At first we would like to thank ASUSTOR for offering us a sample of their AS5104T NAS model for testing and reviewing.

 

 

 

About ASUSTOR:

 

“Founded in 2011, ASUSTOR Inc. is a leading innovator and provider of private cloud storage (network attached storage) and video surveillance (network video recorder) solutions. We are devoted to providing the world with unparalleled user experiences and the most complete set of network storage solutions possible.”

 

High performance technology

 

An Intel Celeron 2.0GHz Quad-core processor and 2GB DDR3L memory, provide premium, energy efficient processing power. With read/write speeds of up to 112 MB/s, the AS51 series’ excellent performance is sure to satisfy your storage application needs. Furthermore, when AS51 series devices need more computing power, they can increase the CPU computing power from the original 2.0 GHz to 2.41 GHz, providing a smooth and seamless experience.

 

Effortlessly upgrade memory

 

Depending on your usage preferences, you can decide whether or not you want to upgrade memory. AS50/51 devices provide users with the ability to flexibly upgrade memory so there is no need to worry about the memory before you purchasing the device. When upgrading memory, you simply need to remove the cover of the NAS to do it (There are 2 expansion memory slots in total. Memory can be expanded up to a maximum of 8GB.), letting you easily improve system performance and allowing your NAS to simultaneously run more Apps.

 

Metallic design

 

Different from other NAS devices on the market which feature plastic cases and suboptimal cooling, the AS50/51 devices feature aluminum casing along with a rust and corrosion resistant coating which combines with the metallic hard disk trays to fully make use of the natural cooling properties of metal. This significantly enhances the entire cooling ability of the system.

 

Secure Disk Tray Lock Design

 

In order to help users avoid accidentally pushing disk tray buttons and releasing hard disks during operation, ASUSTOR has added a new lock mechanism to its hard disk trays. The lock's flat-head design ensures that users will not need any special keys or tools to unlock it, only a simple flat-head screw driver. The new disks trays can be used with all ASUSTOR NAS devices, providing an additional layer of security for applications requiring the frequent swapping of hard disks (e.g., MyArchive).

 

Expand your storage space

 

A professional grade NAS needs to be equipped with a diverse array of expansion functionality. In addition to the 4 drive bays, we have also included 2 USB 2.0 ports, 3 USB 3.0 ports and 2 eSATA ports, allowing you to create a tailored storage space for both your work and entertainment needs.

AS50/51 devices emphasize the flexibility of expandable capacity, providing more expansion slots than any other devices in their class. With this many expansion slots, the only question that remains is how you are going to fill up all that storage space!

 

Save power to save money

 

ASUSTOR NAS products are designed and developed around ecologically friendly concepts. When in use, our devices consume far less power than the average computer or server. Furthermore, our advanced power control features allow you to more efficiently manage your NAS device and hard drives. This lowers your electric bill and prolongs the lifespan of your hard drives all at the same time.

While in disk hibernation, the AS5104T consumes only 12.3 W of power. Under normal operating conditions it still only consumes 31.5 W of power. Combined with the S3 instant wake function, this allows for a large degree of flexibility when configuring power schedules for your NAS, allowing you to significantly decrease the amount of power you use.

 

Increased reliability and speed

 

The built-in dual Ethernet ports combined with the link aggregation function, allows your NAS to maintain its connection even if one of your Ethernet connections fail, significantly decreasing the likelihood of unexpected disconnections.Additionally, link aggregation provides faster transfer speeds than a single connection could, along with load balancing which automatically balances network traffic load across the two connections, making it the optimal choice for users who require high speed reliability.

 

Create the Ultimate Home Multimedia Center

 

Enjoy electrifying digital entertainment on demand with ASUSTOR NAS. The built-in HDMI interface and variety of multimedia Apps let you to enjoy all of your favorite multimedia from your NAS by directly connecting it to an LCD/LED TV or amplifier.

 

ASUSTOR NAS supports Full HD (1080p) output, allowing you to savor your movies, TV shows, music and photos in high definition. What's more, through ASUSTOR's App Central, you can install additional multimedia server Apps such as UPnP Media Server and iTunes Server giving your NAS the ability to stream multimedia content to your computers, TVs and mobile devices.

 

Additionally, you can also further add a surround sound amplifier to create an unprecedented high definition multi-channel listening experience. Imagine watching your favorite racing movie and being immersed in the roar of the engines. Feel the thrill and the sense of speed as you listen to the sounds of cars whizzing by. Prepare for an unparalleled entertainment experience that will have you on the edge of your seat.

