Table of Contents

File Management Overview

There are several ways you can upload, download and manage your files on the network drive. Which method to choose depends on how and where you would like to access the files as well as your personal preferences.

Comparison

Protocol LAN WAN Transfer View Pros Cons Use for… Don't use for… More Info
Web interface
  • Browser is easy to use for anyone
  • No setup or software installation required
  • Works on home network and for remote access
  • Not suitable for large files transfers
  • Upload size for single files limited to 1.86GB
  • Slow transfer rates compared to other methods
  • Cannot upload/download directories and folders
  • Local and remote access through web browser
  • Quick file uploads from anywhere
  • Large file backups
Browser
SMB
  • Good transfer rates
  • File management like local HDD
  • Supported on both Mac and Windows
  • Can only be used on home network
  • User needs to know how to mount the drive
  • File access/backup on home network
  • Remote access
Windows
Mac
AFP
  • Good transfer rates
  • Native protocol for Mac OS
  • File management like local HDD
  • Only supported on Mac OS
  • Can only be used on home network
  • File access/backup on home network for Mac users
  • Remote access
  • Windows users
Mac
NFS
  • Native protocol for Linux
  • Good transfer rates
  • Access control doesn't require user login
  • Requires additional configuration for access control
  • Designed for Unix and Linux systems, not for Windows
  • Linux systems
  • Remote access
  • Windows users
Mac
FTP
  • Good transfer rates, even for remote access
  • FTP client can pause/resume tasks and data log shows record of transfers
  • Site manager in FTP client makes managing different accounts easy
  • Requires installation of 3rd party FTP client
  • Requires port forwarding for remote access
  • Have to download files before opening
  • More suitable for advanced users than beginners
  • File backups from local or remote locations
  • Beginners who are not familiar with FTP protocol and network setup
Windows
Mac
WebDAV
  • Can mount drive like local HDD even remotely
  • Slow transfer rates
  • Unreliable feedback for upload/download progress
  • File size limitations
  • Not recommended
  • Whenever any of the other methods (e.g. Samba, AFP, NFS, FTP) are available
  • Windows 7 (64-bit) users
Windows
Mac

Additional Methods

Protocol LAN WAN Transfer View Pros Cons Use for… Don't use for… More Info
Mobile app
  • Ease of use
  • Works on home network and for remote access
  • Limited functionality
  • Except for photo uploads, files are transferred one at a time
  • Mobile devices based on Android and iOS
  • Quick file backups
  • Remote access
  • Media playback on home network
Android
iOS
UPnP media server
  • Streams images, music and video on home network
  • UPnP client doesn't need to login
  • Media playback is quick and easy
  • Can only be used on home network
  • Can only be used to stream files, not to upload or delete files
  • File support depends on both server and client
  • Media playback on home network
  • Remote access
  • File uploads or file management
UPnP
iTunes music server
  • Streams music to iTunes player
  • iTunes player doesn't need to login
  • Music playback is quick and easy
  • Can only be used on home network
  • Can only be used to stream files, not upload or delete files
  • Only supports music files
  • Music playback on home network through iTunes player
  • Remote access
  • File uploads or file management
  • Media playback for images and videos
iTunes

Benchmark

Following benchmarks show how long it takes to transfer certain media files using the different methods as mentioned above.

Test Environment

Test Files:

Test Machine:

Test Computers:

Test Software:

Upload - Mac >> NAS

Download - NAS >> Mac

For the web interface, it's not possible to download more than one file at the time. Because of that, for the download test, the files were added to a ZIP archive. The resulting transfer rate is therefore faster in comparison to the upload, where the files were not combined in a single ZIP archive.

Upload - PC >> NAS

The photos and music results for the WebDAV upload were out of range for this benchmark. For music, the transfer completed after 9:54 m:ss and for photos, it completed after 10:29 m:ss.

Download - NAS >> PC

For the web interface, it's not possible to download more than one file at the time. Because of that, for the download test, the files were added to a ZIP archive. The resulting transfer rate is therefore faster in comparison to the upload, where the files were not combined in a single ZIP archive.

Conclusion

Following recommendations are not based solely on the best transfer rates but on the best overall user experience.

Who/Where/When What Why
Beginners
Anywhere
Web interface No explanations or software installation needed and it works with all browsers.
Home network
Large file backup
Samba Ease of use once the network drive is mounted and fast transfer rates.
Home network
Media playback
UPnP media server
iTunes music server
Streaming does not require user login, easy and convenient for media playback.
Remote access
Quick uploads
Web interface
Mobile app
MyAkitio web portal automatically redirects user to network drive at home, no further setup required.
Advanced users
Remote access
Large file backup
FTP Best transfer rate for remote access and FTP client provides additional functions (e.g. pause, resume, error log).