storage and management requirements.

Find out more about the bigger Terramaster D8 Hybrid System HERE on Kickstarter

Note – You can watch the full YouTube Review and Benchmarks of the Terramaster D5 Hybrid storage system HERE

Specification	Details
Dimensions	222 x 119 x 154 mm
Weight	1.3 kg
Power Supply	40 W (100V to 240V AC) 50/60 HZ, Single Phase
System Fan	80 mm x 80 mm x 25 mm (x1)
Maximum Noise Level	19.0 dB(A) (Using 2 SATA HDDs/SSDs in standby mode)
Compatible Disk Types	3.5″ SATA HDD, 2.5″ SATA HDD, 2.5″ SATA SSD
Compatible NVMe	M.2 2280 NVMe Slot (x3)
Raw Capacity	Up to 68 TB (22 TB HDD x 2 + 8 TB NVMe x 3)
Supported RAID Configurations	SINGLE DISK, JBOD, RAID 0, RAID 1
HDD Sleep Mode	Yes
Connectivity	USB3.2 Type-C gen2 (10Gbps), DC IN 12V Barrelport
Price	€239.99 – $219.99

---

Introduction to the TerraMaster D5 Hybrid

The TerraMaster D5 Hybrid is engineered to cater to the evolving demands of personal and small business storage by amalgamating traditional hard disk drives (HDDs) with the swift, modern NVMe solid-state drives (SSDs). This system includes two versatile SATA bays that support both 3.5″ and 2.5″ drives and three M.2 NVMe slots, offering a broad spectrum of storage options. It utilizes USB 3.2 Gen 2 connectivity, capable of reaching speeds up to 1000 MB/s. However, this setup prompts a discussion about the possible limitations of USB connectivity when used with high-performance storage technologies, potentially creating bottlenecks that could affect data transfer speeds.

Exploring the Design and Build

The D5 Hybrid showcases a durable and user-friendly design consistent with Terramaster’s latest NAS models. The system facilitates easy installation of drives with its tool-free “click and load” mechanism, suitable even for users without technical expertise.

The operational noise level is moderately low, which is a crucial consideration for use in shared spaces like small offices or home environments.

The storage solution accommodates up to two HDDs and three NVMe SSDs but opts out of including faster interface technologies such as Thunderbolt to maintain an affordable price point. This choice might restrict the performance potential of the system but makes the D5 Hybrid more accessible financially to a broader audience.

ASMedia and Realtek are two prominent players in the semiconductor industry, particularly known for their contributions to the development of chips that handle data connectivity and processing in various electronic devices.

ASMedia, a subsidiary of ASUS, specializes in high-speed interface technology, particularly USB and PCIe bridge solutions. Notably, their chips are pivotal in enhancing the performance of USB connections. For example, the ASM3042 is a significant advancement in their USB controller lineup, bridging PCI Express to USB3.2 and providing support for legacy USB functions. This chip showcases ASMedia’s capability to deliver high bandwidth and efficient power management, essential for maintaining low power consumption in various devices

In 2022, ASMedia became one of the first to introduce a USB4 host-controller, the ASM4242, designed to support high data transmission speeds up to 64 Gbps, making it backward compatible with Thunderbolt 3 and other protocols. The incorporation of ASMedia’s ASM4242, a high-performance USB4 host controller, into a device configuration represents a significant step towards future-proofing data transfer capabilities. The ASM4242 supports up to 64 Gbps of bandwidth, providing a robust solution for high-speed data, video, and power transmission over a single USB connection. This level of integration ensures that devices are not only meeting current standards but are also prepared for next-generation needs, with backward compatibility ensuring a broad range of device support.

Realtek’s contributions, while more commonly associated with their audio and network solutions, also extend to data interface technologies. Realtek chips are crucial for managing data transmission and ensuring compatibility across a vast ecosystem of computing and multimedia devices. Their technology helps to stabilize and optimize the data flow, critical for the functionality of hybrid storage systems where data integrity and speed are paramount.

Detailed Performance Assessment

The performance of the D5 Hybrid was meticulously tested under various configurations to truly understand its capabilities and limitations. Configuring the device with two Seagate 24TB Ironwolf Pro Series HDDs in a RAID 1 setup, the system demonstrated robust performance with peak write speeds reaching 262 MB/s. This configuration allowed for transferring 20 GB of data in slightly over two minutes.

When equipped with SSDs, the system’s performance increased notably. Using a single Kingston 500 GB M.2 NVMe SSD, the peak transfer speed observed was 572 MB/s, reducing the 20 GB data transfer time to around 1 minute and 14 seconds. Moreover, employing two Kingston DC600M enterprise-grade SATA SSDs in a RAID 1 configuration yielded the highest recorded speed of 630 MB/s, allowing for the fastest data transfer rate of just over a minute for 20 GB.

These tests underscore that although the D5 Hybrid doesn’t exhaust the full potential of its 10G external connection, it functions efficiently within the confines of its USB interface. This suggests a careful balance between performance and cost, ensuring adequate speed for standard tasks without the premium price tag associated with higher-end interfaces like Thunderbolt.

Is This a Comparative Market?

The D5 Hybrid is strategically positioned in the market to appeal to users who prioritize reliable performance over cutting-edge speed. It serves well for small to medium business applications, home offices, and creative professionals who require a dependable storage solution. The device offers an appealing alternative to more expensive options by providing sufficient speed for everyday tasks, including data backup and accessing large files, without compromising on quality or reliability.

Its cost-effectiveness paired with versatile storage capabilities makes the D5 Hybrid a formidable competitor in the hybrid storage market. It’s particularly attractive for budget-conscious buyers who still require a robust storage solution that can handle a mix of data types and usage scenarios.

Final Verdict and Conclusion of the Terramaster D5 Hybrid

The TerraMaster D5 Hybrid excels in blending the high capacity of HDDs with the quick data access speeds of SSDs, housed within a single, efficient unit. The system’s design emphasizes user-friendliness with features like tool-less drive installation and low operational noise, making it an excellent choice for a variety of settings, from busy office environments to quiet home use. However, potential users should weigh the impact of the USB 3.2 Gen 2 interface, which, while sufficient for many applications, might not meet the needs of those requiring the fastest possible data transfer speeds. The absence of Thunderbolt technology is a noted limitation, but this is reflected in the D5 Hybrid’s competitive pricing, which targets a segment of the market more concerned with value and reliability than with leading-edge performance. The TerraMaster D5 Hybrid offers a well-rounded solution for those seeking a storage system that combines large storage capacity with respectable speeds at a cost-effective price point. Its performance, although not pushing the upper limits of current technology, provides ample support for most professional and personal storage needs, making it a worthwhile investment for a broad range of users. The thoughtful design and practical features, coupled with the device’s solid build and reliable performance within its defined limits, establish the D5 Hybrid as a standout offering in its category.

PROs of the Terramaster D5 Hybrid

CONs of the Terramaster D5 Hybrid

Good sustained performance (if you preferred that to ‘Peak’ performance Low Power Use and Low Noise Good internal processor choices, especially for the price point NAS Supported, so can be used as a tiered expansion box Very simple to use Mac/Windows Supported (even worked connected to my Android phone!) Almost completely toolless Solid build and good ‘feel’ Supports 8TB M.2 NVMes (Tested Addlink A95 8TB 2280 NVMe) HDD Bay 1+2 are RAID Supported Affordable!

Software is limited and Premium features require a subscription Peak performance is much lower than what you would expect, despite 3×1 speed (max 1GB) on each m.2 USB 10Gb/s is going to be a bummer for those thinking about the real speed that 3x m.2 SSDs could hit. Disappointing that there is no USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 (40Gb/s) or USB4/TB4 Version

Le Computex 2024 se tiendra du 4 au 7 juin prochain, à Taipei. De nombreuses révélations devraient être faites à cette occasion. Si on sait que QNAP et Synology devraient faire de grandes annonces, c’est aujourd’hui Asustor qui prend les devants : ADM 5.0, FLASHSTOR Gen2, LOCKERSTOR Gen3… Asustor et Computex 2024 Asustor a démarré son teasing (aguichage dans la langue de Molière). En effet, le fabricant de NAS a ouvert le bal avec quelques annonces. Asustor et AMD On commence par le matériel, la première annonce importante, c’est qu’Asustor va à son tour introduire ses premiers NAS basés sur […]
Lire la suite : Computex 2024 – Asustor annonce plusieurs nouveautés

À l’occasion de la Journée des Familles, pCloud surprend avec une offre exceptionnelle. Du 13 au 18 mai 2024, les familles du monde entier peuvent bénéficier de réductions allant jusqu’à 65 % sur les plans familiaux à vie, accompagnés d’un cadeau spécial : le pCloud Encryption gratuit à vie. Qu’est-ce que pCloud propose ? pCloud est une solution de stockage en ligne sécurisée (Cloud) utilisée par des millions de personnes. Fondée en Suisse, la société pCloud opère depuis un datacenter au Luxembourg pour l’Europe. Elle propose ainsi un haut niveau de confidentialité des données, en respectant les lois suisses en […]
Lire la suite : Offre pCloud pour la journée des familles 2024

The Flashstor and Flashstor 12 Pro Gen 2 from Asustor NAS

I do not think it would be an understatement to say that one of the stand-out devices in the world of NAS last year was the Asustor Flashstor NAS series, managing to hit a fantastic sweet spot for users looking at NVMe SSD NAS storage that arrived at an affordable pricepoint, whilst giving you tremendous value for money. Since then, several alternatives to buyers have appeared in the market to challenge it’s popularity and comparative dominance from the likes of QNAP, UGREEN and a slew of OS-free pre-built NAS solutions from mini PC companies. Nevertheless, Asustor seemingly held on to this market, regularly selling out of its Flashstor devices globally. So, inevitably, the brand was always going to be looking at ‘what’s next’ and that brings us to this – the Flashstor Gen 2. Arriving in a 6-Bay (FS6806T) and 12 Bay (FS6812X) form, this system is a less graphically focused and more throughput and performance-focused series that might be one of the most impressive desktop turnkey NAS devices for Flash that I have ever seen. Arrivnig with a beefy AMD CPU, ECC Memory support, 10GbE (possibly even 5GbE too – TBC), Gen 4 architecture for the M.2 slots and even USB 4 for good measure – the Flashstor Gen 2 seems to be a very confident response to the criticisms that were levelled at the original flashstor by those that wanted to squeeze more out of their SSDs! So, lets discuss this new exciting NAS system from Asustor.

The Asustor Flashstor Gen 2 – Internal Hardware

When I said that the Flashstor Gen 2 seeks to challenge some of the criticisms that were made at the original system, the bulk of these were about how much of the throughput that a RAID ready m.2 NVMe SSD system could be enjoyed by the end user. The original Flashstor series arrived with an Intel N5105 CPU (a quad-core Celeron) which although great for graphically demanding tasks and power efficiency, lacked a lot of the ‘umpf’ in terms of bandwidth speeds, lanes to allocate and raw power to get the most out of the SSDs inside. This newer flash system changes gears considerably and switches to an AMD-embedded Ryzen CPU that not only opens the door to Gen4 architecture (so each lane goes up from 1000MB/s to 2000MBs), but also allows for scaled-up memory quality and quality. Here is how the Flashstor 6 Gen 2 and Flashstor 12 Pro Gen 2 stack up on the internal hardware and storage:

Model
Model	FS6806T	FS6812X
CPU	AMD Ryzen Embedded V3C14 (2.3-3.8Ghz) Zen3 Processor	AMD Ryzen Embedded V3C14 (2.3-3.8Ghz) Zen3 Processor
Integrated GFX	N/A	N/A
Cores and Threads	4 Cores / 8 Threads	4 Cores / 8 Threads
TDP	15W (Configurable to 10-25W at CPU level TBC)	15W (Configurable to 10-25W at CPU level TBC)
CPU LANES	20 Lanes, Gen4	20 Lanes, Gen4
MEMORY	DDR5 and ECC Support Indicated	TBC – But DDR5 and ECC Support Indicated (32GB TBC)
M.2 DRIVE SLOTS	6 x NVMe/SATA	12 x NVMe/SATA
HDD	N/A	N/A
MAXIMUM DRIVE BAYS WITH EXPANSION	14	20
SUPPORTS SINGLE VOLUME LARGER THAN 16TB

So, there is ALOT to unpack here! The star of the show here is the CPU. Choosing the right CPU for a NAS is, frankly, not easy! It would be SO easy to just lump in some beast desktop gamer PC processor, but the reality is that the CPU is a NAS that needs to be able to run 24×7, needs to be powerful enough to get the jobs done but at the same time not be TOO power hungry as it will cost a fortune to run.. oh.. and it needs to manage it’s temperature well and not get too hot that it throttles. Not enough? Oh it also needs to support ECC memory to ensure data integrity from things like bitrot. have plenty of cores and/or vCPUs for VM allocation and needs to be affordable. SERIOUSLY!!!

