QNAP Launches High-performance TS-x31K Series NAS

[btarunr]

QNAP Systems, Inc., a leading computing, networking and storage solution innovator, today launched the quad-core TS-x31K series NAS (including 1-bay, 2-bay and 4-bay models) that provides centralized data backup and management, easy file access and sharing, feature-rich multimedia applications and secure Snapshots protection. Featuring a compact pure white minimalist design, the TS-x31K blends in with any home décor and takes up very little space, making it an ideal solution for home users to build reliable private cloud storage.

The TS-x31K series is powered by a quad-core 1.7 GHz processor for exceptional home performance. With 1 GB RAM, Gigabit LAN (1-bay: one GbE port; 2-bay and 4-bay: two GbE ports), SATA 6 Gb/s, and AES-256 bit encryption, the TS-x31K delivers fast and stable connectivity. Featuring tool-less and lockable drive bays, the TS-x31K makes installation easier while also ensuring the drives are safe and secure.



"The Quad-core TS-x31K series streamlines home storage and multimedia applications, allowing users to enjoy the convenience and enjoyment of a personal cloud. Users can easily access, manage and share files using an intuitive user interface, while also easily accessing files remotely by using dedicated mobile apps," said Jason Hsu, Product Manager of QNAP.

The TS-x31K series is a comprehensive home data center that provides well-rounded data storage, sharing, backup, synchronization, and data protection. Users can regularly back up data from their Windows and macOS computers and from mobile devices, then further protect their backup data by saving to another NAS or cloud storages as an off-site copy using HBS (Hybrid Backup Sync). Users can enable snapshot protection to effectively mitigate the threat of ransomware and to quickly restore files to previously-recorded states.

The TS-x31K provides a wide range of multimedia applications, including Photo Station, Video Station and Music Station, allowing users to easily manage and view their rich media collections. Users can also transform the TS-x31K into a Plex Media Server. More useful functions include: use Surveillance Station to build a secure surveillance system; Qsync can automatically sync files between NAS, mobile phones and computers. Users can also easily remotely access the TS-x31K using dedicated mobile apps and the myQNAPcloud service.

Key Specifications

• TS-131K: Tower model; 1-bay, Annapurna Labs AL-214 quad-core 1.7 GHz processor, 1GB RAM; hot-swappable 3.5-inch SATA 6Gbps bays; 1 x GbE port, 3 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports
• TS-231K: Tower model; 2-bay, Annapurna Labs AL-214 quad-core 1.7 GHz processor, 1GB RAM; hot-swappable 3.5-inch SATA 6Gbps bays; 2 x GbE ports, 3 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports
• TS-431K: Tower model; 4-bay, Annapurna Labs AL-214 quad-core 1.7 GHz processor, 1GB RAM; hot-swappable 3.5-inch SATA 6Gbps bays; 2 x GbE ports, 3 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports

View at TechPowerUp Main Site

 

[FreedomEclipse]

@btarunr last link links to the wrong product. (TS-431K)

Depending on the price - Id say a TS-251+ would be a better purchase. Intel CPU and expandable RAM

 

[Easy Rhino]

QNAP brands everything they spew out as high performance. Their products are dogs compared to anything enterprise grade yet they charge pro-sumer prices.

 

[Octavean]

@btarunr last link links to the wrong product. (TS-431K)

Depending on the price - Id say a TS-251+ would be a better purchase. Intel CPU and expandable RAM

Yeah, I have a QNAP TS-451+ and it’s decent but memory starved at the entry level 2GB. It has an INoel Celeron J1900 at 2GHz and while not a powerful process it’s better then my Synology DS1815+ Atom C2000 series SoC. I definitely prefer either of those over an ARM processor.

 

[FreedomEclipse]

Yeah, I have a QNAP TS-451+ and it’s decent but memory starved at the entry level 2GB. It has an INoel Celeron J1900 at 2GHz and while not a powerful process it’s better then my Synology DS1815+ Atom C2000 series SoC. I definitely prefer either of those over an ARM processor.

DDR3 SO-Dimms are pretty easy to find and cheap on the pre-owned market.

 

[holyprof]

I bought a QNAP NAS for my home office. It was expensive and slow. The software looks like it was designed and written by a 13 yr old programming student. It's ugly, not intuitive at all and did i mention it is slow? On top of all that, it got caught by a virus that encrypted all the data and asked for a ransom. It used a vulnerability of QNAP software. Thousands if not millions around the world got hit (all with QNAP NAS so it wasn't someone at the office). QNAP's answer was: sorry we can't help you. I kissed all my data goodbye, formatted the disks and gave it away.
So if you're serious about your data, look elsewhere. I'm sure there are better products in the same price range from other brands. I hope their enterprise products are better, for their customer's sake.

