QNAP TS-251A

Dual-core NAS featuring USB QuickAccess port for direct access to files

The TS-251A provides the innovative USB 3.0 QuickAccess port that allows you to quickly complete the first-time NAS installation and to then directly access files and data stored on the NAS. It also supports two additional transmission modes: Ethernet NAS mode and iSCSI SAN block-based mode. Combining USB QuickAccess, NAS and iSCSI-SAN into one box, the TS-251A is a powerful but easy-to-use storage solution ideal for backup, synchronization, remote access, and entertainment. It greatly helps to boost productivity and can meet the demands of photographers and audiovisual enthusiasts for direct, quick access to files. The TS-251A is powered by a high-performance 14nm Intel® Celeron® N3060 dual-core 1.6GHz processor, and supports 4K video playback and transcoding.

• Excellent system performance, ideal for centralized management, file sharing and backup
• USB QuickAccess port for accessing files without needing a network connection
• Supports 4K hardware decoding and transcodes 4K H.264 videos on-the-fly or offline
• Enjoy the best audio-visual experience with HDMI output, multi-channel surround sound and the free remote control
• Build a personal karaoke system with OceanKTV
• Linux Station supports Ubuntu® with direct output via HDMI
• A hybrid approach to virtualization: Virtualization Station & Container Station
• Supports Virtual JBOD (VJBOD) to maximize the storage utilization of multiple QNAP NAS units

14nm Intel® Celeron® N3060 dual-core CPU and hardware-accelerated encryption engine

The TS-251A is powered by an advanced 14nm Intel® Celeron® dual-core 1.6GHz processor that features low TDP (only 6 watts) and can automatically burst up to 2.48GHz. Coupled with dual-channel 2/4GB DDR3L-1600 dual-channel RAM (upgradable to 8GB), dual Gigabit LAN ports, and SATA 6Gb/s, the TS-251A can deliver up to 211.88 MB/s throughput for optimizing mission-critical tasks while still being energy efficient. The TS-251A also features Intel® AES-NI hardware-accelerated encryption to deliver up to 209.13 MB/s throughput with AES 256-bit throughput with AES-NI encryption for both full NAS volume and shared folders, boosting system performance & security while ensuring the safety of sensitive business data stored in the NAS.

*Tested in QNAP Labs. Figures may vary by environment.

Test Environment:
NAS:
OS: QTS 4.2.2
Volume type: RAID 1 (1TB HDDx2, Seagate ST1000NM0033

Client PCs:
Intel (R) Core(TM) i7-4770 3.4GHz, DDR3 16GB, WD 1TB WD10EZEX-21M2NA0, Windows 7 Professional 64bit SP1, Windows upload/download with 5GB file.
IOMeter configuration: Multiple PCs via switch. Transferring 32GB file continuously to NAS for 3 minutes. Block size: 64KB for SMB2.0

Direct access to files with the USB QuickAccess port

The TS-251A features an innovative USB 3.0 QuickAccess port that allows you to complete the first-time installation and setup of your TS-251A without requiring network connectivity. The files and data stored on the TS-251A can also be directly accessed by using Qfinder Pro* and a USB 3.0 A-Male to Micro B-Male cable or a USB 2.0 Micro B cable**. Furthermore, you can assign access rights to users for different folders to prevent unauthorized access to important files.

* QfinderPro and USB QuickAccess support Windows 8.0 (and above) and Mac OS X 10.7(and above). Other versions may require driver installation.
**A USB cable is not included.

USB QuickAccess/NAS/iSCSI SAN triple solution

The TS-251A innovatively re-defines what NAS can do by providing a USB 3.0 QuickAccess/NAS/iSCSI SAN triple solution. It discards the restriction of conventional DAS that only allows connecting to one device, and breaks the cost barrier for a high-speed Ethernet solution. The TS-251A’s three data transmission modes not only work independently, but they also can simultaneously run with no bandwidth interference, allowing you to multi-task with utmost productivity.

USB QuickAccess Mode

You can instantly access files and data stored on the TS-251A by connecting a PC/Mac to its USB 3.0 QuickAccess port and by using the Qfinder Pro application. To balance security and convenience needs, this method provides three access authentication modes. These settings can be easily configured in Network and Virtual Switch in the QTS management interface:

• “All NAS Users” (default): A NAS username and password are required to use QuickAccess to access data stored on the NAS.
• “Everyone”: Allows everyone to access data stored on the NAS using QuickAccess with no username or password required.
• “Selected Users and Groups”: Only authorized users/groups can use QuickAccess to access data stored on the NAS (a username or password is also required).

