Asustor Drivestor 2 Pro As3302T Review

The Asustor Drivestor 2 Pro AS3302T stands out as a compelling choice for home users and small businesses seeking an affordable yet capable Network Attached Storage NAS solution.

It effectively blends solid performance, a user-friendly operating system, and a feature set that punches above its weight class, especially given its competitive price point.

While it might not satisfy the needs of power users demanding top-tier transfer speeds or extensive virtualization capabilities, for everyday tasks like media streaming, data backup, file synchronization, and even light surveillance, it delivers reliable and efficient service.

Its focus on energy efficiency and quiet operation further enhances its appeal for always-on home environments.

Here’s a comparison list of relevant products in the NAS and related categories:

• Synology DiskStation DS220+
  • Key Features: Intel Celeron J4025 dual-core CPU, 2GB DDR4 RAM expandable to 6GB, 2 drive bays, dual Gigabit LAN ports, Btrfs file system support, extensive app ecosystem.
  • Average Price: ~$300-$350 diskless
  • Pros: Highly mature and user-friendly DSM operating system, excellent app store, reliable performance, good community support.
  • Cons: Higher price point than some entry-level competitors, plastic enclosure, single HDMI port if applicable.
• QNAP TS-264
  • Key Features: Intel Celeron N5095 quad-core CPU, 8GB DDR4 RAM, 2 drive bays, dual 2.5GbE LAN ports, PCIe Gen 3 x2 slot for M.2 SSD or 10GbE card, HDMI 2.0.
  • Average Price: ~$450-$500 diskless
  • Pros: Powerful processor, 2.5GbE as standard, expandable with PCIe, strong multimedia capabilities, multiple virtualization options.
  • Cons: Higher price, QTS OS can be more complex for beginners, fan noise can be noticeable under load.
• TerraMaster F2-221
  • Key Features: Intel Apollo Lake J3355 dual-core CPU, 2GB DDR4 RAM expandable to 4GB, 2 drive bays, dual Gigabit LAN ports, supports Plex.
  • Average Price: ~$200-$250 diskless
  • Pros: Very budget-friendly, decent performance for the price, simple TOS operating system, good for basic NAS functions.
  • Cons: Less extensive app ecosystem compared to Synology/QNAP, slower processor, fewer advanced features.
• Western Digital My Cloud Home Duo
  • Key Features: Integrated hard drives comes with disks, 2 drive bays mirrored for data protection, simple mobile-first interface, automatic backup.
  • Average Price: ~$300-$500 with disks, depending on capacity
  • Pros: Extremely easy setup, comes with drives, ideal for basic personal cloud and backup for non-techy users.
  • Cons: Very limited functionality, not a true NAS, locked-down operating system, no app support, less control over data.
• Sabrent USB 3.0 to SATA Dual Bay External Hard Drive Docking Station
  • Key Features: External docking station for two 2.5/3.5-inch SATA drives, USB 3.0 connectivity, supports drive cloning.
  • Average Price: ~$40-$60
  • Pros: Affordable way to access multiple drives, useful for data recovery or temporary storage, plug-and-play.
  • Cons: Not a NAS, requires a host computer, no network capabilities, no RAID redundancy.
• Amazon Web Services S3 Storage
  • Key Features: Cloud object storage service, highly scalable, durable, secure, pay-as-you-go pricing, integrates with countless applications.
  • Average Price: Varies significantly based on usage e.g., $0.023 per GB/month for standard storage.
  • Pros: Unlimited scalability, extreme durability and availability, global accessibility, robust security features.
  • Cons: Requires technical understanding to configure and manage, recurring costs can add up, not ideal for local media streaming.
• External Hard Drives e.g., Seagate Expansion
  • Key Features: Simple plug-and-play storage, USB connectivity, portable, available in various capacities.
  • Average Price: ~$60-$200+ depending on capacity
  • Pros: Very affordable per TB, easy to use, great for direct backup of a single device or for portable data.
  • Cons: Not networked, susceptible to loss/damage, limited redundancy options, requires manual management.

Unpacking the Asustor Drivestor 2 Pro AS3302T: Design and Hardware Deep Dive

When you’re looking to centralize your digital life, the hardware under the hood matters.

The Asustor Drivestor 2 Pro AS3302T doesn’t just look sleek. it’s built to perform for its target audience.

This isn’t a server farm in a box, but for home users and small offices, it strikes a solid balance between affordability and capability.

Sleek Aesthetics and Build Quality

The AS3302T adopts a modern, minimalist design that’s easy to integrate into any home or office environment.

It features a compact, black plastic chassis with a diamond-cut magnetic front cover that adds a touch of sophistication while neatly concealing the drive bays. This isn’t just about looks. the design contributes to its quiet operation.

• Dimensions: Roughly 6.77 x 4.25 x 9.06 inches H x W x D, making it quite desk-friendly.
• Weight: Approximately 3.09 lbs without hard drives. This lightweight nature makes it easy to move if needed.
• Materials: Primarily plastic, which helps keep costs down and contributes to the lighter weight. While not as premium as an all-metal enclosure, it feels sturdy enough for its purpose.
• LED Indicators: Discreet front-facing LEDs for power, network activity, and drive status, providing quick visual cues without being overly bright or distracting.

Core Processing Power: The Realtek RTD1619B

At the heart of the Drivestor 2 Pro is the Realtek RTD1619B quad-core processor. This isn’t an Intel Celeron or AMD Ryzen, but for a budget-friendly NAS, it’s a very capable chip. It’s designed for media playback and general NAS operations, offering a good balance of power efficiency and performance.

