BUFFALO TeraStation WS5420 4-Bay NAS with Windows Server IoT 2019 and 8TB Included

The BUFFALO TeraStation WS5420 is a reliable, high-capacity 4-bay desktop NAS designed for small and medium businesses that demand secure, centralized storage with simple management. Coming with 8TB of hard drives included, this NAS is ready to deploy out of the box for file sharing, backups, collaboration, and media storage. Powered by Windows Server IoT 2019, it blends the familiarity of Windows-based administration with a purpose-built storage appliance that delivers dependable performance, robust data protection, and flexible access across a variety of environments. Whether you’re centralizing documents for a distributed team, backing up critical business data, or hosting a small office repository for rapid access to files, the WS5420 is engineered to handle everyday workloads with room to scale as your business grows.

• Out-of-the-box 8TB of total storage across four hot-swappable bays, designed to meet the needs of small business teams that require immediate, reliable capacity for documents, multimedia assets, and project files.
• Windows Server IoT 2019 as the built-in operating system, offering familiar file-sharing capabilities, centralized management, and security features that align with Windows-based IT environments.
• Configurable RAID options (RAID 0/1/5/6/10) to balance performance and protection, plus hot-spare support and straightforward drive replacement to minimize downtime during maintenance or upgrades.
• Multi-protocol access for diverse workflows, including SMB/CIFS for Windows networks, NFS for UNIX/Linux environments, FTP for remote access, and iSCSI for virtualization readiness—giving you flexible data sharing and storage options.
• Comprehensive backup and data protection features, plus remote management capabilities, energy-efficient operation, and quiet cooling ideal for office environments or small data rooms.

Technical Details of BUFFALO TeraStation WS5420

• Storage: 4-bay desktop NAS with 8TB of total HDD capacity included (configurable by RAID mode).
• Operating System: Windows Server IoT 2019, delivering Windows-based administration, security, and file-sharing capabilities optimized for business use.
• Networking: Gigabit Ethernet connectivity with standard network interface; supports common network topologies and integration within Windows networks.
• RAID Support: Configurable levels (RAID 0/1/5/6/10) to protect data, improve performance, and adapt to storage needs as you grow.
• Protocols and Access: SMB/CIFS, NFS, FTP, and iSCSI support to accommodate Windows, Linux, and virtualized environments.
• Management: Web-based management interface for easy setup, monitoring, and maintenance; remote access options via Windows-integrated features and standard network services.
• Power and Efficiency: Energy-conscious design with reliable cooling; suitable for office deployment with minimal noise and heat output.

How to install BUFFALO TeraStation WS5420

• Prepare the workspace: Choose a secure, well-ventilated area with a stable surface and access to a network switch or router.
• Install drives (if not pre-populated): Insert the four drives into the hot-swappable bays, ensuring they are firmly seated and connected, then close the bays.
• Power up and connect: Attach the WS5420 to a power source and connect it to your network using a Gigabit Ethernet cable. Power on the unit and wait for the boot sequence to complete.
• Locate the device: Use your router’s DHCP table or your network management tools to identify the NAS’s IP address. You can also check the front-panel display for the assigned IP.
• Access the setup wizard: Open a web browser and enter the NAS IP address to launch the built-in web-based setup wizard. Follow the prompts to configure storage (choose a RAID level), create shared folders, and set up user accounts and permissions.
• Enable services and protections: Activate the desired protocols (SMB/CIFS, NFS, FTP, iSCSI) and configure access controls, firewall rules, and password policies. Set up scheduled backups, health monitoring, and firmware updates to keep the system secure and reliable.
• Finalize and test: Create test shares, assign user access, and verify that data can be written and read from client machines. Run a backup test to confirm that backup jobs operate as expected.

Frequently asked questions

• Is the BUFFALO TeraStation WS5420 suitable for small businesses? Yes. It provides enterprise-grade storage concepts in a compact desktop NAS form factor, designed to deliver reliable file sharing, data protection, and scalable storage for SMBs and distributed teams.
• What operating system does it use? It runs Windows Server IoT 2019, offering familiar Windows-based management and security features tailored for storage solutions.
• What is included in the package regarding drives? The unit ships with 8TB of total drive capacity across four bays; drives are configured to optimize out-of-the-box usability, with expansion capability as needed.
• Can I mix different drive sizes? In many RAID configurations you can mix sizes, but for best performance and protection you should aim for similar capacities and speeds across drives. Check the RAID guidelines in the user manual for your chosen configuration.
• What types of data access and sharing are supported? The WS5420 supports SMB/CIFS for Windows networks, NFS for Linux/UNIX environments, FTP for remote access, and iSCSI for virtualization, providing broad compatibility for mixed IT environments.
• How do backups and disaster recovery work? You can schedule local backups to the NAS, back up to external USB drives, perform remote replication to another NAS, and leverage Windows Server IoT 2019 features for centralized backup management and recovery planning.