Your Next DIY Playground: Why the TerraMaster F4-425 Plus Isn’t Your Average NAS

If you're the kind of person who gets excited about hardware specs, modular storage, and local-first AI—without the subscription fees—then the TerraMaster F4-425 Plus might just be your next favorite gadget.

This isn’t just another NAS. It’s a 3+4 bay hybrid storage system built for geeks, creators, and small teams who want performance, privacy, and serious expandability.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hardware That Invites Experimentation

At its core, the F4-425 Plus is powered by Intel's capable N150 processor and a generous 16GB of DDR5 memory. But the real magic lies in its innovative storage architecture. The "3+4 bay" hybrid design is a standout feature. You get the traditional four bays for massive HDD storage, but the three dedicated M.2 NVMe slots are what set it apart. This isn't just for caching. You can configure these three slots as a standalone, high-speed RAID 5 array, creating a blazing-fast pool for your VMs, databases, and active projects, completely separate from your bulk storage. With a total potential of 144TB, the only limit is your budget for drives.

A Network Speedster Ready for Tuning

With dual 5GbE ports, the F4-425 Plus is built for speed right out of the gate. But for the enthusiast, the fun begins with network bonding and SMB Multichannel support. You can aggregate these ports to feed a single high-bandwidth pipe or distribute loads for multiple clients. Achieving real-world write speeds of 1020 MB/s transforms your workflow, making large file transfers and multi-stream 4K video editing a seamless experience over the network.

The Software Playground: Docker, VMs, and Beyond

This is where the F4-425 Plus truly unlocks its potential. Running TerraMaster's latest TOS 6, it opens the door to advanced containerization and virtualization. Docker support, combined with tools like Portainer, means you can deploy a whole universe of applications—from home automation servers like Home Assistant and media centers like Plex, to private chat servers and development environments—with a few clicks.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pair that with native VirtualBox integration, and you can run multiple isolated operating systems in parallel. Want to test a new software build in a Windows VM, run a lightweight Linux web server, and host a game server, all on the same device? The F4-425 Plus handles it, turning one piece of hardware into your personal home lab.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Your Fortified Data Hub: Unmatched Backup & Security

The F4-425 Plus is your centralized command center, designed not just for storage but for ultimate data resilience. It consolidates scattered data from PCs, mobiles, and clouds into one fortress, protected by TerraMaster's self-developed BBS (Business Backup Suite). This multi-layered defense system ensures you're always in control:

Centralized Backup: Manages the unified backup of data from employee computers, file servers, and virtual machines to the local TerraMaster server.

Duple Backup: Designed for off-site disaster recovery, securely replicating data from TerraMaster backup servers to a remote location.

TerraSync: Enables seamless data synchronization between multiple backup servers, as well as between servers and PCs.

CloudSync: Facilitates hybrid cloud disaster recovery strategies by synchronizing data with public cloud storage.

Snapshot: Provides instant, point-in-time snapshots and rapid restoration for file systems and folders, offering robust protection against ransomware attacks.

Your Personal Media & Gaming Hub

Beyond work, the F4-425 Plus is a powerhouse for entertainment. Its powerful 8K video transcoding and compatibility with Plex, Emby, and Jellyfin make it a perfect home media server. Stream your movie collection to any device.

For gamers, that massive, fast storage is ideal for hosting your entire game library—from classic ISOs to your Steam backup. Never worry about SSD space on your gaming rig again. Plus, deploy game servers like Minecraft or Valheim via Docker, creating a persistent, private world for you and your friends.

Local AI Meets Mobile Convenience
Leave cloud subscriptions and privacy concerns behind. The F4-425 Plus offers intelligent, on-device photo management—automatically organizing your life's memories without an internet connection.
TNAS Mobile completes the picture: automatically backing up your phone, giving you remote access to your AI-sorted library, and enabling secure, customizable sharing—all while keeping your data safe on your own NAS. It’s the ultimate combination of smart organization and total control.

Respect for Your Existing Gear

TerraMaster understands that geeks have a drawer full of old hard drives. The new "Direct Mount for Data Drives" feature is a thoughtful touch that speaks directly to this audience. Simply plug in a used drive with existing data, and the system lets you access it immediately—no forced formatting, no data loss. It’s a simple yet powerful feature that acknowledges your time and existing investments.

The TerraMaster F4-425 Plus isn't just about storing your files. It's a flexible, powerful foundation for whatever project you dream up next. If you love to build, configure, and optimize, this NAS is your canvas.