Now that I'm on this, can you guys recommend another vendor with reasonable 2-4 drive NAS intended for home/small office? I need to buy a new one since I ditched my old 2-disk QNAP.

 

[FreedomEclipse]

Which Qnap did you buy? I have a TS-451+ and have had no problems.

 

[Octavean]

I bought a QNAP NAS for my home office. It was expensive and slow. The software looks like it was designed and written by a 13 yr old programming student. It's ugly, not intuitive at all and did i mention it is slow? On top of all that, it got caught by a virus that encrypted all the data and asked for a ransom. It used a vulnerability of QNAP software. Thousands if not millions around the world got hit (all with QNAP NAS so it wasn't someone at the office). QNAP's answer was: sorry we can't help you. I kissed all my data goodbye, formatted the disks and gave it away.
So if you're serious about your data, look elsewhere. I'm sure there are better products in the same price range from other brands. I hope their enterprise products are better, for their customer's sake.

Now that I'm on this, can you guys recommend another vendor with reasonable 2-4 drive NAS intended for home/small office? I need to buy a new one since I ditched my old 2-disk QNAP.

Synology comes to mind.

It's also a good idea to buy some means of offline backup. So for example, you can buy an equal bay DAS to go with the NAS. So for example, if you buy an 8 bay NAS then buy an 8 bay DAS to backup the NAS. Its also helpful to have off sight backup. So you can either backup via VPN to the off sight location or shuttle backup HDD between locations. Additionally you can make use of online cloud backup services. Then there is "high availability" where you would buy two identical Synology NAS units (in this case) and install the same number / capacity HDDs. If the primary NAS fails the secondary NAS automatically steps in to take over the duties and services of the primary NAS.

What model QNAP NAS did you have?

Personally I'm more and more interested in buying a decommissioned Dell PowerEdge R720 12 bay (3.5 SAS HDD) Rack Mount server off ebay for a couple hundred USD. Dual Xeon processors and lots of RAM. Install something like Windows Server 2012 Essentials or FreeNAS and be done with it!!!

 

[holyprof]

Which Qnap did you buy? I have a TS-451+ and have had no problems.

I don't quite remember, but from quick google search for images i'd say it was a TS-231P (white 2-disk entry-level NAS). Both the speed and web interface were horrible. At least it looked reliable during some time, then the virus struck.
I expected much more from a dedicated and expensive enclosure. Heck, even an old Core2Duo windows 7 PC connected at 100Mbps was noticeably faster than the QNAP NAS connected at 1Gb on the same switch. Guess that is a random performance issue, never really tested sequential big file transfer (which should be much faster than any regular office PC with mechanical disk).

 

[FreedomEclipse]

I don't quite remember, but from quick google search for images i'd say it was a TS-231P (white 2-disk entry-level NAS). Both the speed and web interface were horrible. At least it looked reliable during some time, then the virus struck.
I expected much more from a dedicated and expensive enclosure. Heck, even an old Core2Duo windows 7 PC connected at 100Mbps was noticeably faster than the QNAP NAS connected at 1Gb on the same switch. Guess that is a random performance issue, never really tested sequential big file transfer (which should be much faster than any regular office PC with mechanical disk).

Your problem was that it was entry level. Even modern mobile phones run CPUs faster than that and have more ram too.

I had a Synology NAS with an Armada CPU & 512mb non expandable ram and it ran like absolute bollocks. So i hear you and i know how you feel. Trust me if you get a more modern Qnap or Synology then you'll be fine. Qnap tends to offer better specs for the same money that Synology charges though. That is one of the things that swayed me the most for my purchase.

 

[Octavean]

Synology DSM is a great OS and they are actively working on version 7. Synology also has great software support. Unfortunately Synology uses lower end Atom chips far too often. Some ARM chips can be quite capable but I prefer to steer clear of them even more so then Atom. I prefer Celeron, i3, i5 i7, Xeon or AMD RyZen For a NAS.

Ive also been looking at Asustor NAS units with 8 and 10 bays Such as the AS7010T, AS6210T and AS6510T. They aren’t cheap but the 1, 2, and 4 bay ARM units really aren’t worth looking at IMO.

Failing that you can probably find a decent rack mount Dell or HP server in the ~$200 to $500 USD range On eBay.

QNAP’s OS isn’t bad IMO but it isn’t as easy to use as Synology. QNAP tends to give better hardware for the money though And they are more innovativ.