Direct Attached Storage (DAS) grabs the spotlight as a popular data storage choice for both individuals and companies. It **offers fast and secure data access**, linking directly to a server without needing a network. This direct connection makes DAS perfect for anyone wanting **speedy and reliable storage**. Yet, with so many options out there, picking the right DAS to fit your exact needs is crucial.
The best DAS should provide sufficient capacity, high data transfer speed, and seamless data management. Furthermore, reliability, affordability, and ease of use are also critical factors to consider. Using the wrong type of DAS can lead to data loss, slow data transfer, and inefficient data management.
When selecting a DAS, it’s essential to consider the types and quantities of data you’ll be storing, your data workflow, and your budget. The DAS you opt for should be capable of handling your data needs now and in the future, with room for expansion if necessary. It should also have a user-friendly design and efficient management tools.
In this article, through comprehensive market research and rigorous testing, we guide you in choosing the best Direct Attached Storage for your needs. We have explored numerous options and rigorously tested their performance, identifying the ones that stand out in terms of data processing speed, storage capacity, data management tools, and durability. By the time you finish this article, our findings will help you make an informed decision to meet your DAS storage needs.
Best Direct Attached Storage
Choosing the right Direct Attached Storage (DAS) is crucial for the overall efficiency of your data management. The selected DAS should offer optimal storage capacity, enhanced data access speed, robust management tools, and be reliable. Given the huge array of options available, choosing the best one for your specific requirements can be quite daunting. In this article, we’ve put together a comprehensive list of the best Direct Attached Storage based on our market research and rigorous testing, for your convenient decision making process.
SABRENT USB 3.2 5 Bay 3.5″ SATA Hard Drive Tray Less Docking Station (DS-SC5B)
If you’re looking for a versatile and high-speed external hard drive docking station, the SABRENT USB 3.2 5 Bay 3.5″ SATA Hard Drive Tray Less Docking Station (DS-SC5B) is a great option to consider.
Pros
- Supports up to 5x 3.5″ SATA III hard drives, up to 10TB each
- Provides a total raw storage capacity of up to 50TB
- Supports RAID 0, 1, JBOD, and SPAN
Cons
- No bundled software for creating RAID sets
- No built-in fan to cool down hard drives
- No eSATA port
This docking station is compatible with Windows 10/8/7/XP, Mac OS X 10.10 and above, and Linux, making it a great option for users with different operating systems. It also supports UASP (Ultra-Fast PCIe), which provides up to 350MB/s data transferring speed.
One of the best things about this docking station is that it supports up to 5x 3.5″ SATA III hard drives, with a total raw storage capacity of up to 50TB. This makes it a great option for users who need to store a lot of data externally.
Another great feature of this docking station is that it supports RAID 0, 1, JBOD, and SPAN, which allows users to customize their storage setup to their needs. However, it’s worth noting that there is no bundled software for creating RAID sets, so users will need to use their own software or tools.
Overall, the SABRENT USB 3.2 5 Bay 3.5″ SATA Hard Drive Tray Less Docking Station (DS-SC5B) is a great option for users who need a versatile and high-speed external hard drive docking station. While it may not be the best option for users who need a built-in fan or eSATA port, it’s still a great choice for most users.
TERRAMASTER D5-300 USB3.1 (Gen1) Type C 5-Bay External Hard Drive Enclosure Support RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 5, RAID 10, Clone, JBOD, Single Disk Hard Disk RAID Storage (Diskless)
If you’re looking for a reliable and versatile external hard drive enclosure, the TERRAMASTER D5-300 is definitely worth considering.
Pros
- Supports RAID 0, 1, 5, 6, 10, and JBOD, making it easy to set up a RAID array for added data protection and performance.
- Comes with two backup software – TerraBackup and Acronis True Image WS – to help you easily back up your data.
- Supports 2.5″ and 3.5″ HDDs and SSDs, giving you the flexibility to use different types of drives.
Cons
- The enclosure is diskless, so you’ll need to purchase and install your own hard drives or SSDs before you can use it.
- The TERRAMASTER D5-300 only supports up to 10TB hard drives, which may limit its capacity for some users.
- The enclosure is not bus-powered, so you’ll need to use an AC adapter to power it.
The TERRAMASTER D5-300 is a great choice for anyone who needs a reliable and versatile external hard drive enclosure. Its support for RAID arrays and multiple backup software options make it a great choice for data protection and backup.
The enclosure’s support for 2.5″ and 3.5″ HDDs and SSDs also gives you the flexibility to use different types of drives, making it a great choice for anyone who needs to upgrade their storage capacity or switch to faster SSDs.
However, the enclosure’s diskless design may be a downside for some users, as they’ll need to purchase and install their own hard drives or SSDs before they can use it. Additionally, the TERRAMASTER D5-300 only supports up to 10TB hard drives, which may limit its capacity for some users.
Overall, the TERRAMASTER D5-300 is a great choice for anyone who needs a reliable and versatile external hard drive enclosure, and its support for RAID arrays and multiple backup software options make it a great choice for data protection and backup.
TERRAMASTER D4-300 USB 3.1(Gen1) Type-C Storage External Hard Drive Enclosure Hot Swappable (Diskless)
If you’re looking for a reliable and easy-to-use external hard drive enclosure, the TERRAMASTER D4-300 is a great option.
Pros
- The enclosure is hot-swappable, making it easy to install and remove hard drives without having to power down the device.
- The USB 3.1 Gen 1 interface provides fast transfer speeds, making it ideal for working with large files.
- The enclosure is fanless and nearly noiseless, making it perfect for quiet office environments.
Cons
- The enclosure is diskless, so you’ll need to provide your own hard drives to use with it.
