Reviewed by Barry Little - July 28, 2008

Manufacturer: QNAP Systems, Inc.

Model: TS-409U

Price: Click here for the best price on Google

The growing need for more network disk space represents one of the biggest challenges and expenses facing businesses today. Part of that challenge also involves keeping the cost of current and future storage requirements under control—a challenge tailor-made for the Network Attached Storage Device, or NAS. With that in mind, let’s take a look at the QNAP TS-409U to see how it can help your business.

In a business environment, data is stored on servers configured for specific tasks. File servers for user data, web servers for websites, database servers for database and transaction systems, and so on. Financial constraints may force some businesses to combine these specialized tasks on a single server. While this approach is more cost effective than having an individual server for each task, there is always the potential for reduced productivity due to conflicting system resource requirements that can affect a multi-role server. There is also the problem of impacting multiple critical business processes if the server goes down.

Upgrading servers to larger disks to gain more disk space can also be problematic, usually requiring that the server is made unavailable to users—and customers—during the upgrade, which is not a viable option for many businesses requiring around the clock availability of data assets. Licensing for operating systems, additional software plus the specialized personnel to keep it all running, can quickly add up to take a major bite out of any budget. Expect the size of that bite to be much larger if it is determined that a brand new server and more disk space, is required.

NAS units have come a long way since their inception, and have grown in flexibility, reliability and performance, rivaling many entry-level and even some mid-level servers. NAS units have an embedded operating system (usually Linux, though some are Windows-based), which immediately bypasses the expense of purchasing an operating system separately along with the associated cost of keeping the license for it, current. It also saves the time necessary to install and configure it. Compared to more expensive SCSI drives used in traditional servers, many NAS units utilize affordable, hi-performance SATA drives with somewhat more expensive enterprise-level SATA drives as an option, which are still cheaper than SCSI drives. A browser-based interface makes administering the NAS quick and easy for network administrators at all proficiency levels without requiring expensive management software suites. Industry-standard network protocols and directory services are supported. NAS units like the TS-409U often have technologies that make in-place hard disk upgrades and RAID migration without taking down the NAS down or losing data, possible. Although companies like HP and Dell market high-end NAS units that can be configured to be every bit as powerful (and expensive) as a standard server, by and large cost and simplicity remains the biggest advantage that the NAS has over your typical server.

About QNAP

QNAP Systems, INC. (QNAP) is a devoted and dominant provider of Internet Appliance products. With solid and integrated expertise on the Linux embedded platform, QNAP has delivered more than 30 models of network storage and surveillance products in the past 5 years. These products provide consumers with storage, backup, surveillance and many other professional applications that constitute the core competency of QNAP. Today, QNAP continues to lead the industry in innovation with its award-winning servers. For example, TS-101 was honored “the best choice of Computex” and QBack-25 honored the 1st place by Chip Magazine. To keep the proud and success, QNAP is dedicated to providing top quality products and best support for customers.

Now let’s see what the TS-409U has to offer in terms of features.

Product Features

High performance and advanced RAID redundancy

QNAP TS-409U is a 1U, 4-bay, hot-swappable All-in-one NAS (Network Attached Storage) Server. With the best price performance ratio, it is specifically designed for users who need fast performance, mass storage, and useful server features. TS-409U is a powerful Linux-embedded system with 500MHz SoC CPU and 512MB large-sized DDRII memory. It enables major business applications including storing, backing up, sharing, and archiving critical information. Advanced RAID configurations for non-stop service are also supported. RAID 5 is a widely adopted configuration for highly economic data protection that allows one drive failure with the system running. RAID 6 allows the failure of maximum two drives to offer business users more advanced data protection.

 

Multi-functional All-in-one NAS Server

TS-409U supports multiple file sharing protocols for users to share files across Linux, Unix, Mac, and Windows platforms. Abundant valuable server functions such as File Server, FTP Server, and Printer Server are available. Also, Windows AD (Active Directory) is supported to help create an easy-to-access environment and lower the maintenance cost. With the dual support of MySQL and SQLite, SMB & SOHO users can easily set up their own web and database servers. Moreover, users can make use of the encrypted remote replication and backup to external devices features for extra data protection. Various data storage and management mechanisms- FTP server with SSL/TLS encrypted technology, SSH login, and web page SSL login are also provided for secure data transfer and access.