• CPU Architecture: ARM-based, specifically a Cortex-A55 architecture.
• Clock Speed: Up to 1.7 GHz.
• Key Capabilities:
  • Hardware Transcoding: Crucial for media enthusiasts. The RTD1619B supports H.265 HEVC, H.264 AVC, and VP9 4K video transcoding. This means you can stream your high-resolution media to devices that might not natively support those codecs, with the NAS doing the heavy lifting.
  • Energy Efficiency: A major benefit of ARM-based chips. It consumes less power, leading to lower electricity bills and quieter operation due to less heat generation. Asustor reports power consumption as low as 16.2W in operation and 8.1W in disk hibernation.
  • Concurrency: Capable of handling multiple simultaneous tasks like file transfers, backups, and media streaming without significant slowdowns for a typical home user.

Memory Matters: 1GB DDR4 RAM

The AS3302T comes equipped with 1GB of DDR4 RAM. In the world of NAS, 1GB can sometimes feel modest, especially compared to higher-end models that offer 2GB, 4GB, or even 8GB expandable options. However, for its intended use cases, 1GB is often sufficient.

• Type: Non-expandable DDR4. This is a fixed amount, so you can’t upgrade it later.
• Performance Impact:
  • Basic File Operations: For simple file storage, sharing, and backup, 1GB is perfectly adequate.
  • Media Streaming: It handles single-stream 4K transcoding well. If you have multiple users simultaneously streaming and transcoding different media, you might start to see some bottlenecks, but for a typical home, it’s fine.
  • App Usage: Light application usage, such as running Plex Media Server without heavy transcoding for multiple users, photo management, or basic surveillance, should be manageable. Heavy multi-tasking or running numerous Docker containers simultaneously would likely push its limits.
• Consideration: If your primary use case involves running multiple, memory-intensive applications or serving a large number of concurrent users, you might want to consider models with more RAM or expandability. However, for the target market, this RAM configuration hits the sweet spot for cost-effectiveness.

Connectivity: 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet and USB Ports

Connectivity is where the Drivestor 2 Pro truly stands out in its price segment, thanks to its 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet 2.5GbE port. This is a significant upgrade from standard Gigabit Ethernet found on many competing budget NAS units.

• 2.5GbE Port:
  • Speed: Provides theoretical speeds up to 2.5 times faster than Gigabit Ethernet 2500 Mbps vs. 1000 Mbps.
  • Real-world Impact: While you won’t always hit 2.5Gbps due to hard drive limitations, it dramatically improves large file transfers within your local network, especially if your network infrastructure router, switches, client devices also supports 2.5GbE. This is excellent for quickly backing up large video files or transferring raw photo libraries.
  • Future-Proofing: As 2.5GbE becomes more common in consumer routers and PCs, having it on your NAS means your storage solution is ready for faster network speeds.
• USB 3.2 Gen 1 Ports: The AS3302T includes three USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports often still referred to as USB 3.0 or USB 3.1 Gen 1.
  • Placement: One port on the front for easy access e.g., for quick backups from a USB drive and two on the rear.
  • Functionality: These ports can be used for:
    • Connecting external hard drives for additional storage or direct backups.
    • Connecting USB printers to turn your NAS into a network print server.
    • Connecting a USB Uninterruptible Power Supply UPS for safe shutdown during power outages.
    • Connecting Wi-Fi adapters for wireless connectivity though wired is always recommended for performance.

This comprehensive hardware setup, particularly the 2.5GbE, positions the Asustor Drivestor 2 Pro AS3302T as a strong contender for users who need more than basic network storage without breaking the bank.

ADM Operating System: The Brains Behind the Brawn

A NAS is only as good as its operating system, and for Asustor, that’s ADM Asustor Data Master. It’s the graphical interface you interact with to manage your NAS, install apps, and configure settings.

ADM has evolved significantly over the years, aiming for a balance between user-friendliness and powerful features.

User Interface and Ease of Use

ADM presents a desktop-like interface accessible via a web browser.

If you’ve used a modern operating system like Windows or macOS, you’ll find it familiar.

The design emphasizes clarity and accessibility, even for those new to NAS.

• Desktop Layout: Features icons for installed applications, a taskbar, and a notification area. It’s intuitive, allowing you to drag and drop icons, create shortcuts, and multi-task by opening several application windows simultaneously.
• App Central: This is Asustor’s equivalent of an app store. It’s well-organized and makes installing new functionalities a breeze. You just browse, click, and install.
• Initial Setup: The initial setup wizard is straightforward, guiding you through disk initialization, network configuration, and user creation. Even first-time NAS owners should find this process manageable.
• Help Integration: ADM includes built-in help and tooltips that explain various settings and features, which is incredibly useful for navigating the more advanced configurations.

Key Features and Functionality

ADM provides a robust set of features that cater to a wide range of home and small business needs. It goes beyond simple file sharing.

