Print
The computer industry is in a constant state of tension between local and distributed computing. On one extreme is the desktop computer with terabytes of storage, a powerful CPU and GPU, and huge tracts of RAM—but which mostly restricts users to direct local access. On the other end are smartphones, tablets, netbooks, and other thin-client devices that rely on cloud storage and constant data access to make up for their lack of oomph, but which allow users to access their data from anywhere. Both types of computing have their advantages, and both can benefit hugely from a home server or other network-attached storage (NAS) device.
A modern NAS, as the hub of your home network, can offer many advantages. Its terabytes of storage can provide not only easy backup for your devices, but also a centralized and unified media library that can stream to any device in your home—and beyond. With the use of smartphone and tablet apps, a web interface, and streaming services, your NAS can be your network's brain when you're at home and your personal cloud when you're not.
We're going to take a look at four of the top NAS devices currently on the market. All the products we tested support up to four SATA drives in the standard RAID levels (0/1/5/10), providing exceptional performance and reliability. These devices are geared toward small businesses and home offices, and they include features and performance that extend above and beyond what the typical home user will require. But then again, we've always felt that overkill is just another product feature.
ITS LOOKS ARE ITS MOST NOTABLE ATTRIBUTE
Promise Technology has been quietly making a name for itself as a major player in the storage space, producing a number of RAID and NAS solutions for all types of needs. The SmartStor NS4700 is the company's four-bay, performance-oriented NAS. The NS4700 ships without hard drives, but in our testing we used four 2TB Seagate Barracuda Green drives. Other items included in the box are an Ethernet cable, a standard computer power cord, a quick-start guide, a documentation/software CD, and screws for mounting your hard drives. The software CD includes a copy of Acronis Backup and Recovery NAS Edition, which is limited for use with Promise NAS devices.
The SmartStor NS4700 sports a dual-core Atom D525 processor running at 1.8GHz and 1GB of DDR2 RAM. Five USB 2.0 ports (one on the front) allow you to add USB hard drives to easily move large amounts of data to and from the NAS or to function as a backup medium, but there is no USB 3.0 or eSATA. Dual Gigabit Ethernet ports are automatically configured for load balancing, but this can be reconfigured easily in the browser-based management console.
In a world of plain black boxes, the NS4700's two-tone aesthetic seems downright daring.
From a hardware standpoint, the NS4700 looks very clean. The drives are accessible from the front of the device and are housed within four horizontally oriented drive trays. The trays themselves feature a sliding lock that prevents accidental removal but not unauthorized access. The LCD panel on the front along with the associated select and enter buttons, allows for some minor configuration and information gathering.
For the most part, configuring the NS4700 is done through a browser-based UI. The interface itself is clean and features an impressive dashboard, allowing you to monitor various aspects of the hardware. Actually configuring things like shares and permissions isn't as intuitive as we'd like, but that's not something you will be doing on a regular basis, either. Promise includes support for the DLNA Digital Media Server role, and the NS4700 also functions as an iTunes media server. Both protocols make your media library accessible to a wide range of client devices.
A STRONG SOFTWARE PACKAGE MAKES UP FOR OUTDATED HOUSING
Synology has been in the NAS business for a while, and it has an impressive number of products to show for it. The DS411+II uses the same housing as the company's DS409+ NAS box that we reviewed in our Holiday 2009 issue, and that's a problem. While the competitors are offering products with hot-swappable drives that are accessible from the front, the DS411+II requires you to remove thumbscrews and the cover to gain access to the drive bays. Synology supports a "RAID 5+Spare" drive configuration in the DS411+II, meaning you can have one drive configured as a spare in case of drive failure. In the box, along with the DS411+II itself, you will find the power cord and external power supply, an Ethernet cable, a DVD with software and documentation, and screws for drive installation.
Installing drives in the DS411+II's four bays requires front-cover removal and use of thumbscrews.
The DS411+II is powered by a robust dual-core 1.8GHz Atom and 1GB of DDR2 memory, which belie the slightly outdated form factor. Sadly, the DS411+II lags in the connectivity department, offering just two USB 2.0 ports and a single gigabit Ethernet connection. A lone eSATA port is small consolation. The DS411+II supports USB hard drives, USB printers, and even USB speakers for playing music directly from the device.
Though it's not exactly a work of art, chances are you'd be purchasing a NAS for the functionality it provides, not its aesthetic value. For all of the DS411+II's hardware deficiencies, Synology nailed the software side of the equation. The web-based configuration utility is innovative and fresh, using modern web technologies to allow you to view multiple configuration screens or performance dashboards simultaneously. The DS411+II even provides a wizard-based utility that assists you in configuring your router and firewall to allow access to the NAS through the web. Synology offers both DLNA and iTunes media server options and even goes a step farther by functioning as a Squeezebox Server for Logitech's Squeezebox line of media streamers.
Comments are closed on this article
karenxiao
January 11, 2012 at 7:18pm
I am very enjoyed for this side. Its a nice topic. It help me very much to solve some problems. Its opportunity are so fantastic and working style so speedy. I think it may be help all of you. Thanks
LED spotlight
caterin
January 05, 2012 at 12:52am
All the products we tested support up to four SATA drives in the standard RAID levels (0/1/5/10), providing exceptional performance and reliability. Phlebotomy Training
QuadraQ
September 20, 2011 at 7:44pm
This is a nice review of some of the pre-built options that are out there. However, this is MaximumPC and is geared toward enthusiasts. We love to build our PC's and tinker with our hardware. Building a NAS box is now a hot area of growth for enthusiasts with terrific options out there such as FreeNAS with ZFS support. A small case with room for 4 or more 3.5" drives and a power efficient cpu can make an incredible NAS box for a LOT less money than the pre-built options. It's time for MaximumPC to do a feature article about such a project, that covers some of the best options out there, at varying price points (preferably a cover article).
mac2k
September 20, 2011 at 8:30am
They really need to do a thing with freenas vs these boxes and see if the options (services) and speeds are a good way to see the differences. Plus Pricing since freenas ia free and all you need is a old computer...
