The Asustor Lockerstor Gen 3 NAS Series – SHOULD YOU BUY?

Last updated on 05 Nov 2024 📧 Subscribe
Contents hide
1 Should You Buy the Asustor Lockerstor Gen 3 NAS Series?
1.1 Reasons to Consider the Lockerstor Gen 3 Series
1.2 Reasons to Be Cautious About the Lockerstor Gen 3 Series
1.3 Lockerstor Gen 3 NAS Series. Are they Any Good? – Conclusion and Verdict
2 Need Advice on Data Storage from an Expert?

Should You Buy the Asustor Lockerstor Gen 3 NAS Series?

UPDATE – The Lockerstor Gen 3 NAS Series is NOW AVAILABLE in a 4 Bay ($1299) and 6 Bay ($1499) configuration, with an 8-Bay and 10-Bay system coming later in 2024.

The Asustor Lockerstor Gen 3 NAS series, which includes models ranging from the 4-Bay AS6804T, 6-Bay AS6806T, 8-Bay AS6808T, to the 10-Bay AS68010T, is designed to offer impressive performance, flexibility, and scalability for both home and business users. It packs several advanced features, including dual 10GbE ports, dual 5GbE ports, and USB 4.0, making it an attractive choice for those who need a powerhouse NAS solution. With the AMD Ryzen V3000 embedded processor, ECC memory support, and up to four M.2 NVMe slots, this series promises to deliver robust performance for demanding tasks. However, with prices starting at $1,299 for the 4-bay model, some may find the cost a bit steep compared to previous iterations or other NAS competitors. In this review, we’ll discuss five pros and five cons of the Asustor Lockerstor Gen 3 series to help you decide if it’s the right NAS solution for you.

Specification Details
CPU AMD Ryzen V3C14 (Quad-Core, 2.3GHz base, 3.8GHz turbo)
Memory 16GB DDR5 ECC (expandable to 64GB)
Network Dual 10GbE ports, dual 5GbE ports, USB 4.0 x2
Storage Bays 4 (AS6804T), 6 (AS6806T), 8 (AS6808T), 10 (AS68010T)
M.2 NVMe Slots 4 (Gen 4, x1)
Power Consumption 30-50W during idle/utilization
Supported Drives SATA HDD/SSD (up to 24TB), M.2 NVMe SSDs

Reasons to Consider the Lockerstor Gen 3 Series

The Asustor Lockerstor Gen 3 series is packed with powerful features that make it a great option for those needing high-performance storage. Let’s dive into the top five reasons to consider this NAS.

1. High-Speed Network Connectivity

The Lockerstor Gen 3 series excels in providing excellent network bandwidth options, making it ideal for users with demanding network requirements. All models in this series come equipped with dual 10GbE and dual 5GbE network ports. The 10GbE ports offer 1GB per second of data transmission speed each, while the dual 5GbE ports offer around 500-550MB per second. This impressive configuration allows users to have multiple high-speed connections simultaneously, greatly enhancing performance for tasks like large data transfers and streaming.

The potential network throughput of up to 30Gbps makes this NAS series stand out from most competitors. Whether you’re setting up point-to-point connections with other devices, connecting through a managed switch, or utilizing SMB multichannel, the Lockerstor Gen 3 can handle heavy data loads effortlessly. This connectivity makes the series suitable for businesses and power users who need reliable, high-speed access to their data.

Furthermore, the inclusion of USB 4.0/Thunderbolt 4 adds another layer of flexibility. Users can connect directly to the NAS via Thunderbolt 4-enabled devices, taking advantage of up to 20Gbps per port. This allows for fast data transfers between the NAS and connected devices, bypassing traditional network bottlenecks. Video editors and professionals dealing with large file sizes will particularly appreciate the fast, point-to-point connections provided by the USB 4.0 ports.

2. Compact Design with Low Power Consumption

Despite its impressive hardware and performance capabilities, the Lockerstor Gen 3 series maintains a relatively compact footprint. This makes it ideal for home or small office environments where space may be limited, yet high-performance storage is essential. The chassis, which is built from metal with a plastic front, ensures durability while keeping the overall size manageable. Its design includes sufficient ventilation, allowing the system to remain cool even during heavy operation.

 

The power consumption of the Lockerstor Gen 3 series is another noteworthy feature. During testing, the NAS consumed between 30-50 watts depending on the level of utilization, which is impressive for a system that packs so much power. Even with 4 to 10 hard drives installed and multiple NVMe SSDs operating simultaneously, the power draw remained relatively low. This efficiency makes the series a cost-effective option for users looking for powerful hardware that doesn’t come with excessive energy costs.

Noise levels are also impressively low. The Lockerstor Gen 3 series is designed with a 120mm rear fan, copper heat pipes, and extensive internal ventilation, which help manage temperatures without producing excessive noise. Even during heavy workloads, the system remains quiet, making it suitable for environments where noise could be an issue. This balance of power, cooling, and quiet operation is one of the major advantages of the series.

3. Impressive Storage Options and Expansion

Storage scalability is another strong suit of the Lockerstor Gen 3 series. The NAS models come with 4, 6, 8, or 10 SATA bays, depending on the model, allowing for plenty of hard drive storage. Each bay can accommodate up to 24TB of storage, meaning even the smallest model, the 4-bay AS6804T, can hold up to 96TB of raw storage. For users needing more, the 10-bay AS68010T can store up to 240TB. This is ideal for data-heavy environments like video production, archival work, or large-scale backups.