This is why the processor that the Flashstor Gen 2 arrives with is such a great choice! There will be those of you that will be disappointed in the lack of integrated graphics, but it’s worth highlighting that the Flashstor Gen 2 does not seem to be ‘replacing’ the Gen 1 model, but instead expanding the range – so those that want GFX will have the Celeron version. but those looking for a compact and powerful workhorse system will have the Flashstor Gen 2 version with its AMD Ryzen V3C14 processor to play with. This processor manages to crank to up to 3.8Ghz when needed, on it’s 4 core and 8 thread architecture (so, technically 8 virtual CPUs to play with on your containers and VMs). Likewise, die hard storage enthusiasts will be pleased to note that this CPU not only supports DDR5 memory but also ECC (Error Correction Code / Error Code Correction) up to 32GB. We are still yet to 100% confirm the base included level or memory and if it is soldered or SODIMM deployed, as well as the quantity included in the 6 and 12 Bay models respectively, but given the ‘Pro’ status of the 12 Bay, I would suggest it is going to be 32GB on that model and 4-16GB on the 6-Bay. Power consumption on this processor, despite it’s scale of capabilities, is also an impressively low 15 TDP according to AMD (with configuration possible to allow 15W and 25W TDP – but how much of this will translate to the Flashstor Gen 2 and ADM is still TBC). Also, a minor but important note, AMD have a fantastic reputation in their Embedded Ryzen series and this processor is slated for support till 2032, a HUGE change up for the 3-4yr support cycle by intel in a number of their Celeron processors. Here is how that CPU is broken down in the specs:

Product Line	AMD Ryzen Embedded V3000 Series
Model	V3C14
Release Date	September 27, 2022
Market	Desktop
Architecture	Zen 3+ (Rembrandt)
Socket	AMD Socket FP7
Foundry	TSMC
Process Size	6 nm
Package	FP7r2
Cores	4
Threads	8
Base Frequency	2.3 GHz
Turbo Frequency	Up to 3.8 GHz
TDP	15 W (configurable between 10-25W)
Memory Support	DDR5, up to 4800 MT/s, Dual-channel with ECC support
PCI-Express	Gen 4, 20 Lanes (CPU only)
Cache	L1: 64 KB per core, L2: 512 KB per core, L3: 8 MB (shared)
Features	AVX, AVX2, AMD Secure Processor, AMD Memory Guard, other performance enhancements
Longevity	Planned product availability until 2032

You might well have also spotted that this system arrives with 20 lanes of PCIe Gen 4 architecture – This is a HUGE scale up for the 9 Lanes of Gen 3 in the Flashstor Gen 1 series. This means that the Flashstor Gen 2 has more than double to lane allocation to distribute across the system AND those individual lanes are twice the bandwidth. Here is a diagram layout of this processor series by way of reference:

Although this will translate very well in terms of the connectivity that I will touch on later on, the impact on those individual M.2 NVMe bays is pretty awesome too! Each 2280 M.2 Bay (6x on the Flashstor 6 Gen 2, 12x on the Flashstor 12 Pro Gen2) is PCIe Gen 4×1 – so 2,000MB/s bandwidth potential on each SSD. Yes, this is still throttling things down, but I think most users who are considering 2-4 bays at 4×4 or 12 Bay at 4×1 are going to pick the latter for reasons of storage potential + the performance and redundancy benefits inherent in RAID. Also, as discussed at length in discussion/dispute with Asustor, as these SSDs are going to be at x1 speed, this also means that the heat generated by these SSDs is going to be reduced considerably too. As ADM allows for multiple storage pools, this will also be great to create multiple smaller ‘hot’ pools or create a tiered storage system comprising Gen 3 and Gen 4 drives to be more creative with your budget on Day 1.

(Images from Flashstor 12 Pro for guidance on the 12x M.2 NVMe on the Gen 2 Model)

Until we have the Flashstor Gen 2 system in the studio, we cannot really confirm to what extent Asustor have squeezed all the potential out of this CPU and bulk M.2 architecture, but even at a glance, this system has some phenomenally well-balanced hardware internally that will please ALOT of people hoping to make the switch from HDD to SSD server use or even Cloud and DIRECTLY onto flash NAS. But it’s not just what is on the inside that counts (sadly!), so we need to discuss the ports and connectivity, and how this improved architecture in the Gen 2 scales against its predecessor in the Flashstor series.

The Asustor Flashstor Gen 2 – Ports and Connections

The ports and connectivity that are afforded to the Flashstor Gen 2 is a significant scale up over the 2023 release Flashstor Gen 1, thanks of course to that new CPU and the extra lanes and bandwidth it provides. The 6 Bay ports and connectivity are still up for a little debate, but are looking increasingly likely to be 2x 5GbE connectivity (due to reports of the Lockstor Gen 3 system arriving with 5GbE at Computex in June), whereas the Flashstor 12 Pro Gen 2 has been officially confirmed to be 2x 10GbE – so 20Gb/s to play with externally. This still largely pales in comparison to the potential performance of those 12 Gen 4×1 SSDs in a RAID, but this is still a great amount of network bandwidth to play with. Here is what we know about the connectivity:

It’s not hugely surprising that the Gen 2 Flashstor series has an absence of the multimedia-friendly HDMI (and I assume the loss of the S/PDIF audio out), given the lack of integrated graphics. Likewise, neither system features a PCIe upgrade slot (or even the slowly emerging oCuLink connection). But this is more than made up for by the dual 10GbE connectivity (so double that o the Gen 1 12 Pro).

Given the history of Asustor effectively ‘doubling’ the hardware base on their system with each ‘gen’ upgrade (see the Nimbustor, Lockerstor and DriveStorage series throughout each Gen upgrade for numerous examples of this), the indications that the Flashstor 6 Gen 2 being 1x/2x 5GbE are pretty likely. The Lockerstor Gen 3 AS68 series that will be revealed at the same time next month (but almost certainly released much sooner) is arriving with 5GbE and the same CPU architecture as the Flashstor Gen2 series (arriving in 4, 6, 8 AND 10 configurations), so it’s pretty likely that this will extend across the FS68 series too.

There is also an improvement in USB connectivity, with the Flashstor Gen 2 featuring USB 4 connectivity (Type A or C TBH, Hopefully the latter), thanks to that Gen 4 architecture. Asustor already have some impressive USB expansion devices out there and it will be interesting to see the scope of how this quadruple perbandwidth port will be harnessed by the system compared with the exclusively USB 3.2 Gen 2 10Gb on the Gen 1 Flashstor series.

The Asustor Flashstor Gen 2 – Software

The Asustor Flashstor NAS arrives with the latest version of ADM included. Additionally, this software receives frequent updates to ensure that the software runs the very best it can on this system, as well as keeping up to date with security patches and application versions.Also Asustor has also highlighted that they will be launching ADM 5 (the latest revision) alongside these devices – still awaiting confirmation on Beta status or full incremental rollout. The NAS software is accessible via a web browser and displayed very much like a normal computer operating system (desktop, user accounts, customizable themes, file management, running multiple tasks in windows that can be switched in the native tabs), but there are also a range of desktop client tools for accessing the NAS on your local machine natively, as well as a whole bunch of mobile applications that allow tailored access from your phone/tablet in more task-specific means (eg a photo app for viewing pictures and creating phone backup routines, a video app for enjoying your movies and boxsets, surveillance app to access your cameras, etc).  There is also a large range of support of 3rd party applications too in the ADM platform. Asustor is not as big a company as the likes of Synology and QNAP, whole put ALOT more money into their software development, but Asustor try to counter this by (when they do not have an in-house app) making native versions of 3rd party tools in their platform (example, they do not have a 1st party Virtual Machine app, but DO include huge support for VirtualBox). The platform is not quite as fully featured as DSM and QTS, but it is still a very smooth and accessible software platform. The app center has a few more 3rd party applications and slightly crowbarred software (eg the Amazon Media and Streaming service plugins) that is not updated up the original uploaders anywhere near enough (leading to running issues on these tools), but the 1st party apps run very well. The big takeaway on the Asustor software and it’s services is that the standard class of expected features of a modern NAS in 2024+ are here and run exactly as you would want, it is just some of the additional ones that other platforms have doubled down on (such as AI-related services in Photography and Surveillance for example) that are a little lacking. That said, the brand has definitely ramped up a number of the key security protocols and settings in the default setup. But what about 3rd party OS? What is the Asustor position on this?

Asustor have been surprisingly fluid on this one in the last 18 months. Originally, they (along with the bulk of NAS vendors) were steadfast in their position of  “if you install a 3rd party OS such as UnRAID or TrueNAS, it will invalidate your warranty”. However, this position has now changed and they are continuing to support users who opt for 3rd party NAS OS installations, but with the caveat that if that software actively harms the system and/or results in the system being deployed in a fashion outside of what they guarantee the system to operate under (eg, the 3rd party NAS OS software automatically or manually overclocks the heck out of the processor and cooks it! Or overwrites the internal eMMC flash module that contains the ADM bootloader) they will not be able to offer support. I think this is pretty reasonable. However, it is ALSO worth keeping in mind that the Flashstor Gen 2 series is built using a non-integrated gfx CPU, so there is the question of 3rd party NAS installation without a KVM/Visual output and/or BIOS access – but there ARE ways and means to get around this of course!

The Asustor Flashstor Gen 2 – Price and Release

The Pricing and intended launch date for the Asustor Flashstor Gen 2 series is INCREDIBLY vague right now at the time of writing. On the one hand, it would appear that the Flashstor Gen 2 is NOT intended to ‘replace’ the Flashstor Gen 1, but expand the range. This is a good thing in terms of the brand and it’s commitment, but also means that we have practically no idea about how and when the system will arrive and how the brand will price the unit. The Flashstor 6 and Flashstor 12 Pro were incredibly well priced at launch (not ‘cheap’ but excellent value, at $499 and $799 respectively). Realistically, I think we are going to see these devices roll out at (estimated) $599 and $999 at the very least, given their relative rarity in the market at the scale/configuration. Launch is much harder to predict, as alongside the launch of these devices relative to ADM 5 and little-to-no resources online on these right now would suggest a mid-late Q3 release (so August-September EARLIEST). Again, this is mostly speculation, but realistic. We will almost certainly be seeing the bigger names in NAS rolling out some hot hardware for their 2024/2025 generation, as several popular series from Asustor, Synology, QNAP and Terramaster all are crossing the 2 year refresh cycle line this year, which tends to trigger a new release. That said, Asustor have shot a very clear and confident ‘first shot’ in the Flashstor Gen 2 and given the popularity, dominance and good will that was achieved with their Flashstor pipping everyone else to the post, it’s a very smart move to expand this series as soon as possible. I sincerely look forward to having this device in for review soon! Stay tuned!

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER
[contact-form-7]
Join Inner Circle

This description contains links to Amazon. These links will take you to some of the products mentioned in today's content. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Visit the NASCompares Deal Finder to find the best place to buy this device in your region, based on Service, Support and Reputation - Just Search for your NAS Drive in the Box Below

Need Advice on Data Storage from an Expert?

Finally, for free advice about your setup, just leave a message in the comments below here at NASCompares.com and we will get back to you. Need Help? Where possible (and where appropriate) please provide as much information about your requirements, as then I can arrange the best answer and solution to your needs. Do not worry about your e-mail address being required, it will NOT be used in a mailing list and will NOT be used in any way other than to respond to your enquiry. [contact-form-7] TRY CHAT Terms and Conditions   Alternatively, why not ask me on the ASK NASCompares forum, by clicking the button below. This is a community hub that serves as a place that I can answer your question, chew the fat, share new release information and even get corrections posted. I will always get around to answering ALL queries, but as a one-man operation, I cannot promise speed! So by sharing your query in the ASK NASCompares section below, you can get a better range of solutions and suggestions, alongside my own.

WE LOVE COFFEE

 

Le TerraMaster D8 Hybrid est ce que l’on appelle un DAS (Direct-attached storage ou en français Stockage à connexion directe). Il s’agit d’une unité de stockage dotée de plusieurs emplacements pour disques, que l’on va brancher directement sur un PC ou un NAS, généralement via USB-C. Le D8 Hybrid propose de 4 emplacements à l’avant pour des disques durs/SSD et 4 emplacements NVMe à l’intérieur. Le prix annoncé est de 299$ et descend à 199$ via son Kickstarter. TerraMaster D8 Hybrid Avec le D8 Hybrid, TerraMaster a repris le design d’un NAS qu’il a légèrement adapté. C’est à l’arrière que […]
Lire la suite : Prise en main du TerraMaster D8 Hybrid

💾

The QNAP QTS 5.2 Beta is Now Available

Most people who own a NAS drive, for business or for pleasure, will realise very early on that the software that these systems arrive with is more than just simple file/folder storage access. In particular, the QNAP QTS system software and services is one that has evolved a great deal over the years and has now found a pretty good balance between providing a user-friendly GUI experience and providing a good degree of system/storage information when needed. Add to this that QNAP has generally been the first to market when it comes to innovation in the NAS industry (sometimes a little sooner than some might like!) and this has led to them introducing a number of key applications in the past before their competitors in NAS (HybridMount, vJBOD, Container Station, Linux Station and Multimedia Console to name a few) in their previous versions of QTS. QNAP is now going to provide users access, test and provide feedback on QTS 5.2. The Beta of QTS 5.2 is now available to download from QNAP HERE and along with numerous background improvements, there are several new application service upgrades, new security improvements, dedicated SMB portal, additional storage and snapshot integration/improvements and thumbnail/file indexing enhancements. Let’s discuss the QNAP QTS 5.2 beta and see what’s new.

You can download the QNAP QTS 5.2 Beta HERE (select your NAS first)

Important – Get Your Backups in Order First!

REALLY IMPORTANT – If you want to go ahead and try out the QNAP QTS 5.2 Beta, double and TRIPLE check that your backups are in order. QTS 5.2 is a beta i.e not a finished operating system and needs to be treated as such. Do not use it for hot data or integral data! You can use the video below that covers all the different ways to backup your NAS, as well as created Sync connections with cloud/NAS devices to ensure that you have your 3-2-1 backup system in place!

Automatically restore accidentally disconnected disks

On some newer NAS models, QTS can now be used to automatically restore disks that are accidentally disconnected from the system. Enabling this feature will help speed up RAID group rebuilds and improve overall storage stability, but may slightly affect write performance. You can go to [Control Panel] > [System] > [Hardware Settings] > [General Settings] > [Enable Disk Automatic Recovery] to make this setting.

If you change this setting, connected devices that support this feature will be affected. To confirm whether the NAS or connected device supports this feature, go to “System Status” > “Hardware Information”, select the NAS or device, and then confirm whether “Automatic Disk Recovery” is on the feature list.

Snapshot size calculation can be performed to facilitate space management

It is now possible to calculate how much space is occupied by snapshots taken in a volume or LUN within a specified time range. The generated report includes an adjustable graph to determine how much space would be freed by deleting a specified snapshot. This feature is useful when you are running out of space and need to decide which snapshots to delete.

