If you’re eyeing a robust network-attached storage NAS solution that punches above its weight in performance and features, the Asustor Lockerstor 4 Gen 3 AS6804T is a serious contender. This isn’t just another box for your files.

It’s a powerhouse designed for power users, small businesses, and content creators who demand high-speed data access, reliable backups, and versatile application support.

With its Intel Celeron N5105 quad-core processor, dual 2.5GbE ports, and M.2 NVMe SSD slots for caching, the AS6804T offers a compelling blend of speed, expandability, and a comprehensive operating system that makes managing your data a breeze.

It’s an investment, but one that promises significant returns in efficiency and peace of mind for your digital assets.

Feature/Product	Asustor Lockerstor 4 Gen 3 AS6804T	Synology DiskStation DS923+	QNAP TS-464	Western Digital My Cloud EX4100	TerraMaster F4-423	Buffalo TeraStation 3420DN	Netgear ReadyNAS 424
Target User	Power Users, SMBs, Content Creators	SMBs, Prosumers, Home Labs	Prosumers, SMBs, IT Enthusiasts	Home Offices, Small Teams	Home Offices, Small Businesses	Small Businesses, Data Backup	Small Business, Data Protection
Processor	Intel Celeron N5105 Quad-core	AMD Ryzen R1600 Dual-core	Intel Celeron N5095 Quad-core	Marvell ARMADA 388 Dual-core	Intel Celeron N5105 Quad-core	Annapurna Labs Alpine AL214 Quad-core	Intel Atom C3538 Quad-core
RAM Base/Max	4GB DDR4 expandable to 16GB	4GB DDR4 expandable to 32GB	4GB DDR4 expandable to 16GB	2GB DDR3 non-upgradable	4GB DDR4 expandable to 32GB	1GB DDR3 non-upgradable	2GB DDR4 expandable to 16GB
Drive Bays	4 3.5″/2.5″	4 3.5″/2.5″	4 3.5″/2.5″	4 3.5″/2.5″	4 3.5″/2.5″	4 3.5″/2.5″	4 3.5″/2.5″
M.2 NVMe Slots	2	2	2	0	2	0	0
Ethernet Ports	2 x 2.5GbE	2 x 1GbE optional 10GbE via add-in card	2 x 2.5GbE	2 x 1GbE	2 x 2.5GbE	2 x 1GbE	2 x 1GbE
Operating System	ADM Asustor Data Master	DSM DiskStation Manager	QTS QNAP Turbo Station	My Cloud OS	TOS TerraMaster Operating System	LinkStation/TeraStation OS	ReadyNAS OS
Virtualization Support	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes
Transcoding	4K H.265	4K H.264/H.265 limited	4K H.264/H.265	No	4K H.265	No	No

Table of Contents

Unpacking the Asustor Lockerstor 4 Gen 3 AS6804T: Initial Impressions

When you first get your hands on the Asustor Lockerstor 4 Gen 3 AS6804T, you’ll notice the build quality.

It feels solid, well-constructed, and designed for long-term operation.

Asustor has a knack for balancing aesthetics with practicality, and this unit is no exception.

It’s compact enough to fit into most home or office environments without being obtrusive, yet substantial enough to house four hard drives and offer impressive performance.

Design and Build Quality

The AS6804T features a sleek, minimalist design with a black brushed aluminum finish that looks professional. Amazon Fire Tv Omni Mini Led 75 Inch Review

The drive bays are easily accessible at the front, equipped with lockable trays to secure your drives. This isn’t just about looks.

It’s about practical design choices that enhance usability and security.

Robust Chassis: The metal chassis provides excellent heat dissipation and structural integrity, crucial for 24/7 operation.
Hot-Swappable Bays: All four drive bays are hot-swappable, meaning you can replace a faulty drive without shutting down the NAS, minimizing downtime.
LED Indicators: Clear LED indicators on the front panel provide quick status updates for network activity, disk health, and system status.
Efficient Cooling: Asustor employs a smart fan control system that keeps the unit cool under load while maintaining relatively quiet operation, a significant consideration if it’s placed in a living or office space.

Connectivity and Expansion Ports

The AS6804T shines in its connectivity options, offering a generous array of ports that cater to diverse needs.

This is where it starts to differentiate itself from many competitors in its class.

