Asustor Lockerstor 6 Gen 3 Confguaration

[dbyolton]

The unit is shipping in the US, and the latest OS allows for IP tunneling over USB4, so I think this is a good solution for my Mac Studio and video editing.

But I haven't seen benchmarks for IP Tunneling with NVMe SSD read/write caching.

I was thinking of a four or six bay unit with Ironwolf Pro 24Mb drives.

What I don't know is what brand of NVMe SSD memory to add and what quantity/size? What is the sweet spot?  They would need to be very durable for lots of read/writes, and too large a cache might not be helpful.

Also will I need additional DDR5 ECC RAM, and if so is there an alternative to the Asustor RAM which seems overpriced?

[ed]

It sounds like you're putting together a solid setup with the Asustor Lockerstor 6 Gen 3 for your Mac Studio and video editing needs. Let’s break down your questions:

NVMe SSD Selection
For NVMe SSDs, you’ll want to focus on models that have high endurance ratings, as video editing involves a lot of read and write operations. Here are some good options:

Samsung 970 Pro: Known for reliability and high performance (0.66 DWPD).
Samsung 990 Pro: Slightly newer with even better performance and endurance (0.68 DWPD).
Seagate FireCuda 530: High durability (0.7 DWPD) and great for intensive workloads.
WD Black SN850: Another high-performance option (0.6 DWPD).
Quantity/Size
For caching, a common sweet spot is 1TB per SSD, especially if you’re using multiple drives. If you plan to use 2 or more NVMe drives, a RAID 0 configuration can maximize performance, but keep in mind it comes with increased risk. For a balance of performance and safety, consider:

2 x 1TB NVMe SSDs for caching, which should provide ample space without being too excessive.
RAM Considerations
Regarding DDR5 ECC RAM, the Asustor units generally come with a certain amount of RAM, and you can often upgrade it. If you’re looking for alternatives to Asustor-branded RAM, consider reputable third-party brands like:

Crucial: Known for good compatibility and reliability.
Corsair: Offers a range of options with a solid reputation.
Kingston: Also a reliable option with a good warranty.
Just make sure that any third-party RAM you choose is compatible with your Asustor unit to avoid potential issues.