 

Even More Reliable After-Sales Service

 

ASUSTOR has extended the warranty period on all of its products to three years, continuing to make customer service a huge priority. It is ASUSTOR's mission to continue to provide its customers with products of the highest quality along with only the most reliable and attentive after-sales service and technical support.

 

Cross-platform File Sharing

 

ASUSTOR NAS devices provide seamless cross-platform file sharing, allowing you to easily connect to your NAS device no matter if you are using Windows, Mac OS, or Unix-like operating systems. The transfer protocols that you may use to connect to an ASUSTOR NAS device are as follows:

 

Windows: CIFS/SMB, FTP and WebDAV

Mac OS X: AFP, SMB, NFS, FTP and WebDAV

Linux: NFS, SMB, FTP and WebDAV

 

Additionally, ASUSTOR NAS devices feature our Network Recycle Bin. Any files you delete will be moved to the Recycle Bin, allowing you to restore any accidentally deleted files. Transfer protocols supported by the Recycle Bin include: CIFS/SMB, AFP, FTP and File Explorer.

 

High Quality Audio Output with S/PDIF

 

Turn your NAS into your digital music hub and let ASUSTOR's 70 Series devices take your local audio playback to another level. You can use SoundsGood or iTunes Server to play high quality digital music from your NAS and further combine it with S/PDIF high fidelity optical output for an unmatched listening experience that will truly bring your music to life.

 

Quick and Easy File Access

 

The built-in File Explorer App allows you to access the files on your NAS through a Web browser. Enjoy drag and drop file transfers along with a directory structure view that lets you easily organize your data. Accessing files on your NAS never been easier.

 

Create a Stable, Reliable and High Quality Surveillance System

 

The powerful 51 Series devices provide you with stress free reliability when installing a surveillance system in your home or office environment. Installing the Surveillance Center App from App Central instantly turns your NAS into 24/7, high definition surveillance system. Surveillance Center provides comprehensive cross-platform support, allowing both Windows and Mac users to use familiar web browsers to access their surveillance feeds. Furthermore, ASUSTOR also offers the free AiSecure mobile app that gives users access to all their surveillance feeds while on the go. AiSecure also provides the ability to receive instant push notifications from Surveillance Center, allowing users to keep up with the latest developments. No matter if you need to protect individual assets, loved ones or your business, the powerful 51 Series devices are your optimal choice when creating a comprehensive surveillance system.

 

 

We have another “meet” with one of the latest products from ASUSTOR, a company which impressed us positively when looking onto their AS-604T and AS-304T models. This time it is the turn of the AS5104T, which features an updated design for the box and on the sides we will receive some information not only about the current model, but also regarding the AS5004T and the AS7004T:

 

 

 

 

 

Here we will also see some words on the ADM (ASUSTOR Data Master), which is the main operating system for their NASes:

 

 

 

The box is provided with a plastic handle for easy manipulation and after lifting the top cover, we will end up reading a “Thank You” note along with some useful web addresses:

 

 

 

The manufacturer has made sure that the product won’t be damaged during transit, so they have included a thick layer of foam on both sides to protect it:

 

 

 

Besides the AS5104T, we will also receive a smaller cardboard enclosure, which includes the bundle:

 

 

 

 

What will we find here? Well, we have one small instruction leaflet, the installation disk, screws for mounting both 2.5’’ and 3.5’’ drives, the power brick, one power lead but also two LAN cables:

 

 

 

The power brick was manufactured by Delta Electronics and is rated on the output as 12V, 7.5A:

 

 

 

As QNAP, Thecus, Synology and other NAS manufacturers, ASUSTOR has went with a mini-tower design featuring a metallic chassis for durability:

 

 

 

The frontal part of the NAS reminds us of the older models, but let’s get into more detail:

 

 

 

On the top left corner we have the Power and Status LEDs, along with the ASUSTOR logo:

 

 

 

Further down, we will get to see LEDs for each LAN interface, but also an additional USB 3.0 port with a button and LED which supports the USB Copy functionality:

 

 

 

On the top we have the nice LCD screen along with some control buttons, which allow performing the initial setup procedure without using any extra PC or software:

 

 

 

The HDD trays have individual LEDs which light up depending on the current status of the drives:

 

 

 

On the left side of the unit we will be able to see a small ventilation grill:

 

 

 

The right side is quite the same, but this time without the grill:

 

 

 

In the back side of the NAS, we will be able to spot the large 120mm silent fan along with lots of other interfaces:

 

 

 

If we look more closely, we will be able to spot the SPDIF port, one HDMI interface, but also two eSATA:

