Introduction
We would like to thank QNAP for supplying the review sample.
In the past, we reviewed the
TS-669 Pro, a NAS that belongs to QNAP 's higher category and one that suits the small and medium-sized business environment well. Their Pro line includes many high-end characteristics like an LCD display and SATA III support, both of which are very nice, but make the price sky rocket. Taking into account these tough economic times, QNAP decided to offer a more budget friendly alternative to users who need a high-performance NAS without many bells and whistles that would, inevitably, boost its price.
TS-x69L units have the same guts as the TS-x69 Pro ones and provide the same performance because they are equipped with the same dual-core Intel Atom CPUs. They have the same amount of RAM and the same number of USB 3.0 ports, but lack, in order to lower the price, SATA 6GB/s support, lockable caddies, and an LCD display. We are pretty sure that many users won't mind the above omissions in order to save some money on the final price. After all, performance is still the same since SATA III disks don't show noticeable improvements in NAS transfer speeds.
In this review, we will take a good look at the TS-869L: a NAS that will feel like its home is in a medium-sized business environment since it offers huge storage-capacity by accommodating up to eight HDDs. It is powered by a dual-core Atom that runs at 2.13 GHz, has 1 GB RAM, which can be expanded to 3 GB, and supports all popular RAID modes. The price of HDDs has, thankfully, started to come back down to normal levels after a very long time, which means that the cost of equipping the NAS with normal 2TB disks won't surpass the cost of the NAS itself.
Specifications
QNAP TS-869 LSpecifications |
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Processor | Intel®*Atom™*2.13 GHz Dual-core Processor |
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Operating System | Embedded Linux |
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Memory | 1GB RAM (Expandable RAM, up to 3GB) |
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Storage | 8 x 3.5" or 2.5” SATA 3Gb/s hard drive or SSD |
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RAID Levels: | Single Disk, JBOD, RAID 0, 1, 5, 5 + Hot Spare, 6, 6 + Hot Spare, 10, 10 + Hot Spare |
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Capacity | up to 32 TB (disks not included) |
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iSCSI | Target & Initiator |
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Hot-Swap | 8x |
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Networking | 2x 10/100/1000 Mbit Ethernet |
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Additional Connectors | 2x USB 3.0, 5x USB 2.0, 2x eSATA |
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Dimensions | 185.2(H) x 298.2(W) x 235.4(D) mm 7.29(H) x 11.74(W) x 9.27(D) inch |
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Weight | 7.1 kg |
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Power Consumption | Sleep: 30 W In operation: 59 W (with 8 x 1.5TB HDD installed) |
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Power Supply | Input: 100-240V AC, 50/60Hz, Output: 350W |
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Fan | 2 x quiet cooling fan (12 cm, 12V DC) |
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Warranty | 2 years |
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Price excluding VAT (at the time of the review) | $995.99 |
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A dual-core Atom CPU provides sufficient processing power to meet the needs of the TS-869L. It is backed up by 1 GB of RAM that can be expanded to 3 GB. These characteristics may sound dead low for a normal PC that runs one of Microsoft's operating systems, but this NAS server is spot-on for a custom tailored Linux set-up.
Up to eight HDDs can be installed into this server and HDD prices are, thankfully, starting to return to normal levels (at last). Utilizing 4 TB HDDs would make the max capacity an enormous 32 TB. QNAP didn't equip the caddies (removable HDD trays) with locks in order to save some money, something that shouldn't bother many users. Regarding RAID levels, all popular types are, as you can see from the table above, supported.
To provide the highest possible network transfer-speed, QNAP equipped the TS-869L with two gigabit Ethernet ports, which support LACP (Link Aggregation Control Protocol) and can, as such, work in parallel. Nevertheless, your Ethernet switch must also be compatible with port trunking in order to utilize both of them at the same time, or you won't notice any speed improvements.
The NAS is also equipped with a huge amount of USB ports, two of which support the newest and significantly faster USB 3.0 protocol. Unfortunately, both these ports are located on the rear side of the NAS, while the single front USB is only 2.0. Two eSATA ports are also available for removable HDDs compatible with this protocol.
Since this box can accommodate so many HDDs, its dimensions are, naturally, everything else but compact. The same applies to its weight, which is quite high. Thankfully, it's a NAS. You probably won't bother moving it around after installation.
The PSU that powers the NAS is strong enough and has 100 W more capacity than the PSU of the TS-669 Pro we have reviewed in the past. This means that it will easily, and under all circumstances, cover the needs of the TS-869L. Also, since eight HDDs generate a lot of heat, two 120mm fans carry the task of moving hot air out of the server's internals.
Finally, the price is about the same as the TS-669 Pro, which only takes six HHDS instead of eight, but has that LCD screen and a couple insignificant features the TS-869 doesn't need. Unfortunately, the warranty period remain the same: a short period of two years. Such an expensive product should, in our opinion, be covered by a longer warranty.
Packaging
The NAS comes in a big and sturdy cardboard box that protects its content effectively. We find a facade photo of the TS-869L, which clearly shows how wide it is in order to house eight HDDs, on the front of the box. The model description can be found near the top, left corner, and next to it is a list with its most significant features.
Interested users will find plenty of information about the server's features and its characteristics on the rear side of the box. Thankfully, QNAP used some nice schemes to depict them in a more intuitive way.
On the packaging, you will also find a useful description of both the front and rear side of the TS-869L. Although the LCD screen is missing, the LED indicators at the front will provide enough information about the NAS's operational state.
Contents & Bundle
The NAS is very well protected by two large pieces of packing foam inside the package; it is also wrapped in a thick plastic bag. It will, with such protection, easily handle any abuse during transportation. As you can see by the first photo, a greeting message including QNAP's support and social network-page address welcomes you once you open the top flap of the box.
The small accessories box includes the AC power cord, two bags with screws, two network cables (CAT 5e), a software CD including QNAP's applications, a user's manual, and, finally, a card that informs the user about free firmware updates that QNAP provides for this product.
Exterior
This one is, like every other QNAP NAS, of a high-build quality and sports a brushed, metal chassis, while the competition uses cases solely made of plastic. Only the front side of the TS-869L is made of plastic, but it still matches the rest of the chassis well. The only spot that looks strange is the area that the LCD screen normally resides in, which is, in this case, simply left empty. The on/off button, copy buttons, and the front USB 2.0 port are all at the front. You can set the function of the copy button, which literally surrounds the port, through the software bundle (e.g. copy the contents of the USB external disk to NAS storage).
We find two stickers on the top: one for the used Atom processor and another one mentioning the sequence of the HDDs.
There is only a vent on one of the two sides. There was apparently no need for vents on both sides.
Almost all I/O ports, including two USB 3.0, four USB 2.0, two eSATA, and two gigabit Ethernet ports, can be found on the rear. There are, similar to TS-x69 Pro units, VGA and HDMI ports, with the latter being reserved for future use. The two 120mm diameter fans take most of the rear side's real estate, and the smaller 40mm fan is used to cool down the PSU. Finally, there is a Reset switch that restores the NAS to its factory defaults right below the VGA port, and a K-Lock security slot resides in the top, left corner.
A look at a NAS's interior with all caddies removed is always interesting. The PCIe expansion card that holds all SATA ports is simply huge.
The caddies are numbered and can house both 2.5" and 3.5" HDDs. You will find all required screws in the bundle. Contrary to the Pro units, these caddies do not feature locks.