My family takes a lot of photos with our phones and they are all stored on iCloud. However, it is costing us $9.99 per month for only 2 TB of storage. I also store things on my Google drive which also runs $9.99 for 2TB per month. For just those 4TB of storage, I am paying about $240 per year. For 6TB or 12 TB of storage on iCloud, one can pay $360 or $720 annually respectively. Recently I learned that UGREEN, a company whose products I have reviewed in the past and continue to use with great reliability, has created a new line of NAS (network-attached storage) devices. Their new DH4300 Plus NAS offers users the ability to store their files locally and still be able to access them online.
What is the UGREEN DH4300 Plus NAS?
Network-attached storage is a dedicated file storage solution that connects to a local area network (LAN), allowing multiple users and devices to access and share files seamlessly. It combines hardware and software with protocols like NFS, SMB, or AFP to enable centralized file sharing. NAS devices, which can be scaled up by adding more storage drives, often support redundant storage configurations like RAID for data integrity. Managed through a browser-based utility, NAS systems provide fast, secure, and reliable storage services, making them ideal for both home and enterprise environments where efficient file sharing and data management are crucial.
The UGREEN DH4300 Plus NAS is about 6 inches long, 6 inches wide, and 8.5 inches high. It includes the device, a small screwdriver and screws, a power adapted, and CAT7 ethernet cable. It also has the following ports and bays built into it:
- 1 USB-C 3.2Gen1 (front)
- 1 HDMI (back)
- 2 USB 3.2 Gen 1*2 (back)
- 2.5 GbE ethernet port 312.5 MB/s (back)
- 4 SATA Bays
The DH4300 Plus does not include any storage discs. However, Each bay can take up to a 30TB SATA drive for a maximum of 120TB of storage. NAS-specific hard drives are recommended such as the Western Digital Red or Seagate Iron Wolf. The UGREEN DH4300 Plus NAS is available from the UGREEN store on Amazon and sells for $429.99. However, it is currently on sale for only $386.99. It is also available directly from UGREEN’s website which often has good sales as well.
Using the UGREEN DH4300 Plus NAS?
Before I received the DH4300 Plus, I had never used an NAS before. My brother has experience setting up as he setup a system as his COVID project. However, I found it very easy to setup the DH4300 Plus. The first step is to remove the top cover to expose the hard drive bays. After removing the four trays, place a hard drive into each tray and secure it with four screws. Once this is done, return the trays with the hard drives to the DH4300 Plus and snap them in so that the connections on each hard drive fits into the slots. After replacing the cover, connect the device to the LAN with the included ethernet cable to your router and connect the power cable. Press the power button to turn on the device.
To interact with the NAS device, you can connect to it using a browser or an app available from the UGREEN website. I downloaded UGREEN NAS app from the Apple App Store. It is also available for Android. For the initial setup, the phone or computer must be connected to the same router network at the DH4300 Plus. The app shows you the hard drives that have been installed and walks the user through the process of setting up the NAS. This includes providing information on the different RAID types are available for the installed drives as well as the amount of memory that will be available and the amount of data protection provided. Once this is selected, the NAS device will begin formatting the drives and setting up the RAID system. This can take many hours depending on the type of protocol selected and the size of the storage on the hard drives. Once setup, the DH4300 Plus can be accessed with either the app or with a browser. The app features a variety of internal apps within it for organizing the data. For example, the Photos app lets users organize their photos while the Theater app does the same with videos. Users can create their own folders and then begin uploading files to the NAS device. Once they are uploaded, they can then be accessed remotely using the main app or browser.
The app also provides the ability to setup security for the device as well as setup strong permission controls for private folders for each family member while also allowing easy sharing of files. Users can also setup 2FA identify verification with a one-time passcode to keep our data safe even if your password is compromised.
Why You Should Get the UGREEN DH4300 Plus NAS
As I mentioned earlier, I have used several different products by UGREEN and have always been impressed with their quality. UGREEN is quickly gaining popularity within the NAS market and have several NAS devices available with different capabilities and maximum amounts of storage. I have been considering setting up an NAS for my family so that we can share photos and videos which can be important when you have adult children who have families of their own. Therefore, when I had an opportunity to test out UGREEN’s latest product, I was eager to try the DH4300 Plus. At first I was going to just install two 4TB hard drives. However, as I was talking to my brother about setting it up, he game be two more 4TB hard drives so I could have all four bays filled. The more hard drives also provided more options for the RAID setup as well as providing more total memory.
Though I was a bit apprehensive about setting up the system, it was much easier than I expected. While I have a lot of experience working on and building computers, NAS is something new. The app on my phone did a great job walking me through the process and the UGREEN website provided useful information in greater detail than found on the app. After deciding on a RAID type, the app directed the NAS device to begin formatting and setting up the hard drives. The entire process took over 20 hours. Once that was accomplished, I created some new folders and then tested uploading photos. This was extremely easy. I just selected the Favorites category from Photos on my iPhone and over 1,000 photos began uploading directly from the iCloud without having to be downloaded to my phone and then up to the NAS. I also uploaded some movies and videos and was able to access them from the Theatre app.
I have been using the UGREEN DH4300 Plus NAS for a few weeks and have been very impressed. It was easy to install the hard drives and set up a storage pool. I appreciated the information provided within the app as well as through the UGREEN site which offers great details on not only using their products but also about NAS in general. I used the app on my smart phone to set up the DH4300 Plus and liked how the app explained the various RAID types so I could determine which would be most appropriate for my needs. I was also able to easily upload photos, videos, and other files seamlessly using both the phone and computer apps provided by UGREEN. Whether you are a veteran looking to upgrade or expand your NAS usage or someone looking to create an NAS for the first time, I highly recommend the UGREEN DH4300 Plus NAS. It combines quality with ease of use and functionality while saving me money on cloud storage subscriptions.
For more information on the UGREEN DH4300 Plus NAS, check out the UGREEN website.
Disclosure: GeekDad received samples of these items for review purposes.