The addition of four M.2 NVMe slots across the entire series further enhances the flexibility of the Lockerstor Gen 3 models. These slots can be used for SSD caching, RAID storage pools, or tiered storage solutions, providing users with faster data access.

The fact that these are Gen 4 NVMe slots also ensures high-speed performance, with each slot capable of up to 2GB per second throughput. Whether for fast-access storage or as a dedicated scratch disk for demanding applications, the inclusion of NVMe slots gives the series a significant advantage.

Users can configure their storage in various ways to meet specific needs, including combining HDDs for large-capacity storage while using NVMe SSDs for performance-intensive tasks. The ability to mix and match different storage types makes this NAS series particularly versatile for users with evolving storage requirements.

Additionally, with support for advanced RAID configurations, including RAID 0, 1, 5, 6, and 10, users have numerous options for optimizing performance and data redundancy.

4. Advanced ADM 5 Software Features

Asustor’s ADM 5 operating system plays a crucial role in making the Lockerstor Gen 3 series a competitive choice. ADM 5 is not just a basic NAS management interface; it offers a broad array of features tailored to both home users and enterprises. With support for a wide variety of network protocols, such as SMB, NFS, and iSCSI, it provides the flexibility required to integrate the NAS into various environments. Moreover, ADM 5 includes advanced tools for managing backups, virtual machines, and even Docker containers.

ADM 5 also introduces new features that make it easier to manage and secure data. For instance, the system offers extensive support for data backup, with the ability to sync files to cloud services like Dropbox, Google Drive, and Microsoft OneDrive. Local backups to other NAS units or external drives are also supported, ensuring that users can safeguard their data no matter what. Additionally, the system includes various security features like two-step authentication, port blocking, and IP blacklists, which are essential for protecting data in today’s increasingly connected world.

One area where ADM 5 shines is in its ability to run third-party applications, such as AI tools and multimedia apps, alongside the standard NAS functionality. Users can deploy virtual machines, run containerized applications, and manage multimedia libraries with ease. While some users may find the interface a bit overwhelming initially, the overall functionality is robust and meets the needs of power users and businesses alike. ADM 5 continues to improve with regular updates, adding more features and fine-tuning the user experience.

5. Powerful CPU and ECC Memory

At the core of the Lockerstor Gen 3 series is the AMD Ryzen V3C14 processor, a quad-core, eight-thread CPU based on AMD’s Rembrandt architecture. With a base clock of 2.3GHz and a turbo speed of up to 3.8GHz, this processor is designed to handle demanding tasks with ease. Whether running multiple virtual machines, performing large-scale data backups, or streaming media to several devices at once, the V3C14 can keep up with the workload without significant slowdowns. Its 20 PCIe Gen 4 lanes also ensure that data moves swiftly between the NAS’s various components.

One of the standout features of the Lockerstor Gen 3 series is its support for ECC memory. The system comes with 16GB of DDR5 ECC memory, which can be expanded up to 64GB. ECC (Error Correcting Code) memory provides an extra layer of data integrity by detecting and correcting memory errors that can occur during data transfer. This is particularly important for NAS devices that are expected to run continuously, as it helps prevent data corruption over time. The combination of ECC memory and the powerful Ryzen processor makes the Lockerstor Gen 3 series a reliable option for business-critical applications.

Component Specification
CPU Model AMD Ryzen V3000 (Embedded)
CPU Architecture Zen 3+ (Rembrandt), 6 nm, Socket FP7
Cores / Threads 4 cores / 8 threads
Base Frequency 2.3 GHz
Turbo Frequency Up to 3.8 GHz
TDP Configurable 10-25W (Default 15W)
L1 Cache 64 KB per core
L2 Cache 512 KB per core
L3 Cache 8 MB (shared)
Memory Type DDR5 ECC
Memory Speed 4800 MT/s
Memory Capacity 16GB (expandable up to 64GB, 2 slots)
Memory Channels Dual-channel
ECC Support Yes (Error-Correcting Code memory)

The memory and CPU combination ensures that the Lockerstor Gen 3 series can handle even the most resource-intensive tasks, including real-time data processing, virtualization, and large-scale data storage. The system’s design is optimized for high throughput, and the ECC memory further ensures data accuracy and consistency. Users who require high reliability, such as those in the creative industry or enterprise IT environments, will find that the Lockerstor Gen 3 series delivers the performance and stability they need.

Reasons to Be Cautious About the Lockerstor Gen 3 Series

While the Lockerstor Gen 3 series boasts many strengths, there are a few potential drawbacks to consider. Here are four aspects that might make you hesitate before purchasing this NAS.

1. High Price Point

One of the most significant factors to consider when evaluating the Lockerstor Gen 3 series is its price. With the 4-bay AS6804T starting at $1,299, this NAS series is notably more expensive than its predecessors or other competing models in the market. The 6-bay AS6806T is priced at $1,499, and the 8-bay and 10-bay models are expected to cost upwards of $1,699 and $1,899, respectively. For many users, especially those transitioning from the Gen 2 series, this price increase may come as a shock, making it harder to justify the upgrade.

It’s important to note that while the price is high, the hardware improvements over previous generations are substantial. The inclusion of dual 10GbE and dual 5GbE ports, USB 4.0, M.2 NVMe slots, and ECC memory support all contribute to the higher cost. However, for users who only require basic storage functionality or have lower network demands, the Lockerstor Gen 3’s price may be overkill. It’s essential to weigh the performance needs against the price before making a purchase.