To use this function, please go to [Storage and Snapshot Manager] > [Storage Space] > [Storage/Snapshot], find the volume or LUN with the snapshot, and click the snapshot icon to open the [Snapshot Administrator] window , then click Calculate Size to open the Calculate Snapshot Size window.

Supports TCG Ruby Self-Encrypting Disk (SED)

In addition to TCG Opal and TCG Enterprise SED, users can now install and use TCG Ruby SED to meet the latest data security requirements of enterprises and data centers.

You can refer to apps installed on other devices and directly choose which ones to install.

You can now browse the list of installed applications on all devices linked to your QNAP ID and select which applications to install. To view apps installed on other devices, go to the App Center, click Install in the upper right corner, and select Apps Installed on All Devices.

If the devices have been registered as organizational devices in myQNAPcloud, you can manage the applications on these devices in [ AMIZ Cloud ] > [Device Applications]. It can be used to centrally manage applications on various devices belonging to the same organization.

Adopts OpenSSL 3.0 for enhanced security and improved performance

We’ve updated OpenSSL to version 3.0, improving cipher compilation performance, enhancing memory protection, and simplifying integration with modern APIs. The system response speed has been optimized and data protection has been strengthened to improve user experience.

Sync to disk immediately when requested by an SMB client

There is now an option to synchronize data to disk immediately upon request from an SMB client. If this feature is enabled, cached data can be written back to a more stable storage space whenever necessary to improve the data integrity of the system. Please note that while disabling this option may improve read and write (I/O) performance, it may also increase the risk of data loss or corruption during a power outage or system failure.

To enable this option, go to Control Panel > Permissions > Shared Folders > Shared Folders, select the shared folder, and edit its properties.

Enhanced support for file thumbnails in File Station

In addition to media files and PDF files, File Station can now display thumbnails of Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and EML files (text-only emails). Now you can quickly know the approximate contents of various files even without opening the file. This function is especially useful when you need to find or select specific files from a large number of files; it can greatly improve the efficiency of file management.

You can enable file thumbnail display in [File Station] > [Settings] > [File]. To use this feature, you must first install Qsirch in the App Center.

ClamAV has become independent from the virus protection service

ClamAV is now a standalone application and consumes less memory resources than when it previously operated as a consolidated service. Standalone operation allows for faster scanning and less time required to react to security threats. But please note that to use the virus protection service, you must first install the ClamAV application in the App Center.

Reduced system startup and shutdown time

Improved the speed of starting and stopping applications during system startup, shutdown, and restart. The system is now more responsive when users perform power-related operations.

AD domain users can log in directly without entering the domain name

If you primarily access your NAS through a single AD domain, you can now easily log into your desktop without prefixing your domain name with your username. For example, now you only need to enter “myusername” instead of “mydomain\myusername”.

If multiple AD domains are used, or a domain user account is used to access the NAS in addition to the local account, please still enter the domain name when logging in with a domain user account.

Enhanced security for system administrator accounts

To enhance the overall security of the device and reduce the occurrence of brute force attacks, users are now prompted to create a new device whenever they restore or reset the device to factory defaults using the hardware reset button or the Control Panel Administrator account, or keep the non-default administrator account you are currently signed in to. In addition, the system automatically deactivates or strongly recommends that users deactivate the default system administrator account “admin”.

Direct read and write (I/O) is used in the core mode SMB resident program to improve read/write performance

We use direct read/write (I/O), which improves read/write performance when the core-mode SMB resident is enabled and all disks on the system device are NVMe SSDs.

To enable the core-mode SMB resident for Microsoft Networks, go to Control Panel > Network & File Services > Win/Mac/NFS/WebDAV > Microsoft Networks and make sure it is checked [Enable File Services for Microsoft Networks (SMB)]. Next, click “Advanced Options”, check “Enable Kernel Mode SMB Resident”, and click “Apply”. (Note: If the core-mode SMB resident is enabled, SMB encryption is disabled.)

SMB service has become a standalone application

Microsoft Networking (SMB) is now a standalone application that can be updated separately in the App Center, called SMB Service, and can be accessed remotely via the Microsoft Networking (SMB) and Common Internet File System (CIFS) protocols. Access files and folders on QNAP devices.

To enable the SMB service, you must first go to [Control Panel] > [Network & File Services] > [Win/Mac/NFS/WebDAV] > [Microsoft Network (SMB)] to enable the file service of Microsoft Network ( SMB).

Editable iSCSI target IQN

When or after an iSCSI target is created, the target’sIQN (iSCSI Qualified Name) can now be edited. To edit the IQN of an existing target, you must first disconnect all connections to the target, then go to iSCSI & Fiber Channel > iSCSI Storage, select the target, and click Actions > Edit . The maximum IQN length is 128 characters.

What are the QNAP QTS 5.2 Changes in full?

• Users can now select what apps to install by browsing the list of installed apps on any devices connected to their QNAP IDs. To access this feature, go the the App Center, click the “Install” icon in the top-right corner, and then select “Apps Installed on All Devices”.
• Added a setting on certain device models for enabling disk auto recovery, which automatically reconnects any disks that have been unintentionally disconnected from the system. The setting can be found in Control Panel > System > Hardware > General.
• File Station now supports the multimedia file formats WebM and WebP.
• Detailed event logs and access logs related to share links are now available.
• In File Station, thumbnail display is now available and configurable for Microsoft Office and EML files.
• Users can now configure 802.1X authentication for greater network security. SAMBA
• Added a shared folder setting which allows the system to immediately synchronize data to disks when requested by SMB clients, thereby enhancing data integrity. You can enable the setting on a shared folder by editing its properties in Control Panel > Privilege > Shared Folders > Shared Folder.
• Microsoft Networking (SMB) service is now a standalone application called SMB Service, which can be updated independently. SMB Service enables remote access to your QNAP device files and folders via the Microsoft Networking (SMB) and Common Internet File System (CIFS) protocols. To enable SMB Service, you must enable Microsoft Networking in Control Panel. Snapshot& Snapshots
• You can now calculate the size of snapshots in a volume or LUN that were taken within a specified time period. This feature can help you determine how much space you can free up by deleting a certain number of snapshots. To use this feature, open the “Snapshot Manager” window of a volume or LUN, and then click “Calculate Size”.
• Added support for TCG Ruby SEDs.
• Administrators can now disable 2-step verification for a user in Control Panel > System > Security > 2-Step Verification.
• To enhance device security, when you initiate restoring a device to factory default in Control Panel, you are now prompted to create a new administrator account or to retain the currently logged-in administrator account, and the default administrator account “admin” will be disabled.
• Administrators can now choose to skip a firmware update when the firmware update notification appears upon desktop login.
• Optimized the desktop loading speed.
• To increase device security, after restoring a device to factory default using the hardware reset button, and then logging in with the default administrator account “admin”, you are now prompted to create a new administrator account and to disable the “admin” account.
• Added support for copying and pasting security code (TOTP) credentials when configuring 2-step verification.
• If you access your NAS primarily through a single AD domain only, you can now conveniently log in to the desktop without including the domain name in front of your username. For example, you can now enter “myusername” instead of “mydomain\myusername”. (Note: However, if you use multiple AD domains or use both local and domain user accounts to access your NAS, you should still specify the domain name when logging in with a domain user account.) iSCSI&FC
• You can now edit an iSCSI target’s IQN during or after target creation (maximum 128 characters). To edit an existing target’s IQN, you must first disconnect all connections to the target, and then go to iSCSI & Fibre Channel > iSCSI Storage, select the target, and click Action > Modify.
• Users can now copy all network information (including IPv4, IPv6, and hardware) of any physical adapter or virtual switch to the clipboard with a single button. Open Network & Virtual Switch, go to “Network” > “Interfaces” or “Virtual Switch”, identify an interface, click “More” > “Information”, and then click “Copy”.
• Improved the calculation method and display of system memory information in Resource Monitor for greater clarity.
• Enhanced the Network Connectivity Status Indicator (NCSI) service, which periodically checks the network connection status. You can now enable this setting and configure its checking target no matter whether you choose automatic or manual selection of the system default gateway. To configure NCSI, go to Network & Virtual Switch > Network > Interfaces > Interfaces, and then click System Default Gateway.
• In the Volume Creation Wizard, the setting “Enable snapshot schedule and snapshot retention” is now disabled by default. This ensures that users who do not need snapshots will not unexpectedly encounter insufficient storage space caused by a large number of volume snapshots.
• Improved the synchronization process for read-only SSD cache to optimize data read efficiency and reliability.
• Optimized the RAID group resync speed for NVMe drives.
• Users can now view detailed temperature information about their Seagate EXOS JBOD enclosures in Storage & Snapshots > Storage > Disks/VJBOD > NAS and Enclosure.
• Added support for the newly upgraded QUSBCam (version 3.0.0, previous version known as QUSBCam2).
• The ClamAV antivirus engine is now an independent application, allowing the Antivirus service to consume less memory and spend less time scanning files. Note that in order to use Antivirus, ClamAV must be installed in App Center.
• The system now checks whether a new QNAP Software Terms of Use is available before performing a firmware update. Administrators must agree to the new terms to proceed with the firmware update. SAMBA
• In Samba, Implemented direct I/O in the kernel-mode SMB daemon to enhance read and write performance. System
• Improved the speed of starting and stopping applications during system startup, shutdown, and restart.

Applicable QNAP models that support the QTS 5.2 Beta?

• HS-251+,S2
• QMiroPlus-201W
• Mustang-F100,Mustang-V100,Mustang-200-i7-1T-32G-R10,Mustang-200-i5-1T-32G-R10,Mustang-200-C-8G-R10,Mustang-200
• QBoat Sunny
• QGD-1600P,QGD-1600
• QGD-1602P,QGD-1602
• QGD-3014-16PT
• TS-453S Pro,TS-853S Pro
• TS-216,TS-416
• TS-128A, TS-228A, TS-212P3, TS-130, D1 Rev-B
• TS-932X, TS-832X, TS-332X, TS-532X, TS-932PX, TS-832PX
• TS-432XU-RP,TS-432XU,TS-832XU-RP,TS-832XU,TS-1232XU-RP,TS-1232XU,TS-432PXU,TS-432PXU-RP,TS-832PXU,TS-832PXU-RP, TS-1232PXU,TS-1232PXU-RP
• TS-133, TS-233, TS-433, D4 Rev-C, TS-216G
• TS-1635AX
• TS-435XeU
• TS-251, TS-451, TS-651, TS-851, TS-451S, TS-251+, TS-451+, TS-351, D2 Pro Rev-B, D4 Pro Rev-B
• TS-251A,TS-451A,D2 Pro,D4 Pro
• TS-251B
• TS-451DeU,TS-453DU,TS-453DU-RP,TS-853DU-RP,TS-1253DU-RP
• TS-451U
• TS-253 Pro, TS-453 Pro, TS-653 Pro, TS-853 Pro, TS-453mini, IS-453S
• TS-453Bmini,TS-253B,TS-453B,TS-653B,TS-453BT3,TS-253Be,TS-453Be
• TS-853BU,TS-853BU-RP,TS-1253BU,TS-1253BU-RP,TS-453BU,TS-453BU-RP
• HS-453DX, TBS-453DX, TS-251D, TS-253D, TS-653D, TS-453D, TS-451D, TS-453Dmini, TS-451D2
• TBS-453A, TS-253A, TS-453A, TS-653A, TS-853A, D6 Pro, D8 Pro
• TS-453U, TS-853U, TS-1253U, TS-453U-RP, TS-853U-RP, TS-1253U-RP, R4
• TVS-463,TVS-663,TVS-863,TVS-863+,TS-563,TS-963X,TS-963N
• TS-463U,TS-463U-RP,TS-863U,TS-863U-RP,TS-1263U,TS-1263U-RP,TS-463XU,TS-463XU-RP,TS-863XU,TS-863XU-RP, TS-1263XU,TS-1263XU-RP
• TS-564,HS-264,TBS-464,TS-262C,TS-462C,TS-264C,TS-464C,TS-364,TS-464,TS-664,TS-262,TS-462,TS- 264,TS-464C2
• TS-464U,TS-464U-RP,TS-1264U-RP,TS-464eU,TS-864eU,TS-864eU-RP
• TVS-471,TVS-671,TVS-871,TVS-871T
• TVS-871U-RP,TVS-1271U-RP,TVS-471U-RP,TVS-471U,R8
• TVS-672N,TVS-872N,TVS-872X,TVS-672X,TVS-472X,TVS-472XT,TVS-672XT,TVS-872XT
• TVS-872XU,TVS-872XU-RP,TVS-1272XU-RP,TVS-1672XU-RP,TVS-2472XU-RP,TVS-972XU,TVS-972XU-RP
• TVS-473,TVS-673,TVS-873,TVS-473e,TVS-673e,TVS-873e
• TS-h973AX,TS-473A,TS-673A,TS-873A
• TS-873AU,TS-873AU-RP,TS-1273AU-RP,TS-1673AU-RP,TS-873AeU,TS-873AeU-RP
• TS-873U, TS-1273U, TS-1673U, TS-873U-RP, TS-1273U-RP, TS-1673U-RP
• TVS-675
• TVS-h875U,TVS-h875U-RP,TVS-h1275U-RP,TVS-h1675U-RP
• TS-1277, TS-877, TS-677, TS-1677X
• TS-877XU,TS-877XU-RP,TS-1277XU-RP,TS-1677XU-RP,TS-2477XU-RP,TS-977XU-RP,TS-977XU,TS-h1277XU-RP,TS-h977XU-RP, TS-h1677XU-RP,TS-h2477XU-RP
• TS-EC880 Pro,TS-EC1080 Pro,TVS-EC880,TVS-EC1080,TVS-EC1080+
• TS-EC880U, TS-EC1280U, TS-EC1680U, TS-EC2480U R2, TVS-EC1280U-SAS-RP R2, TVS-EC1580MU-SAS-RP R2, TVS-EC1680U-SAS-RP R2, TVS-EC2480U-SAS- RP R2,TS-EC2480U,TS-EC880U R2,TS-EC1280U R2,TS-EC1680U R2,TVS-EC1280U-SAS-RP,TVS-EC1580MU-SAS-RP,TVS-EC1680U-SAS-RP,TVS-EC2480U- SAS-RP,R12,R16,R24
• TVS-882T,TVS-1282T,TVS-682,TVS-882,TVS-1282,TVS-682T,TVS-1282T3,TVS-882BR,TVS-882BRT3
• TVS-882ST,TVS-882ST3
• TVS-1582TU
• TS-883XU, TS-883XU-RP, TS-1283XU-RP, TS-1683XU-RP, TS-983XU, TS-983XU-RP, TS-2483XU-RP, TS-h1283XU-RP, TS-h2483XU-RP, TS-h1683XU-RP
• TS-1685,TS-h886,TS-h686
• TES-3085U,TES-1885U,TS-1886XU-RP,TS-h1886XU-RP,TS-h1886XU-RP R2
• TS-2888X
• TS-h3088XU-RP
• TDS-16489U
• TS-h2490FU,TS-h1090FU
• TS-328,TS-428,TS-230,D2 Rev-B
• TS-551
• TS-473,TS-673,TS-873
• TVS-951X,TVS-951N
• GM-1000,TNS-h1083X,TNS-h1083X (A Side),TNS-h1083X (B Side)
• TS-i410X, TS-410E
• TS-253E,TS-453E
• TS-h1290FX
• TS-h987XU-RP,TS-h1887XU-RP,TS-h2287XU-RP,TS-h3087XU-RP
• TVS-h474,TVS-h674,TVS-h874,TVS-h874X,TVS-h674T,TVS-h874T
• TDS-h2489FU
• TS-1655, TS-855X
• TS-855eU, TS-855eU-RP
• TS-466C
• TS-AI642
• TBS-h574TX
• TS-h1277AXU-RP, TS-h1677AXU-RP, TS-h3077AFU

