The Asustor Flashstor 6 and Flashstor 12 Pro NVMe NAS

Rob Andrews

2 years ago

Contents hide

1 Asustor FLASHSTOR 6 and 12 Pro – ASUSTOR’s first all-M.2 SSD NAS

2 Asustor FLASHSTOR 6 and 12 Pro Hardware Specifications

3 Asustor FLASHSTOR 6 and 12 Pro Ports and Connectivity

3.1 Asustor Flashstor 6 and Flashstor 12 Pro NAS – ADM Software

4 Asustor FLASHSTOR 6 and 12 Pro – Price and Release Date

5 Need Advice on Data Storage from an Expert?

Asustor FLASHSTOR 6 and 12 Pro – ASUSTOR’s first all-M.2 SSD NAS

The speed at which compact server development moves can be pretty groundbreaking, as hardware that even a 2-3 years ago though impossible/unthinkable, can suddenly become comparatively pedestrian. That said, one area of server storage that has still yet to genuinely see consumer or even relatively prosumer integration is desktop flash storage. Whether it is because the potential performance benefits are way beyond the average punter’s requirements, that SSD storage still commands a high price tag or that the maximum storage potential of SSD NAND is still dwarfed by even domestic HDDs, However, 2023 is starting to see these barriers get broken down one by one and into this arena comes a new Asustor NAS that really does break the mold on what a desktop NAS can be or is possible to be! The Asustor Flashstor series comprises a 6 Bay and 12 Bay compact desktop NAS that supports up to 6/12x m.2 Gen3* NVMe SSDs, respectively. Now, an ‘ALL-SSD’ desktop NAS server is not new, however, a dedicated pre-built turn-key M.2 NVMe SSD-Only system really, really is (with only a couple of other examples that spring to mind before this). With a new chassis design built around a very different kind of internal storage media than usual, an internal hardware architecture that is a noticeable degree more affordable than many other flash server systems and a few key differences between the Flashstor 6 and Flashstor 12 Pro beyond just the drive bays, let’s take a closer look at a new kind of NAS solution!

*Yes, you can use Gen4 SSDs, but you will be downgraded to Gen3)

Asustor FLASHSTOR 6 and 12 Pro Hardware Specifications

First up, let’s discuss the Flashstor 6 and Flashstor 12 Pro hardware specifications, as there is definitely a mixed back of things here that will please sum and potentially annoy others! The general architecture of CPU, Memory and lanes afforded to those M.2 NVMe slots are largely the same (though I am a little surprised the 12 Bay Pro arrives with 4GB of memory, the same as the 6-Bay system). There are certainly those that are going to be a little underwhelmed by the appearance of an Intel Celeron here, as opposed to a Xeon or Ryzen – as flash systems need a decent degree of horsepower to push those drives inside to their maximum throughput potential. However, Asustor is clearly aiming this system at a lower tier of flash user, rather than a full-guns-blazing enterprise flash data center!

Model

Model	FS6706T	FS6712X
PRICE	$499 – CHECK Amazon	$860 – CHECK Amazon
CPU	Intel Celeron N5105 Quad-Core 2.0GHz (burst up 2.90 GHz) Processor	Intel Celeron N5105 Quad-Core 2.0GHz (burst up 2.90 GHz) Processor
HARDWARE ENCRYPTION ENGINE
HARDWARE ACCELERATION ENGINE	H.264 (AVC),H.265(HEVC), MPEG-4 Part 2, MPEG-2, VC-1	H.264 (AVC),H.265(HEVC), MPEG-4 Part 2, MPEG-2, VC-1
MEMORY	4GB SO-DIMM DDR4 (4GB x1, Expandable. Max 16GB)	4GB SO-DIMM DDR4 (4GB x1, Expandable. Max 16GB)
M.2 DRIVE SLOTS	6 x NVMe/SATA	12 x NVMe/SATA
HDD	N/A	N/A
MAXIMUM DRIVE BAYS WITH EXPANSION UNIT	14	20
SUPPORTS SINGLE VOLUME LARGER THAN 16TB