Moreover, Asustor is still considered a smaller player in the NAS market compared to giants like Synology or QNAP. This may lead some users to hesitate when faced with a high price tag from a brand that does not yet have the same market dominance. While the Lockerstor Gen 3 series offers an impressive set of features, its premium price point may limit its appeal to a niche audience of power users and businesses with larger budgets.

2. Lack of Integrated Graphics

Another drawback of the Lockerstor Gen 3 series is the absence of integrated graphics. While the AMD Ryzen V3C14 processor is powerful, it lacks the integrated GPU that many users rely on for media transcoding or graphical workloads. This could be a significant limitation for users who use their NAS for streaming media via Plex or other similar applications, where on-the-fly video transcoding is required to adjust for different devices or network conditions.

Without integrated graphics, the Lockerstor Gen 3 series struggles to perform efficient real-time transcoding, especially for 4K or 8K media files. Users who plan to use their NAS for media streaming to various devices may find that the system becomes overworked when handling high-resolution media formats. This limitation makes the NAS less suitable for those who prioritize multimedia use, particularly if their library includes high-definition content that needs to be transcoded frequently.

For users who don’t need media transcoding or graphics processing, the absence of integrated graphics may not be a significant issue. However, for those looking to build a media server or run GPU-dependent applications, the lack of an iGPU could limit the system’s potential. It’s an important factor to consider, especially if you’re comparing the Lockerstor Gen 3 series to other NAS models that come with integrated graphics processors (IGP).

3. ADM Software Still Needs Refinement

Although Asustor’s ADM 5 software has made significant improvements over previous versions, it still has some rough edges that need polishing. One of the main complaints is that certain features and services are scattered across multiple apps, making it more difficult for users to find what they need. For example, backup and synchronization tools are split between different apps, creating confusion for users who may expect these functions to be consolidated in a single portal.

The overall user interface of ADM 5, while functional, can feel clunky, especially for newcomers to the NAS ecosystem. Some tasks, such as setting up backup routines or managing security protocols, require users to navigate through several different apps, which can be frustrating. Asustor could improve the user experience by centralizing these functions and streamlining the interface, similar to what competitors like Synology have done with their DiskStation Manager (DSM) software.

Despite these minor issues, ADM 5 is still a solid platform, particularly for users familiar with Asustor’s ecosystem. The software includes a wide range of features, such as support for AI-powered tools, cloud backups, and virtual machine deployment. However, for those new to Asustor or users expecting a more polished software experience, the learning curve may be steeper than with other NAS brands.

4. Limited Surveillance Features

The Surveillance Center app that comes bundled with the Lockerstor Gen 3 series is functional but somewhat lackluster compared to the offerings from other NAS brands. While it supports basic IP camera setups and can handle real-time streaming, it falls short in terms of advanced surveillance features. Competitors like Synology’s Surveillance Station or QNAP’s QVR Pro offer more robust options, such as advanced AI analytics, better camera compatibility, and a more user-friendly interface.

One of the issues with Asustor’s Surveillance Center is its dated interface, which feels out of sync with the more modern features available in ADM 5. The app supports a range of IP cameras and allows for KVM output, where users can attach a monitor for standalone operation. However, its overall performance and feature set don’t live up to the expectations set by its competitors. This may be disappointing for users who plan to use their NAS for surveillance in addition to regular storage tasks.

While Asustor does offer a beta version of an updated Surveillance Center app, it is not included with ADM 5 by default. The beta version brings improvements in browser support and a more responsive user interface, but it’s still in development and not officially part of the software package. As a result, users seeking a NAS primarily for surveillance purposes might want to consider alternative options from brands with stronger surveillance app ecosystems.

Lockerstor Gen 3 NAS Series. Are they Any Good? – Conclusion and Verdict

The Asustor Lockerstor Gen 3 series is undoubtedly one of the most feature-packed and powerful NAS systems available today. Its high-speed network connectivity, flexible storage options, and robust processing power make it an excellent choice for power users, businesses, and anyone needing high-performance data storage and management. The inclusion of ECC memory, multiple M.2 NVMe slots, and extensive ADM 5 software features further enhance its appeal, especially for those who require advanced data protection and cloud integration. However, the high price point and a few software shortcomings may be off-putting for some potential buyers. Additionally, the lack of integrated graphics could limit its appeal for multimedia-heavy tasks. That said, if you are looking for a versatile, future-proof NAS system with exceptional performance, the Lockerstor Gen 3 series is hard to beat.

SOFTWARE - 7/10
HARDWARE - 10/10
PERFORMANCE - 10/10
PRICE - 7/10
VALUE - 7/10


8.2
PROS
👍🏻High-Performance CPU: Equipped with the AMD Ryzen V3000 Embedded processor, delivering efficient, server-grade performance for demanding tasks.
👍🏻ECC DDR5 Memory: Includes 16GB of ECC DDR5 memory (expandable to 64GB), ensuring data integrity and reliability.
👍🏻Comprehensive Connectivity: Dual 10GbE and dual 5GbE ports, along with two USB4 ports, provide a combined bandwidth of up to 30 Gbps for versatile network setups.
👍🏻Advanced Data Protection: Offers RAID 5 and RAID 6 options for HDDs and NVMe drives, with hot-swappable capabilities and Btrfs support for snapshots.
👍🏻USB4/Thunderbolt 4 Over IP: Supports direct connection to Mac and Windows systems via USB4 for fast data transfers and point-to-point editing.
👍🏻Robust Build Quality: Sturdy metal chassis with minimal noise, even during heavy operations, and excellent heat dissipation with a copper heat pipe.
👍🏻ADM 5 Software: Reliable, secure OS with essential features like snapshots, remote access, and simplified setup; supports third-party OS installations.
👍🏻Efficient Power Consumption: Peaks at around 50W under heavy load, efficient for the system’s performance class.
👍🏻Front LCD Display: The configurable LCD panel allows direct monitoring and setup, a handy feature for easy system management.
👍🏻Excellent for Multi-User Environments: Multi-channel network support and high bandwidth make it ideal for collaborative, multi-client setups.
CONS
👎🏻High Price Point: At around $1,299, it’s a premium option, potentially limiting appeal for home users and hobbyists.
👎🏻No Integrated Graphics: Lacks GPU support, limiting multimedia transcoding and high-end streaming capabilities.
👎🏻Software Limitations: ADM 5 is solid but doesn’t match the multimedia and AI features found in competitors like Synology and QNAP.
👎🏻M.2 NVMe Slots Limited to PCIe x1: Each NVMe slot is limited to x1 speed, slightly capping potential performance for SSDs.


