Ethan Brooks
How To Unbox and Get Started with the ASUSTOR AS6704T Lockerstor 4 Gen2 NAS
Introduction
So, you’ve got the ASUSTOR LOCKERSTOR 4 Gen2 sitting here, ready to be your new storage beast. It’s pretty solid for home or small biz, but getting it from the box to fully functional can feel a bit overwhelming. This walkthrough covers unboxing, installing drives, initial setup, and jazzing up with user accounts, file shares, and Docker. Expect some trial and error, but hey, it works once you get the hang of the menus.
Prerequisites
Before diving in, make sure you’ve got:
- ASUSTOR LOCKERSTOR 4 Gen2 NAS (obviously)
- 4 compatible HDDs — double-check on the ASUSTOR compatibility list
- 2 M.2 NVMe SSDs (optional but handy if you want caching)
- 8 GB DDR4 RAM (if you’re feeling upgrade-y)
- Good internet—firmware updates are a must, so connect online
- And a Windows PC to poke around and set everything up
Step 1: Unboxing the ASUSTOR LOCKERSTOR 4 Gen2
Opening the box, you find the NAS, power cords, Ethernet, screws, and some quick start docs. Don’t toss anything yet — I’ve learned the hard way that missing screws or connectors can slow things down. Remember, the unit’s pretty hefty, so be gentle.
Step 2: Adding HDDs and M.2 SSDs
– Pop open the drive trays by pressing the latch and pulling out. Once out, slide your HDDs into the trays, making sure the connectors line up (mind the pin positions). Secure with screws.
– For the M.2 SSDs, you need to flip the NAS’s back panel (the small one with screw holes) and locate the M.2 slots—usually labeled and with standoff screws. Insert the SSDs carefully, then screw them in tight.
Step 3: Initializing and Booting the Device
Power it up, wait a few minutes — it needs to boot, detect drives, and do its thing. Pull out your PC and grab the IP address. If it doesn’t auto-assign, you can find the NAS’s IP via your router’s admin page or a network scanner like Advanced IP Scanner.
Then, visit http://:8000 in your browser. The web UI should load, prompting you to initialize. If it asks to wipe the drives, yeah, that’s normal on first setup.
Step 4: Configuring User Accounts
Once logged into, hop into the Access Control app (or similar, depending on firmware version). Hit Add to create a user — give it a name, set a password, and assign roles. Keep it simple unless you’re managing a larger group.
Step 5: Creating Shares
In the File Explorer or Storage Manager, create a new share. Pick your storage volume, name it, and set permissions — read/write for yourself, maybe read-only for guests if needed. Just clicking Create works, but double-check permissions if folks can’t access later.
Step 6: Accessing Shares from Windows
Open a File Explorer window, then type \\ in the address bar. If you see your shared folders, awesome. To make life easier, right-click the share and choose Map Network Drive. Assign a drive letter, and it’ll pop up there next time.
On some setups, you’ll need to enter your username/password or enable SMB in the network settings if it’s not showing up.
Step 7: Updating Firmware
In the admin menu, find Firmware Update. Always do this after initial setup — it can fix bugs, add features, and keep things secure. Just hit Check for Updates and install if available. Sometimes, on some setups, the update runs into hiccups—reboot and try again.
Step 8: Setting Up Security Features
Head over to Security, disable the default admin account if possible — or at least change its password. Enable notifications (email, push, or SMS) so you get alerts about system problems or login attempts. Setting up 2FA can be worth it, but not always straightforward.
Step 9: Configuring Static IP Address
Time to prevent your NAS’s IP from bouncing around. Go to Network, find the connection profile, and set a static IP. Pick one outside your DHCP range—say, if your DHCP is from 192.168.1.100–192.168.1.200, pick 192.168.1.201. Easy to remember and less headache.
Step 10: Setting Up RAID and Storage Volumes
Open Storage Manager and choose your RAID type — most people go with RAID 1 if they want some redundancy. Hit Create and follow the prompts. It takes a bit — maybe check the drive health via S.M.A.R.T. during the process to catch bad drives early.
Step 11: Snapshots and SSD Cache Management
In Snapshot Center, make snapshots of your data — handy for quick restores if something goes wrong. For SSD caching, pick your SSD in Storage Manager, and set it up to accelerate read/write speeds. Not always necessary, but on some projects, it makes a difference.
Step 12: Installing Docker and Portainer
Head over to App Central, search for Docker, and install it. Once Docker’s installed, you can grab Portainer — a neat UI for managing containers. Just follow the install instructions, and you’ll have a simple way to run apps in containers without hassle.
Step 13: Configuring ADM Defender (Firewall)
For extra security, go to ADM Defender and set up firewall rules. Block or allow specific ports, and enable IP blocking for malicious attempts. It’s kinda weird because Windows has to make everything just a little harder than necessary, but it pays off.
Extra Tips & Common Issues
– Make sure your drives are compatible: check the list on the ASUSTOR site, ‘cause of course, Windows has to make it harder than necessary.
– Firmware updates are a trend for a reason — stay current.
– Keep an eye on S.M.A.R.T. drive health, especially for drives that’ve been in the game for a while.
– Regularly review your snapshots and clean out old ones to keep storage tidy.
Conclusion
By now, the NAS should be humming along, with user accounts, shares, and Docker set up. You’ve got a capable device ready for data management and maybe a bit more. Dig into the extra features for some fun — it’s surprisingly versatile.
Frequently Asked Questions
What types of hard drives are compatible with the ASUSTOR LOCKERSTOR 4 Gen2?
Check the compatibility list — not all drives are equal, and some can be pretty picky.
Can I access my NAS remotely?
Yes, setup remote access with EasyConnect or configure DDNS — but expect some extra steps and security checks.
How do I reset my NAS to factory settings?
Look for the *Maintenance* section in the admin menu, and select *Factory Reset*. Sometimes it takes a few tries to get all the settings cleared, especially if you’ve tinkered around with network configs.
Summary
- Make sure drives are compatible before installing
- Update firmware after initial setup
- Set static IP to avoid network issues
- Check drive health regularly—S.M.A.R.T. helps
- Use snapshots but don’t forget to clean old ones periodically
- Secure your NAS with passwords, notifications, and firewalls
Hopefully, this shaves off a few hours for someone.