Notes

Due to compatibility issues, please update your QVR Face Insight, QVR Face Link, or QVR Face Tiger to version 1.7.1 or later before updating QTS to version 5.2.0.

– Due to compatibility issues, QNAP NetBak Replicator is currently unable to establish an SFTP connection to a NAS running QTS 5.2.0.

 

 

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER
[contact-form-7]
Join Inner Circle

This description contains links to Amazon. These links will take you to some of the products mentioned in today's content. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Visit the NASCompares Deal Finder to find the best place to buy this device in your region, based on Service, Support and Reputation - Just Search for your NAS Drive in the Box Below

Need Advice on Data Storage from an Expert?

Finally, for free advice about your setup, just leave a message in the comments below here at NASCompares.com and we will get back to you. Need Help? Where possible (and where appropriate) please provide as much information about your requirements, as then I can arrange the best answer and solution to your needs. Do not worry about your e-mail address being required, it will NOT be used in a mailing list and will NOT be used in any way other than to respond to your enquiry. [contact-form-7] TRY CHAT Terms and Conditions   Alternatively, why not ask me on the ASK NASCompares forum, by clicking the button below. This is a community hub that serves as a place that I can answer your question, chew the fat, share new release information and even get corrections posted. I will always get around to answering ALL queries, but as a one-man operation, I cannot promise speed! So by sharing your query in the ASK NASCompares section below, you can get a better range of solutions and suggestions, alongside my own.

WE LOVE COFFEE

 

Should You Back or Bail on the UGREEN NASync Kickstarter Campaign?

With the UGREEN NAS campaign drawing close to an end, I think a lot of users are wondering where exactly the UGREEN NAS system is at? So, SO many reviews online (more on how/why later), but it’s been a month – has the system got better, got worse? Do the comments in those reviews still hold water? I wanted to assemble a few of the earliest and more balanced reviewers I could find who have shared their thoughts on the UGREEN NAS online and chat to them a month later to get their further input on it. I assembled panel, consisting of Me (Robbie from NASCompares) ,Lauri from Tech Notice, Frank from WunderTech and Logan from TwoGuyzTech — to come back to the system and brand, to help users decide whether they should get off the fence and back it, keep continuing to back this Kickstarter Campaign, or ‘get off’ the hype train now before its too late. These three YouTube reviewers and myself were among the first to receive and review the NASync series more than a month ago. Although their reviews are now live, UGREEN have continued to roll out updates to the system software, posted comments and updates on their crowdfunding campaign and outlined a lot of their proposed plans for these new systems. How much of that is going to be present in the finished product, how much is long-term roadmap stuff and how much is just hot air, is up for debate.

I wanted to talk with these three reviewers 1 month later to discuss where they are at with the UGREEN NAS device they were sent, have things improved and their thoughts on what this means for the NAS market. The Kickstarter has been notably successful, raising nearly 5 million pounds with more than 12,000 backers, necessitating a critical and informed analysis for those considering investment. As good as all that sounds, a lot of users who backed this project a month ago at launch might be having cold feet and want to know where the product is ‘at’ now, as updates by UGREEN during the fundraising period have been a little sparse (though responding to commentors has been better). Likewise, there are going to be more cautious users who are still on the fence and just want to know where the NASync series is at ‘at the 11th hour’ before they choose to back this. So, here is the results of that discussion. Thanks again to Lauri, Frank and Logan for their time. None of us have been paid/sponsored by UGREEN for this content or our reviews, these are our own opinions (the good and the bad!).

VIDEO LINK

In a Rush? Here is the TL:DR on The UGREEN NAS 1 Month On

Logan @TwoGuyzTech – Logan, who provided the inaugural review of the DXP 4800 Plus model, begins by praising UGREEN’s capabilities in hardware manufacturing. He describes the unit as robust, featuring an impressive CPU setup with a unique configuration that lends itself well to demanding tasks. Despite this, Logan highlights significant discrepancies between the marketed and actual features—particularly the absence of Thunderbolt 4 support, despite promotional materials suggesting otherwise. This, he argues, could mislead potential buyers about the product’s capabilities. Expanding on hardware limitations, Logan critiques the system’s scalability and expansion potential. Unlike competitors like Synology, which allow for easy scalability through expansion units, UGREEN’s system lacks similar functionalities. This could deter users whose storage needs might grow. Moreover, the absence of a PCIe slot for adding extra network interfaces is seen as a missed opportunity to enhance the system’s connectivity and performance capabilities, potentially limiting its appeal to more advanced users.

Frank @Wundertech – Frank shifts the focus to the software side of the NAS. He appreciates UGREEN’s strategic decision to concentrate on core functionalities, which simplifies the user interface and system maintenance. This approach, according to Frank, allows for a more stable foundational system that can be incrementally improved through updates. However, he identifies critical deficiencies in the backup functionalities that are vital for NAS systems. Initially, the device was limited to basic R-Sync and proprietary UGREEN device backups, which he found inadequate. During his testing, Frank encountered significant issues with the SMB (Server Message Block) protocol, a standard service for file sharing over a network. He discovered that upon attempting to access the NAS via SMB, he had unrestricted access to all directories without needing authentication—a severe security flaw. This issue indicates that the NAS system might not enforce proper user authentication, potentially exposing sensitive data. Despite updates attempting to address these concerns, the initial oversight raises questions about the rigor of UGREEN’s software testing and security protocols.

Lauri @TheTechNotice – Lauri offers a broader critique of the tech industry’s trend towards launching unpolished products with the intent to issue fixes post-launch. He expresses his frustration with the UGREEN system, which was marketed as ready-to-use yet exhibited numerous software glitches and usability issues upon receipt. Basic functionalities like software updates and file access were problematic, echoing a “release now, fix later” approach that he finds unacceptable. Lauri also faced SMB-related challenges, albeit different from Frank’s. His attempts to connect to the NAS via SMB were thwarted by the system’s inability to map network drives or properly save SMB settings, suggesting deeper issues with the software’s network handling capabilities. These experiences highlight inconsistencies in the product’s performance, further complicating the potential user’s decision-making process.

Marketing Strategies, Consumer Impact and Conclusion – The panel extensively discusses UGREEN’s marketing strategy, noting the company’s decision to flood the market with review units. This approach, while ensuring widespread visibility, may dilute the impact of individual reviews and obscure critical feedback due to the sheer volume of content available. Such a strategy can mask the product’s deficiencies, making it difficult for potential buyers to gauge the system’s reliability and performance accurately. Concluding the discussion, the panel agrees that while UGREEN’s NAS hardware is commendably robust and well-designed, the software side lags in maturity and reliability. They stress the importance for potential backers to understand the ongoing development of the software, especially given the critical SMB issues and general lack of software polish at launch.

---

What did Lauri from TheTechNotice Think of the UGREEN NAS Range 1 Month on, How the Brand Approached the Market and His Experience with the Device?

Lauri from Tech Notice offers a unique perspective by critiquing not just the Ugreen NAS SYNC series but also the broader tech industry’s trend toward releasing products that are not fully vetted or complete. He starts his discussion by expressing a general dissatisfaction with the practice of launching products that are ostensibly unfinished, with the intention of resolving issues through later updates. This approach, he argues, places undue burden on consumers who expect a finished, fully functional product upon purchase. Lauri’s frustration is rooted in his personal experiences with the Ugreen NAS, which was marketed as ready-to-use but exhibited several software glitches and usability issues right out of the box. He details problems such as difficulties with software updates and accessing files—basic functionalities that were inconsistent or non-functional upon initial use. Such issues underscore a “release now, fix later” philosophy that he finds unacceptable, especially when consumers are not adequately forewarned about the state of the product.

Expanding on his critique, Lauri discusses his specific encounters with the SMB (Server Message Block) protocol within the Ugreen system. Unlike Frank’s experience where access was too permissive, Lauri faced the opposite problem: an inability to effectively map network drives or adjust SMB settings. This inconsistency in SMB protocol handling between units further illustrates the lack of uniformity and reliability in Ugreen’s software development, complicating the user experience and diminishing the product’s reliability. Moreover, Lauri notes the NAS’s aesthetic and physical design, acknowledging that while the hardware appears polished and well-designed, the software does not match this quality. This disparity leads to a jarring contrast between the product’s promising physical presentation and its underwhelming functional performance. He points out that such discrepancies can lead to consumer distrust, as the sleek design sets expectations that the software functionality currently does not meet.

Throughout his review, Lauri also touches upon the responsiveness of the company to feedback. While he notes some improvements following user complaints and updates, he emphasizes that the fundamental approach of rushing products to market remains a significant concern. This strategy, prevalent in the tech industry, often results in products that require considerable post-market modification to reach the standard expected by consumers at launch. Lauri’s assessment provides a critical analysis of the Ugreen NAS SYNC series, particularly highlighting the problematic industry trend of premature product releases. His insights stress the importance of aligning product functionality with consumer expectations and market standards. Lauri’s critique serves as a call to action for tech companies to prioritize thorough testing and development before launch, ensuring that products meet all advertised functionalities and security standards to foster trust and satisfaction among users.

You Can find out more about Lauri HERE on his YouTube Channel

---

How Did Frank from WunderTech Find his time with the UGREEN NAS System? Did He Encounter Problems and Would He Recommend it?

Frank from WunderTech begins his discussion by highlighting the strategic focus Ugreen has adopted in the development of their NAS SYNC series software. He appreciates the company’s deliberate choice to concentrate on refining core features instead of overloading the system with an extensive array of applications. This approach, he argues, facilitates a more stable base system that is easier for users to manage and for developers to troubleshoot and improve over time. It also aligns well with Ugreen’s apparent goal of making the NAS user-friendly and reliable in performing fundamental tasks. However, Frank identifies critical deficiencies in the system’s software, especially concerning its backup functionalities—an essential component for NAS systems. Initially, the device was constrained to basic R-Sync and backups to another proprietary Ugreen device. Such limitations significantly reduce the utility and appeal of the NAS for users who need versatile and robust backup solutions, which are critical for data integrity and disaster recovery. Frank notes that while subsequent software updates have introduced additional features like Docker, which broadens the system’s capabilities and appeal, the core issue with limited backup options remains a significant concern.

During his evaluation, Frank encountered severe issues with the SMB (Server Message Block) protocol, a standard service in NAS systems for sharing files over networks. He was startled to find that upon attempting to access the NAS via SMB, he had unrestricted access to all directories without needing any form of user authentication. This discovery points to a severe security oversight, exposing sensitive data to potential unauthorized access. Such a fundamental flaw in access control is troubling and raises questions about the robustness of Ugreen’s software security measures. Frank further discusses the implications of these security issues, emphasizing the risk they pose not only to data confidentiality but also to the overall trust in Ugreen’s product. He suggests that while the hardware may be solid, the software’s inability to ensure basic security protocols could deter potential users who prioritize data security. This aspect is crucial for businesses and individual users who rely on NAS systems to store sensitive or critical information.

Moreover, Frank appreciates the incremental software updates that Ugreen has been rolling out, which demonstrate the company’s commitment to addressing feedback and improving the product. He highlights a particular update that resolved some of the earlier problems with the backup options, albeit still not to the extent that he considers fully satisfactory. The addition of features like Docker is viewed positively as it indicates Ugreen’s responsiveness to user needs and their willingness to expand the system’s functionality over time. Frank’s analysis provides a detailed critique of the Ugreen NAS SYNC series from a software perspective. He credits the company for its focused and strategic approach to software development but underscores significant areas of concern, particularly around security and backup functionalities. His insights suggest that while the hardware may be competitive, the software requires substantial improvements to meet industry standards and user expectations, particularly in areas crucial for data security and flexibility in data management.

You Can find out more about Frank HERE on his YouTube Channel

---

What did Logan from TwoGuyzTech Think of the UGREEN NAS and where it is at 1 Month Later?