 

A solution for present and future

The flexible Online RAID Capacity Expansion and Online RAID Level Migration features lower the total cost of ownership. Online RAID Capacity Expansion allows the administrators to select the most cost-effective hard drives for initial server setup and upgrade to larger ones in the future. All the stored data will be kept and seamlessly moved to the newly installed hard drives without turning off the server. Online RAID Level Migration allows the administrators to start from one drive and add more to upgrade the RAID level in the future with the data retained.

 

Easy setup and low maintenance cost

TS-409U adopts power-saving design which is excellent for long-term operation. Meanwhile, TS-409U supports hot-swapping. When a hard drive of a RAID configuration fails, the administrator can hot swap the failed drive with a new one without turning off the server to ensure non-stop services. The maintenance cost and effort are also minimized. Besides, the HDD S.M.A.R.T. is supported. The administrator can check the health of the hard drives and take appropriate action when unhealthy drives are found to prevent potential physical drive failure. The comprehensive log system of TS-409U summarizes the data access records and connection status. Alert emails can be sent to the administrator immediately when an error or a warning occurs.

Package and Contents

“Pizza!” might be the first thing that pops into the back of your mind when you see the size and shape of the box that the TS-409U comes in—if you happen to be hungry at the time, that is. Pizza notwithstanding, the heavy-duty cardboard box with its gloss white finish and orange and black trim, provides just about everything you’d want to know about the TS-409U’s features and specifications. There are plenty of photos of the unit and diagrams on the implementation of its extensive list of features that are a good indication of what you’re getting for your investment in the TS-409U. Assuming that you’re purchasing the TS-409U from a retail outlet, the fold-out plastic handle will make carrying it to the checkout counter a lot easier. If not, then  the fold-out handle will make carrying the TS-409U to the computer room or network wiring closet, easier once UPS or FedEx drops it off at your place of business. The box isn’t particularly heavy, but it’s the size that would make carrying it without the benefit of the handle a bit awkward.

As you might have guessed, the TS-409U does not ship with any of the required SATA hard drives installed. Before you even consider purchasing it, you should head to QNAP’s web site and check out their official list of compatible drives for the TS-409U, whether you currently have a set of drives you want to use, or plan on purchasing them. Needless to say, sticking to drives that are on the list is the best way to save yourself some unexpected headaches later on once you’ve set the TS-409U up.

The TS-409U is suspended between two thick “plasti-foam” protectors and is sealed in a plastic bag, with the accessories box suspended just above it. The box contains the Support CD (I received Version 4.4) with all the necessary software for setting up the NAS, as well as complete documentation in Adobe Acrobat .PDF format. A full-color, fold-out Quick Start Guide to help you get your TS-409U up and running. A Power Cord, Rack Mounting Brackets, CAT5e Gigabit Ethernet Cable, Keys for locking and unlocking the hard disk trays, and all the necessary screws, are also part of the deal.

When you lay out the kind of money that you do for a unit such as this, you shouldn’t expect or have to put up with inadequate, second-rate packaging that saves the manufacturer a few bucks while putting the product at risk during shipping. QNAP makes sure that you don’t have to.

The QNAP TS-409U

I’ll tell you straightaway that if you’ve read my review of the QNAP TS-409 Pro Turbo Station NAS back in March of this year, this review of the TS-409U is going to hold few surprises for you. In fact, the TS-409U is nothing more than the TS-409 Pro in a different chassis with updated firmware and (thankfully) more RAM installed. Functionally and feature-wise, it’s the same unit. It’s just marketed to a different segment of the NAS market.

That segment would businesses who want the affordable power and flexibility of the TS-409 Pro in a 409.1 x 430 x 44.45 mm 1U Rack Unit form factor. Weighing in at 5.2 kg (11 lb and 7.42 oz) without hard drives installed, the TS-409U’s steel chassis has a durable gray painted finish. With the exception of the three exhaust fan outlets on the back of the unit, the chassis has no ventilation holes or grilles. Fresh air for cooling both the installed hard drives and the unit’s insides, is pulled through the ventilation slots in the hard drive trays. A black, glossy strip of plastic adorns the upper front panel of the TS-409U. Next to the raised QNAP logo is the USB 2.0 port for the unit’s One-touch Copy feature. Just above the end of the third drive bay is the One-touch Copy button, followed by a series of LED indicators for USB connectivity, system status, hard disk health/access and LAN activity, that are just barely visible against the shiny, dark background until they light up when the unit is powered on, followed by the Power button.

