A network attached storage device or NAS box is a wonderful product I feel. I've pretty much abandoned using external hard drives for my backups and use only NAS boxes, they're faster and they much more useful and I can access them while I'm away, but I can also allow other people on my network to use it as well. NAS boxes are the new external backup devices really, there was a time when an external hard drive was what everyone used, those have their place, but just not for backups anymore. At least that's how I feel about it anyway...

Today for review I've got a rather large NAS box, the TS-419P from QNAP that houses four hard drives to give you a ton of storage. The TS-419P not only offers a lot of storage but tons of other features as well, so read on to learn all about it...

Product Name: QNAP TS-419P Turbo NAS

Author: Kristofer Brozio

Sponsor: QNAP

Tech Specs,Features or the Basic Info:

QNAP TS-419P Turbo NAS

QNAP TS-419P Turbo NAS is the 4-bay, 2.5-inch and 3.5-inch SATA HDD network-attached storage server with iSCSI applications dedicated to SMB, SOHO and home users. As a storage centre for mass data backup, management and sharing, the TS-419P Turbo NAS supports excellent hardware design, outstanding performance, high system reliability, and numerous powerful software applications.

Excellent industrial design and hardware specifications

The low-powered TS-419P Turbo NAS adopts Marvell 1.2 GHz CPU and 512MB DDRII RAM and is able to maintain superior performance in an intensive data access environment. The NAS supports four hot-swappable SATA hard drives, two Gigabit LAN ports for multi-IP settings, failover, and load-balancing, four USB ports and two eSATA ports for external storage backup, and is also equipped with an LCD panel for convenient system status checking.

Superior performance and abundant server applications

The TS-419P Turbo NAS supports cross-platform services across Windows, Mac, Linux, and UNIX. Enhanced industry-leading features are also provided, e.g. EXT3 and EXT4 file systems, built-in iSCSI target service (max 8 iSCSI targets), virtual disk drive (VDD) by built-in iSCSI initiator for storage expansion, RAID 0/ 1/ 5/ 6/ 5+spare, single and JBOD disk configurations, online RAID capacity expansion, online RAID level migration, RAID recovery, policy-based IP blocking, instant SMS alert notification, schedule power on/ off, and 4 IP cameras (optional purchase) for network surveillance.

Maximize the enjoyment of your home multimedia centre

The built-in UPnP/ DLNA media server (with TwonkyMedia enabled) of the Turbo NAS supports a wide range of DLNA media players such as Sony PS3 and Microsoft Xbox 360 gaming consoles and works well with NFS-supported High-Definition (HD) digital media players for HD video streaming. By installing the DLNA/ UPnP application on your iPhone or iPod touch, you can access the Turbo NAS on the local network and play the multimedia contents, e.g. videos, music, and photos on the server. In addition, the high-speed PC-less Download Station with the unique QGet utility enables you to manage the BT/ FTP/ HTTP download tasks remotely over the local network or the Internet.

Advanced RAID Management with Hot-swap Design

The NAS offers advanced RAID 0, 1, 5, 6, 5 + Spare, Single, and JBOD disk configurations. It also supports hot-swap design that a failed drive can be replaced by hot swapping without turning off the server. Besides, the best-in-class RAID on the NAS brings users a higher level of data security by allowing one more hard drive failure than other NAS of the same level.

Online RAID Capacity Expansion

The storage capacity of a RAID configuration can be expanded by replacing the hard drives with larger ones. All the data will be kept and seamlessly moved to the newly installed hard drives. There is no need to turn off the server during the process.

Online RAID Level Migration

You can upgrade the disk configuration to higher RAID level with the data retained. There is no need to turn off the server during the process.

Virtual Disk Drive (VDD) adds flexibility to storage expansion along with ease of management

The unique "Virtual Disk Drive" adds flexibility to expand the capacity of NAS. By using the built-in iSCSI initiator, the NAS can connect to other iSCSI targets on the network and turn them into virtual disks, which become multiple single volumes on the NAS. Up to 8 virtual disks can be stacked. The NAS serves as the storage stack chaining master. The user only needs to connect to this single entry (QNAP NAS) and is able to reach and use all the iSCSI target storages on the network.

Built-in iSCSI Target Service

The TS-419P can act as a NAS and iSCSI target server at the same time. It provides a cost-efficient iSCSI solution to set up an IP-SAN. You can make use of the built-in iSCSI target service to add up to 8 iSCSI devices. Different iSCSI Target LUNs (Logical Unit Number) can be defined as storage expansion or backup destination of the existing application servers, such as database servers and mail servers.

