Pros
Supports IoT solutions
Impressive 128k sequential performance
Versatile
Cons
Weak CIFS performance
QNAP offers a set of unique features made for storage seekers, IoT developers, and SOHO users. By giving support to an open-source platform that Linux is embodying, QNAP has made strides to integrate private servers with smart devices and IoT. Aside from its IoT functionality, the TS-453A is 4-bay server that makes use of every QTS apps. This helps empower users to virtualize their storage processes. Let’s jump into our QNAP TS-453A review and take a look and see just how good this 4 bay NAS really is.
Contents of the package include:
1x QNAP TS-453A
2x Keys
1x SP-ADAPTOR-96W01 AC adapter
2x Ethernet cables
12x Screws (for 2.5? HDDs)
16x Screws (for 3.5? HDDs)
1x Power cable
1x RM-IR002 remote control
1x Installation guide
The TS-453A makes use of the 4-NAS enclosure from QNAP. Drivers can be accessed along the enclosure face as well as a USB 3.0 port and power switch. A digital display with navigation is situated on top of the drive bays. Three LED lights represents the status of the system, connectivity to LAN, and connectivity to USB.
The remaining ports can be found at the rear along with a big fan. A power port, three USB 3.0 ports, four LAN ports, two HDMI ports, and one reset button are laid out along the rear right area of the enclosure.
On top of the fan, two 1/4” audio jacks can be seen. These can be utilized with microphones when paired with QNAP’s own OceanKTV karaoke app. A Kensington lock and 1/8” stereo out audio can also be seen.
The TS-453A is considered to be a server that offers a set of NAS features to Linux. The balanced mix of a comprehensive server along with Linux compatibility has a favorable appeal due to the popularity of IoT technology and the fact that this particular NAS isn’t as widespread compared to other brands.
The manufacturer’s QTS OS offers accessibility to current IoT apps via the QTS App Center. This would come in really handy for businesses that depend on IoT technology usage. An investment on the entertainment functionality of the TS-453A was made by including a video transcoder (with 4k transcoding capability), two HDMI ports, and a karaoke app. The unit makes use of RTRR and rsync protocols for backup creation, and a compatibility to third-party cloud services.
QNAP TS-453A Specifications
CPU – 14 nm Intel® Celeron® N3150/N3160 1.6 GHz quad-core processor
GPU – 8th generation Intel HD Graphics
System memory
TS-453A-4G: 4GB (2 x 2GB)
TS-453A-8G: 8GB (2 x 4GB)
Memory Expandable Up To 8 GB 2, SODIMM DDR3L-1600
Flash Memory – 512MB
Maximum Number of Hard Drive – 4
Hard Disk Drive – Hot-swappable 3.5? or 2.5? SATA 6Gb/s, SATA 3Gb/s hard drive or SSD
LAN Port – 4 x Gigabit RJ-45 Ethernet port
USB – 4 x USB 3.0 port (Front:1, Rear:3)
Video Output – 2 x HDMI, up to 4K 2160P 30Hz Ultra HD support
Audio Input – 2 x 6.3mm microphone jacks (dynamic microphones only)
Audio Output – Line Out Jack (for amplifier or headphone amplifier)
LED Indicators – Status, USB, HDD 1-4
LCD Panel – Mono-LCD display with backlight
Buttons – System: Power button, USB one-touch-backup button, Reset button
The TS-453A is a 4-bay server that brings QNAP’s suite of NAS features to Linux’s open-source platform. The unique combination of a comprehensive server with Linux compatibility holds special appeal as IoT technology becomes more popular, especially since this type of NAS isn’t especially prevalent among other brands. QNAP’s QTS operating system provides access to existing IoT applications through the QTS App Center, which would come in handy for businesses that rely on the use of IoT technology. QNAP also invested in the entertainment features of the TS-453A by including a video transcoder (with real-time and offline 4k transcoding), two HDMI ports, and their OceanKTV karaoke app (along with two 1/4″ microphone ports). The TS-453A uses RTRR and rsync protocols for backups, and third-party cloud service compatibility (e.g., Amazon S3, Microsoft Azure, Dropbox).
In terms of performance, the TS-453A held up well overall. For the most part, I have used this for the best part of a year and it has been a great purchase. I have just purchased a new one as when it came to running VM’s this started to struggle for me.
By integrating the TS-453A’s comprehensive QTS environment with IoT support and Linux’s open-source platform, QNAP has delivered a novel storage solution that caters towards progressive SOHO users.
