At first we would like to thank ASUSTOR for offering us a sample of their AS6404T 4-bay 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.”

 

Apollo Lake Processor - Maximized Computing Power

 

The all-new AS6404T is equipped with the Intel Celeron (Apollo Lake) sixth generation 14nm process built quad-core processor. It features overclocking to 2.3GHz and overall performance that is enhanced by 30% when compared with previous generations, satisfying the needs for 24/7 access in small business environments.

 

Enhanced GPU - Increased Multimedia Processing Power

 

The AS6404T features a built-in Intel HD graphics engine, supporting HEVC and VP9 hardware transcoding that significantly enhances multimedia and image processing performance by 30%. This provides an unparalleled fluid usage experience for professionals and prosumers alike.

 

Fluid 4K Performance

 

The AS6404T comes built-in with 8GB of dual-channel DDR3L SO-DIMM memory, allowing for remarkably fluid 4K playback. Furthermore, support for mixed capacity memory expansion, enhances configuration flexibility.

 

USB Type-C Ports Allow you to Connect to a New Generation of Devices

 

In addition to the existing USB 3.0 Type-A ports, the AS63/64 series devices have added two-way Type-C ports that allow your NAS to easily connect to a new generation of devices, quickly completing transfers of large multimedia files.

 

HDMI 2.0 Combined with 4K/UHD Output Provides Crystal Clear Quality Displayed Perfectly

 

The AS63/64 series supports next generation HDMI 2.0 specifications, featuring up to 60/50P 4K resolution video which provides twice the fluidity of 4K 30P. Combined with built-in 2GB/8GB dual channel memory, this allows for the playback of 4K/UHD with unparalleled smoothness. No matter if it’s your treasured collection of Blu-ray quality movies or videos that you have recorded with professional quality cameras, ASUSTOR NAS can perfectly display all of it in crystal clear quality.

 

WOW (Wake on WAN) - Always on Standby

 

Want to access the data on your NAS at any time, but worried that leaving it powered on for a long period of time will result in costly power bills, wear and tear on your hard disks and NAS or that you will become the target of hackers? ASUSTOR has provided the AS63/64 series devices with two types of unique network wake (WOL/WOW) functions easing all of the doubts mentioned above! WOL (Wake on LAN) allows you to wake the NAS from sleep mode or when its powered off as long as you are in the same network. WOW (Wake on WAN) allows you to enable all NAS services via the Internet, providing added flexibility for powering on/off the NAS and data access. These two types of network wake functions allow you to save power, extend the life of your NAS and hard disks, and lower your chances of being randomly hacked, ensuring data security.

 

Data Protection Starts with Storage

 

ASUSTOR understands that your data is priceless, therefore ASUSTOR NAS provides different RAID Volume options, giving your data various levels of protection from the moment it is first stored on the NAS. We recommend you plan your storage protection based on your NAS model and number of hard disks. Data protection has never been so simple.

 

Data Protection Starts with Storage

Apollo Lake Processor - Green Energy Efficiency

 

All ASUSTOR NAS products are designed and developed around ecologically friendly concepts. Not only do ASUSTOR NAS devices consume far less power than the average computer or server, but ASUSTOR’s power saving and management functions allows users to plan out a whole week’s power control schedule. Power scheduling can allow the NAS to power on, power off, sleep or perform other tasks at specified times of the day. This function can help to save a considerable amount of power while also prolonging the life of hard disks. Additionally, the new advanced WOW (Wake-On-WAN) function allows users to wake their NAS and access their files at any time.

 

Comprehensive Backup Solutions

 

The AS63 /64 provides over 12 different backup options and is connected to a variety of public cloud storage services including Amazon S3, ASUSWebStorage, Dropbox, Google Drive, OneDrive, Box.net, HiDrive, Ralus, WonderBox, xCloud and CrashPlan. You can also use FTP Explorer, USB external hard drive enclosures, external hard drives and local backup to ensure proper backup for your data. No matter if you are using Windows, Mac or Linux, ASUSTOR provides the proper tools for your backup needs.

