Why you can trust Tom's Hardware Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.
Software
Features
| Operating System | ADM 2.0 & Up, Built-in App Central for Various Apps | |
|---|---|---|
| Supported OS | Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8, Server 2003, Server 2008 & Server 2012 | |
| OS X 10.6 & Up | ||
| BSD, Linux, Unix | ||
| Supported Browsers | Internet Explorer 9 & Up, Firefox, Chrome, Safari | |
| Network Protocols | CIFS/SMB, AFP, NFS, FTP, WebDAV, Rsync, SSH, SFTP, iSCSI, HTTP, HTTPS, SMB 2.0, TFTP, Proxy | |
| File System | Internal Disk | EXT4 |
| External Disk | FAT32, NTFS, EXT3, EXT4, HFS+ | |
| Storage Management | Support Multiple Volumes with Spare Disks | |
| Volume Type - Single disk, JBOD, RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 5, RAID 6, RAID 10 | ||
| Support for Online RAID Level Migration | ||
| Support for Online RAID Capacity Expansion | ||
| iSCSI | Maximum Targets | 256 |
| Maximum LUNs | 256 | |
| Target Masking | ||
| LUN Mapping | ||
| ISO File Mounting | ||
| Supports MCS | ||
| Persistent (SCSI-3) Reservations | ||
| Disk Management | Scheduled Bad Block Scans | |
| Scheduled S.M.A.R.T Scans | ||
| Network | TCP/IP (IPv4 & IPv6) | |
| Link Aggregation - Supports 802.3ad and Six Other Modes for Load Balancing and/or Network Failover | ||
| Jumbo Frame (MTU) | ||
| VLAN | ||
| Cloud Connect | ||
| Wireless Network | ||
| DDNS and EZ-Router | ||
| Supports Wake-on-LAN (WOL) | ||
| Backup Solutions | Rsync (Remote Sync) Backup | |
| Cloud Backup | ||
| FTP Backup | ||
| External Backup | ||
| One Touch Backup | ||
| System Administration | Log Type - System Log, Connection Log, File Access Log | |
| Real-time Online User Monitor | ||
| Real-time System Monitor | ||
| Network Recycle Bin | ||
| User Quota | ||
| Virtual Drive (ISO Mounting, Maximum 16) | ||
| UPS Support | ||
| Access Control | Max Users | 4096 |
| Max Groups | 512 | |
| Max Shared Folders | 512 | |
| Max Concurrent Connections | 512 | |
| Supports Windows Active Directory | ||
| Security | AES 256-Bit Folder Encryption | Row 45 - Cell 2 |
| Firewall | Prevent Unauthorized Access | |
| Network Defender | Prevent Network Attacks | |
| Alert Notifications | E-mail, SMS | |
| Encrypted Connections | HTTPS, FTP over SSL/TLS, SSH, SFTP, Rsync over SSH |
Featured Apps
| File Explorer | Web-based File Management |
|---|---|
| ISO File Mounting | |
| Share Links | |
| Task Monitor | |
| Browse Files on Local PC | |
| Thumbnail Previews | |
| Surveillance Center | Live Monitoring (4 Free Channels) |
| Multiple Channel Playback with Audio | |
| Supported Browsers - Internet Explorer, Chrome, FireFox (Windows only) | |
| Event Notification | |
| Supports Local Output of 4 Video Feed Channels | |
| Recording via Schedule and Event Detection | |
| Add Additional IP Camera Channels via Purchasable Licenses | |
| Max. Number of IP Cameras (Including 4 Free Channels) - 12 | |
| UPnP Media Server | Supports PS3 and other Digital Media Player Capable Devices |
| Supports On-The-Fly Transcoding for Most RAW Images and Audio (OGG, FLAC) | |
| Image Formats: BMP, GIF, ICO, JPG, PNG, PSD, TIF, RAW Imageâ´ (3FR, ARW, CR2, CRW, DCR, DNG, ERF, KDC, MEF, MOS, MRW, NEF, NRW, ORF, PEF, RAF, RAW, RW2, SR2, X3F) | |
| Audio Formats: 3GP, AAC, AC3, AIFC, AIFF, AMR, APE, AU, AWB, FLAC1, M4A, M4R, MP2, MP3, OGG Vorbis1, PCM, WAV, WMA | |
| Video Formats: 3GP, 3G2, ASF, AVI, DAT, FLV, ISO, M2T, M2V, M2TS, M4V, MKV, MPv4, MPEG1, MPEG2, MPEG4, MTS, MOV, QT, SWF, TP, TRP, TS, VOB, WMV, RMVB, VDR, MPE | |
| iTunes Server | For iTunes on Mac & Windows |
| AirPlay | |
| iOS Remote Pairing | |
| Audio Formats: AIF, M4A (AAC & Apple Lossless), M4P, M4R, MP3, WAV | |
| Video Formats: M4V, MOV, MP4 | |