This is not the first time we have seen this particular Intel Celeron CPU make it’s way inside other Asustor NAS. Indeed, the Intel N5105 has been the Lockerstor Gen 2 series (as well as many other NAS brand’s opting for this processor in their fully-featured/Prosumer tiers of desktop systems). Still, despite it making this system quite a power efficient for a flash system and very affordable, there is clearly a resulting bottleneck in the m.2 NVMes. In both the 6-Bay and 12-Bay system, the M.2 NVMes are running on Gen 3×1 connections, which results in each bay having a cap of 1,000MB/s throughput. Now, this is approx a 1/3 of the potential performance that even average Gen3 NVMes are capable of. The counterargument of course is that they could/should use a bigger/better CPU. However, this would bump the price up significantly, require additional CPU cooling in place and ‘increase’ the system in pretty much every way – moving outside the bracket of user it is clearly aimed at. The 4GB of memory that can be scaled up to 16GB on the 6-Bay FS6706T is quite reasonable, but I am a little surprised that the Flashstor 12 Pro FS6712T is ALSO the same 4GB. Flash servers are notoriously memory hungry and I would have liked to see the 12 Bay arrive with 8GB minimum. Whether this is another move to maintain that affordable pricepoint or related to continued memory shortages resulting in a similar price increase, I cannot put my finger on. I could also bang on about the lack of ECC memory included/supported (again, CPU related), but that is another arguable enterprise demand. Regardless, as an entry-level flash system that is also very compact in it’s profile, there are definitely benefits in pricing, base throughput and media use to this internal hardware architecture. Next, lets discuss the cooling of this system, as when it comes to SSD storage servers (especially M.2 NVMes), efficient and effective cooling is going to be make or break! Each of the 6/12 M.2 NVMe 2280 slots have a heatsink panel (connected with an included heatpad) that allows the growing heat of the SSD controller (and lesser extent NAND) to dissipate into the heatsink pannels and free into the active airflow from the base fan and vents.

I do wonder if one of the reasons/logical decisions behind the 3×1 SSD slots (beyond the CPU choice and it’s # of lanes) was to do with managing increased temperatures. Downgrading these m.2 slots from a traditional 3×4 architecture to 3×1 would certainly result in reduced temperatures of those SSD components. Nevertheless, the system also features multiple vent outlets around the chassis, as well as a significantly sized heatsink over the N5105 CPU. So, despite it’s small scale, there have clearly been considerations of how the system can maintain a decent operational temperature when in active use. Next, let’s discuss those ports and connections.

Asustor FLASHSTOR 6 and 12 Pro Ports and Connectivity

The ports and connectivity of the Flashstor 6 and Flashstor 12 Pro are largely the sale, barring one particularly large distinction. They both have excellent audio and visual outputs in S/PDIF for those running high-end audio systems and HDMI 2.0b for 4K at 60FPS, with improved bandwidth handling. These are combined with the Austor Portal application that results in a completely parallel running GUI to be accessed over HDMI (not just mirroring the network/web GUI of ADM – a completely separate GUI, controllable with a keyboard/mouse, network remote, mobile app remote, etc). The USB connectivity of the Flashstor 6 and Flashstor 12 Pro are largely the same, with both having 2x USB 3.2 Gen 2 and 2x USB 2.0. Those USB 2.0 ports will be largely dedicated to accessories for the Audio/visual output, but the USB 3.2 Gen 1 (10Gb/s) will ALWAYS be useful for external storage, network accessories, expansions and office peripherals (printers, scanners, UPS’, etc), There is also the option of using these USB Ports to connect official Asustor SATA HDD/SSD expansion chassis too – so you can add larger, more affordable cold/warm storage for general use if needed to the system. But, let’s discuss the main difference between the 6-Bay and 12-Bay – the network connectivity!

PORTS AND CONNECTIONS
EXPANSION	2x USB 3.2 Gen 2, 2 x USB 2.0	2x USB 3.2 Gen 2, 2 x USB 2.0
NETWORK	2x 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet (2.5G/1G/100M)	1 x 10 Gigabit Ethernet (10G/5G/2.5G/1G/100M/10M)
PCIE EXPANSION SLOTS	–	–
LCD PANEL	–	–
SIZE	48.3 (H) x 308.26 (W) x 193 (D) mm	48.3 (H) x 308.26 (W) x 193 (D) mm
WEIGHT	1.35kg / 2.98 lb	1.37 kg / 3 lb
INPUT POWER VOLTAGE	External Power Adaptor: 65W x1 100V to 240V AC	External Power Adaptor: 90W x1 100V to 240V AC
POWER CONSUMPTION	18.2 W (Operation); 0.83 W (Sleep Mode)	26 W (Operation);
VOLUME TYPE	Single disk, JBOD, RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 5, RAID 6, RAID 10	Single disk, JBOD, RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 5, RAID 6, RAID 10
HDMI OUTPUT	1x HDMI 2.0b, 1x S/PDIF	1x HDMI 2.0b, 1x S/PDIF
INFRARED RECEIVER	–	–
AUDIO OUTPUT	S/PDIF x1	S/PDIF x1
TRAY LOCK
MYARCHIVE DISK BAYS	5	11
SERVICE LED INDICATOR	–	–
REDUNDANT POWER SUPPLY	–	–

