Evaluation of QNAP TS-264-8G for Roon Server

[Peter_Glas]

I’m looking to buy a NAS system to run a Roon Server, and I’m thinking about the QNAP TS-264-8G.

How do you rate the TS-264-8G? Does it meet the requirements?

What recommendation would you give?

[Arindal]

@Peter_Glas

How do you rate the TS-264-8G? Does it meet the requirements? What recommendation would you give?

I think it is the ideal beginner´s NAS in QNAPs lineup for roon (had a predecessor). It has everything you need (decent CPU performance, additional M.2 slots for cache and database SSD, slots for additional RAM, QuTS hero capable), if your roon library won’t be crazy big (north of 120,000 tracks or so), and 2 HDD slots are fine.

Two things to consider:

• it is not the quietest NAS, enclosure is a bit thin, so you hear the heads moving, and fan might kick in regularly
• due to new OS requirements from roon´s side, it is highly recommended to set it up in the first place, using the pro-grade OS named QuTS hero 5.2.9, not standard QTS

Have fun!

[Carl]

Hi @Peter_Glas,

@Arindal make’s a very important point …

@Arindal

due to new OS requirements from roon´s side, it is highly recommended to set it up in the first place, using the pro-grade OS named QuTS hero 5.2.9, not standard QTS

Please read this pinned topic posted by Roon …

Important: Roon Minimum System Requirements Are Changing on April 20, 2026

On April 20, 2026, we’ll release a new version of Roon … Roon Server Roon [GUI] Roon Bridge … that brings performance improvements and significantly reduced memory usage. However, it will not be compatible with a small number of older systems. What minimum system requirements are changing? Starting with this release on April 20th, 2026: Roon on macOS will require macOS 12 (Monterey) or later Roon on Linux will require glibc 2.27 or later and OpenSSL 1.1.1 How can I check I am impact…

and also this community topic …

QNAP QTS does not support new minimum system requirements to run Roon Server (20 April 2026)

Hi, I am using the QNAP TBS 464 NAS to run the Roon service. The new minimum system requirements are currently not supported by the current QNAP QTS firmware version 5.2.9.3410. LDD version on QTS is (GNU libc) 2.21 while the new Roon version required 2.27!

[gTunes]

@Arindal

due to new OS requirements from roon´s side, it is highly recommended to set it up in the first place, using the pro-grade OS named QuTS hero 5.2.9, not standard QTS

This is probably bad advice for this particular NAS.

At least some high-end, enterprise/power user targeted QNAP device come with QuTS hero installed. You can read about it here: The preferred choice for reliable ZFS storage | QNAP (US)

QuTS Hero uses ZFS as its file system (unlike QTS, which is what that NAS runs) which uses ext4. ZFS is fantastic on high-end systems but to really leverage it, you need to give it a ton of RAM because of ARC (ZFS ARC, not Roon ARC) which leverages ARC for multi-tiered caching.

@Arindal is making this recommendation because, as he and @Carl point out, Roon has announced a pending change which will break the current RoonOnNAS package on QNAP. Roon has announced that the will make an alternate installation method available for existing systems.

The plot thickens because @Arindal, as expressed in other threads, has a specific use case for their QNAP NAS and is concerned that the new installation may not work. We don’t know that yet. But the one thing I can say, as a ZFS user on other platforms, is that I wouldn’t buy a Celeron-based NAS with 8GB with the intent to use it. j

So maybe wait a few days or a week or so until we have more info about what the story is going to be for QNAP users. Hopefully you’ll have a decent option for this NAS or whatever other devices you consider that doesn’t involve switching to an OS that doesn’t ship with, and may not be great for, the device you choose.

[Stephen (Stephen Shaw)]

I’d recommend waiting about a week if possible

[Arindal]

@gTunes

But the one thing I can say, as a ZFS user on other platforms, is that I wouldn’t buy a Celeron-based NAS with 8GB with the intent to use it.

Agreed, I would be hesitant with hero on a machine limited to 8GB RAM as well (like the popular All-flash and fanless models). The TS-264 in question easily runs 16GB of RAM, by just adding a bar, and has additional caching and fast SSD options.

But I totally agree, waiting for a week is maybe the best option.