Furthermore, the "Virtual Space Allocation" (Thin Provisioning) feature is provided which allows you to flexibly allocate the capacity of iSCSI LUN (Logical Unit Number). When the physical storage capacity of the volume is going to be full, you can easily expand the storage capacity by "Online RAID Capacity Expansion", or adjust/ remove the current unused volume space according to the demands.

S.M.A.R.T & Advanced HDD Health Scanning (HHS)

The NAS supports Hard Disk Drive S.M.A.R.T (Self-Monitoring Analysis and Reporting Technology) for monitoring the hard drive status. Moreover, the NAS is embedded with HHS Technology which supports disk checking and bad blocks scanning.

UPS Support

The NAS supports the majority of USB UPS devices (usbhid-ups supported) which enables the users to store the data in time and avoid critical data loss when power outage occurs during data transfer.

Complete Backup Solution

QNAP Backup Software - NetBak Replicator

The backup software, NetBak Replicator, is provided for the NAS users to perform real-time synchronization or schedule backup from multiple PCs to the NAS.

3rd Party Backup Software Ready

The NAS works well with other backup software, e.g. Acronis True Image, CA BrightStor ARCserve Backup, EMC Retrospect, Symantec Backup Exec, and LaCie Silverkeeper.

Encrypted Remote Replication

The data on the NAS can be backed up to or from another Turbo NAS over the network securely.

One Touch USB Auto Copy

The one touch button can be configured to trigger instant data backup from the external USB device to the NAS or the other way round (applies to the USB device connected to the front USB port of the NAS only).

Cross-platform Data Sharing and Storage Centre

Sharing Files across Windows, Mac, Linux, and UNIX

The NAS is designed for users to share the files across Windows, Mac, Linux, and UNIX environment.

Support Windows AD

The Windows AD feature enables server manager to import user accounts from AD domain to NAS to reduce the time and effort for account setup, and users can use the same set of login name and password.

Web File Manager

The NAS provides Web File Manager for you to easily download, upload, and manage the files on the server by web browser.

Ease of User and Share Folder Management

The NAS supports batch creation of users and share folders to save the time and effort of the server manager in account and folder creation. For the security of Windows network environment, server managers can hide or show network share folders.

Power Management

Hard Disk Standby

You can configure the hard disks to enter standby mode if there is no disk access within the specified period.

Schedule Power on/ off

The flexible schedule power on/off feature is now provided on the NAS for IT administrators to manage the NAS server's up time according to the working hours. You can set the time for automatic system power on, power off, or restart on any days of the week.

Secure data storage, access, and sharing

* Comprehensive event logs: Detailed logs of file-level data access to the NAS via samba, FTP, AFP, HTTP, HTTPS, Telnet, and SSH, and networking services accessed by online users are all recorded.

* SSL security (HTTPS): The NAS can be accessed and configured by web browser securely.

* Remote login to the NAS by SSH (secure shell) or Telnet connection is supported.

* Secure FTP: The data can be transmitted with SSL/TLS (explicit) encryption. Passive FTP port range setup is also supported.

* Write-only access right on FTP server: The third party partners are allowed to upload data to the NAS but not able to read or edit the data on FTP server.

Policy-based Automatic IP Blocking

To prevent the NAS from malicious attacks, the server manager can create an IP filter policy to allow, deny, or auto-block the IP address or network domain which attempts to connect to the NAS via SSH/ Telnet/ HTTP(S)/ FTP/ samba/ AFP.

Powerful All-in-one Server Features

File Server

You can create the user ID and password, and define the access right and storage quota of each user on the NAS.

FTP Server

You can establish your own FTP server using the NAS and share the files conveniently with others.

Backup Server

The automatic backup software, NetBak Replicator, is provided for you to perform real-time synchronization or schedule backup from multiple PCs to the NAS.

Remote Replication

The data on the NAS can be backed up to or from another Turbo NAS or Rsync server over the network.

Web Server

The NAS supports Joomla!, MySQL, SQLite and editable php.ini.

MySQL Server

The NAS can be flexibly applied in various deployments such as a database server of another web server in remote site or as an additional backup database server.

Printer Server

The NAS supports network printer sharing function (max 3 USB printers).

UPnP Media Server (with built-in TwonkyMedia Server)

The NAS is a perfect media storage centre and it works well with DLNA (Digital Living Network Alliance) compliant media players. You can play the photos and videos on TV, or listen to your favourite music and Internet radio on your Hi-Fi System.

Multimedia Station

You can share you photos, video, or music over the network by the Multimedia Station of the NAS.

Download Station

The NAS supports PC-less BitTorrent, FTP, and HTTP download. TCP/ UDP, encrypted BT download function, and DHT (Distributed Hash Tables) are also supported.

iTunes Server

You can stream the mp3 music on the NAS to the computers on the home network and listen to the music by iTunes over wired or wireless network connection.