 

MyArchive cold backup technology turns NAS hard disks into removable storage archives. Directly insert a MyArchive hard disk into the NAS to easily access, backup and share terabytes of content.

 

Comprehensive Backup Solutions - Exclusive MyArchive Cold Backup Technology

 

MyArchive cold backup technology turns NAS hard disks into removable storage archives. Directly insert a MyArchive hard disk into the NAS to easily access, backup and share terabytes of content.

 

Integrates a Variety of Enterprise Applications

 

ASUSTOR’s snapshot technology provides almost instantaneous creation of snapshots. It saves a significant amount of time and storage capacity when compared with traditional LUN backups. Should files become damaged or corrupted, the simple and intuitive interface allows administrators to quickly restore data, completing disaster recovery in the fastest time possible and providing uninterrupted service.

 

Virtual Machine Applications

 

Turning your NAS into a computer with 24/7 availability and tremendous energy efficiency is no longer just a dream. You will be able to use VirtualBox to install different types of operating systems to your NAS, creating virtual machines. After creating a virtual machine, your NAS can become your company’s backup computer, allowing IT staff maximize resources and achieve optimal effectiveness.

 

Multi-Layered Protection from the Outside in

 

ASUSTOR NAS ensures data security by creating an in-depth data protection plan that protects your data from the outside in. Utilization of a multi-layered deployment scheme allows for the achievement of active network, system and data protection.

 

App Central

 

Unleash the unlimited potential of ASUSTOR NAS. The applications that come pre-installed with each ASUSTOR NAS device are just the beginning. At your convenience, you can browse through and download any applications that pique your interest from App Central. Whether your interests lie in business, website construction or even digital home entertainment, App Central has got you covered. With over 200 unique Apps, App Central provides you with the boundless variety of applications that you require to satisfy your digital lifestyle needs. Explore the unlimited potential of ASUSTOR NAS devices while creating a personalized NAS device for yourself.

 

Comprehensive Surveillance System

 

The powerful ASUSTOR NAS provides optimal reliability for home and SMB users looking to set up a surveillance system. 4 free camera channels are offered, making it an extremely cost-effective surveillance solution for users with smaller demands. For users with larger demands, the number of camera channels can be expanded up to 36 via purchasable camera licenses. After installing Surveillance Center and its corresponding mobile app AiSecure, users will also be able to stream live surveillance feeds to their smartphones while on the go, keeping an eye on their most valued assets from anywhere.

Created for the Digital Home

 

ASUSTOR NAS allows you to enjoy thrilling digital entertainment at any time. Via the built-in HDMI port and various multimedia Apps the NAS can be connected directly to ultra high resolution 4K TVs and players. Enjoy multimedia with family and friends or use the UPnP multimedia server to stream your favorite media to compatible computers and mobile devices.

 

Mobile Apps

 

ASUSTOR’s exclusive Cloud Connect technology allows you to connect to your NAS from anywhere with your Mobile device in order to access and share your files. ASUSTOR mobile apps provide pass code lock functions in order to protect your privacy and data. You can also make use of HTTPS connections for even more added security.

 

First-Class Product Warranty

 

All ASUSTOR NAS products come with a 3-year warranty. ASUSTOR continues to make customer service a priority in providing the highest standard of after-sales service and technical support.

 

 

We have finally got one of the latest ASUSTOR NASes in our test lab, which does feature an updated hardware configuration; we are talking about the Intel Celeron J3455 Quad-Core 1.5GHz (burst up to 2.3GHz) processor, 8GB of DDR3L RAM and supports up to 40TB capacity when 10TB drives are installed in each of the four available bays! The NAS does also come with quite a bit of interfaces for connecting additional devices, but we will get into that later.

