The catch
ASUSTOR Lockerstor 4 Gen2+ AS6704T v2
Four-drive RAID 6 occupies every SATA bay. A removable MyArchive disk needs a different planned layout or another backup route.
Side by side
ASUSTOR AS6704T v2 vs AS6706T v2: Alongside four array disks, six bays still have room for a removable copy
Quick verdict
The AS6706T v2 is for you if you want four SATA drives in RAID 6 with a separate MyArchive backup bay, or if the array will likely grow past four disks. If four disks hold the archive and your independent backup is kept elsewhere, the AS6704T v2 will do, and its body is 63 mm narrower. Processor, networking and memory ceiling match on both, with the N5105, dual 5GbE and a 16GB maximum.
Before you buy
Why, and what it costs you
Reserve a backup bay before the family archive fills the box
If the NAS will hold the family originals and your routine is to take a completed backup elsewhere, six bays allow a four-drive RAID 6 array, one MyArchive disk and one remaining bay. Four bays cannot hold that same SATA layout. Choose the smaller box when the independent copy already goes to external or remote storage. Never pull a RAID member out and call it the backup.
Where this comes from
Bay budget: 6 minus 4 array disks minus 1 MyArchive disk leaves 1. Four-drive RAID 6 occupies all 4 bays. The removable disk needs enough capacity for the selected backup, and the copy must finish before safe ejection.
The catch
ASUSTOR Lockerstor 6 Gen2+ AS6706T v2
63 mm wider, with no higher CPU or memory ceiling. Filling all six bays also removes the spare-bay advantage.
ASUSTOR Lockerstor 4 Gen2+ AS6704T v2
- Why pick it
- Four SATA drives are enough for the archive, and you’ve already planned a separate USB, remote or off-site backup.
- Your open shelf takes the 170 mm-wide body with less trouble than the 233 mm six-bay one.
- The catch
- Four-drive RAID 6 occupies every SATA bay. A removable MyArchive disk needs a different planned layout or another backup route.
ASUSTOR Lockerstor 6 Gen2+ AS6706T v2
- Why pick it
- One enclosure should hold a four-drive RAID 6 array plus a removable MyArchive disk configured on its own.
- You expect the archive to reach five or six SATA drives and don’t want to replace the enclosure to get there.
- The catch
- 63 mm wider, with no higher CPU or memory ceiling. Filling all six bays also removes the spare-bay advantage.
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What this page compares
Should the family archive live in four bays or six? Look at room for removable backup, RAID 6 capacity, shelf width and how much RAM each Lockerstor Gen2+ includes.
These are the four- and six-bay versions of the same Gen2+ platform. A buyer planning several years of photos and projects has a real choice between a smaller enclosure and spare internal positions.
Which one fits
Pick the situations that sound like you
Four-drive RAID 6 plus a removable SATA backup is required
The six-bay chassis has free positions after the four-drive array. The four-bay chassis does not.
- ASUSTOR Lockerstor 4 Gen2+ AS6704T v2
- Not suitable
- ASUSTOR Lockerstor 6 Gen2+ AS6706T v2
- Better fit
Four drives suffice and the open shelf is width-constrained
AS6704T v2 is 170 mm wide rather than 233 mm. Both still need ventilation and cable access.
- ASUSTOR Lockerstor 4 Gen2+ AS6704T v2
- Better fit
- ASUSTOR Lockerstor 6 Gen2+ AS6706T v2
- Caution
The main RAID 6 archive needs 32TB from equal 8TB disks
Six array disks provide 32TB before overhead. Four provide 16TB on the same assumptions.
- ASUSTOR Lockerstor 4 Gen2+ AS6704T v2
- Not suitable
- ASUSTOR Lockerstor 6 Gen2+ AS6706T v2
- Better fit
Applications need a supported memory capacity above 16GB
Both stop at 16GB. Extra drive bays do not change that limit.
