Qnap TS-459 Pro vs Synology DS1010+?

[RamGuy]

I'm about to replace my faulty Qnap TS-239 Pro that just died on me, and I want something that provides me with even better performance!

As I've got Link Aggregation enabled, and use CAT7 cabling and also have Intel Pro/1000 ET Dual adapter with Link Aggregation on my desktop computer it's the NAS that slows down my speeds and not my network.


I was running the TS-239 with 2x WD10EADS featuring EXT3 and got a maximum rating of 40-50mbps in Windows7.


Now I want to increase those numbers a bit, the first obvious thing to do is to replace the Green Power hard drive with something faster, that's where my new WD Black Edition 2TB drives comes in, those combined with better hardware and RAID5 instead of RAID0 should increase the overall performance quite a bit?

But will still the hardware of the Qnap TS-459 / Synology DS1010+ still be the bottleneck? Slowing down the Black Edition hard drives? Or will I be able to fully utilize it's mayhem?



The Qnap TS-459 and the Synology DS1010+ seems to feature pretty much the same hardware and power? They both have 1GiB RAM, they both use the 1.66GHz Dual Core Atom CPU, the only difference seems to be the DS1010+ featuring 5-drives and the TS-459 "only" 4-drives?

But then again, at least here in Norway the TS-459 goes for a little bit cheaper than the DS1010+ and I don't really need more than 4-drives.



When it comes to the software / firmware part both Qnap and Synology seems to run almost the same things these days? The UI pretty much looks identical, and they have about the same features? Though I've heard that people claims the Synology software to be superior in some ways?

On the other hand Qnap have a advantage in full EXT4 support, which the Synology firmware for some awkward reason still lacks?




So which one would provide me with the best performance? The Qnap TS-459 Pro with it's EXT4 support and software, or the Synology DS1010+ with it's 5-drivers and slightly higher price tag?

 

[thiggins]

You didn't say whether your client is running a RAID 0 array, which is necessary to get more than around 70 MB/s read/write. You also need an OS that can do network block transfers larger than 64 KB. See
How To Build a Really Fast NAS - Part 6: The Vista (SP1) Difference.

I haven't benchmarked any Atom D510-based NASes yet, so can't say what they'll really do.

You don't really need Link aggregation from client to NAS.

 

[RamGuy]

I was thinking of going 4x WD Black Edition 2TB in RAID5?

 

[juss0]

ramguy

What unit did you decide to go with?? I've been looking at the same 2 - still undecided due to the DS1010+ being relatively new

 

[PowerMAC]

May be this list can help you guys decide. I must say both brands have impressive features!

QNAP models TS-459, 659, 859

+ high overall performance
+ also high NTFS performance (QNAP has licensed the commercial Paragon NTFS driver)
+ supports scheduled power on and off
- no RAID 10 support
- no hybrid RAID functionality
- storage cannot be expanded with a companion unit (# drivebays is max, you could buy a 2nd unit of course or use one of the many ports)
+ has 5 USB 2.0 ports
+ has 2 eSATA ports
+ volume based encryption
+ built-in DHCP server
+ handy LCD display
+ USB Copy function on the frontpanel
+ supports the EXT4 filesystem (> 16 TB volumes)
+ supports WebDAV
+ supports the IPv6 protocol
+ advanced iSCSI support
+ all the drives are lockable with a key
+ in general, no problem with downgrading of firmware
+ more models, more choice
- upto 4 surveillance cams can be connected
- one year guarantee
+ great build quality
+ VMWare certified
+ already much experience, add-on software and models available on x86 platform