 

The NAS is shipped inside a medium-sized cardboard box, which does sport a familiar design; on one of the box sides, we will get to see how the server does look like from two different angles, but also take a look at platform support along with small icons that represent some of the product functions:

 

 

 

Moving on, we can spot a table featuring the product hardware specifications, box contents, but also a list with the available mobile application for controlling the NAS or accessing its resources:

 

 

 

The multiple tasks AS6404T NAS can perform are translated in many languages:

 

 

 

ASUSTOR does afterwards present its Data Master GUI, along with the Surveillance Center application:

 

 

 

The box is also provided with a black plastic handle, for easy manipulation:

 

 

 

After lifting the top cover, we will be welcomed by a “Thank You!” message, along with some extra web resources:

 

 

 

The NAS along with its bundle are well protected inside by quite a lot of foam material:

 

 

 

 

The product bundle is offered in a separate, plain cardboard enclosure:

 

 

 

Here we will find, the power adapter, the power lead, two LAN cables, screws for securing both 2.5’’ and 3.5’’ drives, a power lead bracket, the installation disk but also a multi-language leaflet:

 

 

 

The leaflet instructs us on which installation steps we should take first in order to have the NAS in working order ASAP:

 

 

The power brick does also come with a LED, which does signal normal operation:

 

 

On its back, we will be able to spot a sticker that shows it has been manufactured by Delta Electronics and does supply on the output 12V at 7.5A:

 

 

Besides the foam material we have previously mentioned, the NAS is also wrapped inside a transparent plastic bag:

 

 

AS6404T does sport a design we have been accustomed with for years now, which has proven as being quite sturdy and reliable; the top metallic cover does come a dark grey paint, while the frontal area of the unit is made from black plastic:

 

 

The frontal area of each tray does come with the Status/Fault/Drive activity LEDs, but also ventilation grills and locks (locks are usually seen with more business-oriented NASes too):

 

 

 

The top left corner does house a chromed ASUSTOR logo, along with a Power and a System status LED; the Power button accompanies the Power LED:

 

 

 

Further down, we can spot individual LAN activity LEDs for each interface, but also an USB 3.0 port with One Touch Copy functionality:

 

 

 

Right on top of the drive trays, we do have an LCD screen, with control buttons for browsing through the menus, but also for performing the initial setup procedure:

 

 

 

On the left side of the unit, we do have a ventilation grill, which is meant to offer an optimal airflow for the internal motherboard:

 

 

 

The right side is pretty much the same, minus the ventilation grill:

 

 

 

In the back, we will be able to spot a 120mm fan that is placed in the drive bay area, but also plenty of extra interfaces:

 

 

 

The top right corner comes with an USB 3.0 type C port:

 

 

 

The two USB 3.0 type A ports are accompanied by a HDMI 2.0 interface:

 

 

 

Lastly, we’ve got two Gigabit LAN interfaces, S/PDIF, a Reset button, one DC-IN but also a Kensington lock port:

 

 

 

The bottom area of the unit does feature four large, circular rubber feet but also a sticker with the product serial number and MAC addresses for both LAN ports:

 

 

 

The trays can be easily opened by clicking on the release button:

 

 

 

A quick look inside the drive cage will reveal the daughter-board, which does come with the SATA Power/Data ports:

 

 

 

The trays are metallic at their core and quite sturdy:

 

 

 

 

The ventilation grill can be easily spotted here:

 

 

 

The notification/activity LEDs for each bay are actually on the daughterboard, but are transported to the front via Plexiglas channels:

 

 

 

On the bottom tray area, we can clearly see the mounting holes for the 2.5’’ drives:

 

 

 

After removing the top cover of the NAS, we will reveal the internal motherboard, cooling system but also the interface cables, which link the motherboard to the frontal display/buttons:

 

 

 

Between the drive cage and the 120mm cooling fan there is a respectable distance for maintenance/cleaning purposes:

 

 

 

