MetaBox Pro : ORICO muscle from NAS with ZFS, NVMe, Docker support and AI

Between the piling photos, the backups never made “because we’ll see later,” and the cloud subscriptions that quickly become another line on the bill… the idea of a NAS at home is becoming frankly tempting again. ORICO wants to give you a reason to bring your data “home” with its new MetaBox range, a series of NAS aimed at private cloud, announced as a complete overhaul (hardware + software + architecture).

What exactly is MetaBox?

The MetaBox series positions itself as a “private cloud”: a central storage, accessible from smartphones, computers, and even multimedia equipment, but without relying on a third-party service. ORICO emphasizes a very concrete point: the system can operate with local accounts and remain usable even without an active internet connection. For a connected home, that has an incredible charm… because an internet outage shouldn’t deprive you of your files (nor your local server).

The range is offered in two main configurations. The MetaBox targets a “home/family” use with 2 HDD slots and 2 NVMe slots, while the MetaBox Pro caters to heavier needs with 5 HDD bays and 2 NVMe slots, with an announced capacity that can reach up to 126 TB depending on the configuration!

The point that changes everything: CyberData OS, ZFS, and snapshots

ORICO doesn’t just add disks: the brand pushes its own system, CyberData OS, designed for the “private cloud”. It features the integration of ZFS, a file system known for its integrity mechanisms, compression, and above all, snapshot management. The practical translation: if a file is deleted, mistakenly modified, or a sync goes wrong, the idea is to be able to revert cleanly.

CyberData OS also highlights a more “modern” management of data: intelligent classification, semantic search, photo organization with scene/person recognition, and album generation. For many households, this is typically the kind of feature that transitions a NAS from a “backup box” to a “family library” that is genuinely used.

Hybrid storage: HDD + NVMe, to handle heavy usage

On the hardware side, ORICO emphasizes the addition of two M.2 NVMe slots (up to 8 TB each claimed), in addition to the SATA bays. The interest is not just to add “fast” storage: on this type of machine, NVMe often serves to speed up access (cache) or to host “hot” data (photo library, index, application databases), while the large HDDs maintain the primary volume. Expected result: a more responsive interface and better performance on large files, media libraries, or multiple accesses.

Another interesting detail for those who like to extend the life of their hardware: the series is announced with 8 GB of DDR4 as standard, two memory slots, and a possible upgrade to 32 GB. This is typically the kind of margin that matters if you activate heavy services (indexing, photo database, containers), or if you aim for a “home infrastructure” NAS over several years. This upgrade is really interesting, many competitors being stuck on the configuration available at purchase.

Why it appeals to connected homes: Docker, finally at the heart of the NAS

Where MetaBox becomes truly interesting for us is the announced support for Docker. And Docker, in a connected home, is not just “a geek thing”: it’s a simple and clean way to host useful services, isolated from each other, and easy to update.

In concrete terms, if the implementation is solid, we can easily envision a MetaBox serving both as central storage and a mini home server. Home Assistant or Homey in a container, an MQTT broker, Zigbee2MQTT, Node-RED, a DNS server like AdGuard Home, a backup manager, a small monitoring tool… all this can coexist, provided the CPU keeps up and the network is adequate. And ORICO announces a quad-core Intel processor (4 cores / 4 threads), precisely presented as designed for multitasking (backup, media, collaboration).

On the network side, the MetaBox relies on 2.5 Gb/s Ethernet (with two ports), which changes the game for saturating an SSD/NVMe or serving multiple streams simultaneously. And with link aggregation, you can even aim higher on a compatible infrastructure (switch/router).

And there’s another point rarely highlighted, but very “connected home”: CyberData OS also talks about permission management by spaces (personal/private/public) and network settings (firewall, ports, static IP). For those wanting remote access without turning their router into Swiss cheese, it’s a promise to keep a close eye on.

Multimedia library and family use: “personal cloud” without loss of quality

ORICO clearly emphasizes daily uses: unified backup between devices, family sharing, private albums, centralized multimedia library, and remote access. In other words: the goal is to avoid file dispersion between three phones, two PCs, a tablet, a USB disk “somewhere,” and a cloud you no longer want to pay for.

It is also noted that online document preview/editing will be available, and a “collaboration” logic (real-time sharing, secure internal/external access, restoration via snapshots). Even if most users won’t turn it into a “business NAS,” these functions can be very practical in a small structure, or simply to share folders neatly among household members.

Design and operation 24/7: the detail that counts in a living room

A NAS is often powered on continuously. ORICO therefore stresses an aluminum chassis and optimized thermal design, with a large fan touted as low noise, smartly controlled, and even multiple modes (auto/silent/normal/full speed) depending on the needs. If well managed, this is the kind of detail that makes you accept a NAS in an office… or in a living area.

A small nod by the way: the series highlights design awards (Red Dot, MUSE). This doesn’t drive performance, but it gives an idea of the intention “clean object, not just a technical box.”

What we want to check in testing (and what will make the difference)

On paper, MetaBox checks many boxes. Now, a NAS is judged on actual usage, not on promises. What we want to verify is the maturity of CyberData OS in daily use (stability, updates, ergonomics), the Docker aspect (ease of deployment, persistence, available resources), backup management, the quality of remote access, and the consistency of performance once multiple uses are cumulated (media + photos + containers, the famous “all at once” that arrives faster than one might think).

Another point to watch: ZFS is great news for reliability, but it also has its requirements (particularly regarding memory, depending on usage). With 8 GB base and a possible upgrade to 32 GB, there is room… but this is typically the kind of issue we like to validate under real conditions, with growing volumes, snapshots, and active photo indexing.

I hope to have the chance to test it soon. In the meantime, one question: would you see it more as a “family NAS” (photos/videos/backups) or as a “connected home server” with Docker and services like Home Assistant? Because, let’s be honest, that’s not quite the same match!