Synology DS 1010+

+ high overall performance
- slow NTFS performance (slow backups to eSATA NTFS disks)
- only supports scheduled power off
+ RAID 10 support
+ hybrid RAID functionality (SHR)
+ storage can be expanded (with the extra 5 drivebays case, however will eSATA connection become bottleneck?)
- has 4 USB 2.0 ports
- has 1 eSATA port
+ folder based encryption
- no built-in DHCP server
- no LCD display
- no USB Copy function on the front
- no EXT4 filesystem support (volumes > 16 TB volume will not be possible)
- no WebDAV support
- no IPv6 protocol support
- less advanced iSCSI support
- the drives are not lockable with a key
- in general, very problematic to downgrade firmware
- less models, less choice
+ upto 16 surveillance cams can be connected
+ three years guarantee
- build quality is not as good as QNAP
- not VMWare certified
- first model based on x86 platform

If you see an error or something missing let me know and I will correct/add it.

update: added scheduled power on/off entry

 

[occamsrazor]

- storage cannot be expanded with a companion unit (# drivebays is max, you could buy a 2nd unit of course or use one of the many ports)

Thanks for your nice summary list, it was useful. Regarding expansion though.... I was looking at the DX510, and I like Synology's thinking here... an easy way to add additional storage at a later date.
However I am wondering, is there really anything different is using the DX510 companion unit, versus any storage case with an eSata connector.

I was actually looking to get a QNAP TS-239 Pro II, and I already have two 2x1 drive RAID devices (these ones), and was thinking I could just use those connected as additional storage.

Essentially I'm wondering is there anything special about the DX510, or is it just a direct-attached storage device with eSATA like many others? Does anyone know if the RAID is carried out by the DX510, or if it is essentially a port-multiplier "dumb" storage case?

 

[PowerMAC]

You think the DX510 is a good idea, well think again because in it's current form I have some serious doubts about it. Let me explain:

Looking at the specs of the older expansion unit, the DX5, I'm pretty sure the DX510 will not have a cpu either so it will not do raid by itself, for this it is totally depending on an attached DS1010+ (or DS710+). This is confirmed by the fact that the DX510 cannot be used stand-alone.

Used as an Expansion unit
Easy expansion: yes, but I wonder if the eSATA connection between the DS1010+ and a DX510 will become a bottleneck performancewise. Unsure if the overall performance will completely plummet when you connect a DX510 but my feeling is it will not be as fast as the main unit used by itself. Maybe Higgins can give some more insight on this?

Some ppl on the Syno forum just look at the DX510 as an overpriced unit because it's basically just an empty casing with a (proprietary?) eSATA connection making it only work with aforementioned new models. (technically it should be no problem for Synology to make the DX510 also work with older Syno models, but they decided against that .... I guess Syno wants to make some money too and to a certain degree that's understandable of course). However, another problem with using the DX510 for volume expansion is the missing EXT4 support: when using 2 TB disks, you cannot expand a volume further than 16 TB in stead of the expected 20 TB.

Used as a Backup unit
IMO the DX510 is pretty much useless as a backup unit, because if something bad would happen with the attached DS1010+/DS710 you will be screwed in a major way because you will not be able to get to your data on the DX510!!! Also, I would NEVER store a backup unit close to the main unit, not sure about the maximum length of eSATA cables but generally speaking I think most people will use the dumbed down DX510 unit nice and close to their intelligent counterpart.

My advice: just buy a second main unit and place it in at least another room or floor (other building would be best ofcourse). Than you''ll have complete redundancy and in case of disaster you'll be up and running again in minutes.

So to recap my analysis: the only reason to buy the DX510 unit would be to easily expand storage, don't buy one for optimum speed or real safe backup purposes.

Comments, misconceptions, thanks?

edit: clarified some things

 

[thiggins]

I've asked Synology for a DX510 to test the very issue raised by PowerMAC, i.e. possible performance bottleneck via the single eSATA port.

I'm pretty sure the DX510 is similar to the DX5 and basically a SATA case with port multiplier. I think PowerMAC's summary is pretty spot on.

 

[PowerMAC]

Tim,

the DX510 has been officially released, any news or update yet about when we can expect the test?
Also, I was quite shocked by the very high price: more than 400 euros for an empty box? How is that possible?

Thanks.

 

[thiggins]

I'll check. Don't expect it anytime soon, though. Synology and QNAP always cite inventory issues when I ask them to ship review units.