 

 

 

Further down, we have two LAN ports, two USB 2.0 and two USB 3.0 ports, one Reset button hole but also a Kensington lock port:

 

 

 

On the bottom side of the unit we will spot four circular large rubber feet, along with a sticker which informs us on the product serial number along with the MACs for the LAN interfaces:

 

 

 

The trays can be easily released from the bays, with just a press of a button:

 

 

 

They are made of both metal and plastic, but for avoiding short circuits with the electronic board of the drives, ASUSTOR has also interposed a plastic layer:

 

 

 

In the frontal area of the trays we have a metallic grill for ventilation:

 

 

 

Since the activity LEDs are placed on the daughterboard inside the NAS, ASUSTOR has used Plexiglas extenders in order to bring the light to the front:

 

 

 

The holes for the 2.5’’ drives are also marked:

 

 

 

Near the release button of the trays we also have a small screw for enabling the locking mechanism:

 

 

 

For testing purposes, we will use our trusty SSD drives:

 

 

 

By removing the screws from the back, we will be able to easily remove the top metallic cover; the motherboard is fully covered by a black plastic layer, but some cut-outs are provided in the area of the RAM slots:

 

 

 

Logically, one of the SODIMMs is pre-installed featuring 2GB of storage; the other slot is empty and we can install some extra for having additional space when running concurrent services. ASUSTOR advises that the first module should always contain a module of either 1GB, 2GB, 4GB or 8GB; the second slot must have the same size as the second slot, but because of the hardware limitations, we can only go up to 2x4GB:

 

 

 

 

On the opposite side we will be able to spot the metallic cage for the drives along with the daughterboard:

 

 

 

Between the daughterboard and thefan we have a respectable amount of space in order to perform maintenance:

 

 

 

On the top, we will be able to see the links between the motherboard and the other components:

 

 

 

The frontal display + buttons are located on a separate PCB, which is linked to the motherboard via a 8-pin connector:

 

 

 

Let’s go ahead and perform the initial setup procedure:

 

 

 

After we have started up the NAS, we will be prompted if we would like to perform the initial setup via the LCD screen interface but we could also do this via the browser; ASUSTOR puts to our disposal a software utility, which is able to identify the product on the network quicker and also gives us some details on the hardware:

 

 

 

With its help, we can go straight to the login page:

 

 

 

Right after the interface has been loaded, we were prompted to perform a firmware update, which we have decided to do after all:

 

 

 

In order to set up volumes, we will have to go to the Storage Manager section; we have previously set up the NAS automatically via the LCD screen and it seems to have had created a RAID 1 setup with our two SSDs:

 

 

 

For testing purposes, we are always using a RAID 0 configuration so we went ahead and deleted the existing volume; afterwards we have started up the Wizard:

 

 

 

 

 

 

In consequence, the RAID 0 volume has been created successfully, and the details are fully described inside the Storage Manager main screen:

 

 

 

A quick check-up on the Shared Folders is needed, and we have seen that ADM creates some default folders, so we can go with those:

 

 

 

 

The ADM of the ASUSTOR NASes presents itself with a nice interface which resembles quite a bit the desktop of a mobile operating system; on the top right corner we have various login commands and some information hints, the center area highlights the installed applications which can split on multiple pages (along with configuration menus) and on the bottom we have the list of pages, which can be fully renamed by us:

 

 

 

The Task monitor is accessible from the top bar and will show if there is any process in progress:

 

 

 

Here are also the commands available for the current user:

 

 

 

A useful feature is Searchlight for finding with ease what we are looking for:

 

 

 

Let’s dig in with the various available sections from the desktop; first, we have Access Control, which takes care of the Local Users, Groups, Domain Users and Groups, Shared Folders but also App privileges:

 

 

 

The Shared Folder section allows us to edit the default ones, create new and edit custom options like encryption or adjust access rights:

 

 

 

 

From the Activity Monitor application, we will be able to see the current load on the CPU:

 

 

 

Currently free memory, buffer, cached memory or used RAM:

 

 

 

Network utilization:

 

 

 

Disk usage with an intuitive pie chart:

 

 

 

Or currently running processes, how much CPU time each has allocated, current status but also how much space they take in memory:

 

 

 

After creating and logging in to an ASUSTOR account, we will be able to browse App Central, which gives us full access to the additional modules which add a lot of value to our server; here we will not only find ASUSTOR applications, but also 3rd party:

 

 

 

Next, we could remind you of the Online Help section, which is structured in multiple chapters:

 

 

 