Dual 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet Ports: This is a major highlight. Two 2.5GbE ports mean you can leverage Link Aggregation for theoretical speeds up to 5Gbps, or dedicate one port for specific tasks, providing much faster network throughput than traditional 1GbE NAS units. This is a must for large file transfers, multi-user environments, and high-bandwidth applications like 4K video editing.
USB 3.2 Gen 2 Ports: You get three USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports one on the front, two on the rear. These provide speeds up to 10Gbps, ideal for connecting external hard drives for backups, printers, or uninterruptible power supplies UPS.
HDMI 2.0 Port: The inclusion of an HDMI 2.0 port allows you to connect the NAS directly to a display, transforming it into a media center or a thin client running ADM’s desktop interface. This is a unique feature that some users will find incredibly valuable for direct media playback or administration.
M.2 NVMe SSD Slots: Perhaps one of the most impactful features for performance, the two M.2 NVMe SSD slots allow you to install high-speed SSDs for caching. This significantly accelerates read and write speeds, especially for frequently accessed files, making a noticeable difference in overall system responsiveness.

Performance Benchmarks: Speed, Responsiveness, and Real-World Usage

When you’re talking about a NAS, performance isn’t just a number on a spec sheet. Tp Link Tapo Solarcam C402 Kit Review

It’s about how quickly you can access your data, how smoothly applications run, and how effortlessly it handles demanding tasks.

The Asustor Lockerstor 4 Gen 3 AS6804T, with its Intel Celeron N5105 processor and dual 2.5GbE ports, is built to deliver.

Read/Write Speeds

The core performance metric for any NAS is its sequential read and write speeds.

With 2.5GbE ports, the AS6804T is designed to push past the limits of traditional Gigabit Ethernet.

Single 2.5GbE Performance: Expect real-world sequential read and write speeds well over 200 MB/s, often approaching 280-290 MB/s for large files, depending on the drives used and network configuration. This is more than double what a single 1GbE connection can offer.
Link Aggregation LAG Performance: When both 2.5GbE ports are teamed Link Aggregation, and your network switch supports it, you can see theoretical speeds up to 5Gbps. In practice, this translates to sequential speeds that can push towards 500 MB/s or even higher for very large files and multiple concurrent connections. This is a significant leap for environments with multiple users accessing the NAS simultaneously or for tasks like 4K video editing directly from the NAS.
NVMe Cache Impact: The two M.2 NVMe SSD slots are not just for show. When configured as a read/write cache, they dramatically improve random I/O performance, which is critical for databases, virtual machines, and small file operations. While sequential speeds get a boost, the biggest impact is felt in responsiveness and the handling of mixed workloads.

Configuration	Sequential Read MB/s	Sequential Write MB/s	Random Read IOPS	Random Write IOPS
Single 2.5GbE HDD	~280	~270	~1,500	~1,200
Link Aggregation HDD	~480	~450	~2,500	~2,000
Link Aggregation HDD + NVMe Cache	~500+	~480+	~10,000+	~8,000+

Note: Speeds are approximate and can vary based on hard drives, network infrastructure, and workload. Jbl Tour Pro 3 Review

Processor and RAM Utilization

The Intel Celeron N5105 quad-core processor and 4GB of DDR4 RAM expandable to 16GB are a solid foundation for multitasking. This isn’t just about raw speed.

It’s about efficiency and the ability to run multiple services without bogging down.

Multimedia Transcoding: The N5105 includes Intel UHD Graphics with hardware acceleration for H.264 and H.265 HEVC 4K transcoding. This means smooth on-the-fly video conversion for streaming to various devices, reducing the load on client devices.
Virtual Machine and Container Support: With ample RAM and a capable processor, the AS6804T can comfortably host virtual machines VMs using VirtualBox or run containerized applications via Docker. This extends its utility beyond just file storage into a mini-server for various services.
Multiple Concurrent Connections: Even with multiple users accessing files, streaming media, and running backups simultaneously, the N5105 maintains responsiveness, preventing bottlenecks that plague less powerful NAS units.

Power Consumption and Noise Levels

No one wants a noisy, power-hungry appliance in their home or office.

Asustor has done a commendable job in optimizing the AS6804T for efficiency.

Power Efficiency: In standby mode, the AS6804T consumes very little power, typically under 15W with drives spun down. Under full load, it might peak around 40-50W, which is respectable for its performance class. This contributes to lower electricity bills over time.
Acoustic Profile: The fan is intelligently controlled and generally quiet during light loads. Under heavy load, you might hear the fan spin up, but it’s typically a low hum and not overly distracting. The noise level from the hard drives themselves often outweighs the fan noise, especially with traditional mechanical drives. Using quieter NAS-specific drives or SSDs can further reduce overall acoustic output.

ADM Operating System: Features, Usability, and Application Ecosystem

The hardware is only one half of the equation. the software ties it all together. Legacy Of Kain Soul Reaver 12 Remastered Review

Asustor Data Master ADM is the intuitive and feature-rich operating system that powers the Lockerstor 4 Gen 3 AS6804T.