- ASUSTOR Lockerstor 4 Gen2+ AS6704T v2
- Not suitable
- ASUSTOR Lockerstor 6 Gen2+ AS6706T v2
- Not suitable
In practice
Differences you will notice
Reserve a backup bay before the family archive fills the box
If the NAS will hold the family originals and your routine is to take a completed backup elsewhere, six bays allow a four-drive RAID 6 array, one MyArchive disk and one remaining bay. Four bays cannot hold that same SATA layout. Choose the smaller box when the independent copy already goes to external or remote storage. Never pull a RAID member out and call it the backup.
How we worked this out
Bay budget: 6 minus 4 array disks minus 1 MyArchive disk leaves 1. Four-drive RAID 6 occupies all 4 bays. The removable disk needs enough capacity for the selected backup, and the copy must finish before safe ejection.
Six bays can double RAID 6 capacity with only two extra drives
With equal 8TB drives, a four-drive RAID 6 array provides 16TB before overhead, while six drives provide 32TB. That can matter when both family video and completed projects need to stay online. But the six-drive arrangement uses every bay, so it gives up the removable-bay plan above. Choose which job the extra positions must do before buying the disks.
How we worked this out
RAID 6 nominal capacity is (N minus 2) times equal drive capacity. (4 minus 2) x 8 = 16TB and (6 minus 2) x 8 = 32TB, before system, filesystem and unit-conversion differences. Examples use separately purchased compatible drives.
A larger archive box is not a larger application platform
For a shared living-room shelf, the four-bay model saves about 2.5 inches of width without giving up the N5105, 5GbE links or 16GB supported RAM ceiling. The six-bay model starts with 8GB instead of 4GB. If you only need that memory increase, price a compatible four-bay RAM upgrade rather than accepting a wider box for no extra disk use.
How we worked this out
Width difference 233 minus 170 = 63 mm, or 2.48 inches. Same processor and maximum RAM do not prove identical performance, noise or thermals. Shelf measurements exclude required clearance.
Option A
ASUSTOR, AS6704T v2
Lockerstor 4 Gen2+ AS6704T v2
Four SATA drives are enough for the archive, and you’ve already planned a separate USB, remote or off-site backup.
- Best for
- Four SATA drives are enough for the archive, and you’ve already planned a separate USB, remote or off-site backup.
Facts we checked
- RAID array plus removable archive: Four SATA bays. RAID 6 needs at least four drives. MyArchive needs a free bay outside the active array.
- Width in a shared room: 185.5 x 170 x 230 mm, height x width x depth. Four SATA positions.
- Starting application memory: Intel N5105. 4GB DDR4 supplied and 16GB maximum.
- SSD and network upgrade path: Four SATA bays, four PCIe 3.0 x1 NVMe slots and two native 5GbE ports. Optional 10GbE requires removing the M.2 daughterboard.
Option B
ASUSTOR, AS6706T v2
Lockerstor 6 Gen2+ AS6706T v2
One enclosure should hold a four-drive RAID 6 array plus a removable MyArchive disk configured on its own.
- Best for
- One enclosure should hold a four-drive RAID 6 array plus a removable MyArchive disk configured on its own.
Facts we checked
- RAID array plus removable archive: Six SATA bays. RAID 6 needs at least four drives. MyArchive can use an available bay for a scheduled copy that is ejected afterward.
- Width in a shared room: 185.5 x 233 x 230 mm, height x width x depth. Six SATA positions.
- Starting application memory: Intel N5105. 8GB DDR4 supplied and 16GB maximum.
- SSD and network upgrade path: Six SATA bays, four PCIe 3.0 x1 NVMe slots and two native 5GbE ports. Optional 10GbE requires removing the M.2 daughterboard.
