The Basics:

Out of the box, the N2310 was even smaller and lighter than I expected. The specifications are clear about it being 5.33" x 3.83" x 8.14" and weighing just 1.74 pounds, but it wasn't until I was holding it that I could appreciate what that meant.



The image below shows the outside of the N2310 NAS server, which is constructed of plastic of varying finishes, and this will obviously help keep the weight down. The center portion of the housing uses a glossy black plastic, and either side features the Thecus name printed in this area. The rest of the body and the removable drive trays all feature a more textured black finish which will make them easier to grip, as well as reducing the appearance of finger prints.



The below left image takes a closer look at the front of the N2310, where the dominant feature is the pair of ventilated, lever actuated drive trays. To the right of the drive trays is a bank of six LED indicators, a USB Copy button which lets you quickly transfer the contents of a connected USB drive to the NAS server's internal storage, and a power button. The six LEDs provide a quick glimpse at the status of six things: power status, system status, the status of the two hard drives, network activity, and USB status/activity. The back of the unit is shown in the below right image, where we find a cooling fan, one USB 3.0 port, one USB 2.0 port, the RJ-45 LAN port, a reset button a power connector, A "Kensington" lock slot, and a loop in the cover for securing the power cord to prevent inadvertent unpluggings.



Next we have a view of one of the housing's side panels. The rubber feet sticking out from under the device we keep vibrations down, while also keeping it in place on a shelf. The glossy black panel on the side is home to the Thecus logo, and will also be home to finger prints if you happen to touch it there.