It’s designed to be accessible for beginners while offering advanced functionalities for experienced users.

User Interface and Ease of Use

ADM greets you with a familiar desktop-like interface accessible via your web browser.

Its icon-based navigation and clear menus make it easy to find what you need.

Desktop Experience: The ADM desktop is clean, responsive, and allows for multitasking with multiple application windows open. You can drag and drop icons, create shortcuts, and customize the background.
App Central: This is Asustor’s app store, a central hub for downloading and installing additional functionalities. It’s well-organized, with categories for multimedia, backup, business, development tools, and more. This ecosystem is constantly growing, adding value to your NAS over time.
Wizard-Driven Setup: Initial setup is guided by a user-friendly wizard that walks you through drive initialization, network configuration, and user creation, making the process straightforward even for first-time NAS owners.

Key Features and Applications

ADM offers a comprehensive suite of applications that extend the utility of your NAS far beyond simple file storage. Acemagic X1 Review

File Management:
- File Explorer: A web-based file manager that supports drag-and-drop, sharing links, and direct editing of certain file types.
- EZ Connect: Simplifies remote access to your NAS without complex port forwarding configurations, using Asustor’s DDNS service.
- Cloud Sync: Integrates with popular cloud storage services like Dropbox, Google Drive, OneDrive, and Amazon S3, allowing for seamless synchronization and backup.
Backup and Data Protection:
- Backup Plan: A versatile tool for scheduling backups from your computer to the NAS, and from the NAS to external drives, other NAS units, or cloud storage.
- Snapshot Center: Provides point-in-time snapshots of your data, offering a robust recovery solution against accidental deletions, ransomware, or corruption. This is a critical feature for data integrity.
- DataSync for S3: For advanced users, this allows direct backup and synchronization with Amazon S3 compatible cloud storage, leveraging object storage benefits.
- MyArchive: Asustor’s unique cold backup technology that allows you to turn individual hard drives into removable storage archives. You can swap them in and out like giant cartridges, perfect for offline backups or distributing large datasets.
Multimedia Capabilities:
- LooksGood & AiVideos: Asustor’s multimedia suite for organizing, streaming, and transcoding videos. With the AS6804T’s hardware transcoding, 4K video playback is smooth.
- SoundsGood & AiPodcast: For managing and streaming your podcast collection.
- Photo Gallery & AiFoto: Tools for organizing and sharing your photo library, with mobile app integration for automatic photo backup from your phone.
- Plex Media Server: Fully supported, allowing you to turn your NAS into a powerful media server with advanced features like library management, metadata fetching, and remote streaming.
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- VirtualBox & Docker: As mentioned, the ability to run VMs and containers significantly expands the NAS’s capabilities for hosting various business applications, testing environments, or custom services.
- Surveillance Center: Supports up to 20 IP cameras 4 licenses included, additional purchasable for a comprehensive video surveillance solution with motion detection, recording schedules, and mobile viewing.
- VPN Server/Client: Securely access your home network or connect to external VPN services directly from the NAS.
- Web Server/Database Server: Host websites or databases directly on the NAS for small-scale web projects or internal tools.

Security Features

Data security is paramount, and ADM integrates several layers of protection.

AES 256-bit Folder Encryption: Encrypt shared folders to protect sensitive data even if the drives are physically removed.
Firewall and Network Defender: Control network access and protect against brute-force attacks.
Two-Factor Authentication 2FA: Add an extra layer of security to user logins.
SSL Certificates: Secure web access to your ADM interface.
System Snapshots: A powerful defense against ransomware, allowing you to revert to a previous, unencrypted state.

Data Protection and Redundancy: Ensuring Your Information is Safe

One of the primary reasons to invest in a NAS like the Asustor Lockerstor 4 Gen 3 AS6804T is for robust data protection. It’s not just about storing files.

It’s about ensuring they’re safe from drive failures, accidental deletions, and even ransomware.

RAID Levels Supported

RAID Redundant Array of Independent Disks is fundamental to data protection on a NAS.

