TerraMaster F2-425: 30-second review

The TerraMaster F2-425 NAS is a two-bay NAS that has been designed for use in small and medium-sized businesses (SMB), and it’s equally adept at being used in the home. TerraMaster has years of experience, and this really comes through with the design, setup and functionality of the NAS. From the easy installation of the drives and step-by-step process of initialisation through to everyday use, whether backing up files or using it as a home media server, it performs well.

Initial setup is straightforward, using a tool-free approach. You simply pull off the holding strips on either side of the caddy, place it in the drive, push the strips back in, and the drive is held in place. Then you slide it back into the machine using the large lever locks on the front. It clicks into place and locks. Once the drives are installed, power on the machine, make sure it’s plugged into the network, and head to your computer.

The F2-425 is one of a growing number of NAS systems that utilise both desktop and browser-based access. If you download the TNAS PC software for Mac or PC, it runs through all the complexities of setup, enabling you to configure the drives. The whole process from start to finish takes no more than 10 minutes.

Once complete, you’re guided through setting up your first pool and can begin copying files directly to the NAS, which appears on your computer’s network drive and can be used like any other.

Because it incorporates the new Intel CPU, it has far greater compatibility with higher-functioning apps. This means you can download ready-to-use solutions such as TerraSync, which enables you to turn the NAS into a private cloud server. This is something I’ve used extensively; it allows me not only to store files on the server but also to share them without paying for services like WeTransfer.

As with higher-quality systems, Docker is supported, and you can set up your own web server for multimedia or web development. Plex Media Server is also available for offline media files, and the iTunes server runs smoothly.

Inside, I used two Lexar NS100 SSDs. These are relatively cheap, and while their overall speed isn’t a match for the latest SSDs, they outperform most HDDs. Connected through my Wi-Fi 6 router, I achieved decent transfer rates and smooth video/audio streaming.

This might be an entry-level NAS, but performance is good. With the 2.5 GbE port and plenty of connectivity, it’s a flexible device, enabling you to connect to a wired network or wireless.

Another feature is the 4K hardware encoding. As you move video footage to the drive, you can set it to re-encode 4K H.265/HEVC up to 60 fps automatically. This helps speed up editing by offloading processing to the NAS. It’s not as advanced as the system that I recently looked at on the Zettlab D6, but it’s still a huge boost to workflow.

There are limitations, of course; it’s only a two-bay unit, so you’re limited to 60 TB. If you’re working with video and images, that storage can fill quickly. At that point, you’ll be looking for a larger NAS. That aside, if this is your first NAS, it’s a solid option and gives you many of the features of higher-end systems at a much lower cost.

Overall, considering the price and feature set, the TOS operating system enables far more than most other NAS devices in this range. It’s a great option for a small or medium-sized business or studio just starting out in network storage.

TerraMaster F2-425 Price & availability

• How much does it cost? $319
• When is it out? Now
• Where can you get it? Widely available

The TerraMaster F2-425 is widely available and listed for US$319 / £319. It can be purchased directly via the TerraMaster website and is also available through online retailers, including Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk.

• Value: 5 / 5

TerraMaster F2-425: Design

One of the first things you notice about the TerraMaster F2-425 is how simple the design is. The compact size is not much greater than that of two 3.5-inch HDDs. The exterior enclosure measures 222 x 193 x 154 mm and weighs 1.5 kg, before drives are installed. The external power adapter adds to this.

This device is designed to be a permanent fixture in your office or home and requires AC power and a network router to plug into.

On the back, there is a 2.5 GbE port, an HDMI port, and two USB Type-A ports, one USB 3.2 Gen 1 (5 Gb/s) and one USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10 Gb/s). There is no secondary network port, which is a slight drawback. A large fan keeps the system cool even under load.

The tool-free design is another plus. Each drive is held in a caddy with a push-lock on the front. Remove the sides, insert the drive, snap the sides back on, slide the caddy in, and lock it. The whole process takes just a couple of minutes.

The rear fan also runs impressively quietly and only ramps up when processing large volumes. Even when handling hundreds of images, noise was minimal.

On the front is a single USB 3.2 port for external drives, and a set of three small status LEDs. The top two indicate drive presence and status; the bottom LED indicates network connectivity.

