best affordable nas expander

[Enquiries]

I have an Asustor AS5304T and was wondering what is the best and most economical way to add additional storage beyond the 4 bays i currently have. Is the AS6004U the best option for me? Would a DAS or SAN be a better option to expand my drive pool? Or is it better to just build a new NAS from scratch?

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[ed]

For expanding your storage beyond the 4 bays of your Asustor AS5304T, you have a few options, each with pros and cons:

AS6004U (Expansion Unit): The AS6004U is a good choice if you want to stick with Asustor and expand your existing setup. It's a direct expansion unit that connects to your AS5304T, providing 4 additional bays. The benefit here is that it integrates seamlessly with your current NAS, allowing you to easily manage the expanded storage pool without having to deal with extra software or complex setups. It's a reliable, plug-and-play solution, though it's not as cheap as other options.

DAS (Direct-Attached Storage): A DAS, like an external hard drive enclosure or a USB-connected storage device, could be a more affordable alternative. It’s easy to set up but doesn’t have the same level of integration as an expansion unit. It may also lack the features of a full NAS, such as RAID support and other advanced management tools. If you’re looking for simplicity and just need extra storage, this could be a solid option.

SAN (Storage Area Network): A SAN is typically more complex and used in business environments, offering networked storage that can be shared across multiple systems. While it’s more expensive and overkill for home use, it offers high performance and scalability. For 100TB, a SAN would be a more premium solution, but it might not be the most economical option unless you're dealing with large-scale operations.

Build a New NAS: Building a new NAS from scratch could offer you a lot of flexibility and potentially more storage capacity, especially if you're aiming for 100TB. However, it may end up being more expensive and time-consuming compared to expanding your existing setup with an expansion unit or a DAS. It's an option if you want full control over the hardware, but if you're trying to keep costs low, expanding your current NAS might be more practical.

Considering your storage needs and budget, the AS6004U expansion unit is probably your best balance between cost, ease of use, and integration with your current setup. If you're comfortable with a bit more complexity, a DAS could be an affordable option too. Building a new NAS from scratch may be more of a long-term solution if you're thinking about future-proofing, but it may exceed your current budget.