Logan from TwoGuyzTech, who provided the inaugural review of the DXP 4800 Plus model, begins his feedback by praising the robustness and overall hardware quality of Ugreen’s NAS system. He emphasizes the powerful CPU configuration, which features a single performance core along with four efficiency cores. This setup is particularly notable as it is uncommon in NAS systems within the same price bracket, offering potentially higher processing speeds and better handling of multiple tasks simultaneously. Despite the strong hardware foundation, Logan points out significant discrepancies between Ugreen’s marketing materials and the actual product features—specifically, the absence of Thunderbolt 4 support on half of the range, yet it was very prominent in the advertising (as was the 10GbE connectivity). This issue is not just a minor oversight; it’s a major deviation from what was advertised in terms of what some less knowledgable users would expect to receive, which could mislead potential buyers about the product’s capabilities. Logan stresses that such discrepancies could erode trust and satisfaction among consumers, who may feel they are not getting the full value as promised.

Further expanding on the product’s hardware, Logan notes that while the NAS performs well in its current state, the lack of scalability is a critical downside. He compares the Ugreen NAS SYNC series unfavorably with competitors like Synology, which offers easy scalability through additional expansion units. This limitation in Ugreen’s design means that users with increasing data storage needs would find the product less useful over time as their requirements grow. Logan also criticizes the absence of a PCIe slot, which would allow users to add additional network interfaces or other expansions. This feature is typically valued by advanced users who may need more customization or additional bandwidth for data-intensive tasks. The lack of such a feature further narrows the potential user base of the product, making it less appealing to a segment of the market that could benefit from greater connectivity options.

Addressing another aspect of hardware capability, Logan discusses the system’s input/output options. While he acknowledges that the NAS provides adequate I/O ports that should meet the needs of most users, he points out that the implementation of these ports could have been optimized better to enhance performance further. This feedback suggests a missed opportunity to maximize the hardware’s potential, which could have differentiated the Ugreen NAS SYNC series more clearly from its competitors. Logan’s detailed review provides a nuanced perspective on the Ugreen NAS SYNC series. While he commends the robust hardware and CPU design, he is critical of the marketing misrepresentations and the system’s limitations in scalability and expansion. His feedback underscores the importance of aligning marketing messages with actual product capabilities and designing with future scalability in mind to meet the evolving needs of users.

You Can find out more about Logan HERE on his YouTube Channel

---

How UGREEN have Approached Marketing and Launching the NASync Series – Good or Bad?

The UGREEN NAS SYNC series marketing strategy reflects a robust and aggressive approach aimed at capturing market attention quickly and broadly. UGREEN’s decision to distribute a large number of review units (possibly in the hundreds in just a matter of weeks) prior to the completion of its Kickstarter campaign ensured that the product received widespread visibility across various media platforms. This saturation strategy is not uncommon in the tech industry but stands out due to the volume of units distributed and the breadth of coverage sought. From a marketing perspective, this approach can significantly amplify product awareness and generate buzz, creating a groundswell of potential customer interest and engagement early in the product lifecycle – choosing to spend their ‘marketing budget’ on sending products to small-niche reviewers and influences, rather than traditional online marketing and targeting bigger platforms. However, this aggressive marketing strategy also raises several concerns. One major issue discussed by the panel is the potential dilution of individual reviews’ impact. With so many reviews available, it becomes challenging for consumers to find consistent information and form a clear opinion about the product’s quality and reliability. This could inadvertently mask critical feedback that might be crucial for potential users making informed purchasing decisions. Additionally, by flooding the market with review units, UGREEN risks creating a perception that might not fully align with the user experience, particularly if the product under-delivers compared to what is seen in widespread positive reviews.

Moreover, there was always an inherent risk in UGREEN’s approach regarding consumer trust. If the product failed to meet the expectations set by its aggressive marketing, it could lead to customer dissatisfaction and damage the brand’s reputation in the long run if a LARGE number of reviewers had encountered persistent issues and that would have been heavility publized in turn. Therefore we have to give them some credit for the courage of their convictions to trust that their product would not ‘hang itself’ in the court of public opinion, when sent at such high volume in a comparatively unfinished state. This is especially pertinent given the software issues highlighted during the panel discussion. The strategy of relying heavily on post-launch updates to address fundamental flaws—flaws that are sometimes glossed over due to the sheer volume of initial positive reviews—could backfire, leading to frustrated users who feel misled by the reviews they consulted before purchasing. While UGREEN’s marketing strategy for the NAS SYNC series has virtues in terms of reach and visibility, it also poses significant risks that hinge on the company’s ability to deliver a product that truly matches the expectations set forth in its widespread marketing campaign. The approach requires a delicate balance between aggressive marketing and product quality assurance to maintain and grow consumer trust. This all brings into question once again, why a brand this large has opted for crowdfunding through Kickstarter – as it is fairly clear that this is a product that is either (in terms of hardware) finished and in production already, or at the very least is more than ready for ‘pre order’ if it had been on sale at your local eShop. The marketing and ‘user interest’ benefits of Kickstarter are useful, but the ‘indie’ and ‘small business’ focus of crowdfunding continues to diminish!

---

Should You Back the UGREEN NAS Kickstarter? Or Should You Back Out Now?

Based on the detailed discussions from Frank, Lauri, Robbie, and Logan, the consensus on whether to recommend the UGREEN NAS SYNC series appears to be mixed and highly dependent on the specific needs and technical tolerance of potential users. Frank acknowledges the solid hardware and appreciates the strategic focus on core functionalities, which simplifies the user experience and system management. However, he is significantly concerned about the software’s maturity, particularly around security flaws with the SMB protocol and limited backup functionalities. Frank might recommend the NAS to tech-savvy users who are comfortable handling and potentially resolving these issues themselves, particularly those interested in leveraging the strong hardware by installing a third-party OS or those looking for a budget-friendly NAS solution that could improve over time with software updates.

Lauri, on the other hand, expresses strong reservations due to the “release now, fix later” philosophy he perceives in the tech industry, which he finds particularly evident in the UGREEN product. His experience with software glitches and poor user interface could deter him from recommending the NAS to users who expect a seamless, out-of-the-box experience. Lauri might only recommend this product to users who are enthusiasts or hobbyists who enjoy troubleshooting and have the patience to wait for potential fixes and updates that could eventually realize the hardware’s full potential.

Logan is broadly more positive about the system and, if the case of using a 3rd party OS (one you get over the installation hurdles) recommends the system. But still thinks that UGREEN could stand to be a little more clear in how the product is being presented, As a pre-built NAS product, especially at the crowdfunding price point, it’s hard to argue with. However, if/when the system crosses into traditional retail (with a loftier RRP), the virtues of the system’s value may well diminish and hopefully, UGREEN will maintain enthusiasm in the product range and software to roll in a phase 2, phase 3 and eventually an established product that can sand up next to the market leaders.

I (Robbie) acknowledge the potential of the hardware but am cautious about the software issues that have been repeatedly highlighted. I would certainly recommend the NAS to a niche market of users who value hardware specifications and cost-effectiveness over immediate, robust software functionality (the growing ‘middle’ between turnkey NAS and DiY Server Build Home-Labbers). These users would likely be those who are not dependent on advanced features or who have the technical ability to manage and mitigate the system’s current shortcomings. My recommendation would likely come with the caveat that buyers keep their expectations in check regarding the software and stay informed about ongoing updates and community feedback. Ultimately, while the UGREEN NAS SYNC series shows promise due to its robust hardware and competitive pricing, the recommendations from the panel are guarded and tailored to specific types of users. Potential buyers should weigh these considerations carefully against their personal or organizational needs and technical capabilities before making a decision.

Pros	Cons
Robust Hardware	Software Maturity
– The DXP 4800 Plus model features a powerful CPU setup with a single performance core and four efficiency cores, suitable for demanding tasks.	– The software has been criticized for being immature, with ongoing updates needed to address fundamental functionality and stability issues.
– Solid build quality and design that is recognized for its robustness, which adds to the reliability of the physical unit.	– Initial releases lacked comprehensive features, especially in backup functionalities which were limited to basic R-Sync and proprietary backups.
Scalability and Performance	Marketing vs Reality
– The hardware itself is recognized for high performance, which could be suitable for users with extensive data processing needs.	– Despite promotional materials suggesting advanced features like Thunderbolt 4 support, the actual product lacks these capabilities, leading to potential customer dissatisfaction and trust issues.
Focused Software Development	Security Concerns
– The strategy to concentrate on core functionalities rather than an abundance of features can lead to a more stable system that is easier to manage and troubleshoot.	– Significant security flaws were discovered, especially with the SMB protocol where authentication issues could expose sensitive data to unauthorized access.
Market Visibility	Expansion Limitations
– Extensive distribution of review units ensured widespread visibility and coverage, potentially increasing consumer awareness and interest.	– Compared to competitors like Synology, the UGREEN NAS system lacks easy scalability options such as expansion units, which limits the system’s long-term usability for growing storage needs.
Competitive Pricing	Inconsistent User Experience
– The UGREEN NAS offers a better value for its price point, especially when compared to the more expensive models from established brands like Synology and QNAP, making it an attractive option for budget-conscious consumers.	– Users, including tech reviewers, reported inconsistent experiences, particularly with software updates and SMB settings, which could deter potential users from adopting the system.

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER
[contact-form-7]
Join Inner Circle

This description contains links to Amazon. These links will take you to some of the products mentioned in today's content. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Visit the NASCompares Deal Finder to find the best place to buy this device in your region, based on Service, Support and Reputation - Just Search for your NAS Drive in the Box Below

Need Advice on Data Storage from an Expert?

Finally, for free advice about your setup, just leave a message in the comments below here at NASCompares.com and we will get back to you. Need Help? Where possible (and where appropriate) please provide as much information about your requirements, as then I can arrange the best answer and solution to your needs. Do not worry about your e-mail address being required, it will NOT be used in a mailing list and will NOT be used in any way other than to respond to your enquiry. [contact-form-7] TRY CHAT Terms and Conditions   Alternatively, why not ask me on the ASK NASCompares forum, by clicking the button below. This is a community hub that serves as a place that I can answer your question, chew the fat, share new release information and even get corrections posted. I will always get around to answering ALL queries, but as a one-man operation, I cannot promise speed! So by sharing your query in the ASK NASCompares section below, you can get a better range of solutions and suggestions, alongside my own.

WE LOVE COFFEE

 

Après QTS, c’est au tour de QuTS hero d’avoir le droit à sa mise à jour… en Beta pour le moment. Cette nouvelle version améliore grandement les fonctionnalités proposées aux NAS, sans pour autant tout révolutionner. Il faudra être patient, encore un peu, pour voir arriver la version 6. QNAP QuTS hero h5.2 Dans un monde (du stockage) en constante évolution, QNAP continue de mettre à jour régulièrement ses NAS. QuTS hero est une sorte de QTS avec un système de fichier ZFS. Ce serait très réducteur de s’arrêter là, car de nombreuses fonctionnalités découlent de ce choix. QNAP a […]
Lire la suite : QNAP QuTS hero h5.2 est disponible en Beta

Les mini-PC sont en vogue, et cela n’est pas sans raison : leurs dimensions réduites, leur poids léger, leurs performances, leur faible consommation électrique et leur prix attractif en font des appareils très prisés. Cependant, tous ne se valent pas. Aujourd’hui, nous vous proposons de découvrir dans le détail le NiPoGi CK10. Ce modèle est équipé d’un processeur Intel Core i5-12450H et dispose de 32 Go de RAM. Pour le stockage, il est doté d’une capacité de 512 Go, mais on peut aller bien au-delà. Son prix démarre à partir de 339€. Test NiPoGi CK10 Cela fait maintenant plusieurs jours […]
Lire la suite : Test du NiPoGi CK10

Synology DS224+ vs QNAP TS-262 NAS – Which is Better?

Isn’t it great when any facet of the tech industry gives birth to competition! In the early days of any new form of technology, the relative scarcity and newness of anything result in very few options for buyers to get the best value or competitive experience for their money. However, it doesn’t take long before competition emerges, innovation flourishes, and ultimately any different form of new tech becomes a more fleshed-out choice for the buyer. The same has certainly happened in the world of network-attached storage (NAS), and although there are several different brands available in NAS, the two biggest names are quite comfortable: Synology and QNAP. For buyers looking at a compact, fully-featured NAS solution, two of the very best options in 2024 are the Synology DS224+ and the QNAP TS-262. Both of these solutions are targeted at home users who want to be able to do a little bit of everything and although they do have a decent amount of small business potential, they have slightly different attitudes towards what you can get for your money. Although it could be very easy to describe this comparison as hardware versus software, the reality is a little bit more nuanced. But before we go ahead and compare these two current-generation NAS solutions, we need to also highlight what both of these systems have in common. Regardless of whether you choose the DS224+ or TS-262 NAS drive, you are guaranteed the following:

• Both units feature an Intel Celeron processor for a good price vs hardware balance
• Both can Stream and Transcode on the fly (so, live) 1080p HD or 4K media, with superior performance natively and mid-range performance in Plex, as well as both arriving with integrated graphics, so more aggressive graphical manipulation (encode/decode/conversion) is done much more efficiently
• Both the Synology DS224+ and TS-262 NAS support AI-supported photo and ‘thing’ recognition supported to a very high degree from the free branded software included
• For Business users who currently enjoy the use of Google Workspace or Microsoft/Office 365, both of these NAS provide excellent means to backup your mass cloud accounts (as well as natively sync, dupe and configure rules on the fly)
• Both the TS-262 NAS and DS224+ NAS support snapshots, for more incremental and version-protecting failsafe in efforts to protect you from Malware and Ransomware attacks, by allowing multi-versioning storage history to browse through and restore
• Both units are DLNA certified so can be accessed, browsed and played from by popular DLNA devices, such as Amazon Firestick, Alexa, Google Home, Chromecast, DS224+ TV, Bose, Sonos, iPads, etc, as well as connectivity between these platforms with IFTTT
• Both are multi-bay, RAID enabled devices NAS devices that support JBOD, RAID 0 and RAID 1, RAID 5, RAID 6 and RAID 10 (as well as Synology Hybrid RAID too for their Plus series range), though support of storage media on each device does differ significantly in places

• Both devices run on their own proprietary operating system that can be accessed remotely or locally. These include regular updates to the firmware, security patches, applications and more. Ranging from multimedia, home and multi-tiered backup applications, to more business-end tools such as Surveillance software, Virtual Machine deployment and business-class backup and synchronization tools.
• Both the TS-262 and DS224+ use and can be accessed equally by a multitude of mobile applications such as DS File, DS Video, Moments, DS Photo, DSCam and DS Music that are created by and constantly improved by Synology. As well as QFile, QMusic, QuMagie and QManager from QNAP for iOS and Android.
• Both NAS are completely compatible with Windows, Android and Mac systems, as well as acting as a bring between software platforms to share and distribute files for migration and file sync (Synology Drive and QNAP QSync)
• Both units can be used as mail and/or business servers, providing excellent 3rd party CRM and first-party CMS systems. There is the Synology collaboration Suite of applications Chat, Drive, Mail, Calendar, Office and Active Backup Suite. Whereas on QNAP there is the QMail, Hybrid Backup Sync 3, Virtualization station and BoXafe tools
• Both systems support the NVR use with QVR Pro and Surveillance Station applications, support numerous cameras and arrive with at least 2 camera licenses with your purchase (8 Camera Licenses with the QNAP, 2 with the Synology)

Both systems are fully featured examples of what each brand can offer on their own individual server platform. However, you want to know what is different about them and which one best deserves your data!

