UGREEN is one of the unsung heroes of computer peripherals. I own one of their M.2 NVMe enclosures, which allows me to transform my 1TB internal SSD into an external one without breaking the bank! I really love how quick and easy it is to use, and I feel like the overall design is durable and reliable. This begs the question: Does UGREEN have what it takes to go big? With the DH4300 Plus 4-Bay Enclosure, I get to answer that question. So, how does it hold up? Is it as easy to use as other devices? Let’s take a look!
Internal Specs
The internal hardware that the DH4300 Plus operates on is rather interesting. We have a Rockchip A76 + A55 ARM processor, 8GB of LPDDR4X memory, and 32GB eMMC storage. Altogether, performance is good. I can’t complain too much about this because of the nature of this NAS. It is designed for the average user who needs additional storage options over speed. Don’t get me wrong: It is fast. But it isn’t breaking any records, and that is because it doesn’t need to.
This is exactly the device anyone and everyone could easily use. Most people, even those who are not tech savvy, can get up and running quickly. This is a multipurpose device that goes beyond what NAS storage systems are typically used for. Unlike rackmount systems, this is made to be seen in various environments while looking clean and sophisticated.
Overall Design
There is something quite interesting going on with the design of the DH4300 Plus. I think those who are just diving into the world of network attached storage devices will find the device to be a solid jumping off point into the world of mass storage. Everything about this just speaks to the average user from the simple hardware installation process to the software that fuels the enclosure.
Physically, the upright design makes the DH4300 Plus tall while also reducing the overall footprint. The topmost quarter or so is the covering, which can be removed to reveal all four drive bays. This makes the DH4300 Plus ideal for desktop usage for various studios and workstations when paired with a wired connection. The benefit of this speaks to the rest of the overall design which balances out thermal capabilities, accessibility, and connectivity.
We do get a couple of neat features like LEDs to signify when drives are in operation as well as a power button and a USB-C port. This gives people information at a mere glance, once again alluding to its purpose for being a desktop-enabled device. UGREEN was also able to pack the DH4300 Plus with more ports on the rear of the device, giving users access to two USB-A ports, an HDMI port, and a single 2.5 GbE networking port. Additionally, there are some NFC functions that allow you to connect a smart device directly to the NAS for setup and media accessibility.
Installation
As for the drive bays themselves, we have four sleds that are easy to work with. Each of the four sleds are compatible with 2.5” and 3.5” drives. In this review, we used four 12TB 3.5” HDDs and I can say the installation process was easy! I simply used the included screws to secure the drives into the sleds, then secure them right into the DH4300 Plus’s body without issue. There is a little click sound to tell you when the drive is fully secured too! I also appreciate the usage of vibration dampers directly on the sleds to reduce noise and keep the drives in tip-top shape.
Once all four bays were populated, it was time to get the software side of this rolling. UGREEN’s UGOS Pro operating system was easy for me to set up through my home computer via browser. My main computer connects to my network via Wi-Fi, which could be a slight challenge under certain circumstances that relies entirely on your internet service provider and networking hardware. Nevertheless, I was able to connect and set it up easily! UGREEN also enables the ability to set up the DH4300 Plus using a smartphone, which I briefly mentioned before. This is great if you don’t want to use your PC to set up the NAS and intend on using it as a media device for your TV.
Once everything was registered and ready to use, I was able to name it and move on to managing my storage. With four 12TB HDDs, I had plenty of options when it came to RAID configurations including 0, 1, 5, 6, and 10, along with JBOD and Basic. If you’d like, you can briefly visit this link all about the different types of RAID levels to get an in-depth look at how this technology operates.
I felt like RAID 5 was the smartest option to go with since I had more than two drives and felt that added peace of mind when it comes to potential data loss. RAID 6 was also a strong contender but with only four drives active, it didn’t make much sense. Typically, RAID 6 would be better if you had maybe 6 or more drives in use.
After finalizing setup, working out some networking issues on my end, and getting a few devices caught up, I was able to store media and recall it with ease. Data transfer speeds weren’t bad either, granted I am on a wireless network which limited me to 1 GbE max transfer rate. Even then, reading and writing information was totally dependent on the file size. Smartphone backup was an option and it felt just as snappy as saving to cloud storage.
Other Notable Features
I mentioned before how there are multiple USB ports and an HDMI port on this device. Essentially, you can transform the DH4300 Plus from a traditional NAS into something more akin to a multimedia station. It stands out as a centerpiece of an entertainment system, making it blend right in with other electronics. Considering that this is made for the most basic user, it only makes sense to add these additional features of note. All these ports offer support for peripherals as well as direct connections from a notebook or desktop for quicker data transfer options.
I didn’t touch on ventilation too much, but it is there! There are a few side and rear vents to help with airflow. I’m not entirely sure if there is a fan on the inside, and if there is then it was quiet to me compared to the four 12TB drives spinning up.
Also, there are tons of security features built into the DH4300 Plus with private folders, RAID protection, 2-factor authentication, and encryption options. If you want to ensure your information is safe and sound, this device helps.
Finally, UGREEN has a page dedicated to additional applications that you could utilize with the DH4300 Plus. Vault, Docker, Theater, Comics, and so on, are all applications that enable specific functions. This makes it easier for certain folks to utilize the DH4300 Plus in certain ways. I didn’t use them, but it is nice to know that these are options available to anyone.
Conclusion
Overall, I think the DH4300 Plus is a solid option for users at home who need space and want something easy to manage. Everything is quick to work with, and I can’t complain about the data transfer speeds. If you are looking for a simple solution, then I can easily recommend the DH4300 Plus from UGREEN.