• File Explorer: A web-based file manager that allows you to browse, upload, download, move, copy, and manage files directly on the NAS without needing to map network drives on your computer. It supports drag-and-drop from your desktop, making file transfers easy.
• User and Group Management: Essential for multi-user environments. You can create different user accounts, assign them to groups, and set granular permissions for shared folders, ensuring data security and privacy.
• Backup and Sync Solutions: ADM is packed with options to protect your data:
  • Backup Plan: Schedule automatic backups from your computer to the NAS.
  • EZ Sync: A bi-directional synchronization tool that keeps files consistent between your NAS and local devices. Think of it as a personal cloud sync service like Dropbox, but entirely under your control.
  • Cloud Backup: Integrate with popular cloud services like Amazon S3, Backblaze B2, Microsoft Azure, Google Drive, Dropbox, and OneDrive for offsite backups. This is crucial for a 3-2-1 backup strategy.
  • Rsnyc/FTP/WebDAV: Traditional protocols for flexible backup and synchronization with other servers or NAS devices.
  • Snapshot Center: For Btrfs file systems which the AS3302T supports, this allows you to take point-in-time snapshots of your data, enabling quick recovery from accidental deletions or ransomware attacks. This is a powerful data protection feature.
• Multimedia Capabilities: ADM leverages the hardware transcoding of the RTD1619B for a great media experience.
  • LooksGood: Asustor’s media management and playback app. It allows you to organize your photos, videos, and podcast.
  • SoundsGood: A dedicated podcast player.
  • AiVideos, AiPodcast, AiPhotos: Mobile apps that let you stream media directly from your NAS to your smartphone or tablet, even when you’re away from home.
  • Plex Media Server: A highly popular third-party app that can be installed via App Central. It organizes your media beautifully, downloads metadata, and serves it to virtually any device. The AS3302T’s hardware transcoding capabilities make it a strong candidate for Plex.

App Central: Expanding Functionality

App Central is the gateway to extending the capabilities of your Drivestor 2 Pro beyond basic storage.

It hosts a wide variety of first-party and third-party applications.

• Categories: Apps are categorized for easy browsing, including:
  • Backup & Restore: More advanced backup tools.
  • Business: CRM, ERP, project management tools.
  • Content Management: WordPress, Joomla, Drupal for hosting websites.
  • Developer Tools: Docker, Python, Node.js for developers.
  • Download Center: BitTorrent, NZB download clients.
  • Home Automation: Apps to integrate with smart home systems.
  • Multimedia: Plex Media Server, Kodi, Emby.
  • Surveillance: Surveillance Center for IP cameras.
• One-Click Installation: Most apps can be installed with just a few clicks, simplifying the process for users.
• Community Contributions: While Asustor maintains its own apps, many popular third-party applications are made available by the community or by Asustor themselves, greatly expanding the NAS’s versatility.

ADM’s combination of an intuitive interface, comprehensive built-in features, and an expansive app ecosystem makes the Drivestor 2 Pro a highly flexible and powerful device for its price point.

It ensures that even as your needs grow, your NAS can often grow with them.

Performance Benchmarks: Speed and Real-World Usage

When evaluating a NAS, theoretical specifications are one thing, but how it performs in the real world is another.

The Asustor Drivestor 2 Pro AS3302T, with its Realtek RTD1619B CPU and 2.5GbE port, aims to deliver solid performance for its target audience. Let’s break down what you can expect.

Sequential Read/Write Speeds

Sequential speeds are crucial for large file transfers, like backing up entire video libraries or moving large design files. This is where the 2.5GbE port really shines.

• Test Environment: To truly leverage 2.5GbE, you need a compatible network setup:
  • NAS connected to a 2.5GbE switch or router.
  • Client PC with a 2.5GbE network adapter.
  • High-performance hard drives within the NAS e.g., CMR drives optimized for NAS use.
  • SSD in the client PC to avoid bottlenecks there.
• Expected Speeds RAID 1 with 2.5GbE:
  • Read Speeds: Users consistently report sequential read speeds reaching 280 MB/s to 290 MB/s. This is close to the theoretical maximum of a 2.5GbE connection, considering overhead.
  • Write Speeds: Sequential write speeds typically fall in the range of 270 MB/s to 280 MB/s.
• Comparison to Gigabit Ethernet: On a standard Gigabit Ethernet connection, the AS3302T would be capped at around 110-115 MB/s for both read and write. The 2.5GbE offers a significant boost, making a tangible difference for large file operations.
• Factors Affecting Speed:
  • Hard Drive Performance: The type and speed of your hard drives are the primary bottleneck. Older, slower drives will limit your actual throughput.
  • RAID Configuration: RAID 0 striping will offer the fastest theoretical speeds but no redundancy. RAID 1 mirroring, commonly used in 2-bay NAS units, provides data protection but can slightly reduce write speeds compared to RAID 0.
  • Network Congestion: Other devices on your network consuming bandwidth can impact speeds.
  • Client Device: The network card and storage SSD vs. HDD in your client computer will also affect speeds.

Random I/O Performance

Random I/O performance is more critical for tasks involving many small files, such as accessing a database, running virtual machines, or browsing a large photo library.

While not the AS3302T’s strongest suit due to the ARM processor and lack of NVMe cache, it’s adequate for typical home use.

• Impact: Random I/O speeds are generally lower than sequential speeds across all NAS devices. For a budget NAS like the AS3302T, you won’t see enterprise-grade random performance.
• Real-world: For everyday tasks like opening multiple small documents, loading website assets, or installing minor applications, the performance is perfectly acceptable. If you’re running a high-transaction database or multiple virtual machines, you’d be looking at a higher-end NAS with an Intel x86 processor and NVMe cache support.

Transcoding and Multimedia Performance

This is a highlight for the AS3302T thanks to its Realtek RTD1619B processor.

Hardware transcoding offloads the demanding task of converting video formats from the CPU to a dedicated chip, resulting in smoother playback and lower CPU utilization.

