Review on 🚀 Enhanced QNAP TS-431XeU-2G-US 4-Bay 1U Rackmount NAS Featuring Integrated 10GbE Network for Optimal Performance by Joe Murphy

I've been a Synology NAS user for a long time and for the most part I'm very happy with Synology. I figured the last few generations of QNAP NAS offered better value than their Synology cousins, so I moved on and have had 3 QNAP NAS since then. I have a TVS-1282 along with a TS-431XeU that I wanted to use as a backup. I was interested in the TS-431XeU because of the 10GBe connection, along with the usual gigabit ports and short body. I upgraded the RAM and installed it in my rack. The first reaction was very good. Once I got rsync working I could "forget" about the TS-431XeU as it did its job. Then it stopped connecting. One day I noticed that there were no backups. And I couldn't connect. I restarted the device but I still couldn't connect. The RMA process for QNAP is a bit cumbersome as the techs keep asking the same questions over email and don't seem to actually read the answers. After getting the RMA it was ok to sit around and wait. Delivery and replacement took about 3 weeks. At least it worked. So far it hasn't worked. Everything was fine this time. I ordered a new TR-004 to connect to my TS-431XeU and expand my backup options. Everything was running smoothly for about 2 days when I noticed that the TS-431XeU was not working. I connected almost all electronics (NAS, computers, switches, TVs, etc.) to UPS devices. We don't have power issues, I just like the clean flow, and when there are power issues (I live on the outskirts of town) the UPS protection usually takes care of everything. So I check my TS-431XeU, I check the UPS, the power cord, pretty much everything, and the TS-431XeU has no power. I pull it out of the rack, stick it in my desktop and nothing. I have lights on my NIC ports but nothing else, no fans, no lights, no sound. During the dreaded RMA Q&A&A&A dance, the tech asks me to replace the RAM. I asked him why and he said that RAM is known to cause power issues. I've been working with computers since the mid 80's and have seen RAM cause boot issues but never power issues. Especially on a device that has been running for a year. So swapped RAM and lo and behold, no power. Luckily, QNAP makes upgrading (and replacing) RAM pretty easy. This is the second time in a little over a year that I've been without my TS-431XeU. Thank goodness for the QNAP guarantee, but to be honest, while I really like the device for its form and function, I can't recommend the TS-431XeU for its lack of reliability.