A protective plastic layer covers the whole motherboard PCB, but there are cutouts in the RAM slots areas:

 

 

 

For this model, both SODIMM DDR3L slots are populated:

 

 

 

 

The 4GB RAM modules were manufactured by DSL and their speed rating is 1866MHz:

 

 

 

For an easier NAS identification on the LAN after the hardware setup part has been completed, we are instructed to go ahead and download the ACC utility (ASUSTOR Control Center):

 

 

 

The rest of the wizard steps will continue in a browser window:

 

 

 

Even before starting the initialization procedure, the wizard will check for a new software version and prompt for its installation:

 

 

 

The firmware upgrade process will be shown with a progress bar:

 

 

 

We will then continue with the next setup steps:

 

 

 

First, we will be prompted to set a server name inside the LAN, along with an administrator password:

 

 

 

 

Date & Time settings can be adjusted at the next step:

 

 

 

Moving on, we can enable LAG, but also configure the LAN options manually:

 

 

 

The disk configuration comes next inside the setup procedure:

 

 

 

 

After all settings have been selected, they will be applied accordingly:

 

 

 

The NAS must be registered in order to get access to the Application Store:

 

 

 

 

 

After we have logged in to the ADM interface, we will check again the disk configuration and shared folders, in order to conduct properly the performance tests:

 

 

 

 

The ADM 2.7.3.RI21 OS GUI has not changed much since our last review, but has proven itself as fully stable, even with a large number of application modules installed. The arrangement of the application icons is similar to the one we do find with mobile operating systems, with additional actions being available to be selected from the top bar:

 

 

 

We will begin with Access Control, a section that allows the administrators to add/remove users/groups, domain users/groups, but also work with the shared folders and define application privileges:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Activity Monitor does allow us to check the usage of the system resources, by accessing the multiple available tabs:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After registering our NAS with ASUSTOR, we can access App Central, for installing, updating or removing application modules. There are tons of modules available here that are meant to enhance the NAS functionality:

 

 

 

When clicking on a specific application, we will get a small description, screenshots, its size and much more:

 

 

 

ASUSTOR does have ready for us a help section, which can be consulted in order to learn how to work with the main application modules:

 

 

 

Backup & Restore is important when handling sensitive data, so it is better to have the information stored on the NAS synchronized to other locations too (including the cloud). Here is also the area where we can configure the One Touch Backup function:

 

 

 

 

 

 

If we do have external devices connected to the NAS, such as storage drives, printers, Wi-Fi dongles, UPS systems, Bluetooth dongles or optical drives, there is a special menu dedicated for it:

 

 

 

Moving on, we do have the File Explorer, which allows us to work with the internal file system, but also external drives, virtual devices (mounted ISOs), CIFS folders and more; the file manager does also permit working with the file system of the computer we are currently browsing from, but requires JAVA libraries to be installed:

 

 

 

 

The Services section is next, which allows the user to enable/disable various services we need to use on our network:

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Settings area is more complex, allowing the user to configure most of the ADM settings; first, we do have the General tab, where we can configure the access to the browser GUI:

 

 

 

The Network configuration can be set in detail, depending on our environment:

 

 

 

VPN configuration comes next:

 

 

 

The Regional options area does also include Language-related configuration options:

 

 

 

From the Hardware menu, we can adjust the LED and Buzzer options, work with Energy consumption related options, control the fan speeds but also work with the LCD display settings:

 

 

 

Notifications can be set up from the next tab:

 

 

 

ADM Defender is basically the NAS firewall, which can be configured with our preferences:

 

 

 

The system Certificates can be also configured:

 

 

 

ADM Update menu does allow the user to perform automatic updates or install the latest firmware version manually, in which case we need to provide the file:

 

 

 

The Network Recycle Bin is very useful for keeping a temporary copy of the deleted files on the network (which can be sometimes deleted by mistake):

 

 

 

A power profile can be also configured from the Energy Saver menu:

 

 