• 4K H.265 HEVC Transcoding: The AS3302T can handle single-stream 4K H.265 HEVC to 1080p H.264 transcoding without major stuttering. This is excellent for streaming your 4K media library to devices that might only support 1080p or H.264.
• Plex Media Server: The NAS can run Plex Media Server effectively. For direct play where the client device can play the original file without transcoding, it’s flawless. When transcoding is required, especially for 4K content, performance is generally good for one or perhaps two simultaneous streams depending on the complexity of the transcode.
• Limitations:
  • Multiple Simultaneous 4K Transcodes: While it can handle one 4K transcode, attempting two or more demanding 4K transcodes simultaneously might strain the CPU, leading to buffering or lower quality.
  • Advanced Codecs: Extremely niche or older, less optimized codecs might not leverage the hardware transcoder as effectively.
  • Subtitle Burn-in: If Plex needs to “burn in” subtitles integrate them directly into the video stream during transcoding, this is a CPU-intensive task and can significantly impact performance, regardless of hardware transcoding.
• Overall: For a single user or a family with occasional simultaneous streaming needs, the AS3302T is a very capable media server, especially at its price point. Its hardware transcoding is a significant advantage over NAS units that rely solely on software transcoding.

In summary, the Asustor Drivestor 2 Pro AS3302T delivers excellent sequential file transfer speeds for its class, largely thanks to the 2.5GbE port.

Its media transcoding capabilities are a strong selling point for home users.

While random I/O and heavy multi-user scenarios might push its limits, for typical home NAS tasks, its performance is more than satisfactory.

Data Protection and Security: Guarding Your Digital Assets

It’s a vault for your precious memories, important documents, and critical business data.

The Asustor Drivestor 2 Pro AS3302T incorporates several layers of defense to help safeguard your information.

RAID Levels and Redundancy

RAID Redundant Array of Independent Disks is a fundamental feature of any NAS, providing fault tolerance and improved performance.

For a 2-bay NAS like the AS3302T, the primary RAID options are straightforward.

• RAID 0 Stripping:
  • How it works: Data is split and written across both drives.
  • Pros: Offers the highest performance both read and write and full utilization of storage capacity e.g., two 4TB drives give you 8TB of storage.
  • Cons: No redundancy. If one drive fails, you lose all your data. Not recommended for critical data.
• RAID 1 Mirroring:
  • How it works: Data is duplicated and written identically to both drives.
  • Pros: Excellent redundancy. If one drive fails, your data is still intact on the other drive, and you can simply replace the failed drive to rebuild the array.
  • Cons: Only half of the total drive capacity is usable e.g., two 4TB drives give you 4TB of usable storage.
• JBOD Just a Bunch Of Disks:
  • How it works: Drives are treated as independent volumes or concatenated into a single large volume.
  • Pros: Uses full capacity of drives.
  • Cons: No redundancy. If a drive fails, data on that specific drive is lost.
• Single Disk:
  • How it works: Each drive is formatted as a separate volume.
  • Pros: Simple, uses full capacity of each drive independently.
  • Cons: No redundancy. Data on a failed drive is lost.
• Recommendation: For the AS3302T and any 2-bay NAS storing valuable data, RAID 1 is highly recommended. While it halves your usable storage, the peace of mind knowing your data is protected against a single drive failure is invaluable. Remember, RAID is not a backup. it’s a redundancy measure. You still need separate backups.

File System Support: Btrfs and EXT4

The choice of file system significantly impacts data integrity, snapshot capabilities, and performance. The AS3302T supports both EXT4 and Btrfs.

• EXT4 Extended 4 File System:
  • Pros: Well-established, stable, widely compatible, generally good performance.
  • Cons: Lacks advanced data integrity features and snapshot capabilities inherent to Btrfs.
• Btrfs B-tree File System:
  • Pros:
    • Snapshots: The standout feature. Btrfs allows you to take point-in-time copies of your shared folders. If files are accidentally deleted, corrupted, or encrypted by ransomware, you can easily revert to a previous snapshot, recovering your data almost instantly. This is a powerful recovery tool.
    • Data Integrity Checksums: Btrfs includes checksums for data and metadata, detecting and potentially correcting silent data corruption bit rot. This is a crucial feature for long-term data archival.
    • Self-healing: In a RAID 1 configuration, if Btrfs detects corruption on one drive, it can automatically repair it using the good copy from the other drive.
  • Cons: Can be slightly more resource-intensive than EXT4, and its recovery in case of severe corruption can be more complex though less likely to occur due to self-healing.
• Recommendation: For most users, Btrfs is the superior choice for the AS3302T due to its snapshot capabilities and data integrity features. These features provide a much higher level of data protection against common threats. Ensure you select Btrfs during the initial setup if you want to leverage these benefits.

Network Security and Access Control

Protecting your NAS from unauthorized access, especially when exposed to the internet, is critical. ADM offers several features to harden your device.

• Firewall: You can configure a firewall to block specific IP addresses, ranges, or countries, and restrict access to certain ports and services. This is your first line of defense against external threats.
• Auto Blacklist: ADM’s “Auto Blacklist” feature automatically blocks IP addresses that attempt too many failed login attempts, protecting against brute-force attacks.
• SSL/TLS Encryption: Enable HTTPS SSL/TLS for secure connections to the ADM web interface and services. This encrypts data transmitted between your browser and the NAS, preventing eavesdropping.
• VPN Server/Client:
  • VPN Server: Allows you to connect securely to your home network from anywhere in the world, accessing your NAS as if you were local. ADM supports various VPN protocols OpenVPN, PPTP, L2TP/IPSec.
  • VPN Client: Allows the NAS itself to connect to a VPN service, encrypting all its outbound traffic. This can be useful for privacy or bypassing geo-restrictions for certain services.
• 2-Step Verification: Add an extra layer of security to your login process. After entering your password, you’ll need to enter a code from a mobile authenticator app like Google Authenticator. This makes it significantly harder for unauthorized users to access your NAS, even if they somehow obtain your password. Highly recommended.
• Ransomware Protection: While no single solution is foolproof, the combination of Btrfs snapshots, regular backups especially offsite, and strong network security measures firewall, 2-step verification, strong passwords significantly reduces your risk of ransomware infection and provides robust recovery options if an attack occurs.

