QNAP TR-004 4-Bay Tower USB RAID Expansion

Flexible USB Storage with RAID Built into the Enclosure The QNAP TR-004 brings 4 SATA drive positions and hardware RAID into a compact tower enclosure. Connect it to a compatible computer for direct-attached storage, or to a specifically supported QNAP NAS for a separate expansion pool. A 5Gb/s USB interface and a choice of mirrored, striped or parity layouts let you balance usable capacity and drive-failure tolerance. Select the operating mode before loading data and keep an independent backup. Highlights The Right Drive Layout 4 drive positions for the supported disk types. Drives are separate; exact compatibility matters. A Defined Host Connection Hardware RAID with USB 5Gb/s. Host, cable and firmware requirements stay explicit. Practical Installation Powered enclosure with active cooling. Compact tower format with service access. Storage with a Recovery Plan Host-managed applications and camera entitlements. Independent backup remains a separate requirement. Key Features Hardware RAID with a Clear Operating Mode Individual, JBOD, RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 5 and RAID 10 are available, subject to the required drive counts. The DIP switch selects the hardware layout or software-control mode. Changing RAID settings can erase data, so confirm the layout and backup the contents before making changes. RAID 5 needs at least three drives and tolerates one drive failure; it is not a replacement for a backup. Direct-Attached Storage for Supported Systems 1 × USB 3.2 Gen1 Type-C host connection, up to 5Gb/s. Connect directly to a compatible host without a USB hub or docking station. The same physical connector can support different protocols on other products; this model uses USB. Use an appropriate cable and a compatible operating-system/file-system combination when moving data between computers. Keep NAS Expansion Separate On a supported QNAP NAS, the enclosure forms its own storage pool or volume. It cannot extend the internal NAS pool, and NAS applications cannot be installed on the enclosure. Do not move existing NAS disks into it expecting the old array to be recognised. RAID migration and online capacity expansion are not supported. Manage and Monitor the Way You Work Storage & Snapshots on a supported NAS, or QNAP External RAID Manager on supported Windows/macOS systems. Basic direct-attached storage use and available management features differ by operating system. The hardware RAID processor handles its supported disk layout, while the host still runs file services and applications. This enclosure adds no standalone Ethernet services or surveillance camera licences. Install for Access and Airflow The tower enclosure measures 168.5 × 160.2 × 219mm H × W × D, excluding feet. Tower installation; leave ventilation and cable clearance. Dimensions exclude feet, which may add up to 30mm depending on model. Minimum 60W AC adapter; 100–240V AC input, 12V DC output. Supply ratings are power capacity, not constant operating consumption. Keep Backup and Recording Requirements Separate The enclosure adds storage, not a standalone surveillance recorder. Maximum camera channels, included licences, recording performance and retention depend on the host NAS and recording software. Expanding disk space does not automatically increase those limits. Maintain a separate current backup and a tested recovery plan. Any optional NASCare scope must be confirmed for the registered NAS and attached configuration. Summary The TR-004 is a practical way to add USB hardware RAID storage when the complete connection and storage layout have been planned. Match the host, drives and installation hardware first, then size RAID, recording retention and separate backups around the work. This keeps the expansion useful, serviceable and clear to maintain. Frequently Asked Questions Can this work as a standalone NAS?ExpandCollapse No. This is an expansion or direct-attached storage enclosure. It requires a compatible NAS or computer and does not offer independent Ethernet file sharing, NAS applications or surveillance recording. Which RAID modes are available?ExpandCollapse Individual, JBOD, RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 5 and RAID 10. Hardware mode uses the enclosure DIP switch; software-control mode uses supported QNAP management software. RAID migration and online capacity expansion are not supported; Individual mode does not support drive hot-swap. Which drives can I install?ExpandCollapse 4 × 3.5-inch positions supporting compatible 3.5-inch SATA HDDs, 2.5-inch SATA HDDs and 2.5-inch SATA SSDs. SATA 3Gb/s backplane; 6Gb/s drives operate at the supported 3Gb/s link rate. QDA-A2AR and QDA-A2MAR adapters are not supported. Keep HDD and SSD types in separate RAID groups. Verify exact drive model, firmware, sector format and capacity compatibility. Drives are sold separately. Which host and software do I need?ExpandCollapse Qualified QNAP NAS, Windows, macOS or Linux computer in the supported operating mode. NAS expansion requires an exact supported model and firmware; some older NAS models are excluded. On NAS, the expansion pool remains separate from internal storage. What is included, and do I need rack rails?ExpandCollapse Enclosure, USB Type-C to Type-A cable, AC adapter and power cord, drive mounting screws and Quick Installation Guide. Storage drives and any rack rail kit are separate. Tower installation; leave ventilation and cable clearance. Dimensions exclude feet, which may add up to 30mm depending on model. Will it increase my maximum surveillance camera count?ExpandCollapse Adding drive space may extend recording retention, but it does not add camera licences or increase the host CPU, memory or software limits. Check the exact NAS, recording application, licence entitlement and workload. RAID and attached expansion are not replacements for an independent backup. Read more