Look, storage is personal. Every customer we talk to has their own take: video production teams need fast streaming of 4K footage, backup administrators require ironclad data protection, and small businesses want simple file sharing that just works.
We've shipped thousands of storage servers running everything from TrueNAS, Unraid, OpenMediaVault, and Windows Storage Server. And after decades of building storage solutions? We've learned a thing or two about what works.
That's why we've developed three essential benchmarks focused on what matters most: reliable performance, bulletproof data protection, and seamless networking. Whether you're looking to move workloads from cloud storage or build a hybrid solution, these standards ensure your hardware can handle real-world demands:
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Storage Performance: We test sustained read/write speeds under real-world conditions. Unlike synthetic benchmarks, we simulate actual workloads - like streaming security footage while rebuilding RAID arrays. A server must maintain consistent throughput even during drive failures or system stress.
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Data Protection: Data loss isn't an option. We validate protection features by simulating worst-case scenarios: unexpected power losses, multiple drive failures, and backup system stress tests. Each server must demonstrate zero data loss and rapid recovery capabilities.
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Network Throughput: Modern NAS systems need to handle diverse workloads simultaneously. We test concurrent file transfers across multiple protocols (SMB, NFS, iSCSI) while monitoring network saturation. The goal? Consistent performance whether you're streaming 4K video or running backup jobs.
Together, these three benchmarks reveal what a NAS can really do under pressure. We optimize for the challenges our customers face daily: storing petabytes of medical imagery, backup jobs running during business hours, dozens of CAD engineers working on network-attached storage, and mission-critical file shares that can't go down. Our benchmarks are built from business needs – not generic spec sheets.
We didn't create these standards in a lab. They come from years of helping customers optimize their storage infrastructure. A scientific computing team taught us about parallel file access demands. A media house showed us what "real-time" really means. From each deployment, we learned something new about making storage work better in the real world.
Recently we helped build out storage for an IaaS provider. This customer's needs included high data resiliency and security for their customers' data. We landed on an R740xd2, with 384TB of spinning disk drives, 512GB of RAM, 16 cores, and 10GB networking. The less than 1% failure rate of our refurbished drives was paramount to this installation – our drive refurbishment standards enabled the customer to add a PB of storage to their datacenter for a fraction of the price.
Most businesses today are looking for the right balance of cloud and on-premise storage. We get it. Cloud storage has its place, but it shouldn't be your only option. We've seen customers shocked by egress fees when retrieving their data, or frustrated by inconsistent performance during peak times. A hybrid approach with on-premise NAS puts you back in control: predictable costs, consistent speed, and no surprises when you need to access your files. Whether you're handling terabytes of video footage or managing company-wide file shares, the right NAS configuration can complement your cloud strategy while eliminating the hidden costs and limitations.
By pressure testing hardware against these real scenarios, we deliver storage servers that are reliable, scalable, and cost-effective. You get enterprise-grade performance without the premium price tag of proprietary solutions.
Want to see our top NAS configuration? Check out our Best General Purpose NAS Server. Need help with a custom setup? Our team is ready to help configure the perfect solution for your workload.