The AS6804T supports a range of RAID configurations, allowing you to balance capacity, performance, and redundancy based on your needs. Bitdefender Antivirus Plus Review

RAID 0 Striping: Offers maximum performance and capacity by striping data across drives without redundancy. Not recommended for critical data as the failure of any single drive results in data loss.
RAID 1 Mirroring: Provides full redundancy by mirroring data across two drives. If one drive fails, the data is still accessible on the other. Excellent for critical data but halves usable capacity. Requires at least two drives.
RAID 5 Striping with Parity: A popular choice for balancing performance, capacity, and redundancy. It stripes data and parity information across at least three drives. It can withstand the failure of one drive without data loss.
RAID 6 Striping with Dual Parity: Offers higher fault tolerance than RAID 5 by including two parity blocks, meaning it can withstand the failure of up to two drives simultaneously. Requires at least four drives. This is often recommended for very critical data or larger arrays where rebuilding might be lengthy.
RAID 10 Striping of Mirrors: Combines mirroring and striping at least four drives. Offers excellent performance and redundancy can withstand multiple drive failures, as long as they are not in the same mirrored pair. Provides half the raw capacity.
Single Disk Basic: Each drive operates independently. No redundancy.
JBOD Just a Bunch Of Disks: Combines drives into a single large volume. No redundancy. failure of one drive can affect all data.

Asustor also offers its proprietary “MyArchive” hot-swappable cold backup technology, allowing you to use individual drives as removable backup archives.

Snapshot Technology

Snapshots are a must for data recovery.

Unlike traditional backups, snapshots create point-in-time copies of your data, allowing you to revert to a previous state instantly.

This is invaluable for recovering from accidental deletions, file corruption, or ransomware attacks.

Volume-Level Snapshots: ADM allows you to schedule and manage snapshots for Btrfs volumes. Btrfs is a modern file system that offers features like self-healing and snapshots.
Rapid Recovery: If your data becomes corrupted or encrypted by ransomware, you can easily browse previous snapshots and restore specific files, folders, or even the entire volume to a clean state.
Minimal Performance Impact: Snapshots on Btrfs are very efficient, taking up minimal space initially and having little impact on performance.

External Backup Options

While internal RAID provides protection against drive failure, it’s not a substitute for a comprehensive 3-2-1 backup strategy 3 copies of your data, on 2 different media, with 1 offsite. The AS6804T offers numerous ways to get your data off the device. Apple Ipados 18 Review

USB External Drives: Connect external hard drives directly to the USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports for fast local backups.
rsync: Use rsync for backing up to another NAS or server on your local network or over the internet.
FTP/SFTP: Support for traditional file transfer protocols for offsite backups.
Cloud Backup: Integrate with a variety of cloud storage services for offsite, geographically dispersed backups. This is crucial for protecting against site-specific disasters.
- Public Clouds: Amazon S3, Backblaze B2, Azure Blob Storage, Dropbox, Google Drive, OneDrive.
- Specific Backup Services: Integrations with services like Acronis Cyber Protect Home Office for comprehensive device and cloud backup.

Use Cases: Who Benefits Most from the AS6804T?

The Asustor Lockerstor 4 Gen 3 AS6804T is a versatile machine, but its specific features and performance profile make it particularly well-suited for certain user groups and applications.

Understanding these can help you determine if it’s the right fit for your needs.

Content Creators and Media Professionals

For anyone dealing with large files – photographers, videographers, graphic designers – the AS6804T is a strong candidate.

High-Speed Transfers: The dual 2.5GbE ports, especially with Link Aggregation, mean significantly faster ingest of raw footage and project files from cameras or editing workstations. This reduces waiting times and keeps workflows fluid.
Direct Editing: With NVMe caching and fast network speeds, it’s feasible to edit video projects directly from the NAS, without having to copy files to your local machine, saving valuable drive space and time.
4K Transcoding: The integrated graphics with hardware transcoding capabilities ensure that sharing and streaming your completed projects, or even proxies, is smooth across various devices, without taxing your editing workstation.
Massive Storage for Archives: Four drive bays allow for substantial storage capacity for archiving past projects, keeping them readily accessible yet safely stored.

Small and Medium-Sized Businesses SMBs

SMBs often need robust, reliable, and scalable storage solutions without the complexity and cost of enterprise-grade servers. The AS6804T hits that sweet spot. Dji Mic Mini Review

Centralized File Server: Provides a secure, centralized location for all business documents, spreadsheets, and presentations, accessible by all employees with appropriate permissions.
Collaborative Workflows: Enables multiple users to access and work on shared files simultaneously without significant slowdowns, thanks to the powerful processor and fast networking.
Reliable Backups: Comprehensive backup options, including scheduled backups from client PCs, snapshot technology, and cloud synchronization, ensure business continuity and disaster recovery capabilities.
Virtualization/Container Hosting: Small businesses can use the AS6804T to host lightweight virtual machines for specific applications e.g., a simple CRM, project management tool or containerized services e.g., Docker applications, reducing the need for dedicated servers.
Surveillance Integration: For businesses with physical premises, the Surveillance Center offers an affordable way to set up and manage an IP camera system for security monitoring.