| Playlist Formats: M3U, WPL | |
| Download Center | BT (Torrent & Magnet Link), HTTP and FTP Downloads |
| Torrent Search | |
| Choose Files Before a BT Task Starts | |
| Customizable Download Schedule | |
| Bandwidth Control | |
| RSS Subscription and Automatic Downloading | |
| Asustor Download Assistant for Windows & Mac | |
| AiDownload for iOS & Android | |
| AiDownload for iOS & Android with Push Notification | |
| Smart Download Function |
Interface
Asustor built a software installer that allows you to find the NAS on your network. The tool also walks you through the initial configuration to set an IP address, build an array and dial in other settings. You can even use the built-in display and buttons to initialize the drives and work through the settings.
Once the local installer tool finishes, your browser opens and presents you with a log-in screen. From there you can enter the NAS.
If you skipped over building a drive array in the initial setup, you'll want to do that first. Formatting only takes a few minutes, after which the array is ready to accept data. Post-format, the system scans your drives. You can access the array at that point, though transfers are slower.
Then it's time to work on customization. In the screen on the left, you can configure the LCD with a personalized message or instruct it to display different status updates. You can also program the LED lights on the front of the chassis.
A lot of folks use NAS appliances to back-up their desktops and notebooks. The system is easy to configure for those tasks. On the front of the AS5108T is a USB 3.0 port with a button surrounding it. You can configure Asustor's platform to either save files from the USB port to the NAS or send data to a thumb drive from the NAS.
DHCP is supported, naturally. And even if you're not familiar with Ethernet topology, you can still take advantage of the advanced cloud features. The AS-5108T has an EZ Button. With just a few clicks, Asustor's system will reach out to your router and change the necessary settings for you.
A great number of modern NAS appliances are infused with in-house and third-party software features. Asustor, in particular, leaves no stone unturned. There are so many available applications that we can't list them all, much less explain what each does. You can scroll through the list on Asustor's App Central, though.
If you run into any issues, the Dr. Asustor section will either set it straight or help you with support. It's a nice feature only available through Asustor.
Multimedia & Mobile Sharing
Although there are several different software options for playing back multimedia files, Asustor utilizes KODI for its AS50- and AS51-series products. The AS5108T we're testing today has a maximum resolution of 1080p through its HDMI port; 3D video playback is enabled as well. The system also supports up to 7.1-channel audio via HDMI or S/PDIF.
In theory, the AS5108T allows you to divorce yourself from a cable package and still watch live TV. But you need a high-speed Internet connection first. Then, you'll have to jump though a few hoops to configure the capability. Bear in mind that not all of the plug-ins would pass a legal challenge (Asustor doesn't own or govern the third-party plug-in system).
Asustor has a number of applications for different operating systems that let you access data from any device. All you need is an Internet connection.
Samsung's 990 Evo Plus SSD matches its recent Black Friday and Cyber Monday sale price - massive 4TB capacity for $239
Intel Panther Lake samples with flagship 18A node have been powered on at eight customers — Co-CEOs dispel rumors regarding poor silicon health
Netgear Orbi 970 Wi-Fi 7 mesh router review: Excellent performance with a price tag that’s tough to swallow