By leveraging these features, users can build a strong security posture around their Asustor Drivestor 2 Pro, protecting their valuable data from both accidental loss and malicious attacks.

Always remember to use strong, unique passwords and keep your ADM firmware updated.

Energy Efficiency and Noise Levels: A Home-Friendly NAS

For a NAS that’s likely to be running 24/7 in a home or small office environment, energy efficiency and low noise levels are not just desirable features—they’re essential.

The Asustor Drivestor 2 Pro AS3302T is designed with these aspects in mind.

Low Power Consumption

The AS3302T utilizes an ARM-based Realtek RTD1619B processor, which is inherently more energy-efficient than its x86 counterparts found in higher-end NAS models.

This translates directly into lower electricity bills and less heat generation.

• Operating Power: Asustor advertises typical operating power consumption at around 16.2W. This figure will vary slightly depending on the type and number of hard drives installed and the workload. For reference, a typical LED light bulb consumes around 9-12W.
• Disk Hibernation Power: When the drives spin down due to inactivity, power consumption drops significantly, typically around 8.1W. This “sleep” mode helps conserve energy when the NAS isn’t actively being accessed.
• System Sleep S3: The NAS can enter an even deeper sleep state S3 when idle, reducing power consumption further to around 1.2W.
• Scheduling Power On/Off: ADM allows you to schedule when the NAS turns on and off. If you only use your NAS during specific hours e.g., weekdays 9 AM – 5 PM, you can schedule it to power down outside those times, saving even more energy.
• Wake-on-LAN WOL: If you schedule power off, you can enable WOL to wake up the NAS remotely via a network command. This means you don’t have to physically press the power button, offering convenience while still saving power.
• Environmental Impact: Lower power consumption not only saves you money but also reduces your carbon footprint, contributing to a more sustainable tech setup.

Acoustic Performance: Quiet Operation

A NAS that’s constantly whirring or humming can be a major annoyance, especially if it’s located in a living area or bedroom.

The AS3302T is generally regarded as a quiet NAS, largely due to its design and components.

• Fan Noise: The unit uses a single, temperature-controlled fan to dissipate heat.
  • Smart Fan Control: ADM allows you to adjust fan speed profiles e.g., Auto, Low, Medium, High, or even a custom setting based on temperature. In “Auto” mode, the fan generally spins slowly when idle or under light load, producing very little audible noise.
  • Hard Drive Impact: The primary source of noise in any NAS is often the hard drives themselves, especially traditional spinning platter HDDs. Choosing quieter NAS-optimized drives e.g., Western Digital Red Plus or Seagate IronWolf can further reduce overall noise. SSDs, of course, produce no mechanical noise.
• Vibration Dampening: While the AS3302T’s chassis is plastic, Asustor generally incorporates some level of vibration dampening for the drive bays to minimize resonance transmitted from the spinning drives.
• Idle vs. Load Noise:
  • Idle: When the drives are spun down and the NAS is idle, it’s virtually silent, making it suitable for noise-sensitive environments.
  • Under Load: During heavy file transfers or intense operations like simultaneous 4K transcoding, the hard drives will be active, and the fan might spin up slightly to cool the system. Even then, the noise level is usually described as a low hum rather than an intrusive whir.
• Placement: The noise level can also be perceived differently depending on where the NAS is placed. Tucking it away in a cabinet with good airflow or a less frequented room will further minimize any audible presence.

Overall, the Asustor Drivestor 2 Pro AS3302T scores high marks in energy efficiency and noise levels.

Its low power consumption helps save money and the planet, while its quiet operation ensures it can blend seamlessly into any home environment without becoming a distraction.

This makes it an ideal choice for users who prioritize an always-on, yet unobtrusive, storage solution.

Use Cases and Target Audience: Who Is This NAS For?

The Asustor Drivestor 2 Pro AS3302T isn’t designed to be a data center powerhouse, nor is it merely a glorified external hard drive.

It carves out a specific niche, offering excellent value for a particular set of users.

Understanding its strengths helps pinpoint who would benefit most from this device.

Home Users and Families

This is arguably the primary target audience for the AS3302T.

For families juggling multiple devices and an ever-growing collection of digital content, a NAS becomes an invaluable hub.

• Centralized File Storage: Consolidate photos, videos, documents, and podcast from all family members onto a single, accessible location. No more hunting for files across different hard drives or cloud services.
• Media Streaming:
  • Plex Media Server: Its hardware transcoding capabilities make it ideal for hosting a Plex server. Family members can stream movies and TV shows to smart TVs, tablets, phones, and gaming consoles, with the NAS handling any necessary format conversions on the fly.
  • DLNA/UPnP: Compatible with smart TVs and media players for direct media browsing and playback.
  • Mobile Apps: Asustor’s AiVideos, AiPodcast, and AiPhotos apps allow family members to access their media libraries remotely, perfect for watching home videos on vacation or listening to podcast on the go.
• Personal Cloud and File Synchronization: With EZ Sync and other file sync apps, each family member can have their own personal cloud, syncing important documents and photos across their devices. This offers the privacy and control of local storage without the recurring costs of public cloud services.
• Automatic Backups: Schedule regular backups for all family computers Windows, macOS, Linux to the NAS. This ensures that precious memories and important school/work files are protected from accidental deletion or hardware failure.
• Photo Management: Apps like Photo Gallery or integrating with third-party solutions allow for organizing, browsing, and sharing photo collections with ease.
• Surveillance: For families looking to add a security layer, the Surveillance Center app supports IP cameras, turning the NAS into a home security recorder.