📧 SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER 🔔


    🔒 Join Inner Circle

    Get an alert every time something gets added to this specific article!


    Want to follow specific category? 📧 Subscribe

    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.

      By clicking SEND you accept this Privacy Policy
      Question will be added on Q&A forum. You will receive an email from us when someone replies to it.
      🔒Private Fast Track Message (1-24Hours)

      TRY CHAT Terms and Conditions
      If you like this service, please consider supporting us. We use affiliate links on the blog allowing NAScompares information and advice service to be free of charge to you.Anything you purchase on the day you click on our links will generate a small commission which isused to run the website. Here is a link for Amazon and B&H.You can also get me a ☕ Ko-fi or old school Paypal. Thanks!To find out more about how to support this advice service check HEREIf you need to fix or configure a NAS, check Fiver Have you thought about helping others with your knowledge? Find Instructions Here  
       
      Or support us by using our affiliate links on Amazon UK and Amazon US
          
       
      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 ☕
       
      locked content ko-fi subscribe

      DISCUSS with others your opinion about this subject.
      ASK questions to NAS community
      SHARE more details what you have found on this subject
      CONTRIBUTE with your own article or review. Click HERE
      IMPROVE this niche ecosystem, let us know what to change/fix on this site
      EARN KO-FI Share your knowledge with others and get paid for it! Click HERE

      117 thoughts on “The Asustor Lockerstor Gen 3 NAS Series – SHOULD YOU BUY?”

      1. the gen3 8bay sounds great for my needs, but no onboard graphics might be a deal breaker for plex. can these run proxmox with truenas vm? finding a nas or nas mb that ticks all the boxes of sata ports, expandability and ecc seems impossible.
        REPLY ON YOUTUBE

      2. The 8 and 10 bay did launch in very limited quantities on 11/12. They sold out in a day or 2 on Amazon. The only reason I know this is because I contacted them about it before they were available and one of their employees informed me when the delivery arrived at the Amazon warehouse. I did see them in stock but they were sold out before I placed an order unfortunately.
        REPLY ON YOUTUBE

      4. It’s very interesting how in your last negative point you mentioned support. If you look at recent purchases on Flashtor Gen2 and Lockerstor Gen 3 products you might expect that with the crazy high prices Asustor might offer some better support but if you go onto the Forums or Reddit all you can see if people who have purchased these expensive items complaining of a myriad of serious issues right up to and including a complete and total lack of MAC support (over SMB mind you) for all variations…. the one common theme of all these threads is that Asustor support have been described as extremely poor…. Interestingly the Asustor marketing manager thought it was appropriate to post in a Reddit thread basically about a dead Nimbustor V2 that had been actually shipped (at user expense ! …it’s only 6 months old …utterly shocking in itself) to Taiwan for a RMA only to have it disappear into a RMA death loop for over 6 weeks…did he post offering help with the users support problems? Well no …what he did was to post (not as a Asustor employee btw) disputing that Asustor was related to ASusTek (they are owned by the same holding company) ….He obviously thought this was more important then helping his customer…. then he blocked various people who called him out over it ….Great customer service Asustor ….BUYER BEWARE …. many Aliexpress vendors have far better support ….
        REPLY ON YOUTUBE

      7. after the video i bought the 10 bay version ….. at 1min30sek is said that could connect my mac via USB 4 to the device ….but this did t work out of the box … 10gb network is fine after initinal setup – but no direkt acces via USB4/TB Kable. Is there any aditional configyration nessesary on the MAC? //cc @asustor_yt
        REPLY ON YOUTUBE

      10. I built a NAS from a Jonsbo N2, Minisforum bd790i and 5 3.5 disks. I’ve thought about putting one of the 10gbe / 2 M.2 slot cards from Synology in it and using dac cables to connect everything through a Mikrotik switch. Now the NAS can play a role in my labs while serving files too.
        REPLY ON YOUTUBE

      11. I have 2 Minisforum MS-01’s and I think I see a cameo of one here. It can take advantage of both 10gbe, both USB 4 ports and both 2.5gbe ports! All in one box if you wanted too. You wouldn’t do that but combining this with high speed storage make a lot of sense. I am building an Openshift lab using these and they are awesome.
        REPLY ON YOUTUBE

      12. All I want is a turnkey box with 2×4 disk (HDD+NVME) capable of transcoding. I dont need the dual 10gbps ports as my current setup is mainly wireless because of … yeah reasons. Old house, and I have not drawn cables to all rooms. Fiber in, cable from router to SFF PC and QNAP TR-004. Apple TV’s connects wireless, and it does work. Moving files from Laptop to QNAP – yeah okay, that is tiredsome at times – can only move 30ish mb per second over wifi. All the 10gbps users are probably laughing right now. Well it works, and for now is what the budget allows 😀
        REPLY ON YOUTUBE