The drive trays resemble the ones you would find on most 1U servers rack mount. The latch that provides airflow and releases the hot-swap drive trays are made of heavy-duty, high impact black plastic and can be secured within the NAS using the circular chrome-plated steel lock (the trays are not locked in the chassis from the factory), and the supplied keys. Facing the front of the NAS, the drive trays are number HDD1 through HDD4 from left to right, though the silkscreened label is only visible in the top right corner of the front bezel after you’ve disengaged the tray and slide it out. The chassis of the tray is made of steel, and is well ventilated for airflow on the front and bottom. The locking tab for the latch, and the latch’s hinges are both made of steel as well.

You’ll find two holes on the front left and right sides of the TS-409U. These are for attaching the brackets that will allow you to mount the TS-409U in a standard network wiring closet rack or server cabinet. The three cooling fans in back on the unit are kept company by the power cord plug, Password and Network Settings Reset button. Pushing this button with a paper clip will reset the TS-409U’s defaults as follows:

a. System admin password: admin

b. Network Settings/ TCP/IP Configuration: Obtain IP address settings automatically via DHCP

c. Network Settings/ TCP/IP Configuration: Disable Jumbo Frame

d. Network Setting/ System Port Management: 8080 (system service port)

e. System Tools/ IP Filter: Allow all connections

Lastly, you’ll find a single RJ-45 Gigabit Ethernet LAN port , and two more USB 2.0 ports on back of the TS-409U. QNAP has placed a tamper proof sticking in the upper right rear corner of the TS-409U. Breaking the sticker voids the warranty on the unit. This probably won’t go over too big with IT staff who prefer to stock spare components and replace them themselves when they fail, which they can usually do a lot quicker than waiting for RMA repairs. Should you choose to peer inside the drive bays, what you can see of the TS-409U’s insides is cleanly laid out with cabling neatly wire-tired.

Since the TS-409U is designed to fit inside a network rack or cabinet, you won’t find any accommodations underneath to attach a set of rubber feet to set the unit up on a table top or on a shelf. Not only would the TS-409U’s size make such an arrangement impractical, but it would most likely scratch up the surface. Powered by the same 500MHz Marvel 5281 Processor as other TS-409 NAS units, the QNAP TS-409U is graced with an additional 256MB of DDR2 RAM, bringing the total up to 512MB. Unfortunately, like the other TS-409 models, this amount of RAM is fixed and cannot be upgraded. (we’ll see later on in the benchmarks what difference the extra memory makes).

Setting Up

Following either the printed Quick Installation Guide or the slide-show style guide on the Support CD, you’ll have the QNAP TS-409U up and running in short order. You’ll need at least one hard drive installed to boot and configure the TS-409U. You’ll also find it easier—lighter, actually—to bolt the brackets to the sides of the TS-409U and mount it in your rack and cabinet before you install any hard drives. You should already have the necessary hardware for bolting the TS-409U or any other network device, to your existing rack or cabinet. If you’re not installing all four drives, it’s highly recommended that you leave the empty drive trays in their respective bays until you need them. The SATA drives are affixed to the trays underneath using the included screws.

For the review, I pressed four of my favorite hard drives into service once again—the Seagate Model ST3500630AS SATA Hard Drive. Spinning at 7,200 RPM with a 16MB cache and listed on QNAP’s Compatibility List, all four drives have Revision 3.AAK firmware and are factory jumpered for a 1.5GB/sec data transfer rate—which is where I left them. Even though the Seagate ST3500630AS is capable of 3.0GB/sec  transfers, you should leave the drive at  the default 1.5GB/sec setting unless it is explicitly stated by the manufacturer of the device you’re connecting the drive to that it’s OK to do otherwise. You could end up scrambling the data on the drive like an egg, if you don’t.

Courtesy of QNAP

Once everything is installed and you have the network and power cord plugged in, hit the power button. The TS-409U will beep once, and the LEDs will flash and blink as the NAS goes through its POST (Power-on Self Test). About a minute later—more or less depending on the number and unformatted capacity of the hard disks installed—the TS-409U will beep one final time as it completes its POST. The LAN LED will flash and blink once network communications have been fully initiated. While the LEDs representing the installed hard drives should be solid green, the Status LED will intermittently flash red and green. Don’t panic—you’re just being told that the drives in the TS-409U haven’t been configured and initialized yet. To quote a certain Arcane University scholar and wizard, “We come to the real work at last…”