| QNAP TS-419P II NAS Network Storage Server |  |
| Reviews - Featured Reviews: Network | |
| Written by Bruce Normann | |
| Tuesday, 01 November 2011 | |
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QNAP TS-419P II NAS Server Review
Manufacturer: QNAP Systems, Inc. Full disclosure: The product used in this review was supplied by QNAP Systems The official name for this type of device is "Network Attached Storage", but in today's environment, I prefer to think of it as "Connected Storage". With the ability to directly access your data via cloud services or with your favorite mobile device, it's increasingly about connectedness more than the ability to store files and transmit them over 1000BASE-T in your home or your workspace. All that and much more is readily available in a Network Attached Storage server from industry stalwart, QNAP. The TS-419P II Turbo NAS uses an upgraded, energy-efficient 2.0 GHz Marvell ARM-based processor with 512 MB of DDR3 system memory to drive this storage server. Dual Gigabit Ethernet network ports allow failover safety and teaming, while four SATA 3Gb/s drive bays offer single disk, JBOD, and RAID 0/1/5/6/10 configurations. Benchmark Reviews recently examined the QNAP TS-659 Pro II Turbo NAS in detail, and now we compare the performance of this smaller, less expensive unit against several other network attached storage servers. The TS-419P II NAS server is the next logical step up from a two-bay device. While it's a larger unit than many other NAS devices, it's not the biggest. It fits into the middle ground where high-tech households and smaller businesses operate. If you need both capacity and redundancy, you need to implement RAID 5 at a minimum, and that means at least three disks. If you want to go to RAID 6 or RAID 10, you need a minimum of four disks, with two spindles completely occupied by providing multiple levels of redundancy for your data. Now you're left with only two drive bays worth of storage capacity, and a four-bay device like the TS-419P II is really the bare minimum for a high availability NAS appliance. 
Three features still dominate the discussion of network storage hardware: data capacity, data security, and data transfer speed, but in the last couple of years there has been a growing emphasis on the software side. The current crop of NAS devices offer a dizzying array of applications to help manage and distribute the data, and provide several new ways of accessing that data. In the past, this level of control and communication has been limited to the corporate world, because you needed an MSCSE to figure them out. Now they're available without having to keep a full IT staff on overhead. QNAP has always aimed for the high end of the NAS server market with performance and features such as dual Gigabit Ethernet with failover, a full range of RAID functionality, and a diverse, feature-rich user interface. Version 3.4 was a major upgrade to the QNAP software suite, and we have explored many of its outstanding features and capabilities in recent reviews. Version 3.5 was released a few weeks ago, and we will do a follow up in the near future, to see what's new there. Benchmark Reviews has tested a wide array of QNAP NAS products, ranging from the QNAP TS-119 NAS single-disk offering made for home users, to the Goliath QNAP TS-809 Pro 8-Bay NAS for the storage needs of large businesses. Most recently we tested the 6-bay TS-659 Pro II and the 2-bay TS-219P+ Turbo-NAS servers. Let's see how this 4-bay device compares to its big brothers and little sisters.
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Comments
The TS-419P II is a well designed software solution with a wealth of functionality. The case is well made and looks great but uses yesterday's processing hardware. Why USB V3.0, Dual CPU and SATA6 are missing is a turn off for me. SATA6 is probably of little value but it's the industry trend with disk drives and may prove useful in the future. Intel hardware is a plus for me.
USB 3.0 and SATA 6Gb/s are all available on the more high-end QNAP servers. I don't know of any Dual CPU units made by anyone, but if you mean dual-CORE, then that's also available on the pricier units. Most of the "Pro" models have the Dual-Core Intel® Atom? (1.80 GHz) in them. The really hardcore models have a Quad Core Intel Xeon E3-1225 at 3.1GHz Processor or a Dual Core Intel® Core? i3-2120 Processor at 3.3 GHz.
The software on this unit looks great and has a lot of functionality and great access ability.
For the average home user with a decent amount of tech knowledge, working within a win7 environment at home but an iPhone/iPad on the road what would be better; windows home server or a product like this? And in your opinion would building a box myself with better parts( processor, memory) bet the better option?
Yes, I meant dual core, I know better. I would be happy with an Intel 2120, but never an Atom anything.
Disk drives sure jumped in price due to unfortunate weather!
Keith,
If the sofware was offered separately, the answer would be easy. I'm in much the same position as you. I don't like the processing capability until the price is more than I want to spend.
I totally agree with you. I will probably break down and pay the higher price for improved processing because the software is impressive!
I just now ordered the TS-659 Pro II. Didn't get everything I wanted but got everything I could afford. I will have a toy to play with tomorrow. I should have purchased the TS-659 Pro+ because it's a much better buy, but common sense failed.
What is your intended use(s)?
- Music/movie streaming
- Backup
- Central storage
- Near future hosting my own website
What's the price difference - about $100, right?
Now, the OTHER thing you get as you spend more mony is WRITE speed. Take a look at QNAPs published write speeds:
Write Performance (MB/s) - Dual-Core Atom: 107, Single-Core Atom: 88, Marvell 2.0GHz: 75, Marvell 1.6GHz: 45
This has a direct impact on yur backup speeds, although the laptops may be the limiting factor anyways, if they have the typical 5400 RPM HDDs in them. They use less power, so it's quite common to use them instead of the 7200 RPM models.
The other thing you get for your $$ is USB 3.0. This may not have any impact on your intended usage, but for some, USB 2.0 is a deal-breaker.
Of course, you also know that QNAP released a couple new models at CES, right. I tell you, I can't keep up with them... LOL
Bottom line, like Anna above, I think your expectation for backup performance is the key discriminator here. That's the primary area (of the ones you listed), where spending more will get you more.
Presently I don't need the virtualization features.
Are the new models announced at CES listed in their site? I would assume so, as their site indicates the 459 Pro II as a new model.
And thanks for the link below.
qnap.com/images/products/comparison/Comparison_4BayNAS.html
I first saw it on the box then when I opened and looked at the back of the unit, two of the ports are labeled USB3.0 The quick start guide also says USB3. This is very odd since their website and all reviews say only USB2.0
I do not know if the new units are shipping with USB 3 or is it Canadian versions. I am in Canada. Anyways I am thrilled. This unit offers so much for the price.
Usually when the "Manufacturer reserves the right to update the product specifications" it's to take cost out of the product.