The TS-251A’s USB mode is helpful for users that handle large volumes of media files on a daily basis. It provides an extremely convenient and fast solution for users to store and backup data on their computers or to access data on their NAS. With the USB mode the TS-251A is plug and use without compromising convenience or safety.

Ethernet NAS mode

The TS-251A features Ethernet networking for flexible and simultaneous file sharing across multiple devices, using SMB/CIFS, NFS and AFP protocols for sharing across Windows, Mac and Linux/UNIX networks. Use Qfinder Pro to find the TS-251A's Ethernet IP address to connect to it.

iSCSI SAN block-based mode

The TS-251A supports iSCSI SAN. After creating an iSCSI target on the TS-251A, you can access the iSCSI with your computer* using the NAS IP.
*iSCSI initiator for Mac: ATTO Xtend SAN or SNS globalSAN; for Windows: Microsoft iSCSI initiator

Superior 4K video transcoding

Featuring advanced 8th-generation Intel® HD Graphics, the TS-251A supports 4K H.264 hardware decoding and delivers superior real-time 4K and 1080p video transcoding to convert videos to universal formats that can be smoothly played on PCs, mobile devices and Smart TVs*. With offline transcoding, even when you can only connect using a low-speed Internet connection, you can still enjoy smooth video playback via File Station, Video Station, and the Qfile mobile app by selecting a pre-rendered lower resolution video. The TS-251A also allows you to set a dedicated folder for automatic video transcoding.

* Supported video formats depend on the hardware and software specifications of the devices.
Playback capability and quality may vary due to factors including the original file formats/quality, hardware and software limitations, and output devices.

Enjoy media freely with multi-zone multimedia controls

Use a TS-251A as a multi-zone multimedia system to fill every corner of your house with your choice of media. You can centrally manage and stream photos, music and videos stored on the TS-251A to HDMI, DLNA®, Apple TV®, Chromecast™* , Roku®, Amazon® Fire TV or to the devices connected to the TS-251A (music streaming only) through Bluetooth® & USB. With Plex Media Server, the TS-251A is transformed into a powerful streaming machine.

*To stream multimedia via Chromecast, you must first install the Multimedia Extension Pack from the QTS App Center.

QTS - Simple and efficient

Thanks to the intuitive user interface of QTS, system operations of the TS-251A are smooth and handy. Its intelligent desktop allows you to find desired functions quickly, create desktop shortcuts or group shortcuts, monitor important system information on a real-time basis, and open multiple application windows to run multiple tasks concurrently, bringing greater operating efficiency.

Cross-platform file sharing, centralized data storage

The TS-251A supports SMB/CIFS, NFS, and AFP protocols for file sharing across Windows®, Mac®, Linux®/UNIX® networks. Data, logs and ISO images of CDs and DVDs can be centrally stored on the TS-251A and protected by an integrated antivirus solution. The Windows AD® and LDAP services enable system administrators to configure user permissions by using an existing Windows AD server, LDAP server or the built-in LDAP service.

Qsirch - a smarter, faster way to search

The TS-251A supports Qsirch, a proprietary search engine for quick file searching. In addition to previewing thumbnails, content abstract and keyword hints, Qsirch allows you to search through all of the .eml files stored on the TS-251A and use customized search criteria* such as date, size, sender and recipient. Qsirch even remembers your search history allowing you to quickly navigate to files you've previously searched for. You can also use the Google Chrome™ extension - Qsirch Helper - to search for files on your NAS when using Google Search™. Qsirch is a huge productivity boost that greatly reduces the time spent looking for files on the NAS, allowing you to focus on other tasks.

File synchronization across devices and clouds

Qsync turns your TS-251A into a safe, large-capacity data center for file synchronization. Any file uploaded to the TS-251A will be made available for all linked devices, such as computers, laptops or mobile devices. Qsync is especially useful for frequent travelers to manage files and always have the most up-to-date files on different devices. Qsync provides multiple ways of file synchronization and group file sharing, greatly enhancing the flexibility of team projects and collaboration. It also supports centralized configuration, and allows you to remotely erase the Qsync folder on a lost device to avoid data breaches, and even restore it after you have retrieved the device.

