Zyxel XGS1210 switch

Zyxel XGS1210 10GbE Switch Review: Affordable Faster Networking

Products such as Zyxel's excellent and extremely affordable ($179) XGS1210-12 are changing the high-bandwidth networking equation for the home and small business users. This transitional (it has gigabit as well) beauty is even managed,...
FreeNAS Mini XL+

iXsystems FreeNAS Mini XL+ Review: 8-bay ZFS Power for Pros

I've always wondered about the concept of an extra-large mini. But hey, if BMW can do it with cars, iXsystems can make hay with its FreeNAS Mini XL+--a powerful, 9-bay NAS box running FreeNAS....
Zyxel Armor G5 AX6000

Zyxel Armor G5 AX6000 (NBG7815) Wi-Fi Router Review: 802.11AX, 10/2.5Gbps Ethernet, Forced Cloud Setup

Zyxel's $349 Armor G5 AX6000 (NBG7815) had me happily anticipating a smoother, faster, Wi-Fi and Ethernet experience for my local network, which is currently mired a couple of generations behind at N wireless. AX,...

QNAP QSW-308-1C Gigabit/10GbE Switch Review: Transition to Faster Networking

The QNAP QSW-308-TC combo gigabit/10GbE switch is a transitional product that allows SOHO and SMB workgroups to leverage their newer, faster networking devices while maintaining ties with older gigabit equipment. At only $189, it's...
Seagate IronWolf Pro 18TB

Seagate IronWolf Pro 18TB hard drive: Fast, Tons of Capacity, No Shingling

Seagate's latest entry into the spin-platters-because-they-make-storing-data-cheaper market is the rather excellent and exceedingly capacious 18TB IronWolf Pro. I once paid $700 for a 4GB drive. $550 for 18TB? Amazing. Design and Specs The IronWolf Pro 18TB...
LaCie 6Big

LaCie 6Big Thunderbolt 3 Review: Fast, Glamourous, and Expensive DAS

6Big is a direct-attached storage (DAS) device sporting six drive bays and a very appealing external design. The Neil Poulton imagined sharp edges, shadowy recesses and large blue power button still resonate. It doesn't...
Kingston DC500M 7.68TB

Kingston DC500M Data Center SATA SSD Review: Up to 7.68TB of Reliable, Balanced Performance

Kingston's DC500M Data Center SATA SSD is exactly what I've come to expect from the company over the years--a good, stable performer with top-shelf, reliable components. For its intended role as an SMB server...
Asustor AS7110T

Asustor Lockerstor 10 Pro (AS7110T) NAS: 10 Bays of Storage Goodness

ASUSTOR has been making a name for itself over the last few years on all NAS fronts: consumer, prosumer, and corporate. SMB boxes like the $2400, AS7110 reveal why. The AS7110T is attractive (if...
QNAP's T310G1S

QNAP T310G1 Thunderbolt 3 to 10GbE Adapter Review: 10-Gigabit Network Speed for Expansion-Challenged Computers

QNAP's T310G1 enables 10GbE network speeds on computers that don't have PCIe slots, but do sport a Thunderbolt 3 port. That shouts Mac, of course, but the adapter will also work with the rarer...

QNAP TS-431KX NAS box review: Affordable 4-bay, 10GbE for small business.

The QNAP TS-431KX is a small-business grade, 4-bay NAS box that carries a price tag of $389. Considering it features 10Gbe SFP+ and nearly all the capabilities of QNAP's second-to-none operating system and app...

Latest posts

Small business owner reviewing security checklist.

A Practical Guide to Small Business Network Security in 2025

This article provides a clear roadmap for implementing crucial cybersecurity measures to safeguard your company's digital assets.
What is BTRFS file system linux kernal

What is Btrfs? The Better (than most) File System

Btrfs may be a "better" file system next to everything except ZFS, but what Btr actually stands for is not "better", or "butter", but...
Mac floppy disks

A Brief History of the Floppy Disk

Ah, the floppy disk. How I miss thee. How I don't. There was a certain tactile pleasure to inserting you into your drive, and...
hard drive showing platter and read write headread-write-head

How to Install ZFS and Create a ZFS Pool on Ubuntu

ZFS is a stable, robust, and fault-tolerant file system with built-in RAID-like properties and drive pools. We show you how to create a ZFS...
UnRAID array with parity and caching drives

What is UnRAID? Outstanding Capacity with Parity

There are a number of NAS operating systems out there, including several based on the BSD (Berkeley System Development) operating system. Most are proprietary...