In October 2024, Ubiquiti, known as a major networking vendor, introduced its first network-attached storage (NAS) device, the UNAS Pro. With a full-scale rackmount design, the 7-bay server was clearly made for big business. At the time, I decided to take a pass on it, waiting for a more consumer-friendly unit.
The wait is now over. The company unveiled its second attempt at the NAS space on September 16, introducing “Next-Gen UniFi Storage,” which consists of not one, not two, but four new servers, enough to meet the demands of all user demographics.
Next-Gen UniFi Storage: M.2 NVMe SSD support, PoE-powered, UniFi Drive, and more
These new servers include UNAS 2, UNAS 4, UNAS Pro 4, and UNAS Pro 8.
As you might have guessed, the numbers in the names indicate the number of drive bays each server has, and the two UNAS Pro servers are the direct upgrade to the original UNAS Pro that came out almost a year ago.
Other than the change in the number of drive bays, the UNAS Pro 8 is practically double the UNAS Pro 4’s capacity and physical size. The new Pro servers now, among other things, come with a built-in M.2 slot for caching and support for an optional redundant power supply.
Here is what’s now on these two UNAS Pro 4 and UNAS Pro 8 servers:
- Multiple 10G interfaces with MC-LAG support
- Dual M.2 NVMe SSD bays for caching
- Modular, hot-swappable power supplies (UNAS Pro 8)
- Space-saving 1U rackmount design (UNAS Pro 4)
- Enterprise-grade reliability
On the other hand, the UNAS 2 and UNAS 4 are totally new 2-bay and 4-bay servers. They come in a desktop design, meaning they are made for general users. Both servers share the same design with their drive bays facing the underside.
The unique thing about these two consumer-grade servers is the fact that they are the first NAS servers that are PoE powered, allowing for maximum flexibility in terms of placement. You can literally tuck either anywhere you can run a single network cable to.
The UNAS 2’s highlights:
- PoE-powered single-cable setup via a 2.5Gbps PoE++ port (injector included).
- Dual-bay storage design
- USB-C external device support
- LCM touchscreen for quick navigation
As the name suggests, the UNAS 4 has double the number of drive bays as the UNAS 2 and, therefore, the physical size. UNAS 4’s highlights:
- Everything UNAS 2 has, including PoE-powered via a 2.5Gbps PoE+++ port (injector included).
- Support for additional HDDs
- Integrated M.2 NVMe SSD slots
- Optimized for high-performance storage
- Same streamlined setup as the UNAS 2
UniFi Drive: The app that powers Ubiquiti’s NAS servers
All of Ubiqiuiti NAS servers are powered by the UniFi Drive app, which runs on its UniFi OS, similar to the case of UniFi Network or UniFi Protect. This new app was recently upgraded to version 3.0, which, among other things, includes a flexible RAID setup that allows users to mix and match drives of different capacities. This improvement makes UniFi NAS servers more competitive, considering Synology, the biggest name in NAS, has had SHR for years.
Other than that, UniFi Drive 3.0 also expands UniFi NAS servers’ capability, including:
- AWS S3, Backblaze B2, and Wasabi backup integrations
- Active Directory support for SMB sharing and access controls
- Customizable fan control with Quiet, Balanced, and Cooling modes
It’s worth noting that UniFi Drive is a license-free application.
Availability and pricing
Ubiquiti’s new UNAS 2, UNAS 4, UNAS Pro 4, and UNAS Pro 8 are slated to cost $199, $379, $499, and $799, respectively. Of the four, only the UNAS 2 is available today, with the rest coming soon.
I’m in the process of getting at least one of them out for a spin. Check back soon to see how the real-world performance pans out.