ASUSTOR LOCKERSTOR 10 Gen3 (AS6810T) review

The ASUSTOR LOCKERSTOR 10 Gen3 (AS6810T) is a substantial desktop NAS with ten internal SATA positions, four separate M.2 NVMe slots and four built-in Ethernet ports. Its port ratings are not expected transfer speeds, M.2 slots are not SATA trays, and the listed package has no data drives or configured array. This is a documentation-based assessment, not a hands-on test or a claim about a particular seller's stock.

Ten SATA positions, plus a separate NVMe layer

ASUSTOR identifies ten internal 3.5-inch SATA HDD, 2.5-inch SATA HDD or 2.5-inch SATA SSD positions. Separately, the AS6810T has four M.2 2280 NVMe slots using PCIe 4.0 x1. Those M.2 sockets add another storage or caching path, not four more front trays and not a reason to count the chassis as a fourteen-bay SATA NAS. If your decision starts with a minimum number of internal HDD bays, use ten as the chassis number and treat expansion equipment as a separate future purchase.

The specification's 180 TB internal raw-capacity example is arithmetic for ten 18 TB drives; ASUSTOR says capacity varies with RAID type. It is not usable volume space, approval of a particular drive and firmware, or included storage. A separately listed expansion unit can raise the total to 22 bays, but its positions are external, not native trays in this tower. Work out usable capacity only after choosing compatible drives and an array layout.

Fast individual ports still need a fast path

The hardware table lists two individual 10-GbE ports and two 5-GbE ports, so its strongest single-port rating is 10 Gbps. Four sockets do not combine into one 30-Gbps port; link aggregation or SMB Multichannel depends on NAS setup, switch/router, client adapters, cabling and workload. Storage can be the limiting part of the path even when endpoints negotiate a fast link.

That distinction matters when comparing this model with a cheaper 2.5-GbE NAS. If only one workstation needs a faster connection, verify the workstation's network adapter and the switch path before paying for multi-gigabit hardware. If there are several clients, separate ports can be useful, but they remain separate links with configuration and peer-device requirements.

A mirror is a possible setup, not a supplied feature

ASUSTOR lists RAID 1, and its calculator notes that one RAID 1 volume uses at most two drives. One plausible owner-created plan is a two-drive SATA mirror: it uses two of the ten native trays and leaves eight unoccupied. The four M.2 positions remain separate from that SATA pair. This example is a way to reason about the model's options, not a ready-made array in the box. The package page lists the NAS unit, Quick Installation Guide, AC cord, four Cat 6a 10-GbE cables and forty screws each for 3.5-inch and 2.5-inch drives; it lists no data drives or initialized volume.

A mirror can keep a volume available through a supported member-drive failure, but it does not protect against accidental deletion, theft, fire, malware, controller trouble or a second failure during repair. Keep a separate, recoverable backup with a different failure path. Before buying drives, check the exact model and firmware against ASUSTOR's current compatibility material; the evidence reviewed here establishes supported media categories, not a certified AS6810T drive pair.

Mind the M.2 and optional-card trade

The four M.2 positions support storage and caching, but ASUSTOR's AS68 installation material documents a PCIe-mode tradeoff: the optional 10-GbE card and the M.2 daughterboard cannot operate as though both occupied the same PCIe path. The manufacturer utility switches between M.2 and PCIe modes, and installation of the optional network card requires removing the daughterboard. The AS6810T already has two built-in 10-GbE ports, so the optional card is not needed for the one-port arrangement assessed here. It is a constraint to check only if your future expansion plan depends on that card and the four M.2 positions at the same time.

The two USB4 Type-C ports are also easy to misunderstand. ASUSTOR advertises up to 40 Gbps per port and support for external storage devices, but the model information says host-to-host connectivity is unsupported. This is not a direct-attached USB4 link from a computer to the NAS. Buy it as network storage, not as a DAS replacement based on the USB-C connector.

Size, package and status checks

The published chassis dimensions are 215.5 × 293 × 230 mm (H × W × D), with a listed weight of 6.55 kg and a 250 W internal power supply. Measure the shelf, ventilation space and cable route rather than relying on a front-view photograph. The status table currently describes AS6810T as generally available and supported, with a three-year warranty entry. That establishes its current-reference status for this library, not an exact U.S. seller SKU, retailer inventory, channel warranty or the contents of a marketplace bundle.

Who should keep it on the shortlist?

On the evidence, the AS6810T fits a buyer who needs ten native SATA positions, separate M.2 storage and a network path that can use a built-in 10-GbE port. It can support a two-drive mirror and leave most trays open. Against that, it is a large diskless tower; drive fit and seller package need checking; the M.2/optional-card mode constrains expansion; and USB4 is not a direct host connection.

For a smaller household backup job, fewer bays and a slower network may be more sensible. An 11-bay minimum exceeds this chassis despite its M.2 slots; a one-port requirement above 10 Gbps also exceeds its built-in Ethernet. Check the exact name, included items, drive list, returns and warranty with the seller.