      13. Great content, as always! A bit off-topic, but I wanted to ask: I have a SafePal wallet with USDT, and I have the seed phrase. (alarm fetch churn bridge exercise tape speak race clerk couch crater letter). How can I transfer them to Binance?
        REPLY ON YOUTUBE

      14. If Asustor could release a “lite” version of this NAS with probably one 10Gbe, 2.5Gbe, USB4 Type C for 3/4 of the price would make it a better buy for me. I’m currently looking for a NAS to be primarily used as a NVR, Veeam Backup target and cloud storage. The current price for the Synology DS923+ @$599.00 looks good but I’m waiting if Synology releases any new products in Q1 of 2025.

        Unfortnately this Lockerstor Gen 3 is really out of my price point and that’s fine because I’m not the target audience for this product, just wish they had a lesser spec model available. I looked up their NIMBUSTOR 4 Gen2 (AS5404T) but the only thing holding me back is the CPU/Memory. Having a CPU that could support at least up to 32GB memory would’ve been perfect.
        REPLY ON YOUTUBE

      15. Good job on the video, Robbie. It told me everything that I needed to know. I was especially interested in this new unit as I want to upgrade from my maxed-out Nimbustor 2 drive unit to a new Asustor 4-drive unit. Unfortunately, the $1300 price tag w/out a GPU kind of kills it for me.
        REPLY ON YOUTUBE

      17. For this price, cpu need to have int. graphics, polished standard apps, with user friendly OS and longer guarantee period. For now 1000$+ will buy Qnap. For 600$ and less, will still buy Asustor.
        REPLY ON YOUTUBE

      19. My first nas was the Asus AS5304T Nimbustor (I believe that was the name but I’m not entirely certain). I started off with 4 4TB Seagate Ironwolf drives in Raid5. Nearly 6 years later, I’m still using it and I recently upgraded the drives to 4 10TB WD Reds and a couple of years ago I added an expansion unit with 4 6TB disks. Why am I talking about this? Because despite setting up a TrueNAS system with a lot more capacity and fancy addons over the years, the Asustor has just worked reliably and it is still powerful enough to run several containers. They have detailed guides on how to set up everything and they’ll satisfy all of the storage requirements for 99% of people. Back when I bought it, Asustor used to be significantly cheaper than Synology and QNAP. That is no longer the case, sadly
        REPLY ON YOUTUBE

      21. Any chance there is going to be a two HD version of this? With all that fast connectivity it would be ideal for an SSD RAID with the HD slots used as simple individual hot swappable backup drives which could be taken offline for offsite backup. Would be better if the SSD slots were accessible without tools though! The price may be high, but as storage for the new Mac mini on Thunderbolt 4 or 10GB Ethernet, compared to Apple prices for internal storage, it looks like a bargain (although Thunderbolt 5 would be icing on the cake)!
        REPLY ON YOUTUBE

      22. One thing you didn’t mention is that due to the height it won’t fit well on my bookshelf ????
        I like the format of this video. Still leaning a bit towards the Ugreen, but can’t be delivered to my country at the moment it seems.
        REPLY ON YOUTUBE

      24. Nice potential, products in the early 1k world is really open right now. Too bad the processor choice wasn’t intel. I would have been much more interested…
        REPLY ON YOUTUBE

      26. The general impression that I get is that Asus has Synology directly in its sights. Robbie, do you see the Lockerstor taking over Synology’s place in the consumer / prosumer NAS market any time in the next 5 years or so ?
        REPLY ON YOUTUBE

      27. Your last point is one that often gets overlooked so thanks for highlighting it. This is a very good product but I’ve been having one or two tech issues with it (SMB file sharing on MAC). I’m tech savvy but the world of the networking and some of the configuration issues can get tricky. That’s on me to do the research and learn (which I am) but the issue is exacerbated when I do eventually seek help. The support is very s……L…….o……w. I’m getting around one email a day and then it goes quiet for long periods of time so reaching a resolution is taking its time. The experience is starting to give me buyers remorse!
        REPLY ON YOUTUBE

      29. I’m not sure where Asustor is going with these higher priced models. I hope the know their market. My comments on Asustor are 1 the lack of a flexible RAID implementation 2 Quirkiness I’ve experienced with the Flashstor 12. I had data corruption issues on the FS12 and left multiple messages at the CA service center. I never got a call back. Ended up having to call TW. They said to use RAID 5 rather than spanned volumes. That resolved the issue. The FS12 runs at 10G for about 3 minutes then drops down to 800MB then after maybe 30 minutes becomes really slow. Copying 3.28TB of large files takes about 2.5 hours. I pulled the drives from the Asustor and put them in another brand’s NVMe NAS and was able to copy 3.28TB of data in about 63 minutes. On that other brand’s NAS there are no issues with using raid or spanned volume. On a Synology 8 bay spinning drive NAS I’m able to copy the same 3.26 TB in just under an hour. So for me, I’m not sure I’d buy Asustor again. The last two NASs I bought weren’t Asustor. I think they’re an Ok brand, but I don’t think they’re offering anything I’m interested in and my experience with the lack of flexible RAID and the quirkiness of my Flashstor 12 and the introduction of these higher priced units has put them off my watch list.
        REPLY ON YOUTUBE