Power Users and Home Lab Enthusiasts

If you’re a tech enthusiast, a home lab tinkerer, or someone who just demands more from their home network, the AS6804T offers plenty to get excited about.

Media Server Hub: Beyond just storing media, it can run Plex Media Server, Jellyfin, or Emby, providing a professional-grade streaming experience throughout your home and even remotely.
Personal Cloud: Create your own private cloud storage solution, giving you full control over your data, unlike public cloud services.
Home Automation Hub: With Docker support, you can run home automation platforms like Home Assistant or Node-RED directly on the NAS.
Self-Hosting Services: Host your own personal website, blog, or even a game server depending on the game’s resource requirements from your home.
Advanced Networking: Experiment with advanced networking features, VPNs, and potentially even routing capabilities if desired.

Storage Management and Flexibility: Optimizing Your Disks

Effective storage management is crucial for any NAS, allowing you to maximize capacity, optimize performance, and ensure data integrity.

The Asustor Lockerstor 4 Gen 3 AS6804T, coupled with ADM, offers a flexible and robust set of tools for this purpose.

Volume Creation and Management

When setting up your NAS, creating storage volumes is the first step. Greengeeks Web Hosting Review

ADM makes this process straightforward while providing ample customization.

Multiple Volume Types: You can create single-volume RAID configurations, or multiple volumes, each with its own RAID level and file system e.g., one RAID 5 volume for general data, a separate RAID 1 volume for critical files.
Btrfs vs. EXT4: ADM supports both EXT4 and Btrfs file systems.
- EXT4: A well-established and reliable Linux file system, good for general purpose storage.
- Btrfs: A modern, next-generation file system offering advanced features like snapshots, data checksums for self-healing, and shared folder quotas. For data integrity and advanced recovery, Btrfs is generally recommended, especially if you plan to utilize snapshots.
Thin Provisioning: For Btrfs volumes, thin provisioning allows you to allocate more storage space than physically available. The volume expands as needed, optimizing storage utilization.
Storage Pool Management: ADM visualizes your disks and storage pools clearly, making it easy to see disk health, capacity usage, and RAID status.

Drive Compatibility and Considerations

Choosing the right hard drives is as important as choosing the right NAS.

The AS6804T supports both 3.5-inch and 2.5-inch drives.

NAS-Optimized Drives: It is highly recommended to use NAS-specific hard drives e.g., Western Digital Red Plus, Seagate IronWolf. These drives are designed for 24/7 operation, vibrational tolerance, and have specific firmware optimizations for RAID environments.
SSD Cache Recommendations: For the M.2 NVMe SSD slots, consider using high-endurance NVMe SSDs, especially if you plan on write caching, as these will undergo a lot of write cycles. While consumer SSDs can work, enterprise-grade or prosumer NVMe drives designed for heavier workloads will offer better longevity.
Capacity Planning: With four bays, you can start with a smaller capacity and expand later. For example, two 8TB drives in RAID 1 give you 8TB usable. later, you can add two more 8TB drives and migrate to RAID 5 or RAID 10 for increased capacity and redundancy.

SSD Caching Configuration

The dual M.2 NVMe slots are a significant performance enhancer.

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Correctly configuring the SSD cache is key to maximizing its benefits.

Read-Only Cache: Faster access to frequently read data. Ideal for media streaming or environments with many users reading the same files. Less wear on the SSDs.
Read-Write Cache: Accelerates both read and write operations. Provides the biggest performance boost but also puts more wear on the SSDs. Requires two SSDs for redundancy in the cache RAID 1 for the cache volume to prevent data loss if a cache SSD fails before data is written to the HDDs.
Capacity Recommendations: The size of your SSD cache should be proportional to your active dataset. A good rule of thumb is 1-2% of your total HDD capacity for read-only, and potentially 5-10% for read-write, depending on your workload.
Monitoring: ADM provides tools to monitor the health and effectiveness of your SSD cache, allowing you to fine-tune its usage.

Power User Features and Advanced Configurations

Beyond the core functionalities, the Asustor Lockerstor 4 Gen 3 AS6804T offers a suite of advanced features and configurations that appeal to power users, IT professionals, and those who want to push the boundaries of their NAS.

Virtualization and Containerization

The AS6804T is well-equipped for virtualization, allowing you to run other operating systems or isolated application environments.

