QNAP TS-119 Turbo NAS Review

Name: QNAP TS-119 Turbo NAS Review
Brand: QNAP

by Shawn Oliver — Tuesday, June 09, 2009, 12:00 PM EDT

Introduction and Specifications

QNAP, purveyor of Network Attached Storage devices large and small, has just recently introduced what it's calling the world's most affordable NAS server with iSCSI. The device they speak of is the single-bay TS-119 Turbo Pro, which we've taken into our labs and scoped out across the pages to come. The device itself is just marginally larger than a typical external hard drive, and at first glance, that's exactly what it looks like. The array of LED-backlit words down the front panel and the port selection around back give away its true nature, though, as this thing is built for networks from the ground-up.

For those unfamiliar with the technology, a NAS drive is -- in its simplest form -- a slice of storage that can be accessed from any Internet-connected machine, so long as it's connected to a networked PC or a router via Ethernet. Or, if the machine is local to the network on which the NAS drive is connected, that statement could end with "any network-connected machine." Put as simply as possible, a NAS is an external storage solution for those who need to upload and download files from their external drive anywhere, not just when on the PC to which it's connected. The "networked" nature of these units make them extremely appealing to businesses small and large, as their employees can login from anywhere and access company data. This same fact has begun to increasingly appeal to on-the-go consumers, who simply cannot go a week, a day or even a few hours without needing to share data with a hard drive that's physically located in a place other than where they are.

The TS-119 Turbo NAS is, for all intents and purposes, a refreshed edition of the TS-109. This new model includes twice the onboard memory (512MB in the TS-119 versus 256MB in the TS-109) and a much more powerful processor (1.2GHz in the TS-119 versus 500MHz in the TS-109). It was introduced alongside the dual-bay TS-219 Turbo NAS, though aside from the obvious space constraints, practically all of that unit's new features have been passed on to the smaller, single-bay unit that we're looking at today. This drive supports 2TB of SATA HDD storage internally, which can be expanded to a maximum of 4TB by eSATA or USB expansion (both ports are included on the rear). The fanless design aims to keep things quiet, but as we'll detail later on, it definitely keeps things toasty. Aside from storing files and making them accessible via your local network or the Web, the TS-119 Turbo NAS also doubles as a network iTunes server, a UPnP server or a DLNA media streamer. QNAP provides built-in compatibility with Sony's PlayStation 3, Microsoft's Xbox 360 and other NFS-supported High-Definition devices. Finally, the unit can also handle BitTorrent downloads remotely; in other words, you can enable the device to manage the download / upload of a torrent (or list of torrents).

QNAP TS-119 Turbo NAS

Specifications and Features

Storage capacity:

Hard drives:

CPU:
DRAM:
Flash Memory:
Connectivity:

LED Indicators:
USB:

Buttons:

Compatibility:

Dimensions:
Weight:
Warranty:
Package contents:

MSRP

2TB max. internal (SATA HDD) / expandable to 4TB via eSATA or USB 2.0
None Included; accepts 1 x 3.5" SATA I/II HDD, up to 2TB
Marvell 6281 (1.2GHz)
512MB DDRII
16MB
10/100/1000 RJ-45 Gigabit Ethernet port; (3) USB 2.0 ports; eSATA port; AC adapter port
USB; Status; HDD; eSATA; LAN; Power
3 x USB 2.0 port (Front: 1; Back: 2)
Supports USB printer, flash drive, USB hub, USB UPS, etc.
System: Power button, USB One-Touch-Backup Button, Reset button

(See Full List Below)

7.17 (H) x 2.36 (W) x 8.27(D) inches
4.63 pounds
1 year
QNAP TS-119 Turbo NAS device; AC adater; Power Cord; CD-ROM (user manual, Quick Install Wizard and software inclusive); Quick Installation Guide; Screws; Ethernet Cable; Stands (2)
$299.99