Page 3 - Configuration and User Interface
The QNAP TS-409 actually requires setup via a Windows program that needs to be installed. This allows the user to predefine basic settings of the NAS, as well as updating firmware and the such. Personally I don't think this is all that necessary and it would be nicer if configuration over web interface is used instead. After all, I'm not a big fan of installing a piece of software, get the NAS started, and then uninstall it. That said, it doesn't take long, but usage can be a bit tricky.
Before we highlight some features of the web configuration system, let's take a look at the software features and specifications of the QNAP TS-409, as obtained from the manufacturer's website:
Server features
File server: File sharing across Windows/ Mac/ Linux/ Unix and centralized management
FTP server: Support data access from remote location via FTP (max. 32 concurrent connections), FTP with SSL/ TLS (explicit) mode, Passive FTP port range control
Backup server: Client-side backup software-NetBak Replicator supports Instant, Schedule, and Auto-sync backup; 3rd party backup software support: Acronis True Image, CA Brightstor ARCserver Backup, EMC Retrospect, Symantec Backup Exec
Printer server: Network printer sharing via USB (support Windows & Mac platform)
Support all-in-one printer (max. 3 sets)
Remote Replication: Block-level remote replication supports instant, schedule backup management; support synchronization mode
Web Server: Establish users own web page and interactive websites with editable PHP.ini, SQLite and MySQL dual support
My SQL Server: Support MySQL database server
UPnP Media Server: Support UPnP/ DLNA multimedia technology; share stored photos and home videos on TV, listen to music on Hi-Fi system via DMP; Enjoy more than hundreds of worldwide Internet radio (built-in TwonkyMedia); Support DLNA media playing with PS3, Xbox360, PSP; Support Nokia N95 (DLNA control point)
iTunes Server: iTunes server for music sharing on your network; support Smart Playlist for iTunes software
Multimedia Station: Image slide show and rotation (+90°, -90°); Display photo details: dates, exposure time, aperture, etc.; Automatic thumbnail generation for easy browsing
Photo album access authority management; Multimedia files (video and audio) local playing; Automatic file categorization
Download Station: Support PC-less BitTorrent/ FTP/ HTTP download; unique remote download control software: QGet (Windows / Mac), allows you to control the download tasks of multiple Turbo Stations on one PC via LAN/ WAN; BitTorrent download supports DHT (automatic relaying if interrupted); download configuration (current seed number, configurable port range, bandwidth control, download percentage, UPnP NAT port forwarding for BitTorrent download); download status list management (download percentage)
Software Specifications
Operation System: Linux-embedded system
Networking: TCP/IP, DHCP Client, DHCP Server, CIFS/SMB, AFP, HTTP, HTTPS, FTP, DDNS, NTP, Gigabit Jumbo Frame
File System: EXT3 (Internal/ external HDD); FAT (External HDD); NTFS (External HDD, read-only)
Supported Operating Systems: Microsoft® Windows® 98/ ME/ NT/ 2000/ XP/ 2003/ Vista, Mac OS X
Disk Management: Single disk, RAID 0 (Disk Stripping), RAID 1 (Disk Mirroring), RAID 5, RAID 5+ Hot spare, RAID 6, and JBOD (Linear Disk Volume); Multiple RAID, RAID Migration, RAID Expansion; Disk usage status management; Check disk (Check Linux file system); HDD S.M.A.R.T; Bad blocks scan
User Management: User quota management (per user); User account management (max. 1,024 users); User group management (max. 128 groups)
File System Management: Network share management (max. 256 shares); Share folder level ACL support; Unicode support; Journaling file system; Web File Manager
System Tools: E-mail alert (SMTP authentication); HDD standby mode; Disk usage alert; Automatic power on after power loss; System firmware upgrade; Change homepage logo; Back up, restore, reset system settings; Smart fan setting; Configurable management port; Easy IP filter management; Secure remote login by SSH connection; remote login by Telnet connection; USB, SNMP UPS support; Network recycle bin
Event Logs: Complete system logs (system events management, connection logs, current connection of on-line users)
Multilingual Support: English, Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese, Japanese, Korean, French, German, Italian, Spanish, and Russian
Backup Management: PC-client backup software- NetBak Replicator: Instant/ Schedule/ Auto-sync backup; Encrypted remote replication; One touch USB copy for different destination folders Backup to external storage device
Typing in the IP address or name of your QNAP TS-409 in your web browser pulls up the web configuration interface's login screen. I found this to be a bit messy and has more advertising elements than a 'real' login screen for a NAS. The only thing that can be changed is the logo near the bottom left, as demonstrated by the APH logo above.
Clicking "Administration" brings up a browser log in dialog. Language selection can be done in the drop down menu in the top right hand corner.
All of the available configuration settings are laid out under eight different categories; each with a simple icon that's also displayed in a navigation bar across the top of the screen under the QNAP logo (Seen in latter screenshots). It's fairly straighforward as far as laying out all the available features for configuration, but the abundance of text may be a turn off for first time users.
The disk configuration screen. Drive in corresponding bays, disk identification information, storage capacity, as well as operation options such as scanning and formatting are all available here.
Adding and editing users, assigning private folders and groups, as well as quota settings can all be defined independently.
After adding users and users to the appropriate groups, access control to independent functions (Primarily network sharing folders) can be configured typically shown in the screen above. Fairly simple, straightforward, and quite standard as far as web UI for an NAS goes, but then again I'm not a big fan of the circa-1998 style color scheme.
If you're not using JBOD or RAID of any type and have each disk operate independently (Offering flexibility in disk configuration but not necessarily maximizing storage efficiency), different users' private network share folder can be set to different drives -- which is quite convenient in my opinion. For example, in a household, different users can be assigned to different drives for management advantages and allows independent disk usage allocation instead of setting quotas.
Features such as Multimedia Station and UPnP MediaServer can be enabled or disabled independently. As per the UI, all features under a common category can be navigated around in the left navigation bar, while different categories are linked to by icons across a bar at the top, as mentioned earlier. The Download Station (Basically a torrent program) can be configured in a similar fashion on a different screen.
Configuration of the web server. The QNAP TS-409 has built in PHP and MySQL support. Personally due to the power and lack of flexibility with the NAS, I would not use it in a production environment, unless you run a blog that gets 10 unique hits a month. FTP server can also be configured on another page in the same category.
Network Recycle Bin can be enabled or disabled; where deleted items can be sent to a specific folder defined by the user in the screen above if deemed required to be recovered later.
The System Information screen. Displays networking status and system status, as shown in the screenshot above. It's quite convenient.
By the way, the HDD temperature reading shown above does not match up with our temperature rating on Page 5 -- that's because the screenshot is taken on a particular hot day, which rose the temperature of the basement thus changed the reading. The rating on Page 5 is based on room temperature of 22c.
Update July 11, 2009: QNAP released a new AJAX based web user interface for the QNAP TS-409 and other NAS models for a much better user experience and style. The upgrade is free of charge for current owners of this product.
Page Index
1. Introduction and Specifications
2. A Closer Look
3. Configuration and User Interface
4. Performance Benchmarks
5. Final Thoughts and Conclusion