VirtualBox: ADM supports installing Oracle VirtualBox via App Central. This enables you to run full virtual machines e.g., Windows, Linux distributions directly on the NAS. This is fantastic for testing software, hosting specialized applications, or creating isolated environments.
Docker: The Docker application from App Central allows you to deploy and manage containerized applications. Docker containers are lightweight, portable, and efficient, making them ideal for running web servers, databases, media servers like Plex in a container, home automation tools, and a myriad of other services. This opens up a vast ecosystem of pre-built applications.
Resource Allocation: ADM allows you to allocate CPU cores and RAM to VMs and containers, ensuring optimal performance for your hosted services without starving the core NAS functions.

Network Configuration and Advanced Security

Leveraging the dual 2.5GbE ports goes beyond just Link Aggregation.

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ADM provides granular control over network settings.

Link Aggregation Modes: Supports various LACP Link Aggregation Control Protocol modes for optimal performance and redundancy, compatible with enterprise-grade switches.
Multi-channel SMB: Windows and Linux clients can often leverage multiple 2.5GbE connections simultaneously for a single file transfer without requiring LACP on the switch, as long as the client also supports multi-channel SMB. This is a big win for direct connections or simple peer-to-peer setups.
VLAN Support: For more complex network environments, VLAN tagging allows you to segment your network traffic, enhancing security and organization.
VPN Server: Set up OpenVPN or PPTP VPN servers on the NAS to securely access your home network from anywhere, or to encrypt your internet traffic when browsing from untrusted networks.
Firewall and Security Policies: Configure detailed firewall rules to control inbound and outbound network traffic, blocking unauthorized access attempts.
Network Defender: Automatically blocks IP addresses that attempt too many failed login attempts, protecting against brute-force attacks.

Developer Tools and Customization

For those who like to tinker and develop, ADM provides a foundational layer.

Command Line Interface CLI: Full SSH access allows advanced users to interact with the underlying Linux system, install custom packages, or run scripts.
Python/Perl Support: Many developer tools and scripts can be run directly on the NAS.
Web Server Apache/Nginx: Host static websites or dynamic web applications using PHP and popular databases like MySQL or MariaDB.
API for Integration: Asustor provides an API, allowing developers to integrate ADM functionalities into custom applications or scripts. This is useful for automating tasks or building custom dashboards.

Comparison with Competitors: Why Choose Asustor?

When you’re looking at a NAS, especially in the prosumer/SMB space, you’ll inevitably compare Asustor to the big names: Synology and QNAP.

While each brand has its strengths, the Asustor Lockerstor 4 Gen 3 AS6804T presents a compelling case, particularly for those prioritizing raw performance and certain advanced features.

Asustor vs. Synology

Synology is often lauded for its DiskStation Manager DSM operating system, which is arguably the most user-friendly and polished NAS OS. Asus Proart Pz13 Review

DSM vs. ADM: Synology’s DSM has a very strong reputation for ease of use and a vast, well-integrated app ecosystem. ADM has made significant strides and is now very competitive, offering a similar desktop-like experience and a growing App Central. While DSM might still have a slight edge in polish for beginners, ADM often provides more direct access to advanced Linux features and flexibility.
Hardware Parity: The Synology DS923+ is a direct competitor in terms of form factor.
- Processor: The DS923+ uses an AMD Ryzen R1600. While capable, the Intel Celeron N5105 in the AS6804T generally offers superior integrated graphics for media transcoding and slightly better single-core performance.
- Networking: This is a key differentiator. The DS923+ comes with dual 1GbE ports and requires an expensive optional add-in card for 10GbE. The AS6804T includes dual 2.5GbE ports standard, offering a significant out-of-the-box speed advantage over 1GbE without needing additional hardware. This is a massive cost-saving and performance benefit.
- M.2 NVMe: Both offer two NVMe slots for caching.
Value Proposition: For a similar price point, the AS6804T often delivers better networking performance straight out of the box, making it a stronger value for those who need faster file transfers without immediately jumping to 10GbE.

Asustor vs. QNAP

QNAP is often seen as the more “tech-forward” or “enterprise-lite” option, known for powerful hardware and extensive features, sometimes at the expense of simplicity.

QTS vs. ADM: QNAP’s QTS is highly customizable and feature-rich, often appealing to users who want granular control and are comfortable with a more complex interface. ADM strikes a balance, offering many advanced features while maintaining a user-friendly design. QNAP can sometimes feel a bit bloated due to the sheer volume of options.
Hardware Similarities: The QNAP TS-464 is very similar to the AS6804T in hardware specifications, both featuring Intel Celeron N5095/N5105 processors, dual 2.5GbE, and NVMe slots.
- Performance: Performance between the AS6804T and TS-464 is often neck-and-neck, given their similar processor and networking capabilities.
- Build Quality: Both brands offer solid build quality, though some users might find QNAP’s aesthetic a bit more “industrial.”
Software Ecosystem: Both have robust app stores App Central for Asustor, App Center for QNAP. QNAP often has a slight edge in the sheer number of niche or enterprise-oriented applications, while Asustor focuses on a curated, stable selection.
Focus: QNAP sometimes introduces features that are bleeding edge but might have a steeper learning curve or require more troubleshooting. Asustor generally focuses on delivering stable, well-integrated features.

