What is the most important thing about NAS?
After a recent NAS incident, I changed my mind.
In the past, I thought that the hardware configuration was the most important, because it determines whether you can run some container applications, and also determines the speed of network transmission and intranet data call.
Recently, however, I feel that the most important thing is that the system is stable, efficient, and safe.
Data security is the most important thing!
Data security is the most important thing!
Data security is the most important thing!
Because all the operating benchmarks of NAS are under the premise that the system can run stably, otherwise, no matter how high the quality of a piece of hardware is, if the software often crashes, ordinary consumers will not dare to use this NAS, right?
❓ So is there a NAS with low cost and high configuration, and the system is still stable?
Yes! In fact, there are still quite a lot of brands, I feel that in addition to a few very mainstream brands such as Qunhui, in fact, NAS is now relatively ruthless in terms of volume prices, and the market has collapsed in the past two years, and all walks of life seem to be very volatile.
Today, I would like to recommend to you a cost-effective NAS with a good stability system, TerraMaster F4-424 PRO!
Let's talk about cost performance first, what is the price of this 4-bay NAS, Jingdong 3599, superimposed coupons can be lower, and the gift is a 1-year extended warranty.
What configuration does the 3599 give? Is there a cost-effective system in the recent mainstream NAS?
The cost performance of a NAS depends on the CPU, memory, number of bays, M.2 number, network port type, and number of interfaces
Let's talk about the CPU first, using Intel's I3CPU, this 3.80 GHz CPU with 8 cores and 8 threads, the power consumption is not high but the performance is strong, which is cost-effective at this price. It can be said that it is a flagship configuration, with a mid-to-high-end price.
The memory is given 32G of DDR5 4800 memory, which is also an upgrade point in 2024, the early NAS generally used DDR4 memory to save costs, and now TerraMaster is equipped with DDR5 high-frequency memory, which will improve the response to computing. This memory reaches a single 32GB or is really generous, and my desktop is only 32GB of memory, which feels redundant for NAS.
In terms of plates, the price of more than 2,000 and the number of 4+2 disks are enough for households or small businesses
In terms of interfaces, TerraMaster is still very willing to pay for it
1 HDMI, used for direct picture output, USB HOST's C port interface, the transmission specification is USB3.2, which can be connected to high-speed external devices. 1 USB port of USB 3.2. Whether it's a temporary hot-swappable data transfer, or as a USB flash drive backup, it's good.
The two 2.5GbE network ports are a bit redundant for home users and sufficient for enterprise users.
In terms of heat dissipation, it is a large-diameter silent fan, which has no problem dissipating heat after use, and the sound is very soft. When the data is transmitted at a high rate, the fan will run at high speed, but the overall air dryness and motor sound are very soft, and it is not abrupt in the bedroom.
The internal motherboard is also neatly made
The M.2 is very easy to install, and after removing the two screws on the back, the M.2 can be opened by pushing and pulling the cover on the side
I used TerraMaster F4-424PRO and 2 Western Digital red disks this time, Western Digital red disks are efficient and stable, and can run 24 hours a day.
Next, let me talk about why I feel that TerraMaster is a stable and efficient NAS system.
✅TOS6 has a better UI design
This time, TerraMaster has also updated the new system TOS6, the top is the old system TOS5, the following is the new system, the new UI interface, the shortcut keys are put at the top, more like Apple's UI.
Of course, the update of the system is certainly not a simple UI change, in fact, the underlying software should be better used.
How? Let's take a look at each of them.
The more intuitive feeling is,The new monitoring panel,The content displayed is richer,Direct,And indeedUIIntermore beautiful。
The specific update, the official description is as follows, and I am also experiencing it one by one, and the following part will be described in detail.
✅ Stable and efficient file backup and management
As a NAS, the core function is to back up data, so I require this function to be stable and efficient.
In the new TOS6, the built-in backup function has 8 core functions:
These 8 backup functions are not only sufficient for individual users (or redundant), but also more than enough for enterprises.
️ Rsync Backup Rsync is a data image backup tool for Linux systems
️ File System Snapshots Reduce the impact of misoperation and ransomware
️ TIME REWIND BACKUP AS A TIME MACHINE BACKUP DISK FOR MAC
️ USB COPY IS BACKED UP TO ANOTHER PIECE OF STORAGE MEDIA USING THE USB PORT
️Centralized backup for commercial active backup of file servers, servers, PCs, Hyper-V, VMware VMs backup and restore
️TFM backup NAS 共享文件夹的备份
️Cloud Sync cloud backup, supports a variety of cloud disk backups, but I feel like I have bought NAS, so I am not very happy to buy cloud disk memberships anymore
️ Snapshot file system disaster preparedness system
✅ TerraMaster's self-developed backup software for mobile phone photos is also easy to use
AFTER DOWNLOADING TNAS MOBILE, YOU CAN SYNC PHOTOS, VIDEOS, MUSIC DOCUMENTS FROM YOUR PHONE DIRECTLY. And you can set up automatic backup under WIFI. I have a lot of data on my phone, so I can slim down a lot after backup.
AND THERE IS NO PROBLEM WITH THE BACKGROUND RESIDENT, SOME NAS SOFTWARE BEFORE, THE BACKGROUND UPLOAD IS OFTEN INTERRUPTED, TNAS MOBILE CAN STILL DO IT.