Synology DS224+ vs QNAP TS-262 NAS – Price and Value

Normally, in these comparisons, I would very quickly highlight that when comparing Synology and QNAP, the latter would be the more affordable choice. It has kind of been that way for a while, but things changed towards the end of 2022 when Synology revamped and reorganized their portfolio. In brief, Synology changed a number of the positions of their solutions while simultaneously removing a few different tiers in a portfolio to change which solutions were covering home, small business, medium business, and large-scale deployments. This meant that some systems had their hardware and their price point realigned up or down to better suit the overall portfolio and choice for buyers, and the result is that the DS224+ surprisingly manages to be the lower price of these two very similar systems in some (not all) locations. The DS224+ arrives at around $350 (give or take currency exchange, tax, and shipping), whereas the TS-262 arrives much closer to the $400 mark and in some regions actually crosses this a little higher too. Part of this raised price on the QNAP TS-262 is because of a change in memory implementation (arriving as a fixed 4GB memory and later changing to 2 SODIMM slots and more flexibility). More affordable examples of the TS-262 are available online (couple below), but typically the price is going to be a pinch higher.

Neither of these prices includes storage media and, depending on the capacity of the drives you are considering in either of these two main NAS systems, that is going to take its toll on your budget. So if the price tag of the system you are buying carries a lot of weight in your decision, the Synology DS224+ is probably going to be a better cost choice for you. However, we do have to factor in that not only is the price difference between these two devices comparatively small in the grand scheme of things, but we also have to think about what we get for our money and ultimately ‘value’! In this context, a NAS can be judged on its value in two very distinct ways: the hardware that you are getting for your money and the inclusive software the system arrives with, and it is in this way that these two NAS systems are remarkably different in terms of their priorities.

Synology DS224+ vs QNAP TS-262 NAS – Hardware and Connections

Very few of my comparisons have displayed two NAS systems that, although at a casual glance are very similar, are so wildly different in the finer details and scalability than these two NAS devices. The Synology DS224+ system is easily the less hardware-rich of the two, heavily relying upon a hardware architecture that feels somewhat dated in comparison to the QNAP TS-262. In Synology’s defense, they have had a lot of time experimenting and testing their software with this particular CPU (the Intel J4125 quad-core Intel Celeron) and clearly know how to make the most out of it within their software in terms of efficiency and capability. Nevertheless, for PC builders, those who understand how hardware innovates over time, and those who are looking for the best value for money in their kit, this Synology CPU choice is pretty underwhelming. Thanks to that portfolio change I mentioned earlier by Synology, the hardware you find in this home user multimedia NAS is actually near enough identical to the 2020 generation prosumer and fully-featured TIA. That would be pretty good if it wasn’t for the fact that the CPU was released in 2019 and that despite this system’s similarity to the 2020 prosumer tier, some scalability options and upgrade options are not available here. The QNAP, by comparison, manages to scale up over the Synology in so many different ways, with a couple of slightly peculiar backsteps along the way. First, let’s look at the arrangement of that hardware side by side:

Synology DS224+ vs QNAP S-262 NAS Hardware Comparison
Synology NAS
Amazon Price:	$305 (09/08/23 – Check Amazon)	$332 (09/08/23 – Check Amazon)
Processor model	Intel Celeron N5105	Intel Celeron J4125 (2019 Gen)
processor architecture	64-bit	64-bit
processor clock	2-core 2.0 (base frequency) / 2.9 (burst frequency) GHz	4-core 2.0 (base frequency) / 2.7 (burst frequency) GHz
Integrated Graphics	Yes (450-800Mhz)	Yes (250-750Mhz)
Hardware encryption engine (AES-NI)	Yes	Yes
system memory	4GB DDR4 non-ECC	2 GB DDR4 non-ECC
Pre-installed memory modules	Yes, Fixed	Yes, Initial 2GB Fixed
Total number of memory slots	0	1
Maximum memory capacity	4GB	6 GB (2 GB + 4 GB)
The maximum number of disk slots for an expansion unit	2x USB 3.2 (Supports 2/4/8 Bay Expansions)	N/A
M.2 drive bay	Yes, x1 (Gen 3×1)	N/A
Compatible Disk Type	3.5″ SATA HDD 2.5″ SATA SSD 2280 M.2 NVMe	3.5″ SATA HDD 2.5″ SATA SSD
Disk hot-plug support*	Yes	Yes

The big hurdle for a lot of users is clearly going to be that CPU choice. Side by side, the quad-core CPU inside the Synology is going to mean more cores for the system to take advantage of over the dual-core inside the QNAP. Potentially, both CPUs feature integrated graphics, which also means that for processes such as transcoding, handling of graphical data, and simple offline conversions, they are going to use fewer system resources to get the job done. But when we take a closer look, we can see that there is a lot more to it. For a start, the N4505 jewel court CPU inside the QNAP is a much newer generation processor and features a slightly higher clock speed too. Despite half the available core numbers, that is going to result in the CPU being noticeably more efficient thanks to modern innovation by Intel in newer refreshes of their processors. The integrated graphics on the N405 CPU are of a higher birth speed, and although the QNAP CPU will lose out on the sheer breadth of processing capabilities being dual-core rather than quad-core, in a home user environment, and unless you are going to push the system hard, you aren’t really going to feel it.

Then there is the memory inside the two NAS systems and a very distinct difference in how either brand deploys their systems. The Synology system arrives with less default memory at 2GB versus 4GB on the QNAP. However, the Synology features an upgradable Sodimm memory slot that allows you to add a further 4GB of memory. The QNAP, on the other hand, features 4GB by default, but that 4GB is soldered internally for reasons of efficiency and cost (in light of continued memory shortages over the last 2 years and rising NAND flash costs), which results in the TS-262 NAS not allowing memory upgrades further. Therefore, you are getting more RAM on the QNAP on day one, but better long-term scalability by around 50% on the Synology. The fact that both systems feature soldered memory by default is super annoying, particularly when you know both of the CPUs can support more memory officially according to Intel, of 8 GB and 16 GB respectively.

From this point, however, in terms of hardware, QNAP absolutely steals the show moving forward! In terms of ports, connectivity, and upgrade options, Synology has clearly taken a very rigid stance on the DS224+ system, and this results in an incredibly low glass ceiling in comparison to the TS-262 NAS and the sheer wealth of ways to upgrade its hardware throughout the system’s lifetime. The most obvious example is in network connectivity and one that more modern network equipment is going to benefit most! The Synology DS224+ arrives with two Ethernet ports, both gigabit in architecture. Synology has come under fairly regular criticism for sticking quite rigidly with 1Gb network ports on the bulk of their systems, only providing improved gigabit connections or 10G on their XS or enterprise-grade systems by default. Although these two Ethernet ports support bonding options such as link aggregation, port trunking, and the more modern and easy-to-set-up SMB multi-channel via Windows, there are going to be a lot of users that are disappointed with gigabit network port when even domestic-class hard drives these days can comfortably provide 160 to 200 megabytes per second performance, and increasingly affordable SATA SSDs double or triple that number. Therefore, an external connection that immediately throttles performance down to 109 megabytes per second per port is going to be disappointing. This is further exacerbated by the fact that there is no means to upgrade the network connectivity on the Synology NAS beyond 1G, with no PCIe upgrade slot or any compatibility or support officially for 2.5G or 5G adapters which are becoming increasingly affordable.

The QNAP TS-262, on the other hand, is a completely different story! Arriving with a single Ethernet port, you may think things have started poorly, but this Ethernet port is 2.5 GB Ethernet (2.5 times that of the Synology) and whether you are running a one gig architecture and/or thinking of upgrading your network equipment, this is going to allow you to have higher performance via the single port than both of the ports on the Synology combined. However, this is further improved when you discover that the QNAP now also supports network adapters as I alluded to earlier, meaning that you can add a $20 2.5G USB upgrade and even a $50 5G upgrade to the system to further upgrade network connectivity and fully capitalize on the increased performance afforded to you via your media inside the system in RAID 0 or RAID 1. In fact, these USB ports get even better when you find out that, unlike the 5GB. USB 3 Gen 1 ports in the Synology, the QNAP features 10G USB 3 Gen 2 ports. These USB ports support vastly more peripheral and accessory devices on the TS-262 than they do on the DS224+, ranging from network upgrades, wireless upgrades, office peripherals, and assignment towards virtual machines for either more utilization. But more importantly, these USB ports support storage expansions from QNAP that allow you to add a further two, four, eight, and sixteen bay expansions (in conjunction with the PCIe slot), which means that you are not limited in the system’s lifetime to just those two bays of storage. Synology, on the other hand, has no expansion support for the DS224+. They do have a couple of expansion devices for desktop use in their portfolio, but they are connected via eSATA and have not added this connection to their DS224+ NAS.

Continuing down the rabbit hole of expansion and scalability, there is the fact that the QNAP NAS has a PCIe upgrade slot. It cannot be understated just how important and useful a lot of users are going to find this upgrade slot; even entry-level home users are going to feel the benefits here. Unsurprisingly, there is no PCIe upgrade slot on the Synology DS224+, but why is it such a big deal that these NAS devices would feature one? Well, much like the previous point I made about default network connectivity on the DS224+ and TS-262, having a PCIe upgrade slot means that you can add even greater network connectivity such as 10 GbE via a one or two-port card! There is also support for SSD storage upgrade cards that allow you to add two more M.2 NVMe SSDs and turn this 2-bay NAS into a 4-bay NAS! Or you can go ahead and get combo cards that have both built into a single card that occupies one slot and gives you a massive storage upgrade and a massive external bandwidth upgrade! There is even support for Wi-Fi 6 upgrade cards, USB port upgrade cards, and a long-ranging list of third-party PCIe cards that can be installed inside this system to improve performance inside and outside! Because of the CPU choice here and efforts to keep things affordable on systems on the scale of the DS224+ and TS-262, the PCIe architecture of this upgrade slot is gen 3 x 2, which does limit the internal bandwidth to 2000 megabytes per second, but nevertheless, having the option of this upgrade on the TS-262 alongside those network USB upgrade choices, when the DS224+ provides neither, is definitely something worthy of note.

However, the upgrades on the QNAP TS-262 do not stop there with this system. Also arriving by default with two times M.2 NVMe SSD base as well. That’s right; you don’t even need to wait to upgrade with a PCIe card, and you can go ahead and utilize M.2 SSDs for caching or as raw storage pools straight away on day one, thanks to the system featuring these by default. Remember earlier when I mentioned that the Synology DS224+ is using hardware architecture in this home-tier solution that three years ago was in the prosumer tier, about certain hardware limiting choices have been made? One of those was the two M.2 NVMe SSD base that previous generations of this device had featured and are notably absent on the Synology DS224+. It’s a real shame that Synology opted to not feature these in this architecture, despite clearly having enough resources here to support it. This is quite a clear choice by the brand to place the system in a very specific area of their portfolio so it does not overlap the next tier, the Synology DS723+.

Finally, there is the fact that the QNAP TS-262, like a number of other different NAS solutions in their portfolio that feature integrated graphics, also arrives with visual output, in this case, an HDMI 2.0 4K 60 frames per second port. This visual output, combined with two dedicated USB 2.0 ports that can be used for low priority peripherals alongside this if you choose, allows you to run a completely parallel (not mirrored!) Software GUI that is dedicated to the HDMI out, called HD station. Well, it should be highlighted that QNAP does not update this service and its applications anywhere near as frequently as it does the other apps in the brand’s portfolio. There is still a good range of services that can be used here that allow you to run a standalone surveillance system with KVM, a direct multimedia center that has direct control via an infrared remote control/Wi-Fi remote via mobile/USB keyboard and mouse, the ability to run a standalone PC via this HDMI, while the system also continues to run the QNAP NAS OS and apps over the network as usual, and a whole bunch of other things. Synology has always been pretty clear about their integration of HDMI out on their systems, largely ignoring it for any system other than a handful of their surveillance systems. This is by no means a killer feature for most users, and I know that the percentage of QNAP NAS owners that actually utilize the HDMI is surprisingly small. But nevertheless, this is just another example of the sheer scope of hardware that has been packed into the QNAP TS-262.

