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Q: Do I have to format my NAS hard drive?

2024-09-10


#NAS #format #FAQ

After installing a new hard drive, there is usually an initialization setup program that will guide you through the process of formatting the drive. This will be done in the NAS setup interface, or you may need to log in to the NAS through an administrator account. 

Q: How does NAS compare to other storage network architectures?

2024-02-22


#NAS #format #FAQ

Network Attached Storage (NAS) is one of a number of networked storage solutions and differs from other major storage solutions such as Storage Area Networks (SANs) and Direct Attached Storage (DAS).
Storage Area Network (SAN): A dedicated high-speed network used to connect multiple servers and a large number of storage devices. a SAN centralizes access, replication, and protection of all storage resources, and uses technologies such as RAID and redundant data deletion to optimize storage capacity and reliability.
  • Differences between NAS and SAN: NAS and SAN are both networked storage systems, but the main difference lies in the user's perspective. To the client, NAS is viewed as a file system, while a SAN is viewed as an operating system; NAS handles each file request, while a SAN manages requests in contiguous blocks of data. They use different underlying protocols and technologies, with SANs being more flexible but difficult to configure and manage.
Direct Attached Storage (DAS): A type of storage that connects directly to a server, such as an external hard drive connected via a cable. DAS allows only the host server to access the data directly; other devices must request the data through the host server.
  • Difference between NAS and DAS: DAS is the predecessor of NAS, which is directly connected to the server and is limited by the expansion slots in the server and by connectivity; DAS capacity and connectivity are limited by the size of the server and the expansion slots. Compared to NAS, DAS is less suitable for sharing and more complicated to manage.

Q: What are the basic storage principles of a NAS device?

2024-02-22


#NAS #format #FAQ

Network Attached Storage (NAS) is a file-based data storage solution that supports three main types of storage, namely:
  1. File Storage: Data is stored in the form of files, usually organized into a hierarchical directory structure that allows users to easily organize and manage files. This is the most common and popular storage method for file sharing and general applications.
  2. Block storage: Files are divided into small blocks, each of which stores a specific address that is used by the server's operating system to restore the complete file. This method provides faster access and is particularly suitable for high-performance applications.
  3. Object Storage: Data is stored discretely in the form of objects, each containing data, metadata (descriptive content), and a unique identifier. This is ideal for storing unstructured files such as emails, videos, photos, web pages, and sensory data generated by the Internet of Things (IoT).
Each of these three types of storage has its own unique advantages, such as file storage for local file sharing, block storage for high-performance applications, and object storage for a variety of unstructured file types. Organizations can choose the most suitable storage method based on their needs and application scenarios.

Q: How long does 1TB last?

2024-02-22


#NAS #format #FAQ

Take 1TB of storage space as an example, how long it can be used depends on the type of data you store and process. Let's take a few examples:

  • Documents and photos: If you mainly store small files such as documents, emails and photos, then 1TB of storage space may last for several years, or even longer, depending on how you use it.
  • Music: If you store music files, 1TB can hold thousands of songs, depending on the sound quality and file format.
  • Video: The size of a video depends on the picture quality, length and compression. If you're storing a standard HD movie (1080p), 1TB can hold dozens of hours of video. However, if you're storing a higher quality video (such as 4K), the storage time will be relatively short.
  • Games: Modern games are usually tens of gigabytes to over 100GB in size. If you're a gamer, you can probably fit dozens of games in 1TB of storage space, depending on the size of the game.

Note that as time passes, files and data get larger, and software updates and additions may take up more storage space. Additionally, if you're using the storage space for backing up data, storing large movies, or working on other large data tasks, 1TB of space can be used up relatively quickly.
In conclusion, how long you can use 1TB of storage space will vary depending on your usage habits and the type of data you have. If you want a more accurate idea of how long it will last in your case, you can estimate your current data usage and future growth trends.

Q: How many videos can be stored in 1TB?