TechLarry
September 20, 2011 at 7:40am
ALL of these things are horribly overpriced.
You can build a WHSv2 Server for around $400, add the WHSv2 server software for $79, and then toss in 4-6TGB of storage and come under the $800-$900 price of these things.
And have increased functionality to boot. Backups with bare metal restores. Internet Media Streaming. DNLA streaming. Remote Access other than FTP. And an add-in system that continues to grow daily.
Not to mention performance. You can use left-over parts from an older PC that are assuredly more powerful than these Atom based boxes (mine uses a 'retired' E6700 on a BadAxe-2 Motherboard).
I just don't see the value in these any longer. At least not at this price point. If they sold for $199, which is about all the hardware there is there plus a bit for the customized Linux OS, then they would be more in the market.
tferrill
September 20, 2011 at 2:33pm
It seems you haven't read the full article. Specifically your comments regarding Internet Streaming, DLNA, Remote Access, etc. Several of these devices feature all of the above, and handle those features better than WHS. Also, performance is is a trade-off. Power management is also a key feature for a device that could potentially be running constantly for a number of years.
Your concern with price is valid, but you have to remember that these devices are targeted at Small Businesses, not consumers. The intent of the article was to compare the devices, not necessarily to present them as the end-all solution for your storage needs.
siph7
September 20, 2011 at 3:44am
At around $400, this would be a much nicer alternative and gives more flexibility.
http://www.silentpcreview.com/HP_Proliant_MicroServer
AlBSure
September 19, 2011 at 8:16pm
I frequently look at the price of these preconfigured NAS and just smfh. about 2 years ago i built one myself and its been the best thing:
Norco 2u case w/8 hotswap - $160
MB I had sitting around from an old PC
Bought another 2u from a guy that didnt want it for $50 to harness the PSU
filled drives 0 - 3 with 500GB drives and bout to fill the remainder 4 with either 1TB or 2TB drives
OS - Openfiler
all the different protocls work nice for me since I left M$ for Linux a few months ago and my Mac friends,TV's, PC's, Apple TV, Roku, WDLive find it with no problem. and the uptime was almost 1k Days lastime i looked
Kaldesh
September 19, 2011 at 3:27pm
Best NAS Solution? Easy.
1 old computer -- $0
2TB Hard drives -- $69.95ea
Install FreeNAS on an old USB Key and attach to computer -- $0
--- ---? ??? -- ??? --- Profit? Me thinks... yes.
illusionslayer
September 19, 2011 at 7:03pm
Where exactly are you getting a free computer and a thumb drive?
don2041
September 19, 2011 at 10:07pm
I got 4 Optiplex 170L Dells from the free store at the local dump. P4s 2.8 ghz, 2Gigs ram, attatched 2 external 2terabyte drives to each. bulky but they work just fine They stack up nice and I can do lots of other stuff with them other than just storage.
ps also attached a 4 port kvm switch a friend gave me.
JeyNyce
September 19, 2011 at 2:33pm
This is great and all, but how about doing a story about building your own NAS. With the price of Hsrd Drives falling it may be better to build your own
nedwards
September 19, 2011 at 2:41pm
We've done that before and will be doing another one soon. Specifically, once FreeNAS 8.1 comes out.
QuadraQ
September 20, 2011 at 7:51pm
That's excellent news! Please make it a cover article - this is one of the hottest growth segments for DIY PC builders, and FreeNAS is truly exciting. I've been looking to build one of these beauties myself, and there are a dizzying amount of options. I'd love to get a MaximumPC article to help sort some of it out. Information on power usage would also be very helpful. (Please be sure to include some points on how to leverage old hardware, and standard PC cases - not just the NAS specific hardware out there.) I'd also like to see a comparison to Drobo, since it offers similiar features.
h e x e n
September 20, 2011 at 4:33am
Excellent. I have tons of old HDD's just laying around, I'd like to know how to put them to use and the benefits of having a NAS in your home network. Looking forward to the next "build it".
A few questions though: How many computers would one need attached to a network to see real usability from a NAS system? What, besides storage, can you do with these devices? Are they easy to set up and maintain?
I'm completely in the dark here. My external 160gb western digital passport has been my trusty backup now for over 5 years and I have yet to understand the benefits and features of a NAS system. Any input from people running them would be great.
dwellman
September 19, 2011 at 7:06pm
Right. But did you mean 8.1 or 8.0.1?
Anyway, pursuant to the curent crop of 8.0.x releases, I wouldn't expect the blazing-est performance numbers especialy using he now intended default ZFS. ZFS on BSD has always been. . . meh. UFS faster, but sometimes, not by much and slower in SoftwareRaid mirror. Also all the "consumer" level widgets from 7 are gone, namely, Transmission.
But then again, my little NAS cost $212 initially (including 2 2.5 inch drives) two years ago, but I recenty (two weeks ago) had to replace the mainboard, but I got an OK deal at $74 for a D510 based and I bought another stick of RAM for $12.