Overall, it should come as absolutely no surprise that in terms of hardware, the QNAP TS-262 absolutely smashes it! Even if the base-level hardware of the Synology had been a more modern generation CPU choice (and we have to at least give them the benefit of the doubt that the system does provide more scalability in terms of memory and is a quad-core CPU too!), the overall standard and modern architecture of the QNAP TS-262 is just impossible to ignore, and you are getting frankly insane value for money in terms of hardware on the TS-262, then you do on the slightly older feeling DS224+ by comparison. However, we can’t just focus on the hardware, as having the best hardware in the world won’t mean anything if you can’t utilize it properly. So let’s start talking about the software that is included with both of these NAS systems to see if this is where Synology can shine.

Synology DS224+ vs QNAP TS-262 NAS – Software and Services

Spoiler alert, Synology is going to win this! If you have been spending even a moderate amount of time looking at either of these brands, you’ll know that where QNAP seemingly hit the accelerator in the hardware department, Synology absolutely dominates in terms of the software! QNAP arrives with QTS 5.1, the latest iteration of their software, and although it does lack some of the smoothness and intuitive nature of the Synology platform (DSM 7.2), it is still a very well-put-together and heavily-featured platform. Here is how they compare:

	QNAP QTS 5.1	Synology DSM 7.2
Browser Support	Supports all Browsers	Supports all Browsers
	Browser File Management	Browser File Management
	Photo/Music/Video Tools	Photo/Music/Video Tools
	Multimedia Console	Synology Drive
	AI Photo Recognition	AI Photo Recognition
	Edge m.2 Coral TPU Support
Storage Services
	SED Drive Support	SED Drive Support
	QTier	Synology Hybrid RAID
	Hybrid Mount	Hybrid Share
	ISCSI Target/LUN	ISCSI Target/LUN
	vJBOD	Volume Encryption
	Snapshots	Snapshots
	SSD Cache (Read/Write/Both)	SSD Cache (Read/Write/Both)
	Cloud Sync / QSync	Cloud Sync
	Drive Failure Predcition & Migration	Fast RAID Rebuild
	RAID Resync control	RAID Resync control
	Secure Erase	Acrtive Backup Suite
	Lots of Expansions (TR/TL)	Hyper Backup
	HBS 3	Synology CMS
	Qfiling and Qsirch	Write Once Read Many
Business Applications
	QVR Pro – 8 Camera Licenses (+USB Camera Support)	Surveillance Station – 2 Camera Licenses
	Virtualization Station	Virtual Machine Manager
	Ubuntu Linux Station 18/20	Docker Support
	Container Station	Active Backup 365 & Workspace
	Hypervisor Protector	Synology Office, Chat, Calendar
	QMailAgent	Synology Mail / MailPlus
	HD Station	Synology C2 and Services
	BoXafe
	Security Councillor	Security Councillor
	Malware Remover	Synology VPN Plus
	McAfee Anti-Virus Scanning	Log and Notification Center
	QVPN	Auto Blocking on SSH, Telnet etc
	Log and Notification Center	256 bit Encryption
	Auto Blocking on SSH, Telnet etc	2 Step Authentication
	256 bit Encryption	Firewall App
	2 Step Authentication	Access Protection and Allow/Deny list
	Firewall App	Synology Secure SignIn
	Access Protection and Allow/Deny list	Synology C2 Password

The TS-262 also supports QNAP’s QTier service, a unique alternative to utilizing faster SSDs as storage pools or for caching. With Q Tier, you can combine your available slower hard drive storage media and faster SSD media into a single storage pool. Upon doing so, over time the system will learn what are the most frequently accessed files, ranging from small metadata and OS files all the way up to larger block data, which is then moved (not copied, as found with caching in smaller files) to the faster storage area. Then over time, as you and your other users use the TS-262, those more frequently accessed files will be retrieved from the faster SSD and create a much more responsive and faster user experience. Combine that with the improvements in the base level, network bandwidth on day one, or via upgrade, and the benefits of QTier in a mixed media storage device are very useful indeed.

We also have to acknowledge that one of these two brands suffered something of a PR disaster back in 2021/2022 when QNAP was one of the brands that was targeted by the Deadbolt ransomware group (alongside Asustor and Terramaster), resulting in more than 3,000 successfully hit devices who suffered targeted data encryption in small or whole system storage extents. The impact of this, combined with QNAP’s handling of the attack and their response to semi-force updates on systems remotely, resulted in a lot of lost face by many in this brand, and they will be carrying the stigma of this event for quite a few years yet. In comparison, Synology, though targeted by the group, were not successfully attacked, and at the time of writing, it appears that no Synology NAS user was ever hit by Deadbolt ransomware. In fact, aside from the Synolocker attack on Synology NAS systems over a decade ago, there has not been any widespread reported successful attack on their platform that comes even slightly close to the Deadbolt attack on QNAP.

To put this into a little bit of perspective, all network-attached storage devices received regular security updates for years, long beyond the hardware warranty of any singular NAS hardware. This is because software development can only ever really be one step ahead of the hackers. A brand releases software, hackers begin to try to find vulnerabilities, and when successful, the software brand releases a firmware update, and the cycle begins again. The majority of software these days is actually built on just a handful of different software architectures such as Linux, which in turn go through the same cycle of update>attack>update as any other software. However, when THEY roll out an update, the software that is built on them needs to customize that firmware update on their platforms, which takes time! Both of these brands, alongside every other reputable software brand that has even a hint of internet/remote access, has their security advisory pages that you can find online, which will detail the number of vulnerabilities that have been highlighted and the progress of their resolution. So, no brand will ever be considered 100% bulletproof from security vulnerabilities, as any piece of software might have a vulnerability that has just simply not been found yet, but there is simply no denying that between these two brands when it comes to security and how they have managed this subject, Synology seemingly has the edge.

If you are still on the fence about whether you should buy the Synology DS224+ or QNAP TS-262, and you intend to spend a decent amount of time with their respective software, then I would strongly recommend that you head to one of the two demo pages below. Both of these allow you to test out and experience the respective NAS software from each of these brands and will give you a good understanding of how each one works, how intuitive or user-friendly they are, and whether either software will provide you the level of reliability, stability, or customization that you are going to need before you purchase either the DS224+ or TS-262 NAS.

Synology Diskstation Manager 7.2 Online Demo – HERE

QNAP QTS 5.1 Online Demo – HERE

Ultimately, much like previously when QNAP was holding court and comfortably winning the hardware comparison of these two NAS devices, in the case of software, Synology absolutely smashes it. It’s not a complete flawless victory, as the QNAP QTS platform does provide a wide range of first-party services, much more customizable and adaptable services, and a wide range of third-party support compared with Synology DSM. But in terms of UX design, smoothness of GUI, long-term security management, and first-party ecosystem services, the Synology DSM platform on the DS224+ comfortably places it ahead. This is as you would expect from a brand that, when purchasing one of their solutions, places the emphasis on the software more than anything else. You can really feel the investment there! If you are in need of further comparison, you can check out my reviews on both DSM and QTS below in the software reviews over on YouTube:

QNAP QTS 5.1 Before You Buy (YouTube)	Synology DSM 7.2 Before You Buy (YouTube)

Synology DS224+ vs QNAP TS-262 NAS – Verdict and Conclusion

It would be so, so easy to simply label this a case of hardware versus software, and indeed there is a ring of truth to that when you look at just how much is packed in with both the DS224+ and TS-262 in terms of priorities from either brand. However, the reality is a little bit more nuanced, as it really will come down to both what the user needs and their level of experience. Though the software on the DS224+ towers over the hardware when you purchase the device, it also needs to be stated that good software can make the most of weaker hardware, and having a system that requires a lower skill level in order to make the most out of it, for some, is going to be worth its waiting gold! You need to think of the Synology NAS systems as something of a complete ecosystem rather than just a data storage solution, providing more applications to replace those third-party alternatives that may exist in your network and create a truly synchronized storage networking communication environment! However, all of that arrives with limitations, with a lower glass ceiling and often with a feeling that the system is being held back intentionally in efforts to maintain that balance in the case of the DS224+. The TS-262, by comparison, gives you more hardware, more bandwidth, greater opportunities to upgrade and scale out your storage, and does so with a software platform that takes off the training wheels. This can lead to inconsistencies, this can lead to a higher learning curve, and ultimately leads to an experience where you may have to spend more time getting the system to wrap around your existing workflow rather than the other way around. This is where the TS-262 excels, as it tries to give you the control to do things your way, but may also hit the odd hurdle when it’s trying to do and be too many things to too many people. If you are looking for a streamlined experience that will hold your hand the whole way, go for the Synology DS224+! If you are looking to take the reins of your hardware, get a system to work the way YOU want it to, and have more opportunities to scale up your network storage in many directions, go for the QNAP TS-262. Both systems excel in what they’re trying to do at this price point, and as long as you know what you want from this system in advance, they will fulfill those needs appropriately!

NAS
Amazon Price:	QNAP TS-262 NAS $305 (21/04/24 – Check Amazon)	Synology DS224+ NAS $335 (21/04/24 – Check Amazon)

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER
[contact-form-7]
Join Inner Circle

This description contains links to Amazon. These links will take you to some of the products mentioned in today's content. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Visit the NASCompares Deal Finder to find the best place to buy this device in your region, based on Service, Support and Reputation - Just Search for your NAS Drive in the Box Below

Need Advice on Data Storage from an Expert?

Finally, for free advice about your setup, just leave a message in the comments below here at NASCompares.com and we will get back to you. Need Help? Where possible (and where appropriate) please provide as much information about your requirements, as then I can arrange the best answer and solution to your needs. Do not worry about your e-mail address being required, it will NOT be used in a mailing list and will NOT be used in any way other than to respond to your enquiry. [contact-form-7] TRY CHAT Terms and Conditions   Alternatively, why not ask me on the ASK NASCompares forum, by clicking the button below. This is a community hub that serves as a place that I can answer your question, chew the fat, share new release information and even get corrections posted. I will always get around to answering ALL queries, but as a one-man operation, I cannot promise speed! So by sharing your query in the ASK NASCompares section below, you can get a better range of solutions and suggestions, alongside my own.

WE LOVE COFFEE

 

Western Digital annonce l’arrivée d’un nouveau disque dur pour NAS : le WD Red Pro 24 To. Ce nouveau produit s’inscrit dans la lignée de la famille WD Red Pro, conçue pour répondre aux besoins des entreprises et des particuliers les plus exigeants. Son prix de lancement est de 749 €. WD Red Pro 24 To Les disques WD Red Pro sont réputés pour leur capacité à gérer des charges de travail intenses, en fonctionnant 24h/24 et 7j/7. Le nouveau modèle de 24 To s’adresse aux entreprises travaillant avec des NAS équipés d’au moins 6 baies en configuration RAID. Le […]
Lire la suite : WD Red Pro 24 To arrive en France : 749€

A Guide to the Best 10GbE NAS Drives

Data continues to grow exponentially, with everyday devices generating substantial amounts of data. High-resolution photos, 4K Ultra HD HDR movies, and internet connections surpassing gigabit speeds have become the norm. This surge in data creation and transfer has highlighted the limitations of the traditional 1GbE (RJ45) LAN/WAN ports, often causing network bottlenecks. In the past year, client hardware like phones, laptops, TVs, and tablets have adapted to this challenge, increasingly incorporating advanced WiFi protocols such as WiFi 6 (802.11ax). Similarly, in the realm of Network Attached Storage (NAS), addressing bandwidth limitations has been a focus for several years, with one of the key solutions being the adoption of 10GbE technology. 10GbE, offering ten times the bandwidth of the conventional 1GbE, enables network transmissions to exceed 1,000MB/s. Although 10G technology has been around for a while, it’s only in the last few years, particularly in 2023 and 2024, that it has become significantly more affordable. This price reduction has made it feasible for both home and business users to upgrade. The cost of 10G adapter cards has dropped to under £100, and network switches are now priced only slightly higher than their 1G counterparts. Furthermore, in some instances, the physical compatibility of 1G and 10G is identical (Copper RJ45), simplifying upgrades and allowing for considerable hardware reuse.

10GbE has become much more accessible than previously anticipated. To assist in your decision-making process, below is a video detailing numerous reasons to upgrade to or opt out of 10GbE, which could be helpful in your search for the best 10GbE NAS to buy in 2024.

Best NAS of the Year (Honourable Mention) Terramaster T9-450 $999-1099 – Buy Here on Amazon – Buy HERE on B&H (Best Software) Synology DS1823xs+ $1799 – Buy Here on Amazon – Buy HERE on B&H (Best Hardware) QNAP TS-855X $1300-1500 – Buy Here on Amazon – Buy HERE on B&H (Best Value 10G + NVMe) Asustor Flashstor 12 Pro $799 – Buy Here on Amazon – Buy HERE on B&H

Key Features of Top 10GbE NAS Drives in 2024

When exploring the various 10GbE NAS drives available, it’s crucial to recognize that they are not all created equal. Despite the temptation of lower-priced models from emerging brands, these often lack durability and comprehensive features. Here are the essential features that the best 10GbE NAS drives, regardless of brand, should include:

1. **Integrated Hardware and Software**: Includes a web browser interface, mobile and desktop apps for backup, media streaming, surveillance, and file management.
2. **Multi-OS Compatibility**: Accessible via Windows, Mac, Android, and Linux.
3. **Warranty**: Typically 2-3 years, extendable to 5 years.
4. **Network and Remote Access**: Local network access and secure remote access with brand-supported services at no extra cost.
5. **Support for Latest Hard Drives**: Compatibility with the latest 20TB NAS hard drives.
6. **RAID Support**: Multiple drive configurations for data protection and performance.
7. **Regular Updates**: Frequent updates for security, features, and services.
8. **Cloud and Enterprise Service Integration**: Syncing capabilities with cloud services like Google Drive, Dropbox, and OneDrive, and enterprise services such as AWS and Azure.
9. **Shared Drive Hosting**: Ability to host a synchronized drive on your device, visible in the native file manager.
10. **Direct Network Connectivity**: Access via ethernet for 100MB/s or higher connectivity.
11. **Backup and Sync Tools**: Client-side tools for regular backups of files and system data.