      30. Thanks to ASUSTOR_YT for engaging actively with this YT review and responding to comments. Appreciated. ???? Other NAS makers could learn a lot from your user engagement. ????
        REPLY ON YOUTUBE

      31. USB4 is not the same as Thunderbolt 4, TB4 guarantees 40Gb/s and USB4 doesn’t, among other TB4 features. On systems that come with Windows they can be thought of equivalent in most cases including 40Gb/s capability, but that’s because of MS’s requirements. If this only supports USB 20 Gb/s that’s why, but that means it’s still not Thunderbolt 4 in a more significant way.
        REPLY ON YOUTUBE

      32. I’m just moving away from Asustor (and all off- the-shelf NAS systems) myself. I’ve had a 604T for going on a decade now. The issue is that it doesn’t deal well with failure. At one point, it managed to get the filesystem dirty somehow and the only fix was to SSH in, unmount volume, run a check, then mount it back up (Asustor support was great in helping me out with this, credit where credit is due). There was no automation to deal with this, or a UI option to force it on next bootup. Eventually it imploded its own config/OS when a single drive failed. Not that drives hadn’t failed before, but this time it did not detect that it had failed, even though the entire NAS was slowed to being unusable due to one drive spinning up and down constantly. I ended up removing the drive to bring the system back to a usable state, and on next reboot it just never started up again, but stopped with a “initialize NAS?” message in the display. After a fair bit of googling I ended up using a default password to SSH in (my users/passwords were apparently gone), mount the volume, get an FTP server started, and get all my data out.

        I have a friend who’s gone through multiple Qnap and Synology NAS, and the story is much the same from him. The hardware holds up fine, but the software just messes up eventually. So, I’m not trusting these devices with their quirky minimal distros anymore, going to give to HexOS/TrueNAS a try to see if that holds up better over time. Fingers crossed..
        REPLY ON YOUTUBE

      33. Mostly comes down to price IMO. For basically the price of that 10 bay one you can get the HL15 chassis and likely build out something better in it. If I wanted to buy a NAS though these are definitely worth considering as I want to run TrueNAS Scale and nothing without ECC is worth considering.
        REPLY ON YOUTUBE

      35. Amazon selling at 1239GBP

        Like many people on the internet, I start to calculate how much I need to spend on full build 20TBx4+ 4TB nvme x4

        or give up on new storage pod and get a gaming rig instead ????

        If just need simple smb storage, probably get those ARM 4bay / uni 7bay which more cost effective (by cut off features you don’t need)
        REPLY ON YOUTUBE

      36. I’m just here to listen to your comments, questions, polite criticism, and praise! Feel free to let me know what you’re thinking! And please note. USB4 networking is still experimental and only ASUSTOR USB4 NAS to ASUSTOR USB4 NAS is officially supported. We are working hard to get support for Computer to NAS working!
        REPLY ON YOUTUBE

      37. I’ve owned an Asustor and plan on installing Proxmox and/or TrueNAS in the future as I don’t trust ADM anymore. Their updates break their own apps.

        For example, I updated Jellyfin and it broke this app. I lost all my progress and configurations. An update for NextCloud broke it too (I had backups of my files at least). Another time, 2FA broke as well. I was lucky that I had recently had a recent Windows copy on another SSD on my laptop, so I was able to access the GUI without logging in again. I had to disable 2FA.
        REPLY ON YOUTUBE

      38. I soo badly want to dump my Synology for a Asustore. Even more so now with ADM5. But as I said before, they really need a AMD Ryzen Embedded 8000 Series (like 8845HS) with a good GPU and media codecs (AV1 encode/decode plz) that can be the heart of a great Plex/Jellyfin setup.

        Great products.though
        REPLY ON YOUTUBE

      39. Asustor Gen 3 Vs Ugreen 6800 (about 500$ cheaper in black friday)

        which one should I get as my fist NAS for my video business?
        being able to connect directly with USB sounds fun, and also I think the Asustor is still more reliable for business.

        what do you think? 🙂
        REPLY ON YOUTUBE

      40. Apple no longer supports AFP and it’s been deprecated for at least a few years so I don’t know why it’s even included anymore. Apple supports SMB and should be used now.
        REPLY ON YOUTUBE

      44. I don’t get it
        – if i want to restore a single file from a snapshot, can i do that?
        – there’s no way to browse the snapshot?
        – there’s no way to change time between snapshots for an individual folder?
        REPLY ON YOUTUBE

      45. ADM also lacks the ability to backup for example Photo Gallery 3 data so if your system fails, you lose all your albums. The photos itself can be backed up but not the settings/app data. Astounding that a company which sells backup solutions for a living is not making sure its own apps are backed up.
        REPLY ON YOUTUBE

      47. ADM has folder encryption, but you cannot use it for photo folders and still use ASUSTOR’ photo app. You cannot use encryption on user home folders either. So basically it does not work for home privacy protection in case of theft.
        REPLY ON YOUTUBE

      51. I have an AS6806T and the LED for drive six is always on after boot-up. It’s not blinking like the others. All six drives are used in a single volume with RAID 6. any ideas? ADM-bug?
        REPLY ON YOUTUBE

      52. They still haven’t fixed the scrubbing and raid sync been 2 tasks (manual, can’t be scheduled) it’s can be dangerous for your data because before running a raid sync you must always run a btrfs scrub first to make sure the filesystem is good (if raid sync is ran first and there is corruption in the filesystem it will sync that corruption to the parity making btrfs scrub unable to do a repair attempt)