The Backup & Restore application allows us to perform these operations in different ways like Remote Sync, FTP Backup, External Backup, One Touch Backup (or USB Copy Function) but also Cloud Backup:

 

 

 

If we have a drive connected, it will show inside the External Devices section; this also goes for connected printers, Wi-Fi compatible dongles, UPS systems, Bluetooth devices and Optical Drives:

 

 

 

The File Explorer is as advanced as the ones we have seen with Synology NASes, which is great and allows us to work with the files internally or perform transfers to and from our local PC, if we have Java installed; here we can also work with external storage, mount virtual devices or see the contents of the virtual network recycle bins:

 

 

 

Here are some of the commands we can perform onto a specific file:

 

 

 

The list of supported Services is in another dedicated menu, where we will find Windows services, Mac OS X, NFS, FTP Server and many more:

 

 

 

The Settings menu allows us to perform different system-wide modifications; it begins with the General menu, where we can manage the login screen, connection type, automatic log-out and more:

 

 

 

 

The Network section will allow us to configure different settings like server name, gateway, DNS server details, IPv6, Link Aggregation, more LAN-related options, Wi-FI configuration but also Proxy stuff:

 

 

 

Next we have the VPN section:

 

 

 

The Regional Options take care of the Date & Time of the system, Time Zone and Language of the interface:

 

 

 

The Hardware section allows us to work with different System-related options like LED brightness, buzzer or Reset button:

 

 

 

Next, we have the Energy Control tab, which allows us to work with the power management features:

 

 

 

Power management features are also present in the next tab:

 

 

 

The Fan Control area permits us to select from various pre-defined profiles:

 

 

 

The LCD Panel section permits us to create a customized text for the LCD screen, but also display the local temperature:

 

 

 

The Notification menu is pretty self-explanatory and also includes Push Notification options:

 

 

 

ADM Defender area takes care of the Firewall policies and here we will be also able to access the Network Defender:

 

 

 

ADM Update allows us to automatically update the system to the latest version, but also perform a manual update:

 

 

 

The Network Recycle Bin is a very useful feature when files are deleted by mistake:

 

 

 

We also have the ASUSTOR Energy Saver available, which also works as a power management feature:

 

 

 

Ease of Access menu allows us to connect remotely to the server by following just some simple steps:

 

 

 

If something went wrong, we can always reset the server to the default settings from the Factory Default menu:

 

 

 

From the Registration menu, we can check out the currently logged in ASUSTOR ID and switch for another one if necessary:

 

 

 

The Storage Manager application helps us to create and manage new volumes, depending on the available amount of drives; this area also has two additional tabs (Disk/iSCSI):

 

 

 

 

From the System Information window, we can check out more information about the current system like ADM version, BIOS version, System time and so on:

 

 

 

Also here we will learn about the current network configuration status:

 

 

 

Logs also gather here, by looking at the next tab:

 

 

 

Current online users are listed on the next tab:

 

 

 

Dr. Asustor is a built-in utility which helps keeping the system optimized at all times:

 

 

 

From the ASUSTOR Portal application, we will be able to customize the interface the GUI while the NAS is connected to our TV:

 

 

 

Download Center is equipped with a Torrent Search engine and also works with drag-and-drop torrent files without any issues at all:

 

 

 

SoundsGood is the application which indexes audio files and organizes them properly; this one also allows playback via the SPDIF interface:

 

 

 

ASUS WebStorage is their personal cloud which offers 5GB of free space initially and if we sign up on ASUS preloaded devices, more free space will be provided to us; besides this one, we can install applications to sync with other services like Google Drive or Dropbox:

 

 

 

As soon as our photo collection has been indexed, it will be shown properly inside the Photo Gallery application, which is also easy to use:

 

 

 

 

For video content, we can always work with Plex, which does most of the things for us right away after specifying the paths like indexing, searching for title intro screen, additional information about the current title and so on:

 

 

 

 

ASUSTOR does not miss the standalone media-center features either, so we can connect our NAS to the Full-HD TV and start working with the frontend; during boot, the BIOS splash screen will appear and if needed, we can also go inside the InsydeH2O Setup Utility:

 

 

 

The UEFI does also have a light edition of the interface, which can be seen first:

 

 

 

Coming back to the GUI (ASUSTOR Portal), depending on how it is configured in ADM, it will show different information like current IP address, name of the server on the local network, the clock with current date, but also icons of the applications we can start right away; besides the IR remote which can be purchased separately, we can freely use any USB keyboard/mouse combo in order to make use of the applications:

 

 

 