Surveillance Station

The Surveillance Station enables you to configure multiple IP-based security cameras simultaneously for real-time monitoring, recording, and playback.

The most comprehensive support for numerous brands of IP cameras

The Surveillance Station of QNAP NAS supports all the leading network camera brands such as AXIS, D-Link, IPUX, LevelOne, Linksys, Panasonic and Vivotek etc. By using particular models, users can use two-way video and audio monitoring and recording, and smart PTZ control to control the monitoring direction via the web interface. Each of the supported cameras has been put through stringent tests with the NAS series in QNAP's laboratory to guarantee 100% compatibility and reliability with all these camera brands.

Live audio and video monitoring, recording and playback over the Internet

* High quality video recording in MPEG-4 and Motion JPEG format

* Real-time monitoring and recording for up to 30 fps per channel

* Live 2-way audio supported for monitoring and voice broadcasting

* Easy installation and management from remote location

Powerful System Management Tools

Smart Fan

The fan rotation speed is automatically adjusted according to the server's temperature. You can also define the system temperatures to trigger high speed or low speed rotation of the fan. By manually setting the fan rotation speed, the fan will rotate at the defined speed continuously.

Instant SMS/ Email Alert

You can configure the SMTP server and SMSC server settings on the NAS in order to receive instant system warning or error messages by email or SMS.

SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol)

Enable SNMP service on the NAS to collect the information, warning or error of the NAS and send to max 3 SNMP servers for centralized management and real-time monitoring of your NAS.

SSL Secure Certificate

The administrator can upload a secure certificate and an RSA private key in X.509PEM format issued by a trusted provider in order to allow the users to access the NAS by secure SSL login.

Syslog Settings

All the system event logs and connection logs can be saved to a remote syslog server.

Network Recycle Bin

The files deleted from the network shares of the NAS will be moved to a particular recycle bin folder. You can restore your data anytime in case of unintended file deletion.

Comprehensive Event Log System

The logs of connections to the NAS via samba, FTP, AFP, HTTP, HTTPS, Telnet, and SSH, and networking services accessed by online users are all recorded.

Detailed System Information

You can view the system status, e.g., CPU usage, total memory, free memory, packets received, packets sent, error packets, system up time, CPU temperature, system temperature, HDD temperature, and system fan speed.

DDNS Support

You can register a unique domain name from a DDNS service provider and assign it to your NAS. Your users can access the NAS by the domain name instead of the IP address.

Excellent Hardware Expansion

The TS-419P supports 4 USB 2.0 and 2 eSATA ports. You can connect external storage devices to the NAS for data backup or storage capacity expansion.

Software Expansion and Website Management

QPKG Software Package Platform

The QPKG software package platform enables the users to maximize the usage of the NAS by installing additional software packages developed from the users and community worldwide. This can be done by simple "download & install" clicking without going through any complicated process.

Hardware Spec.

CPU: Marvell 6281 1.2GHz

DRAM: 512MB DDRII RAM

Flash Memory: 16MB

HDD: 4 x 3.5" or 2.5” SATA I/II HDD

**NOTE: 1. The system is shipped without HDD.

HDD Tray: 4 x hot-swappable and lockable tray

LAN Port: 2 x Gigabit RJ-45 Ethernet port

LED Indicators: Status, LAN, USB, eSATA, HDD 1, HDD 2, HDD 3, HDD 4

USB: 4 x USB 2.0 port (Front: 1; Back: 3)

--Supports USB printer, disk, pen drive, USB hub, and USB UPS, etc.

eSATA: 2 x eSATA port (Back)

Buttons: Power button, USB one-touch-backup button, reset button

LCD panel: Mono-LCD display with backlight and buttons for configuration

Alarm Buzzer: System warning

Form Factor: Tower

Dimensions: 177(H) x 180(W) x 235(D) mm / 6.97(H) x 7.09(W) x 9.25(D) inch

Weight: Net weight: 3 Kg (6.61 lbs)

Gross weight:: 4.6 Kg (10.14 lbs)

Sound Level (dB):

W/o HDD installed: 33 dB

Stand by: 33.2 dB

In operation: 35.1dB

(Background: 25.5 dB)

Power Consumption (W):

Sleep mode: 11W

In operation: 26W (with 4 x 500GB HDD installed)

Power Supply: Input: 100-240V AC, 50/60Hz, Output: 12V DC, 10A, 120W

Secure Design: K-lock security slot for theft prevention

Fan: 1 x quiet cooling fan (9 cm, 12V DC)

Price: $599.99