Small Offices and Home Offices SOHO

For small businesses or individuals working from home, the AS3302T offers a cost-effective solution for essential data management needs.

• Centralized Document Storage and Collaboration: Create shared folders for different departments or projects. Team members can access and collaborate on documents, spreadsheets, and presentations.
• Data Backup and Archiving: Implement robust backup strategies for critical business data, ensuring continuity in case of workstation failure or data loss. The Btrfs snapshots are a powerful tool for recovering from accidental deletions or ransomware.
• Secure File Sharing: Share large files with clients or external partners securely using link sharing with password protection and expiry dates, avoiding email attachment size limits.
• Print Server: Connect a USB printer to the NAS to turn it into a network printer, allowing all office computers to print to it.
• Website Hosting Light: For very small, static websites or internal wikis, the AS3302T can host web applications like WordPress or Joomla via App Central.
• Cost-Effective Infrastructure: Avoids the need for expensive servers or recurring cloud storage fees for primary data storage, especially for businesses with moderate data needs.

Content Creators and Photographers Entry-Level

For aspiring content creators or photographers, the AS3302T can be a valuable starting point for managing their growing media libraries.

• Large File Storage: Store raw video footage, high-resolution photos, and project files. The 2.5GbE port significantly speeds up the transfer of these large files from editing workstations to the NAS.
• Project Archiving: Archive completed projects to free up space on editing drives, while still keeping them accessible for future reference.
• Backup of Assets: Crucially, it provides a reliable backup destination for irreplaceable creative assets.
• Light Photo Management: While not a dedicated photo editor, it can serve as a central repository for photo libraries, with features for browsing and sharing.

Not Ideal For:

• Heavy Virtualization: The 1GB RAM and ARM processor are not suitable for running multiple or resource-intensive virtual machines.
• Enterprise Environments: Lacks enterprise-grade features like redundant power supplies, advanced clustering, or Fibre Channel connectivity.
• Very Large User Bases: While capable for SOHO, it’s not designed for hundreds of concurrent users or petabytes of data.
• Demanding Database Applications: The random I/O performance wouldn’t be sufficient for high-transaction databases.

In essence, the Asustor Drivestor 2 Pro AS3302T is a versatile and reliable NAS solution for anyone who needs to centralize, protect, and access their digital data within a home or small office setting, with a particular strength in media serving and efficient file transfers.

It’s an excellent balance of features, performance, and affordability.

Setup and Maintenance: Getting Started and Keeping it Running Smoothly

One of the often-overlooked aspects of a NAS is the ease of initial setup and the ongoing maintenance required to keep it running optimally.

The Asustor Drivestor 2 Pro AS3302T, with its ADM operating system, aims to make these processes as user-friendly as possible.

Initial Setup Process

Getting your AS3302T up and running is a relatively straightforward process, even for those new to NAS devices.

Asustor provides tools to guide you through each step.

• Hardware Installation:
  1. Unboxing: The NAS unit, power adapter, Ethernet cable, and quick start guide are typically included.
  2. Drive Installation: The Drivestor 2 Pro features tool-less drive trays, making installation simple. Just slide your 3.5-inch hard drives into the trays until they click, then slide the trays into the bays. For 2.5-inch drives, you’ll typically need screws to secure them to the trays. Ensure the drives are compatible Asustor provides a compatibility list on their website.
  3. Connectivity: Connect the NAS to your router or switch using the provided Ethernet cable. Plug in the power adapter.
• Software Initialization ADM:
  1. Finding the NAS: Use Asustor’s EZ Connect utility downloadable from their website or the Asustor Control Center desktop application. These tools will automatically detect your NAS on the network. Alternatively, you can often find its IP address via your router’s connected devices list.
  2. Web Interface Access: Once detected, open your web browser and navigate to the NAS’s IP address or hostname.
  3. Initialization Wizard: ADM’s intuitive wizard takes over:
     • Installation Mode: Choose between “One-Click Setup” faster, automated or “Custom Setup” more control over RAID level, volume encryption, etc.. For most users, “Custom Setup” is recommended to ensure you select RAID 1 and Btrfs.
     • Drive Configuration: Select the RAID level e.g., RAID 1 for data protection and the file system e.g., Btrfs for snapshots.
     • Admin Account: Create your administrator username and a strong password. This is crucial for security.
     • Network Settings: Configure static IP or DHCP.
     • Time Zone: Set the correct time and date.
  4. Formatting and Installation: The NAS will then format the drives and install the ADM operating system. This process can take some time, depending on the drive size and type.
  5. Completion: Once finished, you’ll be presented with the ADM desktop, ready to configure shared folders, users, and apps.
• First Steps:
  • Create Shared Folders: Set up folders for different types of data e.g., Photos, Videos, Documents, Backups.
  • Create User Accounts: Add individual user accounts for family members or employees and set appropriate permissions for shared folders.
  • Enable 2-Step Verification: Go to Settings > Access Control > 2-Step Verification and enable it for enhanced security.
  • Update ADM: Check for and install the latest ADM firmware updates via Settings > ADM Settings > ADM Update.

Ongoing Maintenance and Management

Maintaining your NAS ensures its longevity, performance, and data integrity. ADM provides tools to make this relatively simple.

