Now it was time yet time to add itself a larger NAS, which provides the local network for 2 laptops and smartphones files and serves as a central media and backup servers. Had After reading many reviews (principally cut Qnap products perform well) and opinions of the administrators of my company sought (... "the Qnap offers the best price / performance ratio on average and has no major flaws") I came to the conclusion a to buy QNAP product - also because the manufacturer properly serving large, professional NAS systems and enjoys a quite good reputation here. From the know-how including the smaller systems could benefit. Previously I had a Qnap TS-212 and was very satisfied with the device so it will definitely be a QNAP device.
First Impression:
----------------------------
The unit is smaller than expected and looks very chic. It's also good in the living room hi-fi cabinet but how loud is the machine well.? First: With the right disks, it is in my hi-fi cabinet (with thinner glass door before) not to hear.
The LEDs are not too bright and not interfere with the movie experience. The device is actually something inconspicuous / discreet.
Commissioning:
-------------------------------------------------- -----------
The unit is set to DHCP. So after you start it gets an IP address.
After starting the Qnap software Q-Finder the device is found immediately and you can connect it directly via the Internet browser. One should the QNAP Finder incidentally be installed, it has a few nice features, but this later. The recognition of my hard drives and set up the RAID configuration ran without any problems and very fast.
Tip: Spread over the RAID modes are clear beforehand and configure equal the correct mode. Also next make the same a firmware update - saving probably later trouble ...
Used hard drives:
-------------------------------------------------- -----------
I have 4 WD RED a 3 GB installed (specifically Western Digital WD30EFRX RD1000S), the whole in RAID 0, so I have 12 GB in access, but without resilience to I use an external 5 Bay USB3.0 enclosure from Lian Li.
External devices via USB 3.0 connection:
-------------------------------------------------- -----------
I have a Lian Li EX-503 housing connected to one of the two USB 3.0 ports, also with 12 GB disks in RAID 0. The QNAP copied here the data to secure back automatically.
At the other USB 3.0 port, a Icy Box IB-RD4320StU3 hangs with 2x3TB. This does not serve as a backup but additionally provides data that are provided on QNAP via network share.
I tested also times a 2.5-inch USB 3.0 drive, the "Verbatim Store 'n' Go 1TB external hard drive."
All systems have been recognized immediately, if necessary, these drives must be formatted again with the QNAP if they have an exotic filesystem. All run in continuous operation without any problems. The data rate is about 95 MB / s for large files, in the 2.5 inch Verbatim it was a little less.
Tested functions:
----------------------------------
The QNAP devices offer a plethora of features. Many professional are. It is the same firmware as installed on the big machines in large companies. At the beginning you briefly examined in many (but clear) submenus. In addition, there are free applications / apps on the page to download QNAP. I have not tested everything, but I have already made the following:
-> FTP Server enabled:
A children's play and of course no problem. Data is copied as fast as in Windows Explorer on a network drive
-> SQL Server enabled:
Work right away! I use an SQL database to manage my mp3s - these are also on the Qnap and the whole thing is quite fast. Here you can tell the good CPU.
-> File Server:
In Admin you creates corresponding folders and these folders can users or even groups to share. Work right away. Also integration with an Active Directory domain is possible. I have not.
-> Data backup:
The supplied NetBak Replicator (backup software) for PCs is a little dusty and kept quite basic. Hardly options and no compression and versioning, etc. That made me a bit disappointed, but I use now the Windows Backup and File Versioning of Windows 8 and am thrilled completely. Better it does not go (Image, backup and file versioning of Windows 8 secure the NAS).
-> UPnP (photo, music and video streaming)
Runs! I used at the beginning of the pre-installed TwonkyMedia Server in an older version, the QNAP QPKG Center there is a lot more apps, including a new 7 version. Downloaded runs (but previously to disable the included Twonky version!).
My cell phone (Samsung Galaxy S2 + iPhone 4s), my TV (Samsung UE55D8090) and my Windows 7 and Windows 8 laptops see the UPnP offers the NAS and can take photos (JPGs 12MP), music (MP3) and films (.mkv and FullHD stream .mp4 files with high bit rates) without any problems. Incredibly, everything is going very well and quickly.