• Design: 4 / 5

TerraMaster F2-425: Features

The F2-425 features the Intel N5095 quad-core processor, which is a step up from the typical ARM processors found in entry-level NAS units. It’s coupled with UHD graphics and 4 GB of DDR4 RAM, striking a good balance for the price.

For network connectivity, it utilises a single RJ-45 2.5 GbE port, which offers relatively fast speeds. It’s a shame there’s only one.

For storage, the two bays support 3.5″ or 2.5″ drives, with up to 30 TB each (60 TB total). SSDs can also be used for faster performance, and in this Review, I’ve used two Lexar NS100s.

The drives can be configured in RAID 0, 1, or TRAID, and once the setup is complete, the drives will support hot-swap, meaning you can replace a drive without powering down. You also get file system choices between Btrfs and EXT4.

Cloud sync is supported with services like Google Drive, OneDrive and Dropbox. Using the TerraMaster Cloud Sync app, you can also utilise the storage as your own cloud, which is a feature that I find extremely useful as a small business, especially with the recent escalation in cloud storage and transfer fees.

The TOS operating system supports remote access, enterprise-grade security, and a mobile app. The Intel CPU allows for installation of higher-grade apps, such as the AI-powered photo album, which offers basic face, animal, and scene recognition.

Applications like Docker and VirtualBox are supported. I used the NAS to run a basic WordPress web server, which performed far better than expected.

User management is also straightforward, with the ability to assign access rights, useful for small offices not relying on Google or Microsoft for file sharing.

The Intel CPU enhances compatibility and allows the setup of VPNs, CCTV backup, iTunes server, and more.

• Features: 4 / 5

TerraMaster F2-425: Performance

The F2-425 is designed for users new to NAS systems. Setup is straightforward, and the tool-free caddies make installing drives quick. Both 3.5″ HDDs and 2.5″ SSDs install the same way.

Once installed, all you need to do is plug in the AC power and connect it to the network. Then download and install the TNAS software on your computer, and if you’re on the same network, the NAS will appear. You’re then guided through the setup, and within minutes, storage is configured and ready for app installation.

In testing, I installed TerraPhoto, Docker, TerraSync, USB Copy, Document Manager, iTunes Server, Jellyfin, and Plex, all of which ran smoothly.

Web development also worked well. I installed the Terra Web Server, MariaDB, phpMyAdmin, and WordPress. While the initial setup requires knowledge and quite a bit of setup, performance once done for local web development was excellent and a real step-up from running MAMP on my local machine.

Media playback across the network was also incredibly smooth. The only constraint to the system that I really found is the fact that it is a 2-bay design, which limits expansion, but then this is a starter NAS. Also, with just one network port, there’s no redundancy, and USB ports are only for transferring content via USB Copy, not expansion.

Fan noise proved to be minimal for day-to-day use and far less than many larger NAS systems, and it was only under sustained image or video processing that the fans really kicked in.

Remote access and user setup were simple, and are one of those features that, once you start to use them as a small business, you wonder how you were able to function before. While the setup isn’t as straightforward as it could be, I found a decent enough amount of instructions online to guide me through the connection process. The TOS software works well for beginners, though advanced setups like web servers require some technical skill.

• Performance: 4.5 / 5

TerraMaster F2-425: Final verdict

If you’re a small or medium-sized business, home office worker, or creative studio looking for your first step into network-attached storage, the TerraMaster F2-425 is a great option. It provides two bays with up to 60 TB storage, accessible locally and remotely.

The TOS operating system is well-designed and, once again, really beginner-friendly. There are guides for more complex features like the iTunes and web servers, although both take some working out, and I couldn’t help but think some of the process could have been far easier, as some technical knowledge about IPs, etc, is needed in order to connect.

For more standard NAS features such as being used as a backup server, it works well with macOS Time Machine and used as a network storage device, it really couldn’t be easier. Plex and iTunes servers also worked well, but the iTunes server did take a little additional attention to run.

As entry-level NAS systems go, the F2-425 is a great starting point and should meet most small business storage needs.

Should I buy a TerraMaster F2-425?

Buy it if…