BUFFALO TeraStation 51220: 12-Bay 240TB Rackmount NAS with 12x20TB Drives Included

Elevate your business storage with the BUFFALO TeraStation 51220, a high-performance, high-security rackmount NAS designed to handle demanding workloads with ease. This flagship solution from Buffalo brings enterprise-grade reliability to small- and medium-sized businesses, offering a 12-bay chassis pre-populated with 12 × 20 TB drives for a total raw capacity of 240 TB. Built to support rapid backups, centralized file sharing, media libraries, virtualization staging, and multi-user collaboration, the 51220 combines scalable storage with robust security features to protect data integrity and accessibility across your network. From IT admins to business owners, the TeraStation 51220 is purpose-built to streamline storage management, accelerate data access, and safeguard your digital assets under a single, easy-to-manage platform.

• Massive 12-bay design with a 240 TB raw capacity (12×20 TB drives included), delivering ample headroom for backups, large media libraries, and expanding datasets with room to spare.
• Rackmount form factor engineered for enterprise-grade deployments in data centers or server rooms, enabling scalable, tidy, and professional installations in standard 19-inch racks.
• Pre-installed drives and turnkey setup allow immediate deployment—minimizing downtime and simplifying inventory for SMBs that need fast, reliable access to centralized storage.
• High performance across multi-user access, backups, virtualization, and media streaming, supported by Buffalo’s optimized NAS operating system and hardware acceleration for responsive data handling.
• Security-first design with integrated data protection features, user access controls, encrypted transfers, and configurable RAID options to shield data from drive failures and unauthorized access.

Technical Details of BUFFALO TeraStation 51220

• Drive Bays: 12
• Total Storage: 240 TB (12 × 20 TB drives included)
• Form Factor: Rackmount NAS
• Pre-installed Drives: 12 × 20 TB hard drives
• Networking: Ethernet connectivity suitable for SMB deployments
• Operating System: Buffalo NAS OS with built-in data protection and user management

How to Install BUFFALO TeraStation 51220

• Unpack the unit and confirm all components are present. If you are mounting in a rack, prepare the 19-inch rack space and install the NAS using the supplied rails or compatible mounting hardware.
• Mount the BUFFALO TeraStation 51220 securely in the rack, ensuring the chassis is stable and properly aligned with rack rails. Connect the power supply and plan cable routing to avoid obstructing airflow.
• Attach your network cables to the device’s Ethernet ports and connect to your switch or router. For optimal performance in a business environment, use quality CAT6a or higher cables and consider link aggregation if supported by your network switches.
• Power on the NAS and access the web-based management interface from a computer on the same network. Follow the on-screen setup wizard to initialize the device, assign an administrator account, and configure the initial network settings.
• Initialize the drives and configure storage. Choose a RAID level that aligns with your redundancy needs and performance goals, then create storage pools and volumes. Set up user accounts, group permissions, and access controls to protect sensitive data.
• Enable backup tasks, schedules, and snapshots if available. Configure security features such as encrypted transfers (e.g., TLS), remote access controls, and alert notifications so your team stays informed about system health and storage utilization.
• Test data access from multiple client devices to confirm shared folders are accessible, and verify that backup and restore workflows operate correctly. Document configurations for IT continuity and future audits.

Frequently asked questions

• Q: How many bays does the BUFFALO TeraStation 51220 have? A: It features 12 drive bays designed for a scalable, RAID-ready NAS solution that can accommodate substantial data loads.
• Q: Are the drives included? A: Yes — the package includes 12 × 20 TB hard drives for a total of 240 TB of raw storage, enabling immediate deployment out of the box.
• Q: What workloads is this NAS best suited for? A: The TeraStation 51220 is optimized for high-workload business environments, including daily backups, centralized file sharing, media storage and streaming, and staging for virtualization and testing environments.
• Q: What security features are included? A: The NAS includes enterprise-grade security options such as access controls, encrypted transfers, and RAID-based data protection to safeguard data against failures and unauthorized access, with options to tier permissions by user or group.
• Q: Can storage capacity be expanded in the future? A: Yes. You can manage growth by expanding RAID configurations or replacing drives to higher capacities within the 12 bays, depending on the NAS OS capabilities and your chosen RAID level.
• Q: Does it support backups to cloud or external devices? A: Most BUFFALO TeraStation models offer integrated backup features and network-based replication; consult the user guide for specific cloud integration options and supported destinations for the 51220.