• ADM Updates:
  • Importance: Regular firmware updates are critical for security patches, bug fixes, and new features. Asustor frequently releases updates.
  • Process: ADM notifies you when updates are available. You can usually install them with a single click from the ADM interface. It’s generally recommended to apply updates promptly.
• Hard Drive Health Monitoring:
  • S.M.A.R.T. Checks: Configure scheduled S.M.A.R.T. Self-Monitoring, Analysis and Reporting Technology tests for your hard drives. This helps detect potential drive failures before they occur.
  • Health Status: ADM provides a visual indication of drive health in the Storage Manager. Pay attention to warnings or errors.
• Regular Backups Offsite/External:
  • 3-2-1 Rule: Remember the 3-2-1 backup rule: at least 3 copies of your data, on 2 different media types, with 1 copy offsite. Your NAS is one copy. consider external USB drives or cloud backup for additional copies.
  • Backup Plan/Cloud Backup: Utilize ADM’s Backup & Restore features to schedule backups to external USB drives, another NAS, or cloud services.
• User and Permission Management:
  • Regular Review: Periodically review user accounts and their access permissions, especially if roles change or individuals leave. Remove old accounts.
  • Strong Passwords: Enforce strong password policies for all users.
• App Updates: Keep installed applications updated via App Central to benefit from the latest features and security fixes.
• System Logs: Periodically review system logs for any unusual activity or error messages that might indicate underlying issues.
• Physical Maintenance:
  • Dust Removal: Every few months, gently clean dust from the NAS’s vents and fan to ensure proper airflow and cooling. Use compressed air, not a vacuum cleaner.
  • Cable Check: Ensure all network and power cables are securely connected.

By following these setup and maintenance guidelines, you can ensure your Asustor Drivestor 2 Pro AS3302T remains a reliable and secure hub for your digital life for years to come.

It’s about being proactive, not reactive, when it comes to your data.

Value Proposition and Conclusion: Is the Drivestor 2 Pro AS3302T Right for You?

So, after deep into the Asustor Drivestor 2 Pro AS3302T, the big question remains: Is this the right NAS for your needs? It’s a compelling contender in the 2-bay budget NAS market, offering a blend of features and performance that often surpasses its price point.

The Value Proposition

The AS3302T doesn’t just offer storage.

It provides a comprehensive digital hub that’s both affordable and powerful for its segment.

• Affordable Entry Point: It’s one of the most cost-effective 2-bay NAS units that still offers robust features, making it accessible to a wide audience.
• 2.5GbE Connectivity: This is a significant differentiator. While many competitors at this price point are still on Gigabit Ethernet, the 2.5GbE port provides a substantial performance boost for large file transfers, future-proofing your network storage. For anyone regularly moving multi-gigabyte files like video, large photo libraries, or project files, this is a must.
• Hardware Transcoding: The Realtek RTD1619B CPU with its dedicated hardware transcoding engine makes the AS3302T an excellent choice for a home media server, particularly for Plex. It can handle 4K H.265 to 1080p H.264 transcoding, ensuring smooth streaming to various devices.
• Energy Efficiency and Quiet Operation: For a device that’s meant to run 24/7, its low power consumption and quiet performance are significant advantages, making it suitable for any home environment without being a nuisance or adding substantially to your electricity bill.
• Data Protection: With support for RAID 1 and the Btrfs file system with snapshots and checksums, it offers strong data protection features against drive failure, accidental deletion, and even ransomware attacks.

Who Should Buy It?

• First-Time NAS Buyers: If you’re looking to centralize your family’s digital content, implement automated backups, and experiment with a personal cloud, the AS3302T offers a gentle but capable introduction to the world of NAS.
• Media Enthusiasts on a Budget: If your primary goal is to run a Plex Media Server and stream your 4K content to various devices, the hardware transcoding here is a huge win for the price.
• Home Users with Growing Data: For families or individuals accumulating large photo and video collections, the AS3302T provides a scalable and reliable storage solution.
• Small Office/Home Office SOHO Users: If you need a cost-effective solution for file sharing, secure collaboration, and robust data backups for a small team, it’s a very competent choice.
• Users Upgrading from Older/Slower NAS: If you’re coming from an older Gigabit Ethernet NAS or a basic USB drive enclosure and want a significant upgrade in speed and functionality without spending a fortune.
• Users Prioritizing Energy Efficiency: If you’re conscious about your energy consumption and want a quiet device that won’t disrupt your living space.

Who Might Look Elsewhere?

• Power Users Needing Raw CPU Horsepower: If you plan to run multiple demanding virtual machines, heavy Docker container workloads, or very high-transaction databases, an x86-based NAS with more RAM like Synology DS720+ or QNAP TS-x73 series would be more appropriate.
• Users Requiring Extensive RAM Expandability: The 1GB non-expandable RAM might be a limitation for some very specific, memory-intensive applications.
• Enterprise Environments: This is not an enterprise-grade solution and lacks features like redundant power supplies, multiple 10GbE ports, or advanced clustering.
• Users Who Need More Bays: If you anticipate needing more than two hard drives for greater capacity or more complex RAID configurations e.g., RAID 5/6, you’ll need to look at 4-bay or higher models.

Final Thoughts

The Asustor Drivestor 2 Pro AS3302T punches above its weight.

Its inclusion of 2.5GbE and hardware transcoding at an accessible price point makes it an incredibly attractive option.

It’s a solid, reliable, and user-friendly NAS that delivers excellent value for home users and small businesses seeking to centralize their data, streamline media streaming, and ensure robust data protection.