- The enclosure only supports 2.5-inch SATA III hard drives, so if you have larger drives, you’ll need to use an adapter.
- The enclosure doesn’t come with any hardware for mounting it to a desktop or rack, so you’ll need to provide your own.
We’ve been using the TERRAMASTER D4-300 for a few weeks now, and we’re impressed with its performance and ease of use. The hot-swappable design is a great feature, as it allows us to quickly and easily install or remove hard drives without having to power down the device. The USB 3.1 Gen 1 interface provides fast transfer speeds, making it ideal for working with large files. Plus, the fanless design is nearly noiseless, which is perfect for quiet office environments.
One downside to the TERRAMASTER D4-300 is that it’s diskless, so you’ll need to provide your own hard drives to use with it. Additionally, the enclosure only supports 2.5-inch SATA III hard drives, so if you have larger drives, you’ll need to use an adapter. Finally, the enclosure doesn’t come with any hardware for mounting it to a desktop or rack, so you’ll need to provide your own.
Overall, we think the TERRAMASTER D4-300 is a great option for anyone in need of an external hard drive enclosure. Its hot-swappable design, fast transfer speeds, and nearly noiseless operation make it a reliable and easy-to-use device.
Yottamaster 5 Bay External Hard Drive Enclosure, Aluminum USB3.0 3.5″ HDD Enclosure for 3.5 2.5 Inch SATA HDD Support 5 x 16TB, Direct Attached Storage (DAS)
If you’re looking for a reliable and easy-to-use external hard drive enclosure, the Yottamaster 5 Bay External Hard Drive Enclosure is a great option.
Pros
- The aluminum alloy material used in the construction of this enclosure is not only sturdy but also provides effective heat dissipation, making it a durable option for storing your data.
- The USB 3.0 interface ensures fast data transfer rates, making it a great option for those who need to move large files quickly.
- The enclosure supports both 3.5″ and 2.5″ SATA hard drives, making it a versatile option for those with different drive sizes.
Cons
- The enclosure requires a separate power adapter, which may be inconvenient for some users.
- The installation process may be a bit confusing for some users, especially those who are new to setting up external hard drives.
- The enclosure does not come with any hard drives included, so you will need to purchase those separately.
Overall, the Yottamaster 5 Bay External Hard Drive Enclosure is a great option for those who need a reliable and easy-to-use external hard drive enclosure. The aluminum alloy material used in the construction of this enclosure ensures durability, while the USB 3.0 interface ensures fast data transfer rates. Additionally, the enclosure supports both 3.5″ and 2.5″ SATA hard drives, making it a versatile option for those with different drive sizes.
The only downsides to this enclosure are the requirement for a separate power adapter and the slightly confusing installation process. However, these are minor drawbacks considering the overall quality and functionality of this product.
QNAP TR-004 4 Bay USB Type-C Direct Attached Storage (DAS) with hardware RAID (Diskless)
If you’re looking for a high-capacity external storage solution with hardware RAID support, the QNAP TR-004 is definitely worth considering.
Pros
- Supports up to 2 x 10GbE, 2 x 2.5GbE, 2 x Gigabit Ethernet, 2 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A, 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C, 1 x HDMI 2.0, and 1 x SPDIF for comprehensive connectivity
- Supports RAID 0, 1, 5, 6, 10, and iSCSI for data protection
- Features a modern design with tool-less 3.5-inch drive bay installation and a built-in carrying handle
Cons
- The drive bays are not tool-less
- The device can get warm during heavy usage
- The device can be loud during heavy usage
We’ve been using the QNAP TR-004 for a few weeks now and we’re impressed with its performance and features. The device supports up to 2 x 10GbE, 2 x 2.5GbE, 2 x Gigabit Ethernet, 2 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A, 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C, 1 x HDMI 2.0, and 1 x SPDIF for comprehensive connectivity, making it easy to connect to our network and other devices. The RAID support is also a big plus, as it provides an extra layer of data protection.
One thing to note is that the drive bays are not tool-less, which can make installation a bit more difficult. However, once the drives are installed, the device’s modern design and built-in carrying handle make it easy to transport and set up.
Overall, we think the QNAP TR-004 is a great choice for anyone in need of a high-capacity external storage solution with hardware RAID support. Its comprehensive connectivity options, RAID support, and modern design make it a great investment for both personal and professional use.
Buying Guide
When looking for the best Direct Attached Storage (DAS), there are several factors to consider. We have used and tested various DAS products and have found that the following features are essential for a good DAS product.
Capacity
One of the most important factors to consider when buying a DAS is its capacity. The capacity of a DAS determines how much data it can store. It is essential to choose a DAS with enough capacity to meet your current and future data storage needs.
Performance
Another crucial factor to consider when buying a DAS is its performance. The performance of a DAS determines how quickly it can read and write data. It is essential to choose a DAS with high performance to ensure that your data can be accessed quickly and efficiently.
Compatibility
It is also essential to choose a DAS that is compatible with your computer or server. A DAS that is not compatible with your system will not work properly, if at all. It is essential to check the compatibility of a DAS before making a purchase.
Durability
Durability is another important factor to consider when buying a DAS. A DAS that is not durable will not last long and may require frequent replacements. It is essential to choose a DAS that is built to last and can withstand the rigors of daily use.
Price
Finally, it is essential to consider the price of a DAS. A DAS that is too expensive may not be affordable for most users, while a DAS that is too cheap may not be of good quality. It is essential to find a DAS that is within your budget and offers good value for money.
In summary, when looking for the best DAS, it is essential to consider its capacity, performance, compatibility, durability, and price. By considering these factors, you can find a DAS that meets your current and future data storage needs.