Other Competitors

While Synology and QNAP are the main rivals, other brands like TerraMaster and Western Digital also exist.

TerraMaster: Offers compelling hardware at aggressive price points, often matching Asustor and QNAP’s specifications e.g., TerraMaster F4-423 also uses the N5105 and 2.5GbE. Their TOS operating system has improved significantly but is still generally considered less mature and feature-rich than ADM, DSM, or QTS. It’s a good budget option but might lack some of the polish and application depth.
Western Digital My Cloud: Primarily targets the home user and very small office with a focus on simplicity. While easy to set up, their My Cloud OS is far less powerful and flexible than ADM, lacking advanced features like virtualization, comprehensive app ecosystems, or high-speed networking options found in the AS6804T. Not a direct competitor for power users.

In summary, the Asustor Lockerstor 4 Gen 3 AS6804T carves out a strong niche by offering high-performance hardware, particularly the dual 2.5GbE, at a competitive price, backed by a continually improving and feature-rich ADM operating system that balances power with usability.

If out-of-the-box network speed and a robust feature set without excessive complexity are your top priorities, Asustor makes a very strong case. Table Tool Laptops

Conclusion and Final Thoughts: Is the AS6804T Right for You?

So, after deep into the Asustor Lockerstor 4 Gen 3 AS6804T, the big question remains: Is this the right NAS for your setup? If you’ve been nodding along to the talk of 2.5GbE, NVMe caching, and advanced multimedia capabilities, then chances are, this unit is squarely in your wheelhouse.

The AS6804T isn’t just about throwing specs at a wall.

It’s about providing practical, high-performance solutions for common pain points in data management.

The dual 2.5GbE ports alone are a significant differentiator, offering a tangible speed boost for anyone moving large files or dealing with multiple concurrent users.

This feature, combined with the capable Intel Celeron N5105 processor and the option for M.2 NVMe SSD caching, ensures that bottlenecks are minimized, and your data flows freely. MSI Prestige 14 Evo (2023)

ADM, Asustor’s operating system, has matured into a formidable platform.

It’s user-friendly enough for those new to NAS but packed with the advanced features that power users and small businesses crave: robust backup solutions, comprehensive data protection with snapshots, versatile multimedia apps, and the invaluable support for virtualization and Docker containers.

This means your NAS can be more than just a file server.

It can be a mini-server for a myriad of services, saving you from needing additional dedicated hardware.

Who is this NAS best for?

Content Creators: If you’re a photographer, videographer, or graphic designer, the speed for file transfers and direct editing capabilities will be a must.
Small to Medium Businesses SMBs: It provides a centralized, secure, and performant storage solution for collaborative work, reliable backups, and even light application hosting.
Power Users and Home Lab Enthusiasts: For those who want to self-host services, run VMs, or build a robust media server, the AS6804T offers ample power and flexibility.

Considerations:

Cost: While offering excellent value for its features, it’s not the cheapest 4-bay NAS on the market. However, the performance and feature set generally justify the investment, especially when compared to similarly specced competitors.
Networking Infrastructure: To truly maximize the 2.5GbE ports, you’ll need compatible network hardware e.g., a 2.5GbE or multi-gig switch, network adapters for your client devices. If your entire network is still 1GbE, you won’t see the full benefit until you upgrade.
Learning Curve Minor: While ADM is user-friendly, getting the most out of advanced features like Docker, virtualization, or complex network setups might require a bit of tinkering and learning, though Asustor’s documentation and community support are helpful.

Ultimately, the Asustor Lockerstor 4 Gen 3 AS6804T AS6804T stands out as a powerful, feature-rich, and future-proof NAS solution.

It strikes an excellent balance between performance, usability, and advanced capabilities.

If your data demands speed, security, and versatility, and you’re ready to invest in a robust digital hub, the AS6804T is a highly recommended choice that won’t leave you wanting for more.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Asustor Lockerstor 4 Gen 3 AS6804T?

The Asustor Lockerstor 4 Gen 3 AS6804T is a 4-bay Network Attached Storage NAS device designed for high-performance data storage, backup, and multimedia streaming for power users, small businesses, and content creators.

What processor does the AS6804T use?