I LOOK FORWARD TO THE FUTURE OF TNAS MOBILE TO EXPAND TO THE BACKUP AND RESTORE OF TEXT MESSAGES AND PHONE BOOKS.
✅ Application market & community application that is in line with the world
As a global NAS brand, TNAS actually has a lot of software development that is not customized for Chinese users, but it also retains more versatility. In the TNAS app market, you can find a lot of mainstream applications, all of which can be installed directly into TNAS.
In addition, there are many community applications, which can also be downloaded separately, and the applications in the community applications are more expansive and pioneering, and full of playability.
✅ Even if you don't use Docker, you can do a lot of things
Many times we install docker to complete some of our small functions, such as turning the NAS into a printer terminal, turning the NAS into a ladder, and using the NAS as a node.
However, I found that in the TNAS app store, many similar functions are directly made into small software, and it is good to install it directly. HERE ARE A FEW OF THE SOFTWARE I USE THAT I THINK CAN SAVE A LOT OF TIME AND EFFORT IN DOCKER.
✅ I can do without it but I can't do without, TNAS can download a variety of docker software
Now that the NAS meets my daily needs, I don't really need docker to implement specific functions with the help of a few software. But as a professional-level NAS, this function can't be without, TNAS not only has DOCKER MANAGER, but also VirtualBox, which is extremely powerful, with this I3 processor, it is basically easy to use as a small server.
✅ With Terra photo photo backup and organization, it is very easy to use after turning on media indexing
This software also comes with TNAS's app store, and you can use it after downloading and installing it.
I feel that the only thing that is more complicated than the software that comes with Polar Space is that you need to open the media index that you set up, and then it will be exactly the same when you use it.
All of them can be categorized according to attributes such as task, location, etc. And the response is very fast, and the computing power of this flagship CPU is very efficient when building indexes!
Of course, this software can not only organize and summarize photos, but also have similar functions for videos, you can download and experience it!
✅ The new file management system is closer to the logic of Windows
In the early days, when I played NAS, the biggest headache was their file management system, although the logic of the underlying database is the same, but most users who are used to Windows are not used to it. TNAS's TOS6 system has upgraded the file management system. It's not just the underlying logic that is more secure. And in terms of interface, I feel that it is very close to Windows now.
If you are a Windows user, I think you can use the above section, there are multiple categories such as Favorites, My Sharing, Recent, Desktop, Safe, and Documents. Of course, you can also create your own.
If you like NAS to distinguish file management based on volumes and pools, you can continue to use the volumes below according to your habits.
Personally, I prefer a simpler way of doing it.
✅ A detailed email notification system makes your NAS more secure
Because TNAS is not registered based on mobile phone numbers, you will receive email notifications when your NAS is associated with some changes in settings, or even just new indexes. This way, the status of your NAS or the settings of the linked accounts are clear. It is not easy to have data security issues that are not operated by yourself. TNAS is indeed a professional NAS brand, and it is much stronger than home entertainment NAS in this regard.
✅ With an official forum and timely updates, solutions to basic common problems can be found in one place
This is one of the best things that I think TerraMaster has done.
If you usually use a professional NAS, the learning cost is still relatively high, after all, the system usage habits of the Linux kernel NAS and WIN are still very different.
At this time, it is very useful to have an official, audited, authentic and reliable, and the strategy can be copied from the current learning.
I feel that the official forum of TerraMaster is very good, and the organization is very detailed, and the top of the popular commonly used posts can solve almost all the problems that novices can get started.
And the entrance to this forum has also been integrated into the official website, and the official maintenance situation is still very important, which is really friendly to novices!
In this way, it is much easier for novices to play professional NAS with their hands on it.
And this time I upgraded TOS6, I quickly found the posts I needed according to the classification of the forum, these posts are officially certified to be real and reliable, and can be operated, so I will move the operation step by step, and soon complete the upgrade of the system. Really useful!
Let's wrap it up
I think that the domestic NAS is very volatile now, and TerraMaster is a global NAS brand in the professional field.
The first thing that reassures me is its data control, data security, and data backup function is stable and efficient, and I have no problem using it. There are no various bugs (at least I haven't encountered any of them), so if Qunhui is too expensive, then TNAS is a very good choice, with the same data security, no need for mobile phone number registration, data but server, will not scan your disk, absolutely safe!
Secondly, TNAS is not as famous as Synology, and today, when brands such as domestic polar space are also rising strongly, if you want to continue to develop better, you will definitely have a good performance in terms of cost performance, this NAS with almost full configuration, F4-424 Pro 4 bays 3599 price, I feel it is still worth it.
Finally, if TNAS is only as a professional NAS, for geeks and small companies, it will definitely not be able to embrace the public, so this year's new system TOS6, I have seen the sincerity, in addition to the pre-installed software is not enough, only a simple choice, the setting can be as simple as the extreme space, and at the same time do not lack the functions of professional NAS, I think it is a very good choice. I also feel good about this balance, and it belongs to a product that can be used by beginners and has fun with masters.
Therefore, I think TNAS, TerraMaster's NAS, can be purchased as a cost-effective product that is both easy to use and professional.
If you need absolute data security, powerful functions, and a global-oriented landscape, then TNAS is very good!
If you ask me what has improved this product from TNAS, I can also point out a few:
- The system login is checked permanently.,It seems that you have to log in next time.,It may be a bug.
- More software can be pre-installed, and the integration of the system can be higher
I hope that TerraMaster system will get better and better!