Review: QNAP TVS-471

Key Apps

As shown in Figure 3, key apps you will use on a regular basis are as follows:

• File Station enables you to work with all the files on the NAS in an interface similar to My Computer.
• QSync helps set up syncing of files between computers. Once you install QSync on your networked computer, any files you drop into the QSync folder will be copied to the NAS and also synced to all your computers where QSync was installed. It helps keep important files available on all computers available on your network.
• myQNAPcloud is a handy app for setting up a VPN and allowing remote secured access. I have set up my boss with a username and password so if he needs access to my projects for any reason he can go get my content without requiring me to create a shared link to email. There are many ways a VPN can be useful especially if you really exploit the features of the TVS-471.
• Photo Station allows you to view any photos you have loaded to the NAS from any spot on your network or anywhere that you can login. There are apps for your mobile devices that give you access to share, download and view these photos as well as shown below. I have already backed up my entire library of cellphone images to the NAS as shown in Figure 4, below.

Figure 4. My library of cellphone images backed up to the QNAP. Click the image to see it at full size.

Video Station is where some cool features come into play. As with Photo Station, all your videos are now available from any computer where you can log in. There is also a Video Station app for your mobile devices as well. The same features on the system are there as for Photo Station. Figure 5, below, shows two screenshots from the mobile version of Photo Station. On the left you can see some of the videos I have uploaded to the NAS on a screen shot from my Galaxy S6 smartphone. When you select one of the videos to play you get the screen on the right of Figure 5 with a number of options.

Figure 5. The mobile version of Photo Station. Click the image to see it at full size.

You can also select the resolution for which you want to view the video. As you can see in Figure 5, there are multiple options available. This is one of the nice features of the TVS-471. It has a built-in decoder. It transcodes the video on the fly as it is downloading/playing to your device. It's almost like having built-in adaptive-bitrate streaming for your footage. There are options to share the video as well so it is an easy way to send a link to a client, friend, or colleague. The link is sent right from the NAS and will play back through the NAS when the client views it.

Other Apps

There are many other apps available that enable you to do things like stream music, set up a blog, or even set up a website or online forums. One of the big features, other than being an NAS, is the ability to use the QNAP as your home media streaming server via an HDMI connection on the back so it can perform double-duty as your home office server and a home media server. There are lots of other things this device can do; I've covered only some of the basic tasks many media professionals would find useful.

Another nice feature is the USB 3.0 port on the front of the NAS. You can configure it via the Backup Station option in the main administration window. In the Backup Station option, select USB One Touch Copy. Under the One Touch Copy option, you can set it to copy the files to a specific location and add its own directory. This is a great option for those times where you get back from a shoot and need to quickly ingest all your images to a central location. You get the added benefit that it is an NAS, so it is available anywhere and safe because of the redundancy. This could be used with an external drive or even a memory card reader to backup your data files after a long day of shooting.

Network Utilization: It’s Complicated (If You're Not Network-Savvy)

I mentioned previously that the setup and configuration had been simple for a non-network-savvy user like myself. It was easy to the point of initial setup. Then it can remain simple or it can get complicated.

My journey down the utilization path got messy, but most of it was my own fault. After getting a wired network connection to where my work center is located I decided I would like to get a network switch that allowed me to have higher-speed wired internet access on all my laptops at my desk. I figured this would also give me full-gigabit access from my computers to the NAS. I purchased the switch but have not been successful. This is not the NAS’s fault. From my research it appears to be how my internet router from my ISP assigns TCP/IP addresses. Not being a networking person, I just decided to leave my wireless access on the home network active until I can get some help from a friend who knows networking better. I know it's a matter of assigning static addresses but I am not sure exactly which ones and how to do it without making a mess of everything.

My ultimate goal of the NAS is obviously to be solid backup solution. My other goal is to give my clients, and myself, an easy way to download or view draft versions. I have a part-time job for a software company and this will allow me to just drop a clip in a specified folder where my boss can simply log in and download it. He will also have access to all other project files related to his projects as well. I would like to have an easy way for clients to upload files to me for those times I need to work on their footage. For files bigger than 2GB, they will need to use FTP, which for many is not going to work. For those I will continue to use my other cloud-based subscription services.

Overall…

Overall, the TVS-471 is a great setup that gives lots of functionality to a media professional. However, if you’re not ready to learn a little about networking it probably is not the right solution. If you know some basic networking principles and are comfortable configuring things to get them working they way you like then a QNAP unit will give you an amazing amount of functionality. Just remember client access will be limited in speed to the upload speed of your internet connection (in my case 4MB/sec).

Once I get the wired internet piece figured out, with some help from a few networking friends, I have some ideas that could put more of the features to work for me. If you need a NAS for your media office QNAP options are powerful but you do need a small amount of technical abilities to get them optimized. QNAP has a pretty extensive model lineup with both desktop and rackmounted units with diffeent storage and performance abilities, see them all at qnap.com.