Since my MP3 collection is very large (> 6000 albums) is what I am then the MP3s concerns away from TwonkeyMedia Server and towards the Minim Server (.qpkg app). This is much more efficient and is really fun.
So I can also access the Internet on my music, movies and photos, I use still BubbleUPnP Server (.qpkg app). Moreover, I see the TwonkyMediaServer and the Minim server and can play back the data over the Internet on my mobile phone or any Windows PC. It is just awesome.
Operation: Power Consumption
--------------------------------------------
Power consumption I find in operation really appropriate if you configured out that this inactivity after a few minutes you can save the additional plates. You can also set on and off times in the Administrator. Then there are really 0 Watt.
If one shuts down the Qnap (whether defined by switch-off or by pressing a button on the power button does not matter), it takes about 1 minute, since the system is shut down properly to prevent data loss. A start up procedure takes also about 2 minutes to all the services are there.
Operation: Volume
--------------------------------------------
That's the biggest surprise for me. The system is really very quiet with said plates. The (4!) Boards are quasi inaudible. There is a large, smart fan (the one can completely turn off (I would not do)) or to define 2 speed levels with associated temperature ranges. This is really very practical.
It is still a small CPU fan installed. This can not be regulated, whether the system will fix it I do not know. Who is super super super sensitive to noise, is familiar with the topic and no thin glass door has before Hi-fi cabinet, the CPU fan can however swap against a very quiet fan because of course that is not provided, the warranty will be lost and which I have therefore advise :-)!
Operation: On / Off
--------------------------------------------
Also an important point for me is the issue of remote-controlled switching on and off. The QNAP is down in some kind of sleep state. Only the NIC still gets some electricity and evaluates incoming packets from. It is possible without problems, einzusachalten the device on the same network with various Wake-On-Lan software. I use on my Windows 8 laptops to the QNAP Finder. On the phone I use WoL Wake on LAN. Without any problems in the internal network.
Even shutting down is not a problem. The QNAP Apps for mobile phones (QManager) are great and can also shut down the system. On the Windows PC, I use the finder Qnap. It is of course also via the web interface of the Qnap.
More difficult is to boot the device via the Internet. For this you have the Wake on LAN tool that is used for example in the mobile phone, enter the external IP address assigned by the Internet service provider of the DSL router as the destination and the MAC address of the home network QNAP. Then you send the App / Software a wake-up in the form of a Broadcastes (= message to all devices on the network). Unfortunately, almost no router routes this external "wake-up packages" in the internal network - even if the Portweiterletungen configured. There is no FritzBox that can - it's probably a kind of "safety feature". Since then helps only one thing: remote (via remote maintenance option) go to the Fritz box and select where in the listed devices in the home network, the Qnap and click to boot up your computer. This is so you can start the QNAP over the Internet.
Operation: Admin access from the outside
--------------------------------------------
If the Qnap running, you can default any time off over the (previously once to configure) My Cloud NAS service from the outside on the QNAP. This service is free, encrypted and quite easy to use. Just one account, the QNAP then logs on to a remote cloud server once it is online. On these external cloud servers are accessed to through the Internet. Then between devices a connection is established. Works well and the performance is okay! With mobile apps also only the "My Cloud NAS account" must be entered if you want to access from the outside.
Performance:
----------------------
I have a Gigabit network at home and come with large files (films) on 95 105 MS / s. If you copy files smaller to get to 60 MB / s. For me that is sufficient, more can my gigabit network is not easy. Be sure to use a Gigabit network switch - otherwise is at 9 MB / s circuit.
I have Windows 8 64-bit and a SSD in laptop - hence the data transfer rate is not regarding performance brakes available..
Conclusion:
--------
Pros: The options of all applications (which probably no all exploits), the performance, the reliability (4 weeks in operation - no outages, unintentional re-boots etc.) and USB 3.0 ports are fun and mislead the thing to use correctly. Actually, the system is indeed aligned already professionally.
Cons: The price is a bit high, but you get almost perfect quality and many options. I would have liked even more USB 3.0 ports (but that there are only 2 you knew that beforehand ...). Otherwise I find really no disadvantages.
Note: The Qnap Apps for Mobile are awesome. You should definitely treat yourself.
Have fun with the unit!
Greeting
F.