        On Synology a data scrub automatically runs a btrfs scrub first then once finished it runs a raid sync and it can be ran as a schedule
        REPLY ON YOUTUBE

      54. Synology isn’t worried because they decided a few years to stop focus/no longer give a shit…about private users..it’s now all corporate and maximum profits for minimum efforts…in short, if you are still considering synology…you’re dumb.
        REPLY ON YOUTUBE

      55. Synology SHOULD be worried because they are screwing up with their loyal customers ….. Synology ARE NOT worried because Asustor scored a massive own goal with their delusional screwed up pricing so they will not penetrate much if any of Synology’s market share….. also a worrying LACK of support with issues with Asustor products and failing drive arrays has been noticed with quite a few threads on Reddit about it …. ADM 5 looks extremely promising ….. but as Newt said it won’t make any difference….
        REPLY ON YOUTUBE

      56. Synology should have already been worried. I’ve been using Synology NAS since 2011, and was very pleased with their hardware/software offerings. But current hardware is lacking to the point their that their software is no longer enough to keep me loyal to the Synology brand.
        REPLY ON YOUTUBE

      57. Synology should have already been worried. I’ve been using Synology NAS since 2011, and was very pleased with their hardware/software offerings. But current hardware is lacking to the point their that their software is no longer enough to keep me loyal to the Synology brand.
        REPLY ON YOUTUBE

      58. Is there an app for backing up a hole computer? You install some kind of agent on your station and it backs up computer to a nas. Then you restore it even on a diffrent hardware. Synology has it and it works great.
        REPLY ON YOUTUBE

      59. With the pricetag of 1230 eur?? nooo way, I would love to have that, but this price is a BIG BIG NO!! adding drives to it it would be 2000 eur. I am not that mental
        REPLY ON YOUTUBE

      62. It certainly performs wonders and shits cucumbers but nothing compelling to switch from Synology. Yet. Your comments regarding the breakout of functions into separate apps makes for a very busy looking desktop. And, without SHR, I would be looking to buy a 6 bay and start with 3 drives in RAID 5 to leave me expansion flexibility.
        REPLY ON YOUTUBE

      64. ASUSTOR is teaching us what a NAS should be today, unlike Synology, which decided to remove internal HEIC support to avoid slowness, instead of installing better hardware.
        REPLY ON YOUTUBE

      65. The Synology Hybrid RAID still seems like the biggest selling point to me! I just don’t understand why other NAS brands haven’t done something similar. If I’ve got a 4-bay NAS, I shouldn’t have to replace all 4 drives just to get more storage.

        When I rebuild my NAS, I’ll have to go with Xpenology again or UnRAID.
        REPLY ON YOUTUBE

      67. Always happy to see updates to the software across any of the NAS providers. Everytime time I see Asustor it makes me want to switch from Synology as my primary NAS. Also, that taskbar gives me anxiety everytime I see it ????
        REPLY ON YOUTUBE

      74. im curious about a possible delay and performance impact, im actually comparing lexar ares 7200mhz cl34 with on-die ecc and corsair vengeance 7200mhz cl34 without it, wonder how it will change my gaming experience as in stuttering, fps, my unity projects when compiling shaders etc
        REPLY ON YOUTUBE

      78. Many thanks for your informative video. One thing is still unclear to me. Does every DDR5 SODIMM have ECC on the die or not?
        If not, how would i recognize that ?
        REPLY ON YOUTUBE

      79. I thought ECC was all memory bus oriented correction, not specifically for data on storage i/o channels? Or is that part of the oversimplification?
        REPLY ON YOUTUBE

      81. Conventional ECC will generate an error message in the system log. That way you can see the ECC errors that are discovered and can decide on changing memory modules before they generates a uncorrectable error. In general you don’t see a ECC error in months. A single ECC error is no big thing, shit happens such as stellar radiation flips a bit. One error is just a sign that the ECC works. If you get a several errors from the same DIMM then it’s a good chance that a memory chip on that DIMM has deteriorated and it should be replaced before a non recoverable error occurs.

        This is information you don’t get from DDR5 memory stick that only support On-die ECC. Even if a chip on the DIMM has degraded so the on-die ECC has to repair the data more and more often the user don’t get any sign of that before the memory really fails.

        Also standard ECC can detect and repair single bit errors. If two bits of the same 64-bit word is compromised ECC can still detect an error, but it can’t repair both bits. That’s a unrepairable ECC error and most OS will be set to halt operation if one of those are detected. That’s effectively a crash.

        More advanced ECC implementations has been designed and are able to repair dual bit errors. But the problem is that more parity bits are needed which makes this kind of memory more expensive. Another version in the ECC range can issue a kill bit to disable memory that has generated ECC errors. The idea here is that if a memory chip degrades and starts to throw errors it will be deactivated and less memory will be available for the computer to work with.

        Yet another ECC implementation used DIMMs without ECC bits, but added extra DIMM that was used for parity bits. I can only remember seeing this used for cache memory on a RAID controller way way back, and I have no memory of seeing it used for system memory.

