Buffalo Terastation 51220rh 48TB 12-Bay NAS

Introducing the Buffalo Technology Terastation 51220rh, a high-capacity 12-bay NAS built for demanding home labs, small offices, and growing teams. With a total capacity of up to 48 TB, this robust storage appliance centralizes your files, backups, and media in a single, secure location you can access from anywhere on your network. Designed for reliability and easy administration, the Terastation 51220rh blends enterprise-grade storage features with a user-friendly interface, making it a practical cornerstone for data protection, collaboration, and continuous operation in smaller environments.

• Massive 12-bay design providing scalable capacity up to 48 TB, ideal for long-term storage of documents, media libraries, and active project archives in home labs or small offices.
• Comprehensive data protection with multiple RAID levels (RAID 0, 1, 5, 6, 10) and JBOD, plus hot-swappable drive trays for quick maintenance without downtime.
• Reliable network performance with dual Ethernet ports that enable link aggregation for higher throughput or seamless failover to keep shares accessible during maintenance or outages.
• Cross‑platform file sharing and media delivery across Windows, macOS, and Linux clients via standard protocols (SMB/CIFS, NFS, FTP), plus centralized backups and user access controls for teams.
• Intuitive web-based management, automated backups, and energy-efficient operation—empowering non-technical users to configure, monitor, and protect data while keeping operating costs in check.

Technical Details of Buffalo Technology Terastation 51220rh 48tb 12-bay Nas

• Drive bays: 12 hot-swappable bays for flexible drive configuration and easy maintenance
• Maximum capacity: Up to 48 TB (depending on installed hard drives)
• RAID support: RAID 0, 1, 5, 6, 10, and JBOD for a balance of performance, protection, and capacity
• Networking: Dual Gigabit Ethernet ports to support link aggregation or failover, ensuring steady access to shares
• Interfaces: USB 3.0 ports for external storage expansion and backup tasks
• Protocols: SMB/CIFS, NFS, FTP for flexible file sharing across mixed environments
• Management: Web-based administration with user and share management, backup scheduling, and status monitoring
• Power and footprint: Compact 12-bay chassis designed for compact office spaces, optimized for energy-efficient operation

How to install Buffalo Terastation 51220rh

Step 1 — Prepare the unit and drives: If drives are not pre-installed, insert hot-swappable drives into the 12 bays. Ensure drives are properly seated and the unit is placed on a stable surface or in a suitable rack location with adequate ventilation.

Step 2 — Connect and power on: Connect the Terastation to your network using the included Ethernet cables on the dual LAN ports. Plug in the power supply and power on the device. Wait for the system to boot and reach ready status.

Step 3 — Access the management interface: From a computer on the same network, open a web browser and enter the Terastation’s default IP address or use the discovery utility provided by Buffalo. Follow the on-screen setup wizard to initialize the system.

Step 4 — Configure storage and RAID: Use the web UI to initialize the drives, select a RAID level (0/1/5/6/10) or JBOD, and create the primary storage volume. This step lays the foundation for shares and backups, so consider your redundancy and capacity needs carefully.

Step 5 — Create users and shares: Define user accounts and group permissions, then create shared folders tailored to your team’s workflow. Apply appropriate access controls to protect sensitive data and simplify collaboration across devices.

Step 6 — Set up backups and access: Schedule automatic backups from desktops or other servers, enable remote access if required, and configure any needed cloud or off-site replication. Verify connectivity from Windows, macOS, and Linux clients and test file transfers to confirm performance and reliability.

Frequently asked questions

• What is the maximum storage capacity of the Terastation 51220rh?
  The unit is designed for a total capacity of up to 48 TB when populated with compatible drives. Actual usable capacity depends on the drive sizes and RAID configuration you select.
• Which RAID levels does it support?
  It supports multiple RAID configurations including RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 5, RAID 6, RAID 10, and JBOD, allowing you to tailor redundancy, performance, and capacity to your needs.
• Can I use this NAS in a mixed-OS environment?
  Yes. The Terastation offers cross-platform file sharing via SMB/CIFS, NFS, and FTP, so Windows, macOS, and Linux clients can access shares seamlessly.
• Is link aggregation supported?
  Yes. The device includes dual Ethernet ports that can be configured for link aggregation to increase throughput or configured as a failover pair for higher availability.
• Is there an easy way to back up data offsite or to the cloud?
  The Terastation supports scheduled backups to connected external storage and can be configured for additional backup or replication workflows via compatible backup tools and cloud options supported by Buffalo’s ecosystem.
• Is the device suitable for media streaming?
  Yes. With centralized shares and network protocols compatible with media players and clients, it serves as a reliable storage backbone for media libraries and streaming within your network.