2024-02-22


#NAS #format #FAQ

The actual number of videos that can fit in 1TB of storage space depends on various factors, including the resolution, length, quality, and compression used. The following estimates are based on different scenarios and are for reference only:

  • Based on a standard 1080p resolution, if the average size of a movie is 1.5GB, then 1TB can hold approximately 666 movies.
  • Based on high quality 1080p resolution or shorter 4K clips, if the average size of each movie is 4GB, then 1TB can hold approximately 250 movies.
  • For longer, high-quality 4K clips, if the average size of each clip is 10GB, then 1TB can hold approximately 100 videos.
Resolution  Movie Size Number of Videos
1080p  1.5GB About 666
High quality 1080p or shorter 4K 4GB About 250 
Longer high quality 4K 10GB About 100 

Q: How much memory does the NAS need?

2024-02-22


#NAS #format #FAQ

How much memory you need for an ASUSTOR NAS depends on what you want to use it for. If you're just doing basic file storage and sharing, 2GB to 4GB of memory is plenty. But if you're doing more, like virtualization, video streaming, or multiple applications, 8GB or more may be better. It's best to check the recommended specifications of your specific ASUSTOR NAS model to choose a memory configuration that fits your needs. You can also upgrade your memory later, depending on the situation.

Q: How can I use the capacity on other volumes beyond default volume1

2023-06-07


#NAS #format #FAQ

To use the capacity on other volumes beyond default volume1, please add a new share folder or edit an existing share folder then select the desired volume as the storage path of this share folder.

Q: How much capacity is enough for ASUSTOR NAS?

2023-09-01


#NAS #format #FAQ

Here are some things to consider when choosing ASUSTOR NAS capacity:

  • Storage Requirements: The first thing to consider is your storage requirements, i.e. how much data you need to store. If you only need to store small files such as documents, photos, etc., then a smaller capacity NAS may suffice, such as a 2 Bay. If you need to store a lot of HD videos, music, or large CAD files, then you'll need a NAS with a larger capacity than a 2 Bay.
  • Long-term needs: The next thing to consider is your long-term storage needs, i.e. how much storage capacity you expect to need in the future. If your storage needs will continue to grow, then a larger capacity NAS may be a better choice. If your storage needs are relatively stable, a smaller capacity NAS may be more affordable.
  • Budget: In addition to your storage needs, your budget is also an important factor to consider; ASUSTOR NASes vary in price depending on their capacity and features. You need to choose the right NAS according to your budget.
  • Future Expansion and Security Needs: Finally, you need to consider your future expansion needs. If you anticipate that you will need to expand the capacity of your NAS in the future, then purchasing a NAS that supports RAID technology may be a better option. This will make it easier for you to expand your storage capacity in the future.

Learn more : 
choosing a capacity

Q: What is the maximum number of expansion units supported on an ASUSTOR NAS?

2025-03-27


#NAS #format #FAQ

NAS

AS6004U

AS5004U (ADM 4.2.3)
AS10/10 v2 2 N/A
AS11TL 1 1
AS11 2 2
AS31/32/31 v2/32 v2 3 3
AS33/33 v2 3 3
AS40 2 2
AS50/51 3 N/A
AS52/53 3 3
AS54 3 3
AS61/62 3 3
AS63/64 4 4
AS65 2 2
AS6504RS/AS6504RD/AS6512RD 4 4
AS66 3 3
FS67 2 2
AS67 2 2
AS68 3 3
FS68 3 3
AS70 3 N/A
AS7110T 3 3
AS7112RDX/AS7116RDX 3 3


NAS

AX7012R (ADM 4.3.1 Onwards)
AS7112RDX/AS7116RDX 1

Hard drives in an expansion unit cannot be combined with NAS drives in the same RAID array.

Q: Safely using M.2 SSDs as primary NAS storage

2023-03-03


#NAS #format #FAQ

If M.2 SSDs are installed as the primary volume, ASUSTOR recommends using at least two M.2 SSDs to minimize the risks of boot failure should an SSD fail. If one SSD is used as Volume 1, your NAS may not boot into your installation of ADM and data on hard drive volumes will need to be recovered through use of a computer running Linux to access data. ADM volumes cannot be migrated to different installations of ADM.