If your needs align with its strengths, the AS3302T is a smart investment that will serve as the backbone of your digital life for years to come.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Asustor Drivestor 2 Pro AS3302T?

The Asustor Drivestor 2 Pro AS3302T is a 2-bay Network Attached Storage NAS device designed for home users and small businesses to centralize, protect, and share digital data.

What processor does the AS3302T use?

It uses a Realtek RTD1619B quad-core processor clocked at up to 1.7 GHz.

How much RAM does the AS3302T have?

It comes with 1GB of DDR4 RAM, which is not expandable.

Does the AS3302T support 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet?

Yes, a key feature is its single 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet 2.5GbE port, offering speeds up to 2.5 times faster than standard Gigabit Ethernet.

How many drive bays does the AS3302T have?

It has two drive bays, supporting both 3.5-inch and 2.5-inch SATA hard drives or SSDs.

What RAID levels does the AS3302T support?

It supports RAID 0 striping, RAID 1 mirroring, JBOD Just a Bunch Of Disks, and Single Disk configurations. RAID 1 is recommended for data redundancy.

Does the AS3302T support Btrfs file system?

Yes, it supports both Btrfs and EXT4 file systems.

Btrfs is recommended for its data integrity features and snapshot capabilities.

What are Btrfs snapshots and why are they important?

Btrfs snapshots are point-in-time copies of your shared folders.

They are important because they allow you to quickly revert files or folders to a previous state, offering excellent protection against accidental deletions, file corruption, or ransomware attacks.

Can the AS3302T be used as a Plex Media Server?

Yes, the AS3302T is a capable Plex Media Server.

Its Realtek RTD1619B processor supports hardware transcoding for 4K H.265 HEVC video, making it suitable for streaming media to various devices.

What is ADM?

ADM stands for Asustor Data Master, which is the intuitive, desktop-like operating system that powers Asustor NAS devices, including the AS3302T.

Can I access my AS3302T from outside my home network?

Yes, Asustor offers features like EZ Connect and VPN server capabilities within ADM to enable secure remote access to your NAS.

Is the AS3302T energy efficient?

Yes, being an ARM-based NAS, it is very energy-efficient.

It consumes around 16.2W during operation and drops to about 8.1W in disk hibernation.

How loud is the AS3302T?

The AS3302T is generally very quiet, especially when idle.

Its temperature-controlled fan and design minimize noise, making it suitable for home environments.

Can I back up my computer to the AS3302T?

Yes, ADM provides various backup solutions, including “Backup Plan” for scheduled backups from Windows/macOS, and compatibility with popular third-party backup software.

Does the AS3302T support cloud backup?

Yes, ADM’s “Cloud Backup” feature allows you to back up data from your NAS to popular cloud services like Amazon S3, Backblaze B2, Google Drive, Dropbox, and OneDrive.

Can I sync files between my devices and the AS3302T?

Yes, Asustor’s “EZ Sync” application allows for bi-directional file synchronization between your computers/mobile devices and the NAS, similar to a personal cloud service.

Are there mobile apps for the AS3302T?

Yes, Asustor offers a suite of mobile apps like AiMaster for management, AiData for file access, AiVideos, AiPodcast, and AiPhotos for media streaming.

Can I use the AS3302T for home surveillance?

Yes, with the “Surveillance Center” app in ADM, you can connect IP cameras to the NAS and use it as a network video recorder NVR for home security. It typically comes with free camera licenses.

What kind of USB ports does the AS3302T have?

It has three USB 3.2 Gen 1 formerly USB 3.0 ports – one on the front and two on the rear.

Can I connect an external hard drive to the AS3302T?

Yes, you can connect external USB hard drives to its USB ports for additional storage, direct backup, or importing data.

Is it easy to set up the AS3302T for a first-time NAS user?

Yes, Asustor’s ADM operating system and its setup wizard are designed to be user-friendly, guiding new users through the initial configuration steps.

Does the AS3302T support 2-step verification for login?

Yes, ADM strongly supports and recommends enabling 2-step verification for enhanced login security.

What kind of hard drives should I use with the AS3302T?

It’s recommended to use NAS-specific hard drives like Western Digital Red Plus or Seagate IronWolf designed for 24/7 operation and vibration tolerance. Check Asustor’s compatibility list.

Can the AS3302T host a website?

Yes, through App Central, you can install web server packages like Apache or Nginx, along with CMS platforms like WordPress or Joomla, for light website hosting.

Does it support SSDs?

Yes, you can install 2.5-inch SATA SSDs in the drive bays for faster performance, though the 2.5GbE port will likely be the bottleneck before the SSDs.

What is the warranty for the Asustor Drivestor 2 Pro AS3302T?

Asustor typically offers a 3-year limited warranty on their NAS hardware, but it’s always best to check the specific warranty terms from your retailer or Asustor’s official website.

Can I replace a failed hard drive in RAID 1 on the AS3302T?

Yes, in a RAID 1 configuration, if one drive fails, your data remains safe on the other drive.

You can then hot-swap or replace the failed drive, and the NAS will automatically rebuild the array.

How often should I update the ADM firmware?

It is highly recommended to keep your ADM firmware updated regularly, as updates often include critical security patches, bug fixes, and new features.

Does the AS3302T have an HDMI port?

No, the Asustor Drivestor 2 Pro AS3302T does not have an HDMI port.

Its multimedia features rely on network streaming to client devices.

Is the AS3302T suitable for heavy virtualization or multiple concurrent database users?

No, while it can handle light tasks, its ARM processor and 1GB non-expandable RAM make it unsuitable for heavy virtualization workloads or high-performance, multi-user database applications.