 

EZ Connect does allow configuration for accessing our server remotely:

 

 

 

 

Besides the Reset button on the back of the server, we can also perform the reset from the software interface:

 

 

 

Registration options can be accessed via the last tab:

 

 

 

Storage Manager is the place to go for accessing our drive configuration or setting up the NAS after removing/replacing drives:

 

 

 

From the System Information menu, we are able to check more in-depth information about the live system, network connection status, internal system logs, logged users, but also work with the Dr. ASUSTOR wizard:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One of the application modules we can install is Avast Antivirus, which requires a free registration on their website in order to receive a serial number:

 

 

 

ASUSTOR Portal is basically the interface we are seeing when we do have the NAS connected to a TV/monitor on HDMI 2.0; the service does have a small application module of its own, which allows further configuration:

 

 

 

DataSync for Google Drive is allowing the user to synchronize a specific Google account to the server:

 

 

 

The ASUSTOR Download Center is an easy to use download manager for torrents, which does also include a search function:

 

 

 

iTunes Server options can be also configured from the dedicated app module:

 

 

 

ASUSTOR’s LooksGood is a response of its own to the PLEX-like media-center application; it will index the suitable multimedia content, display information and also allow immediate playback:

 

 

 

 

 

LooksGood can also transcode the content in order to have it ready for different device types:

 

 

 

 

When KODI is installed, it will display a confirmation dialog inside ADM:

 

 

 

Photo Gallery is an easy option for organizing our photo collection, generating slideshows and so on:

 

 

 

 

A Mail Server can be also set up on the AS6404 NAS:

 

 

 

SoundsGood is the ASUSTOR application module for audio content:

 

 

 

 

Takeasy is a really easy to use application module, which allows saving online videos on our server, at the selected resolution:

 

 

 

 

An UPnP Media Server module is also available for us to install and use:

 

 

 

If we do have IP cameras available, we can always use Surveillance Center for monitoring and recording purposes:

 

 

 

EtherWake is an application module that allows us to send Wake-On-LAN packets on the LAN; if we do choose to wake up stations from outside our network, some port forwarding settings are involved:

 

 

 

Feng Office, the commercial Open-Source web based solution for productivity is also available to be installed on this ASUSTOR NAS:

 

 

 

 

 

If LooksGood is not our cup of tea, we can always go for another media-center application module such as Emby:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hi-Res Player is another alternative to the SoundsGood application:

 

 

 

 

Content management systems such as Joomla are also available for the administrator to install on the NAS:

 

 

 

 

PrestaShop is another CMS available for us to use right away:

 

 

 

 

WordPress is also handy for us to install and configure:

 

 

 

 

Of course, the well-known PLEX application is not missing from the application list:

 

 

 

 

Transmission is another option for the user to download torrents:

 

 

 

For installing and running VMs, ASUSTOR has gone with VirtualBox that is a much better solution than the one we have seen with other NAS providers:

 

 

 

 

The configuration options are the same as we have seen with its desktop counterpart:

 

 

 

 

We can link to the running VM via Remote Desktop Connection:

 

 

 

 

As mentioned before, by using the ASUSTOR proprietary MyArchive feature, the drives formatted this way (starting from the second bay of the NAS) can be formatted EXT4, NTFS or HFS+, EXT4 encryption being currently possible and can be treated as removable storage anytime when needed, for moving from NAS to NAS or to a PC (on SATA or USB enclosure). Thanks to the plug-and-play feature of MyArchive mode, it is easy to use with the Surveillance Center application; video can be recorded to a MyArchive volume, when it fills up it can be ejected for replacement or storage and if we need to view again some old footage we can always mount the drive back in any free bay and playback the content.