Centralize backup, restoration and synchronization with Hybrid Backup Sync

Hybrid Backup Sync consolidates backup, restoration and synchronization functions into a single QTS application for you to easily transfer your data to local or remote QNAP NAS, to remote servers and to cloud storage spaces as a comprehensive data storage and disaster recovery plan. You can synchronize files between the TS-251A and cloud storage in real time - including Amazon® Drive, Google Drive™, Dropbox®, Microsoft OneDrive®, Yandex® Disk, and Box®, and back up files to Amazon® S3, Amazon® Glacier, Microsoft® Azure™, Google Cloud Storage™, OpenStack Swift and WebDAV cloud services. Hybrid Backup Sync can detect sparse files to avoid backing up unnecessary data, and supports file compression to save storage space. There are flexible settings for concurrent file processing and multi-threaded data transfer by splitting large files into smaller parts, greatly increasing the file transfer rate for greater work efficiency.

QmailAgent: a mailroom center for your private cloud

QmailAgent is an online email client that helps you manage multiple email accounts, allowing you to access all of your emails and to easily switch between different accounts. It provides complete functionality for composing, reading and organizing emails. You can even attach files, photos and documents from the TS-251A when composing emails. QmailAgent also allows iOS® and Android™ users to quickly check multiple email accounts with mobile devices, and to browse & send emails using the QmailAgent on their TS-251A. You can also use QmailAgent together with Qsirch, which supports powerful email search functions to search through all of the .eml files stored on the TS-251A to make managing and searching through massive quantities of emails much easier.

QTS-Linux dual systems for IoT applications

The TS-251A’s QTS-Linux dual systems are based on QNAP’s advanced virtualization technologies. The revolutionary architecture of the TS-251A enables users to not only to enjoy the extraordinary QTS operating system and download rich apps from QTS App Center but also to develop or utilize IoT packages for Linux®. The TS-251A supports Ubuntu and allows users to develop and install various IoT packages on demand and centrally store the data on the TS-251A, providing a secure private storage and IoT development solution. Simply plug in a keyboard, mouse and HDMI monitor to the TS-251A, and use the Linux Station as if you were using a PC*. You can also operate Ubuntu in Linux Station as a remote desktop via web browser for instant management**.

* The remote desktop function does not support remote audio output.
** Linux Station supports both Ubuntu versions 14.04 and 16.04 for users to choose from. Linux Station requires a minimum 4GB RAM.

Comprehensive surveillance solution providing 24/7 security

Surveillance Station is a professional network surveillance Video Management System (VMS) that offers a user-friendly management interface, over 3,000 compatible IP camera models, and expandable IP camera channel licenses. It supports real-time monitoring, video & audio recording and playback with a wide range of customizable settings. You can also install the Vmobile app on your iOS® or Android™ devices to manage monitored channels anytime and anywhere to safeguard your office environment, or install the Vcam mobile app to turn your device into a network camera to instantly record to your TS-251A. The TS-251A includes 2 free IP camera channels and you can expand up to 32 channels by purchasing additional licenses.

Helpdesk: Submit technical support request and get help quickly

If you encounter technical problems or have suggestions for improving our products you can directly contact our support staff using the Helpdesk app. This app allows you to directly send feedback, questions, and technical support requests to our support team. Helpdesk features remote support, allowing our support team to help you quickly resolve issues by remotely connecting to your NAS over a secure 256-bit SSL encrypted connection. Helpdesk also provides a range of online resources, including online tutorials, frequently-asked questions, compatibility lists and the QNAP Helpdesk Knowledgebase. Whether you are a new or experienced NAS user, you can quickly find answers to your questions by browsing through these resources.

Utilities

Various handy utilities are available for you to work smartly with your Turbo NAS. These utilities help increase your productivity and make it absolutely easy with connecting the Turbo NAS, setting up the system, data backup and synchronization, downloading files, and so on. Visit the Download center, find your Turbo NAS model, and the list of available utilities are ready for you.
* Please note that QGenie only supports Qfinder (Windows) and Qsync (Windows).

Qfinder

Available : 

Connect and set up NAS easily

Qfinder is a utility, available for Windows, Mac, and Linux, to quickly find and access the Turbo NAS over the LAN. Install the Finder on your computer, open it, and double click your Turbo NAS name, and the login page is ready for you.