Ensure any 10GbE NAS you consider, beyond the top recommendations, includes these features. These aspects are often compromised in cheaper models, resulting in less proficient NAS servers. Let’s now look at the best 10GbE NAS drives to buy right now.

---

Honourable Mention, Good Value 10GbE – Terramaster T9-450 NAS

0-198TB, 9-Bays, 2x PCIe Gen 3 M.2 NVMe 2280, Intel C3558R Atom Quad Core CPU, 8-32GB Memory, 2x 10GbE SFP, 1x 2.5GbE Port, PCIe Slot (TBC), 2yr Warranty

Current Price/Availability on Amazon – $999-1099

Hardware Review – LINK

YouTube Video Review – Watch

What I said in my review May ’23:

Terramaster has really changed the playing field with the T9-450 NAS. I was already a big fan of their latest generation of 6-Bay, 9-Bay and 12-Bay desktop chassis – providing a pretty substantial amount of storage in a tower design that borrows ventilation methodology traditionally found in rackmounts, but the T9-450 takes this logic and doubles down on it hard. The dual 10GbE on the system means that, despite it’s comparatively modest price point (when comparing against similar scale solutions from Synology and QNAP) you genuinely have a solution with the potential to allow you to enjoy every single MB/s or GB/s of your RAID externally. This is further bolstered with additional 2.5GbE ports, m.2 NVMe bays, uncomplicated support of HDDs/SSDs and just generally a very sensible system that shows how much Terramaster has matured as a brand. The TOS software is still not quite up there with Synology’s DSM or QNAP’s QTS in terms of ease of use and AAA+ features, but it is definitely a great entry point OS that has tighted it’s security since the brand was targetted by a ransomware group (along with other brands, they were affected by Deadbolt attacks) – it certainly lacks some of the background optimization of it’s competitors, but then this is reflected in the budget of the system too.

The internal PCIe slot that has been largely ignored is a bit of a missed opportunity and I am not a big fan of how they have addressed memory compatibility, but overall it is very, very tough to criticise the T9-450 NAS when you factor in the value of the package here. Factor in that you can very easily swap out the OS for many others, and it largely silences alot of the negatives here too. Overall, the T9-450 could potentially be the best NAS that Terramster has ever released and if they continue to address later releases with the same level of hardware value, this could definitely give the bigger names in the industry something of a headache down the road. I highly recommend this system for its value and performance potential!

 

DEAL WATCH – Is It On Offer Right Now? These Offers are Checked Daily

 

---

Best All Round 10GbE NAS for HW and SW – Synology DS1823xs+ NAS

0-176TB, 8-Bays, 2x NVMe Cache Bays, Quad-Core Ryzen V1780B 3.4Ghz CPU, 8-32GB DDR4 ECC Memory, 1x 10GbE, 2x 1Gbe Port, 1x PCIe 3×8 Upgrade Slot, 5yr Warranty

Current Price/Availability on Amazon – $1799

Hardware Review – LINK

YouTube Video Review – Watch Long Review – Watch Short Review

What I said in my review March ’23:

If you are looking for a solid and confident move away from expensive long-term cloud subscription services, away from your defunct Drobo system or simply looking for a Synology NAS that has good hardware inside, outside and with DSM all over it – the DS1823xs+ NAS is a very solid choice indeed! With a huge degree of expandability and upgradability open to the end user to scale with later in the system’s life, extensive long-term committed software support and that 5yrs hardware warranty out the box – this is a system that is clearly designed for the long-haul and as soon as you factor in the complete hardware+software nature of this purchase with DSM included, it’s a very tasty box! There are a few odd choices here or there (e.g M.2 NVMe Pools not presented in the way some might like and HDD/SSD compatibility that clearly favours the enterprise tier), this is still easily the most powerful and capable 8-Bay system that Synology has ever produced. Whether you are a small, medium or large business user, this system has a large amount of potential for your data and has the horsepower for multiple VMs, large-scale surveillance, widespread backups, broad multi-user access and all of these running at the same time in a remarkably compact package.

That said, the DS1823xs+ NAS has a little bit of an identity crisis when you scale it up with the rest of the larger tiers of the Synology portfolio and, although I genuinely like it, seems to be a system that exists BETWEEN the Synology PLUS and XS series (see my points about the RS2423+) and when you look at it in that context, it sees the tiniest bit more expensive than it should be. If you are looking at the DS1823xs+ NAS and fully intend to scale up the storage, external bandwidth or memory in the next two years, I would recommend skipping this and opting for the DS3622xs+ instead. However, the base model of the DS1823xs+ has alot of ‘umpf’ under the bonnet and short of those hurdles for some on compatibility, the DS1823xs+ seemingly lives up to alot of it’s expectations!

DEAL WATCH – Is It On Offer Right Now? Synology DS1823xs+ 8 Bay NAS Desktop: High-Performance Storage Solution Amazon UK 27.57 OFF (WAS 1788) [LINK] Synology DiskStation DS1823xs+ 8-Bay + 2 x NVMe, 3.5 Diskless, 2xGbE + 1x10GbE, Amazon USA 16.57 OFF (WAS 2282) [LINK] These Offers are Checked Daily

---

Best Storage 10GbE NAS – QNAP Triple Tier TS-855X Server

0-130TB SATA HDDs, 0-16TB SATA SSDs, 0-16TB 3×4 M.2 NVMes, 6+2+2-Bays, C5125 8-Core Atom CPU, 8-128GB Memory, 1x 10GbE and 2x 2.5GbE Ports, 2x PCIe 3×8 Slots, 3yr Warranty

Current Price/Availability on Amazon – $1300-1500

Hardware Review – LINK

YouTube Video Review – Watch

What I said in my review June ’23:

I have to say, I am INSANELY impressed by how much bang for buck is being included in the TS-855X and although it is not the most powerful device in the market (arguably intentionally, as it favours the more affordable Atom over a xeon), it is a sensible workhorse of a NAS. On the positive side, the QNAP TS-855X NAS comes with numerous strong selling points. The device offers large storage potential, especially with the ZFS file system, making it a powerhouse for data management. The choice of CPU is also sensible, providing a balance between performance and cost-effectiveness. The inclusion of the QTier tool is particularly appealing, adding a layer of efficiency to the storage management. Another big plus is the user-friendly GUI for ZFS in QuTS, making it accessible for users with varying levels of technical expertise. The three-tier storage options and support of ECC memory with a maximum of 128GB further enhance the device’s versatility and potential. Moreover, the TS-855X provides a wealth of expansion options and comes with 8 camera licenses with QVR Pro/QTS. The well-ventilated design contributes to thermal efficiency, ensuring optimal performance, while its support for the latest 22TB and soon-to-be-released 24TB drives future-proofs your investment.

However, the TS-855X is not without its drawbacks. While the two SATA SSD bays provide extra storage options, they would have been better if they were U.2 slots, which offer faster speeds. Although the device supports ECC memory, the initial 8GB memory in the base model is non-ECC, which might not be optimal for all ZFS services. The memory capacity might also be somewhat low for users with intensive data needs. Furthermore, the software can sometimes be inconsistent under heavy use, and it has a steeper learning curve compared to competitors like Synology. Finally, the pricing structure for the TS-855X is a mixed bag. While some users may find the cost reasonable given its features, others might feel it’s a bit steep for what it offers. Therefore, while the QNAP TS-855X NAS offers a plethora of attractive features and strong performance, it’s worth keeping in mind that a spend of a few hundred more dollars opens the door to Intel Core-powered NAS in the TVS-hx74 series or more powerful Xeon triple-tiered systems such as the TVS-h1288X. If you want power, but on a budget, it’s a great choice!

 

DEAL WATCH – Is It On Offer Right Now? QNAP TS-855X-8G-US 8 Bay High-Performance 8-core 10GbE NAS for deploying Hybrid- Amazon USA 248.38 OFF (WAS 1647) [LINK] These Offers are Checked Daily

---

Best Value 10GbE NVMe NAS – The Asustor Flashstor 12 Pro NVMe Flash Server

0-96TB, 12x M.2 NVMe 3×1 Bays, Supports 2x USB Expansions, N5105/N5095 4-Core CPU, 4-16GB DDR4 (non-ECC) Memory, 1x 10Gbe Port, 3yr Warranty

Current Price/Availability on Amazon – $799

Hardware Review – LINK

YouTube Video Review HERE)

What I said in my review June ’23:

I cannot stress enough how impressed I am that the Flashstor 6 and Flashstor 12 Pro are priced at $499 and $860, respectively, given the level of hardware on offer here. These are by no means enterprise-grade NAS server solutions, nor should they be thought of as such. However, given the cost of typical fully featured 4x HDD solutions from their competitors and the brand themselves, which often start at $550 and above, it is quite remarkable that the six M.2 SSD system with comparable internal hardware comes in at $499. As long as a user keeps their expectations in line with what this cost versus its capabilities, it’s really tough to argue with the price point that these two devices have arrived at on the market. The Asustor FS6712X Flashstor 12 Pro NAS presents a unique offering in the NAS market, leveraging NVMe technology to provide high-capacity, ultra-high-performance storage. The device’s design, with its rhombus-shaped enclosure and twelve M.2 NVMe slots, sets it apart from traditional NAS devices and offers a sleek and modern aesthetic.

The tool-less drive installation mechanism makes it easy to set up and expand the storage capacity. However, there are some considerations to keep in mind. The limited number of PCIe lanes provided by the Intel Celeron N5105 processor may restrict the performance of high-speed NVMe drives. The single 10GbE LAN port also presents a potential network bottleneck, limiting the device’s overall network performance. Users seeking maximum performance and network throughput may find alternative solutions better suited to their needs. Despite these limitations, the FS6712X shines as a storage solution for users who prioritize high-capacity storage, quiet operation, and low power consumption. The device’s ability to directly output 4K video, along with its range of Asustor-approved apps, makes it an excellent choice for media distribution and presentation. In terms of pricing, the FS6712X comes with a price tag of $850+. While this may appear high at first glance, it is comparable to 8 bay drive NAS SATA devices and many of those do not even include NVMe slots or 10GbE. Users looking for a more cost-effective option can consider the Flashstor 6, which offers half the number of slots and 2x 2.5GbE enabled ports for $499.

As the cost of flash modules continues to drop, and larger capacity drives become available all the way up to 8TB (even without QLC), the FS6712X provides an attractive solution for those seeking high-capacity and high-performance NAS storage. While some underlying performance relativity by the end user needs to be factored in and hardware limitations exist thanks to the use of that Celeron to remain budget-friendly, the FS6712X is a tremendously smart move by Asustor. A well-designed NAS that presents a much more confident solution demonstrating the benefits of NVMe-focused NAS devices to an audience that would have assumed such things are way, WAY outside the realms of affordability!

 

DEAL WATCH – Is It On Offer Right Now? ASUSTOR FLASHSTOR 6 (FS6706T) Network Storage Amazon USA 7.09 OFF (WAS 475) [LINK] ASUSTOR FLASHSTOR 12 Pro (FS6712X) Network Storage Amazon USA 12.68 OFF (WAS 848) [LINK] These Offers are Checked Daily

---

Need More Help Choosing the right NAS?

Choosing the right data storage solution for your needs can be very intimidating and it’s never too late to ask for help. With options ranging from NAS to DAS, Thunderbolt to SAS and connecting everything up so you can access all your lovely data at the touch of a button can be a lot simpler than you think. If you want some tips, guidance or help with everything from compatibility to suitability of a solution for you, why not drop me a message below and I will get back to you as soon as possible with what you should go for, its suitability and the best place to get it. This service is designed without profit in mind and in order to help you with your data storage needs, so I will try to answer your questions as soon as possible. Just enter in a few details of your setup, storage requirements and (in the case of buying a new solution) your budget – then me and Eddie the Web guy can help you with your question. This is a completely free service, is NOT provided with profit in mind and is manned by two humans (no bots, no automated replies, etc). Assistance might take an extra day or two (the service gets a lot of visitors) but we do try to answer every message. If you want to support this service, you can find out how to donate HERE. Otherwise, you can still just message us for free advice anyway!

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER
[contact-form-7]
Join Inner Circle

This description contains links to Amazon. These links will take you to some of the products mentioned in today's content. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Visit the NASCompares Deal Finder to find the best place to buy this device in your region, based on Service, Support and Reputation - Just Search for your NAS Drive in the Box Below

Need Advice on Data Storage from an Expert?

Finally, for free advice about your setup, just leave a message in the comments below here at NASCompares.com and we will get back to you. Need Help? Where possible (and where appropriate) please provide as much information about your requirements, as then I can arrange the best answer and solution to your needs. Do not worry about your e-mail address being required, it will NOT be used in a mailing list and will NOT be used in any way other than to respond to your enquiry. [contact-form-7] TRY CHAT Terms and Conditions   Alternatively, why not ask me on the ASK NASCompares forum, by clicking the button below. This is a community hub that serves as a place that I can answer your question, chew the fat, share new release information and even get corrections posted. I will always get around to answering ALL queries, but as a one-man operation, I cannot promise speed! So by sharing your query in the ASK NASCompares section below, you can get a better range of solutions and suggestions, alongside my own.

WE LOVE COFFEE

 

Le fabricant de NAS vient de mettre en ligne la version Beta de son logiciel interne QTS 5.2. Loin d’être une révolution, il faudra attendre QTS 6, cette nouvelle version reste cependant très intéressante. Regardons de plus près son contenu… QNAP QTS 5.2 Beta Un peu plus d’un an après la Beta de QTS 5.1, QNAP nous revient avec une nouvelle version QTS 5.2 Beta. Cette nouvelle version du logicielle interne devrait arriver pour tous en juillet, si tout va bien. Selon QNAP : « QTS 5.2.0 apporte de nombreuses nouvelles fonctionnalités importantes pour renforcer la sécurité, améliorer les performances et […]
Lire la suite : QNAP QTS 5.2 est disponible en Beta​