First, we would like to say that as we have found with other NASes, it is possible to go into the ADM without the need of using a PC:

 

 

 

 

From here we can launch different modules like in the current example, uTorrent:

 

 

 

Next, we have Chrome, which works like on any other PC:

 

 

 

YouTube module has the same interface we have seen on Smart TVs and is quite easy to browse:

 

 

 

 

The piece of resistance is not Chrome, ADM accessibility, XBMC playback but Popcorn Time, which can be launched right from the Portal and seems to work quite well:

 

 

 

 

Quite unexpected, but there is also a PPSSPP module available for the unit; we have tried Wipeout and could not advance over the intro screen and could not get back inside the PPSSPP menu either, but it also depends on the compatibility of the current game with the emulator and newer versions usually have lots of fixes:

 

 

 

KODI presents us with the customized XBMC version for our ASUSTOR NAS, for working with our photo, music and video collection:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

From the System Info area, we can check out more details regarding the current Linux Kernel version and hardware:

 

 

 

 

 

Test Setup

 

CPU : Intel I7 3750K Retail @ 4.7GHz

CPU Cooler: Noctua NH-D14

Motherboard : ASRock Z77 OC

RAM : GeIL EVO CORSA 16GB 2400MHz C11

(2GB Exceleram DDR1333 for NASPT compatibility)

Video : Sparkle GeForce GTX 560 Calibre

Power Supply : Cooler Master 850W

HDD : OCZ Vertex 4 256GB SSD

Case: Cooler Master ATCS840

 

To test the NAS performances, the ASUSTOR AS5104T NAS was populated with one OCZ Vertex 4 SSD along with one KingFast SLC E-Drive in RAID 0, formatted with a single volume and the NAS was connected directly to the computer, to avoid any limitations by implying additional hardware like a router. The first simple test was performed by loading the test file onto a RAM drive and then it was copied to the NAS, on its shared folder. The speed was recorded with Total Commander:

 

 

The second test was to copy the same file back to the computer; for eliminating any HDD speed limitations, the file was copied back to the RAM drive:

 

 

For performing a more advanced test, the Intel NAS Performance Toolkit was used, for performing 5 different test runs. Here are the results:

 

 

As extras, we have also included ATTO Disk Benchmark and Anvil:

 

ATTO Disk Benchmark

 

 

Anvil

We have performed the same benchmarks but this time with the encryption turned on:

 

Total Commander Copy Performance

 

 

Total Commander Read Performance

 

 

Intel NAS Performance Toolkit

 

ATTO Disk Benchmark

 

Anvil Utilities

 

The AS5104T NAS from ASUSTOR is built upon the proven chassis solution we have found on their previous generations, with an easy readable LCD display and additional buttons for performing the initial configuration without the need of a PC or extra software. The Celeron J1900 quad-core processor at its core delivers very good transfer rates when moving data; this is paired with a 2GB SODIMM module but the memory can be upgraded up to 8GB if needed, when we are running multiple services at once. The trays can be locked easily with a screwdriver but we would have preferred the more classic solution with keys which is usually found with SMB/enterprise NASes. During operation, the back fan remains very silent and the operating speed is adjustable via the software interface. Also, we could remind of the multiple connectivity options in the back of the device, which also includes two eSATA ports (which are not as used as before and people mostly prefer USB 3.0).

 

Speaking of the ADM software, this is quite robust and we haven’t encountered issues while operating or installing software; all modules can be installed in a snap after logging with our ASUSTOR account and from here we can also adjust the Portal area, which dictates the GUI which we are finding when driving the NAS via the HDMI port. Modules can be installed from 3rd party vendors which cover social networking, web hosting services, ticketing system, project management, office productivity, cloud mirror backups, databases and many, many more. ASUSTOR went ahead with the modules it seems and now we have available PPSSPP emulator for it but also the highly-used Popcorn Time torrent-streaming application for our favorite movies and TV shows.

 

Speaking of the HDMI interface, ASUSTOR leaves us to operate the unit without the need of using any other hardware (well, besides an IR remote or mouse/keyboard combo and a Full-HD TV). If we are not in the right mood to play a game via the PSP emulator, we can always use KODI for playback of our local multimedia content; to raise the bar, we can launch Popcorn Time and look at the latest TV shows, movies, including subtitles or browse the web via Chrome browser.

 

ASUSTOR AS5104T is in the same price range as offerings from QNAP with the same processor, at 530 Euros.

 

ASUSTOR AS5104T 4-bay NAS is Recommended For:

 

 

We would like to thank again to ASUSTOR for making this review possible!