Thecus W4000+ Windows Server NAS Review

Storage/NAS by stefan @ 2016-01-09

Thecus has made an interesting variation on the market with their W4000/W4000+ NASes (a 2-bay and also a 5-bay version is also available) considering that we no longer have a Linux distribution on our server but Windows Storage Server 2012 R2 Essentials and the product can be used from scratch like a regular PC. Windows Server 2012 is quite complex for entry-level users and we can clearly say that we would not recommend this product for home use simply because it is not as easy to set up as a Linux-based NAS and also requires a Connector software to be installed on each and every station in order to integrate the client with the server (and implicitly the newly created internal domain).

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Packaging, A Closer Look Part I

Considering the fact that most NASes for home and small businesses from different manufacturers are mostly based on Linux distributions, Thecus has thought to try something new by creating a different model which is named W4000+; this is basically a refreshed version of the initial W4000, which sported only 2GB of RAM, the new one doubling the memory, while incorporating the same processor. Let’s check the product in more detail by looking at the packaging; the server is coming in a pretty large cardboard enclosure, so we are happy that the manufacturer has decided to include a plastic carry handle:

 

 

 

As you may have probably seen with the previous photo, the box does have written W4000 all over it and not W4000+; this is because they have used the same external packaging for the product:

 

 

 

Another confirmation that the product is using more RAM is made via the extra sticker and on this side we will also get to see more in-depth information regarding the hardware specifications and software features of the product:

 

 

 

Some main product features are also explained on the exterior of the box:

 

 

 

After lifting the top cover, we will get to see a lot of foam material which is meant to protect the server along with its bundle:

 

 

 

The bundle is offered in a separate re-sealable plastic bag but also inside a small cardboard enclosure:

 

 

 

To be more exact, we will get one Installation Guide, one LAN cable, tray security keys along with mounting screws for both 3.5’’ and 2.5’’ drives and also a warranty card:

 

 

 

While the installation manual is Multilanguage, we did not find it as a very useful product because very little information is explained here:

 

 

 

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