 

The drives which we would like to become MyArchive volumes can be set up via Volume Setup Wizard:

 

 

 

Only one drive can be chosen at a time for creation:

 

 

 

EXT4 format also supports encryption, the other partition formats will be soon available for encryption soon:

 

 

 

 

A summary screen will be displayed before the settings are performed:

 

 

 

After the volumes are created, they will show up with a different pictogram in Storage Manager and we can also eject them at will:

 

 

 

Each MyArchive volume is seen as a separate shared folder, for easy management:

 

 

 

ASUSTOR is also puts the user some mobile applications for easy management and for accessing the resources; one of it is AiMaster, which allows us to access the NAS configuration and more:

 

 

 

 

 

After we have logged in to the server, the usual icons will appear on the desktop:

 

 

 

Several other links to ASUSTOR applications will appear on the next page:

 

 

 

From the top right corner menu, we can access even more options:

 

 

 

As on the ADM desktop, we can access some of the familiar options:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One Touch Backup tasks can be also executed from AiMaster:

 

 

 

Next, we will get to see the Backup/Restore section:

 

 

 

We can even enable/disable different services:

 

 

 

The Applications can be enabled/disabled/installed, the same way as on the fully-fledged ADM:

 

 

 

 

Next, we can check out the Users/Groups/App Privileges section:

 

 

 

AiData is a separate application, which allows us to access and browse the file system on the NAS:

 

 

 

 

AiFoto is the mobile version of the photo browsing application:

 

 

 

We can also use albums, upload photos and so on:

 

 

 

 

AiVideos for working with video content is also available as a separate application:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Test Setup

 

CPU : Intel I5 4690K Retail

CPU Cooler: Noctua NH-D14

Motherboard : BIOSTAR GAMING Z97X

RAM : GeIL EVO CORSA 16GB 2400MHz C11

(2GB Exceleram DDR1333 for NASPT compatibility)

Video : HIS 280X

Power Supply : Cooler Master 850W

SSD : OCZ Vertex 4 256GB

Case: Cooler Master ATCS840

 

To test the NAS performances, the AS6404T 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 an encrypted folder:

 

Total Commander Copy Performance

 

 

Total Commander Read Performance

 

 

Intel NAS Performance Toolkit

 

ATTO Disk Benchmark

 

Anvil Utilities

 

With ADM 3.0 close to launch, we thought that we should also include a small presentation of the new OS version and some of its improvements; it all starts with a revamped login screen, which looks considerably cooler than before:

 

 

 

The new desktop is better organized, and we can also spot some new design elements:

 

 

 

The introduction of widgets is very welcome and we can always adjust their position to match our preferences:

 

 

 

The interfaces of the windows have been also reworked in order to have a cleaner, easy to read style:

 

 

 

Thanks to both WOL and WOW features, we can turn on the NAS from the web or from the local network; keeping the server in a completely off state instead of standby saves power and many people will come to appreciate this feature in the near future:

 

 

 

Before working with this feature, we will have to choose the correct gateway via the Network menu:

 

 

 

EZ-Connect configuration is easy to setup afterwards (it is mostly automatic):

 

 

 

After EZ-Connect has been setup successfully, we will get the confirmation from the respective menu:

 

 

 

The next step would be to install ASUSTOR EZ Connect Windows application:

 

 

 

The application does come with an easy to use interface:

 

 

 

In order to connect it to our NAS, we need to supply the Cloud ID:

 

 

 

The user and password credentials must be supplied next:

 

 

 

In order to test the Power-on feature, we have turned the NAS off, and AEC does confirm that the resources are unreachable at the moment; however, we do have a Power button inside the interface, which will make use of the WOL feature (and WOW, when applicable):

 

 

 

It will take some time for the system to be ready again:

 

 

 

Finally, the connection will be ready for us to use it again:

 

 

 

 

The Sign-In Page Style menu has been enhanced, and now we can add a customized image, but also application shortcuts to the login page:

 

 

 

 

The applications ready for launch will show in the top right corner:

 

 

 

By clicking on the Settings option from the top bar area, we can access more options:

 

 

 