Easily access the NAS by Storage Plug & Connect

Windows version of Qfinder provides a convenient way to connect to the Turbo NAS and map a network drive or a virtual disk. By creating a shared folder on the Turbo NAS and mapping it as a network drive, you can use it as an additional drive and store files on it as it is a local drive of the computer.

myQNAPcloud Connect

Available : 

NAS Connection by VPN

myQNAPcloud Connect helps you access the published services of the Turbo NAS quickly and securely on the Internet. myQNAPcloud Connect application is designed for Windows PC users. By installing the myQNAPcloud Connect, you will be able to connect to the Turbo NAS and easily manage files by drag-and-drop within the Windows Explorer.

Qsync

Available : 

Synchronize files anytime, anywhere

Qsync is a useful tool to synchronize files in multiple computers. It creates a specific “Qsync folder” in your devices that you can simply drop files in, and synchronizes the files to all your devices linked to the Turbo NAS.

Sync in multiple ways

Full Sync

Whenever you add, edit, delete or rename a file on one computer, the change applies to all others linked with the Turbo NAS, so you have exactly identical contents on all your devices.

Smart Sync

It allows you to remove files on one computer without affecting the copies stored on others that are linked with the Turbo NAS. However, when someone updates the files you deleted from another computer, you can still retrieve them in the Qsync folder.

Advanced Selective Sync

With both Full Sync or Smart Sync options, you can choose to only sync specific sub-folders within the Qsync folder, useful if your computers have limited storage.

Share files and folders easily

Quickly share files with download links

You can create download links to share files with people, even if they don’t have an account on the Turbo NAS. This greatly reduces the time in creating user account and password for users.

Share folders for collaboration

Your life is connected with different groups of people. You can create sub-folders within the Qsync folder, and share each with different groups of Turbo NAS users as a file exchange center. Everyone in the same sub-folder is always kept up-to-date with the latest version of the files.

QNAP NetBak Replicator

Available : 

Backup data on PC

The QNAP NetBak Replicator, provided with any Turbo NAS unit free of charge, helps you easily back up files from Windows PC - entire disk drives, documents, pictures, music, videos, fonts, emails, and more - to the Turbo NAS. The operation is very simple. You can do the backup task in just a few clicks using NetBak Replicator by the setting of real-time synchronization, scheduled backup and auto-backup from multiple PCs to the Turbo NAS.
NetBak Replicator also supports backing up to a remote server via FTP and WebDAV through the Internet. Imagine that you can backup new photos whenever on vacation. Even you are away from home, the convenient backup supports your memories.

QGet

Available : 

Download Station monitor widget

QGet is a powerful utility for download management. The software is available for Windows and Mac computers, allowing the management of BT, HTTP, and FTP download tasks of Download Station on multiple Turbo NAS servers.
QGet enables you to add, remove, or watch your BT download jobs from LAN or WAN. You can manage your download tasks in school or at work. QGet supports intuitive drag and drop of torrent files, HTTP or FTP URL to the software interface for convenient adding of download tasks.

vsphere Client plug-in

Available : 

Manage QNAP NAS within vSphere Client

The Turbo NAS supports vSphere Client Plug-in that allows managing VMware datastores on the Turbo NAS directly from the vSphere client console. In a large-scale server virtualization environment, management is centralized and straightforward. Administrators can easily control the status of the Turbo NAS and datastores and create additional datastores to multiple ESXi hosts in just a few clicks.
Note: The TS-x51 series doesn’t support vSphere Client plug-in.

Qsnap

Available : 

Take screenshots, easy and fast

Qsnap is a handy utility assisting you to quickly capture screenshots on your PC, and easily edit, save, and share, enabling quick note-taking or productive communication in your work and life.

• Hotkey capturing: Taking PC screenshots without complicated mouse operations.
• Easy editing: Add emphasis or remove unnecessary elements with a range of editing tools.
• Instant sharing: Simply drag and drop the screenshots to instant messengers and emails as attachments to share.

Hardware Spec.

Software Spec.

Powerful All-in-one server

1 Not all IPv6 services are supported.
2 Data encryption functions may be unavailable in accordance with the legislative restrictions of some countries.
3 This feature may vary by model.
4 DRM-protected content is not supported.

Designs and specifications are subject to change without notice.