        I can’t remember the names of all these technologies except I think the technique of disabling suspect memory was called Kill Bit and I think ServerWorks developed that. I’ve worked a lot with server grade equipment, but a lot of it was ages ago, and unfortunately I’ve suffered some brain damage since. A lot of memories are fine but my memory of names has suffered a lot.
        REPLY ON YOUTUBE

      82. If anyone wants to understand how error correction actually works, I’d recommend watching a video from channel @3Blue1Brown called “But what are Hamming codes? The origin of error correction”.
        REPLY ON YOUTUBE

      84. can you do a video on ssd’s with ecc ram memory ? I recently got an an intel dc s3700 ssd and it is said to have ECC RAM. is that the case for all ssd’s with dram ? what are the benefits ?
        REPLY ON YOUTUBE

      85. I do believe that the drawing in your right-hand was held upside down, that would be confusing the onlookers, possibly.
        I do like the approach though!
        REPLY ON YOUTUBE

      89. I know this video isn’t new but I have one important question:

        I’am looking for a cheap NAS. My requirements are, affordable price, mainly used for storage, storage needs are 10 TB and should have the capability to handle my DVD and BluRay collection which I complety transcoded and stored in HEVC (H.265).

        What I did not understand is, why Plex do need to convert H.265 media for a playback? Right now I’m using Kodi with an external 5 TB HDD. Kodi has no issue to playback H.265 media so does not VLC. As Plex is a solution I have to pay for I would expect native playback of H.265 as well.

        Thank you for any answer and thank you for this really good and deep review of Asustor NAS!!! It already helped me by a lot!
        REPLY ON YOUTUBE

      92. The biggest problem I have is with subtitles. I have a Nimbus 5304T and I watch a lot of foreign films (French, Japanese, etc..). Even with .srt subtitles – supposedly the smallest – the Asustor struggles with Plex (I’m using the freebie). Asustor have told me that Plex lacks the power to run these things effectively and even given the spec of the Nimbus, I’m inclined to agree. Yep; it’s not a Lockerstor but it still has 4GB of RAM and a quad core Celeron, which puts it in the same category as the equivalent Synology.

        Furthermore, Plex has been the cause of a lot of my troubles and I’m currently trying to find out why I can no longer see the NAS through it and why launching with the IP address results in the webpage failing to load.
        REPLY ON YOUTUBE

      93. I just bought a Asustor gen 2 NAS…. what a piece of garbage!!! will bring it back later this week.
        My cheap asus router can play 4k better via SMB then this device with plex.
        REPLY ON YOUTUBE

      94. You did not set up your NAS correctly for this test. You need to enable Media Mode via Settings -> General -> Media Mode, which disables S3 sleep. This will then allow transcoding via GPU.

        You also must use Plex Pass to use hardware encoding. After doing both of these you should barely see any CPU usage as the GPU will be doing the work.

        ASUSTOR has a video about this on their YouTube.
        REPLY ON YOUTUBE

      97. hi,recently,I trying to with yours video and playing nas,i have a a problems about how to put surveillance(app) into asustor portal as a icon just as yours at 16:37,thanks a lot!
        REPLY ON YOUTUBE

      99. New Asustor user: Is it as easy on a Mac? I’ve tried installing the Surveillance Center app and I cannot get passed the ‘Install app’ pop-up. When I download and install the app nothing major happens and I am in the centre of the maze – not able to go any further! Arrgh!
        REPLY ON YOUTUBE

      100. I’m confused why my raspberry pi is able to deliver original 4k HEVC 80mbps+ via web better than this can…. something is wrong here.
        REPLY ON YOUTUBE

      105. Good morning i like yours vídeos so much, i am new in this world nas, and im thinking buy one, Could you tell me wich is better NIMBUSTOR 2
        AS5202T or Synology 220+ Interface.. mobile apps etc. thanks a lot !
        REPLY ON YOUTUBE

      106. I have this 2 bay Nas, admittedly I have 16mb of ram, 500gb of nvme read/write cache and 250gb nvme boot drive. I also have both network ports plugged into a 2.5gbe switch with adaptive load balancing being utilised. The main hdd’s are 2 ironwolf 8tb drives and is where the media is streamed from. I have no issues what so ever playing any type of media file even a h265 file with a bit rate of around 60mb sec. I use jellyfin to stream my media.
        REPLY ON YOUTUBE

      108. Seems like it had issues with almost all the tests. Sucks that all the NASes use the same crappy Celeron chip (or worse), unless you pay like 3x more. For what these cost I’d want something more futureproof for different 4k formats. What do we do, wait for the next gen of overpriced compromises? Right now there are really no compelling options..
        REPLY ON YOUTUBE

      109. Great Video but what do you think about the Kickstarter NAS Storaxa for 222€ (Linux OS | Max 142TB Storage | 5xHDD | 4xSSD | TrueNAS | WiFi 6 | 4x 2.5GbE | Intel CPU | SD+MicroSD Card Reader | 4x 10Gbps USB Ports)
        REPLY ON YOUTUBE

      111. If you’re going to buy a 2-6 bay NAS like this and you know how to use Docker Compose and swag and properly configure a network (thus meaning you don’t really need to care what the UI is like and what applications are available in the package center as you’re going to use something better anyway), I think Asustor is the way to go, as I feel like Synology gets in my way too much on this front and their hardware is garbage now. QNAP has other problems, like refusing to support btrfs (and most of the cheaper models aren’t going to support ZFS, which is better than btrfs but isn’t normally used for such small arrays).
        REPLY ON YOUTUBE

      112. I am trying to choose between Synology 2 bay NAS DiskStation DS220+ and Asustor Drivestor 2 Pro AS3302T. I want to mainly use NAS to backup photos & videos, and also stream them later. Anyone got any suggestions?
        REPLY ON YOUTUBE

      113. If you are a MacOS user you will be very disappointed with Asustor software, recently bought Lockerstor4 Gen2 . Synology DSM is SUPERIOR even with slightly weaker hardware.
        REPLY ON YOUTUBE