Spec by spec
Where they really differ
| Spec | ASUSTOR Lockerstor 4 Gen2+ AS6704T v2 | ASUSTOR Lockerstor 6 Gen2+ AS6706T v2 | In practice |
|---|---|---|---|
| RAID array plus removable archive | Four SATA bays. RAID 6 needs at least four drives. MyArchive needs a free bay outside the active array. | Six SATA bays. RAID 6 needs at least four drives. MyArchive can use an available bay for a scheduled copy that is ejected afterward. | Reserve the removable-copy bay before building the main array. It is not an array member you can pull out at will. |
| Width in a shared room | 185.5 x 170 x 230 mm, height x width x depth. Four SATA positions. | 185.5 x 233 x 230 mm, height x width x depth. Six SATA positions. | The extra bays require 63 mm more width, about 2.5 inches, while height and depth match. |
| Starting application memory | Intel N5105. 4GB DDR4 supplied and 16GB maximum. | Intel N5105. 8GB DDR4 supplied and 16GB maximum. | The six-bay box starts with more RAM but does not raise the long-term 16GB ceiling. |
| SSD and network upgrade path | Four SATA bays, four PCIe 3.0 x1 NVMe slots and two native 5GbE ports. Optional 10GbE requires removing the M.2 daughterboard. | Six SATA bays, four PCIe 3.0 x1 NVMe slots and two native 5GbE ports. Optional 10GbE requires removing the M.2 daughterboard. | Both share the same 10GbE-versus-M.2-board restriction. More SATA bays do not remove it. |
Trade-offs
What each pick costs you
With ASUSTOR Lockerstor 4 Gen2+ AS6704T v2
- Both are sold diskless. Before ordering, confirm the exact model suffix, the RAM supplied, the seller, the return terms and whether the unit qualifies for US warranty. Drives, optional cards and memory upgrades all cost extra.
With ASUSTOR Lockerstor 6 Gen2+ AS6706T v2
- Drives are not included. A MyArchive copy needs its own disk, completed backup job and safe storage after ejection.
Change of plan
When the answer changes
Keep four array disks and a separate internal removable backup
Go with ASUSTOR Lockerstor 6 Gen2+ AS6706T v2. The extra SATA positions make the two jobs coexist.
Four disks suffice and the backup is external
Go with ASUSTOR Lockerstor 4 Gen2+ AS6704T v2. The smaller enclosure covers the same basic processing and network platform.
The main problem is a memory budget above 16GB
Neither model fits. Choose a platform with a higher documented memory ceiling.
Decision guide
Before you buy
You want protection against the loss of two drives, plus a removable copy of important files, and you don’t want to find out later that every bay is full.
What this page can’t tell you
- None of RAID, snapshots and ECC stands in for a separate backup. Maintain a copy outside the NAS, test it, and keep it out of reach of the same accident or account compromise.
- The MyArchive examples presume a SATA array planned in advance and a separately configured spare bay. Never pull a live array member to create a removable archive.
- A link rate is what the Ethernet figures describe, and no file-transfer speed was measured. Real transfers can be limited by client adapters, switches, cabling, disks, file sizes and concurrent work.
By the numbers
What the data shows
What we found across the NAS devices we compare, plus the checked facts behind each finding.
Show the facts and the math
| Product | Needs it meets | Facts we checked | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|
| ASUSTOR Lockerstor 4 Gen2+ AS6704T v2 |
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| |
| ASUSTOR Lockerstor 6 Gen2+ AS6706T v2 |
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Ready to buy
See today’s price and what owners say
Open either model on Amazon for the current price, customer reviews and delivery options.
ASUSTOR Lockerstor 4 Gen2+ AS6704T v2
Four SATA drives are enough for the archive, and you’ve already planned a separate USB, remote or off-site backup.
Your open shelf takes the 170 mm-wide body with less trouble than the 233 mm six-bay one.
See price & reviews on AmazonASUSTOR Lockerstor 6 Gen2+ AS6706T v2
One enclosure should hold a four-drive RAID 6 array plus a removable MyArchive disk configured on its own.
You expect the archive to reach five or six SATA drives and don’t want to replace the enclosure to get there.
See price & reviews on AmazonEach link opens in a new tab.
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