Personal – now allows configuration of the icon placement on the desktop

 

 

 

 

 

Volume Usage

 

 

 

The Theme area does allow us to customize the window appearance, but also the background display style, text color and background wallpaper:

 

 

 

By right-clicking on the desktop, we will get more options:

 

 

 

The application icons can be sorted in different ways; we can also save the current icon placement for later restore:

 

 

 

 

Files can be brought to the desktop area with ease, for easy access:

 

 

 

As on mobile operating systems, we do have the ability to create folders:

 

 

 

 

The files can be opened directly, in the File Explorer, can be removed or also renamed:

 

 

 

We can also open photo files right away and set one of them as a wallpaper, if desired:

 

 

 

 

Without opening a separate application, File Explore now allows direct playback of audio files, via a small Music Player interface:

 

 

 

The Activity Monitor is also better organized now:

 

 

 

 

 

External Devices menu has been reworked as well:

 

 

 

Storage Manager is now more pleasing to the eye and offers a more intuitive interface:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The next step was to reset the server to its factory defaults and see how the wizard has been improved:

 

 

 

First, we will pass through the initialization steps:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A new step is added to the wizard process, which prompts for the environment the AS6404T NAS will be used in; depending on our choice, we have a selection of applications which can be pre-installed:

 

 

 

 

The rest of the setup will continue as before:

 

 

 

After the procedure has been completed, we will be welcomed by a new window that tells us about some of the ADM highlights:

 

 

 

With the AS6404T 4-bay NAS from ASUSTOR we are seeing an update to the Intel Celeron Apollo Lake J3455 Quad-Core 1.5GHz processor, which is paired with no less than 8GB of DDR3L RAM in order to handle plenty of multimedia content types, but for also being able to use even more application modules at the same time. We do also see an USB 3.0 Type C port in the back for connecting modern storage devices, support up to 10TB drives (for a total of 40TB in a single NAS) and dual LAN that can be used for both Link Aggregation and Failover. The LCD panel is easy to operate via the hardware buttons, we get an IR receiver so the NAS can be operated via a Media Center remote, but also audio output via S/PDIF or HDMI 2.0 output for enjoying 4K @ 60Hz.

 

ASUSTOR is not only about the hardware on the AS6404T, but also software; while the product now operates on ADM 2.7, the launch of ADM 3.0 is imminent in the middle of August; the GUI is easy to use, intuitive and features a ton of application modules we can work with. The installation of these is pretty straight forward and if prerequisites are needed, they will be installed automatically in order to save time. Also, we get plenty of apps to work with in the ASUSTOR Portal HDMI environment, that allows you to use the NAS without a PC as a middle-man. Here we can access Popcorn Time for watching our favorite movies/TV shows with subtitles, access the VMs even with video acceleration support thanks to VirtualBox, do office work with the help of LibreOffice, play our favorite game collection thanks to the included emulators and much….much more. The CPU does support hardware HEVC 4K 8-bit video decoding and also VP9 in order to enjoy the latest content in high resolution.

 

On a single LAN link, we can see the AS6404T maxing out the interface when transferring large files and only a small performance drop when using encrypted folders, thanks to the supported hardware encryption inside the Apollo Lake processor.

 

With the introduction of the WOW (Wake on WAN) in ADM 3.0, we can turn on the NAS from a large distance when we do need resources off it and keep it powered down the rest of the time, in order to save power. MyArchive is also another unique feature from ASUSTOR, which transforms NAS HDDs into removable storage archives for easy access and now encryption is also supported for these.

 

In case we need to monitor our environment with IP Cameras, we have the Surveillance Station application to our disposal, with a 4-camera free license, being able to support up to 36 cameras.

 

The ASUSTOR AS6404T NAS, as the model we have reviewed today can be found online for about 668 Euros, which is a good price considering the tons of features we are getting.

 

ASUSTOR AS6404T 4-bay NAS is Recommended for:

 

 

 

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