It uses an Intel Celeron N5105 quad-core processor.

How much RAM does the AS6804T come with, and is it expandable?

It comes with 4GB of DDR4 RAM, which is expandable up to 16GB.

Does the AS6804T support M.2 NVMe SSDs?

Yes, it has two M.2 NVMe SSD slots for read-only or read-write caching, which significantly improves performance.

What kind of network ports does the AS6804T have?

It features dual 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet 2.5GbE ports, allowing for faster data transfers and Link Aggregation up to 5Gbps.

Can I connect external drives to the AS6804T?

Yes, it has three USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports 10Gbps for connecting external hard drives, printers, or other peripherals.

Does the AS6804T have an HDMI output?

Yes, it includes an HDMI 2.0 port for direct connection to a display, allowing for media playback or direct ADM interface access.

What operating system does the AS6804T run?

It runs Asustor Data Master ADM, Asustor’s proprietary NAS operating system.

Can I run virtual machines on the AS6804T?

Yes, the AS6804T supports running virtual machines via VirtualBox and containerized applications via Docker.

Does the AS6804T support 4K video transcoding?

Yes, thanks to its Intel Celeron N5105 processor with integrated graphics, it supports 4K H.264 and H.265 HEVC hardware transcoding.

What RAID levels does the AS6804T support?

It supports RAID 0, 1, 5, 6, 10, JBOD, and Single Disk configurations.

Does the AS6804T support snapshots?

Yes, when using the Btrfs file system, it supports volume-level snapshots for robust data recovery.

How loud is the Asustor Lockerstor 4 Gen 3 AS6804T?

It features a smart fan control system.

It’s generally quiet during light loads, with fan noise increasing under heavy load, though hard drive noise can often be more noticeable.

How much power does the AS6804T consume?

Power consumption varies, but it’s designed for efficiency, typically consuming less than 15W in standby and around 40-50W under full load.

Is the RAM upgradable by the user?

Yes, the RAM is user-upgradable up to 16GB.

Can I use regular desktop hard drives in the AS6804T?

While technically possible, it’s highly recommended to use NAS-specific hard drives e.g., Western Digital Red Plus, Seagate IronWolf designed for 24/7 operation and RAID environments.

What is the benefit of 2.5GbE ports over 1GbE?

2.5GbE ports offer 2.5 times the theoretical speed of traditional 1GbE, enabling much faster file transfers, especially for large files or multiple concurrent users.

Can I access my AS6804T remotely?

Yes, ADM provides tools like EZ Connect and VPN server capabilities for secure remote access.

Does the AS6804T support cloud synchronization?

Yes, it integrates with popular cloud storage services like Dropbox, Google Drive, OneDrive, and Amazon S3 for backup and synchronization.

What is MyArchive, and how does it work?

MyArchive is Asustor’s cold backup technology that allows you to turn individual hard drives into removable storage archives for offline backups or data distribution.

How many IP cameras can the Surveillance Center support?

The Surveillance Center supports up to 20 IP cameras, with 4 free camera licenses included.

Can the AS6804T act as a media server?

Yes, it can run apps like LooksGood, SoundsGood, and Photo Gallery, and fully supports popular third-party media servers like Plex.

What are the main differences between Asustor and Synology NAS devices?

Asustor like the AS6804T often offers better out-of-the-box networking e.g., 2.5GbE standard for the price, while Synology is often praised for its highly polished and user-friendly DSM operating system.

What are the main differences between Asustor and QNAP NAS devices?

Asustor and QNAP often have similar hardware specifications e.g., Intel Celeron processors, 2.5GbE. QNAP’s QTS is highly customizable and feature-rich, appealing to advanced users, while Asustor’s ADM balances power with a slightly more streamlined user experience.

Is the AS6804T suitable for a home office?

Yes, its robust performance, comprehensive backup features, and business applications make it an excellent choice for home offices and small businesses.

Does the AS6804T support encrypted folders?

Yes, ADM allows for AES 256-bit folder encryption to protect sensitive data.

How does NVMe caching improve performance?

NVMe caching accelerates frequently accessed data read cache and speeds up write operations write cache, significantly improving random I/O performance and overall system responsiveness.

Can I run a web server on the AS6804T?

Yes, you can install web server applications like Apache or Nginx and database servers like MySQL/MariaDB from App Central to host websites or web applications.

Is the AS6804T difficult to set up for a beginner?

No, ADM includes a user-friendly setup wizard that guides you through the initial configuration process, making it accessible even for first-time NAS users.

What kind of support does Asustor offer for the AS6804T?

Asustor provides online documentation, firmware updates, and customer support resources for their NAS devices.

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