Now there are DEFINITELY going to be two very different kinds of people that are reading the ports and connections above for the Flashstor 6 and Flashstor 12 Pro. Those that weigh up the price vs return of what is on offer across these systems are going to be quite happy. We have a choice of 2x 2.5GbE or 10GbE (scale/version dependant), with support of USB adapters to increase network connectivity that is further emboldened by things like SMB Multichannel and Port Trunking to open up these network speeds. Although clearly the performance potential of the M.2 NVMes are going to be greater internally, you are still going to have somewhere between 5Gbe and 10GbE (so 500-1,000MB/s or so) to play with externally. However, given that each of those M.2 NVMes has the potential for 1,000MB/s EACH in a 3×1 slot, that is quite a heft reduction to accept for 6-12x M.2NVMes in terms of external transfer speeds. Though the Asustor Flashstor 6 and Flashstor 12 Pro are very much ‘entry level’ flash systems, there is no avoiding that the brand has clearly had to introduce a level of compromise to the hardware in order to remain in this price bracket of $499 and $860 (at time of writing on Amazon.com). It’s worth also remembering too that the Flashstor series is not just hardware, but also includes the Asustor ADM NAS software. Let’s discuss what these two NAS’ support in ADM.

Asustor Flashstor 6 and Flashstor 12 Pro NAS – ADM 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. 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 2022/2023 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.

SOFTWARE & FEATURES
	FS6706T	FS6712X
MAX. RESOLUTION	2160P 4K	2160P 4K
File Sharing
MAXIMUM NUMBER OF USERS	4096	4096
MAXIMUM NUMBER OF GROUPS	512	512
MAXIMUM NUMBER OF SHARED FOLDERS	512	512
MAXIMUM NUMBER OF CONCURRENT CONNECTIONS	512	512
iSCSI
MAXIMUM TARGETS	256	256
MAXIMUM LUNS	256	256
Virtualization Support
VMWARE READY	NFS, iSCSI	NFS, iSCSI
CITRIX READY
HYPER-V READY
Eco-Friendly Design
AUTO-STANDBY FOR BOTH INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL DISKS
SYSTEM AUTOMATICALLY ENTERS SLEEP MODE (SCHEDULE S3)
WAKE-ON-LAN (WOL)
WAKE-ON-WAN(WOW)	–


ASUSTOR PORTAL	Disney+ Netflix Spotify	Disney+ Netflix Spotify
PHOTO GALLERY 3
FTP EXPLORER
HIDRIVE BACKUP
GOOGLE DRIVE
DROPBOX
MAIL SERVER
DOWNLOAD CENTER
PLEX MEDIA SERVER
VPN SERVER
MAX. NO. OF VPN SERVER CONNECTIONS	20	20
Surveillance Center
MAX. NO. OF SUPPORTED CAMERAS (WITH ADD-ON LICENSES)	44	44
SoundsGood
WEB BROWSER PLAYBACK
LOCAL PLAYBACK	HDMI USB Speakers / DAC / Bluetooth Speakers	HDMI USB Speakers / DAC / Bluetooth Speakers
PLAYBACK VIA OTHER DEVICES	AirPlay Speakers (with AiMusic on iOS device)	AirPlay Speakers (with AiMusic on iOS device)
PLAYBACK VIA OTHER DEVICES	AirPlay Speakers (with Remote on iOS device)	AirPlay Speakers (with Remote on iOS device)

Asustor FLASHSTOR 6 and 12 Pro – Price and Release Date

It would appear that the Asustor Flashstor series are available NOW and are listed online at the usual websites. Pricing, especially for the 6x M.2 NVMe version seems remarkably reasonable ($499 on Amazon.com at the time of writing), which given the scope of hardware here versus the 4-Bay Asustor Lockerstor Gen 4 at $609 (4x SATA + 4x NVMe Bays), is remarkably good value for a flash focused desktop NAS system. As long as you keep in mind that this is still an Intel Celeron-powered system, then you should be very happy with what you are getting here. Plus, the performance of ADM on the Lockerstor with this same architecture (CPU+Memory) has already been proven to work very well indeed. If you take FLASH servers very seriously, you are probably not gonna love this, but for those looking for an affordable home NAS SSD optimized solution in desktop form. There is alot to love here! I look forward to reviewing the Flashstor 6 and Flashstor 12 Pro later in 2023.



FS6706T	FS6712X
$499 – CHECK Amazon	$860 – CHECK Amazon

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