*To use M.2 SSD to create Volume 1, please select M.2 SSD or PCIe SSD on AS-T10G3 network card to create volume in the initialization process:


Q: Why doesn’t ASUSTOR offer Hybrid RAID?

2022-03-02


#NAS #format #FAQ

ASUSTOR prides itself in delivering a quality experience, therefore, ASUSTOR has chosen not to support Hybrid RAID for a variety of reasons. 
Although old hard drives can be used, if using varying capacities, especially when the difference is large, the age of each drive may vary significantly. ASUSTOR reserves the following concerns: 
- NAS devices are not always filled up. A customer may purchase a NAS and only use some of the available hard drive bays. Since hard drives are purchased at different times, there may be gaps in speeds that could negatively affect speeds when using an ASUSTOR NAS.
- Varying capacities of hard drives mean that the total capacity needs to be divided evenly to match the uneven sized drives. This may also negatively affect speeds and experience on an ASUSTOR NAS.
- Smaller capacity drives often are older and will reach the end of their service life faster. If a hard drive is replaced, the array needs to be rebuilt and can introduce risk with varying capacities and ages.
- A limitation of hybrid RAID is that an odd number of drives cannot be used, wasting the capacity of the leftover drive. 
ASUSTOR recommends to use hard drives of the same capacity to create an array in order to achieve the most efficient utilization.
Retiring or replacing old hard drives? Use MyArchive instead to create hot-swappable archive drives to hold onto old data.


ASUSTOR College 255 - Using MyArchive

Q: Why does my hard drive report less capacity than indicated on the drive's label?

2023-12-07


#NAS #format #FAQ

There is detail instructions from hard drive manufacturers such as Seagate, please refer to the following:

Q: How to use Seagate IronWolf Health Management？

2021-09-30


#NAS #format #FAQ


If you are using a Seagate IronWolf or IronWolf Pro series hard disk with a capacity more than 4TB(capacity less than 4TB not supported), just navigate to [Storage Manager] → [Disk] → [Disk Doctor] and the [IronWolf Health Management] window will appear. You can use this function to schedule or immediately carry out a scan.


https://www.seagate.com/internal-hard-drives/hdd/ironwolf/




After using IronWolf Health Management to scan your hard disks, the results will be shown either as “healthy” or a numerical output code. Please see the chart below to see the suggestions represented by the codes.





After a scan is complete, all scan result codes will be recorded in the ADM event log. In the future, just open the event log to take a look at any previous IHM scan results.




*You can go ADM-App Central-Installed to remove the IronWolf Health Management app if you don't want to use the feature.

*If you are getting code 81, it means the hdd is too new to have enough data point to display.

Q: Which hard drives support Seagate IronWolf Health Management?

2025-01-20


#NAS #format #FAQ

According to information provided by Seagate, Seagate IronWolf and IronWolf Pro drives of all capacities are IHM-enabled. Please refer to the IronWolf Health to know more about IHM features.


Note: The hard drive models supported by different ASUSTOR NAS devices may vary. Please refer to the compatibility list on the ASUSTOR website.

Q: Which ASUSTOR NAS supports Seagate IronWolf Health Management?

2017-11-28


#NAS #format #FAQ

The Seagate IHM function has been integrated into ADM 3.0 Beta 5 and will also be included in all future official versions of ADM 3.0. All ASUSTOR NAS devices will  only need to upgrade to ADM 3.0 Beta 5 or later while utilizing Seagate IronWolf or IronWolf Pro hard disks to be able to make use of the Seagate IHM function.

Q: What is Seagate IronWolf Health Management？

2023-02-08


#NAS #format #FAQ

Seagate IronWolf Health Management (IHM) is a hard disk diagnostic tool integrated in ADM 3.0. Seagate IHM is developed by Seagate, if you want to know about it, please visit Seagate website：
https://www.seagate.com/products/nas-drives/ironwolf-hard-drive/

 

Other related FAQs:

Q: Which ASUSTOR NAS supports Seagate IronWolf Health Management?
Q: Which hard disks support Seagate IronWolf Health Management？
Q: How to use Seagate IronWolf Health Management？

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