Functionality
The NAS devices are different with other
desktop PCs in their functionality. Even though they are not as versatile, they
are more than just file storage devices. Considering that firmware doesn’t vary
much between different NASes from the same manufacturer, we will discuss the
extra services in an upcoming review. Today, we’ll talk about the basic
functionality.
So, the ASUSTOR AS-604T has 4 HDD bays and
allows combine them into JBOD or RAID 0/1/5/6/10 arrays or use them
individually. A replacement of HDD may be specified. Like other modern NASes,
the ASUSTOR AS-604T supports disk volume migration without data loss and
capacity expansion via adding new disks (with RAID5) or replacing disks one by one
(with RAID 1/5/6).
Storage
Manager
The latest version allows you to remove the
first disk volume but all the additional software modules will be removed too
since they are stored on the user data partition rather than on the system
partition.
An integrated utility for reading
S.M.A.R.T. data and scanning HDDs is also available for monitoring the health
of HDDs. The operations can be run on schedule. The compatibility list includes
a lot of modern HDD models, also with capacities of 3 and 4 TB, so it’s going
to be easy to choose HDDs for this NAS.
The ASUSTOR AS-604T supports file-based
iSCSI volumes with LUNs located on existing disk volumes. This require us of
QNAP products again as they do not support block-based access either.
Asustor’s
functionality
User access control is based on username
and password. Besides a local user database, Asustor AS-604T supports Windows
Active Directory. Users can be combined into groups, assigned quotas for disk
volumes, and provide access to additional applications. Admin right can be
given to ordinary users.
Asustor
AS-604T’s functionality
Users and groups of user may have standard
access rights to share folders: no access, read only, read & write.
Additionally, you can specify the access mode for anonymous users via FTP or
WebDAV. ISO images can be mounted for networked access. A network recycle bin
for deleted files can be created on each disk volume. Users can restore deleted
files if they have access rights to the corresponding folder. There are no
automatic means of controlling the size of the bin.
Capability
of restoring data from recycle bin
The NAS provides access to files via CIFS,
AFP, NFS, FTP and WebDAV protocols, so every user can have an appropriate type
of access irrespective of what OS he has. FTP offers a number of settings. You
can change port numbers, enable SSL/TLS and FXP, limit speeds and the number of
simultaneous connections. For WebDAV, you can choose a port and enable SSL.
Ways
of access
The NAS’s main parameters are specified in
the Settings. Besides network addresses, the Ethernet controller options
include Jumbo Frames support, Ipv6, VLAN and port teaming. Besides the wired
ports, the NAS can work with wireless USB adapters but there is no official
compatibility list. The security features include an integrated firewall and a
system of protection against password guessing.
The Ease of Access features help you to set
up remote access to the NAS. The first of them is an integrated DDNS client
that supports the manufacturer’s exclusive service with third-level domains at
myasustor.com. You only need to provide a name for your NAS without even
registering a user account.
The
Ease of Access feature
The second feature is automatic port
translation on the router (which has to support UpnP as most modern routers
do). You just choose what services you need and publish them on the internet by
checking a checkbox.
The third feature is simple remote access
from exclusive utilities by specifying the name you’ve given to your NAS. The
remote access will only work if the router’s IP address is accessible from the
internet.
The regional settings allow you to choose
language, code page for non-Unicode clients, and date & time format.
Internet-based time synchronization can be enabled here. You can also choose
your time zone.
The hardware parameters allows you to
choose sound notifications, disable the reset button, set up the brightness of
the LED indicators (or even turn them off completely), and enter your text to
show on the dot-matrix display. Here you can also manage the sleep mode of
internal and external HDDs, specify an operation schedule, enable WoL and
automatic start-up after a power failure, and choose the fan’s operation mode.
The administrator can be notified about
system events via email or SMS (using an external service). Multiple recipients
are supported. Events can be distributed among them according to the level of
importance.
Asustor
AS-604T’s functionality
The firmware provides extensive monitoring
capabilities. Besides status pages with system parameters (serial number, CPU
temperature, fan speed, network settings), there is a detailed events log that
can show you all user activity on each protocol as well as a list of current
connections. Log files can be automatically archived into a specified shader
folder. The current load on the NAS (its CPU, memory, Ethernet controller, disk
volume usage) can be monitored too.
System
information
The integrated Dr. Asustor service will
help you solve any problems with the NAS and provide advice on how to store
data. It can even help you write a report for tech support if necessary.
Having a number of external ports, the Asustor
AS-604T can work with external disks, Wi-Fi adapters, printers and UPSes.
Optional apps may add support for other peripheral devices. External disks may
have any of the following file systems: FAT32, NTFS, EXT3, EXT4 and even HFS+.
You can format them from the NAS’s web-interface. Access rights to shared
resources corresponding to disk partitions must be specified explicit after
connecting an external drive.
Scanning is not supported with all-in-ones
– perhaps this functionality will be added in future firmware releases. The UPS
compatibility list includes only a couple of brands. Besides USB connection,
LAN- connected UPSes can be used.
File
explorer
Although additional functionality is mostly
implemented as optional apps, some features have been retained in the basic
firmware. One of them is the file manager that works in web-browsers. Popular
on many NASes, this solution allows you to easily access your files from any PC
by entering the NAS’s address and user credentials. Besides standard operations
with files and folders, the file manager supports archives and can create quick
access links for simple file sharing.
File
manager
The integrated backup tool supports Rsync
servers, FTP, Amazon S3 and external disks (without using a desktop PC), so you
can keep your data secure by creating copies automatically, also on remote
servers. The NAS can act as an Rsync server for other devices.
The same utility is used to be defined the
behavior of the Copy button on the NAS’s case. It can enable copying of data
from or to a USB-connected external disk.
Copy
tool
The basic firmware offers web-server and
MySQL features that can be used together to create modern interactive websites.
Application
Center
Extra modules are managed from the App
Central utility. It provides an online catalogue of available apps from the
manufacturer as well as third-party developers. Apps can also be installed from
pre-downloaded files although this may be insecure.
