UNAS Pro Slow Read/Write Speeds

If you’ve noticed frustratingly slow file transfer speeds with your Ubiquiti UNAS Pro network-attached storage (NAS) device, you’re not alone. Many users encounter this issue where the max speed they can hit is 65MB/s in Windows, and it’s often tied to the security settings of the SMB (Server Message Block) protocol, which is used for sharing files over a network. Fortunately, there’s a solution: disabling specific SMB security settings can significantly boost performance. In this blog post, we’ll explore why this problem happens and walk you through the steps to fix it.

Understanding the Problem

The Ubiquiti UNAS Pro is a powerful NAS device designed to store and share files across your network. SMB, the protocol it uses for file sharing, includes a security feature called digital signing. This feature ensures that the data being transferred is authentic and hasn’t been altered, adding a layer of protection. However, digital signing comes with a downside—it adds overhead that can slow down file transfers, particularly on devices like the UNAS Pro.

In Windows, two specific SMB settings are often the culprits behind these slow speeds:

• “Microsoft network server: Digitally sign communications (always)”
• “Microsoft network server: Digitally sign communications (if server agrees)”

When these settings are enabled, they either mandate or allow digital signing, which increases the time it takes to transfer files. By disabling them, you can reduce this overhead and improve your NAS performance.

The Solution: Disabling SMB Security Settings

You can address the slow speed issue by adjusting these settings in the Windows Group Policy Editor. Note: This tool is only available in Windows Pro, Enterprise, and Education editions. If you’re using Windows Home, you’ll need to explore alternative methods (like registry edits), which we won’t cover here.

Here’s how to disable the SMB security settings:

1. Open Group Policy Editor
   • Press Windows key + R to open the Run dialog.
   • Type gpedit.msc and press Enter to launch the Group Policy Editor.
2. Navigate to Security Options
   • In the left pane, go to:
     Computer Configuration > Windows Settings > Security Settings > Local Policies > Security Options
3. Disable the SMB Signing Settings
   • Scroll through the list to find “Microsoft network server: Digitally sign communications (always)”.
     • Double-click it, select Disabled, and click OK.
   • Next, locate “Microsoft network server: Digitally sign communications (if server agrees)”.
     • Double-click it, select Disabled, and click OK.
4. Restart Your Computer
   • After making these changes, restart your system to apply the new settings.

Once your computer restarts, you should notice faster file transfer speeds with your Ubiquiti UNAS Pro.

Important Considerations

• Security Trade-Off: Disabling these settings removes the requirement for digital signing, which reduces security. Without this verification, your data could be vulnerable if your network isn’t secure or if untrusted devices are connected. Only proceed if you trust your network environment.
• Backup First: Always back up your important data before tweaking system settings, just in case something goes wrong.

Alternatively you can accomplish the same fix using PowerShell:

Set-SmbClientConfiguration -RequireSecuritySignature $false

Set-SmbServerConfiguration -RequireSecuritySignature $false

Reboot & test again.