BUFFALO TeraStation 51220 12-Bay 96TB NAS Storage

Meet the BUFFALO TeraStation 51220, a purpose-built 12-bay rackmount NAS designed for demanding business environments where reliability, scalable storage, and fast data access matter. With 96TB of total raw capacity across twelve 8TB drives, this enterprise-grade NAS delivers ultra-quiet, energy-efficient performance that helps teams collaborate, back up critical assets, and share large files securely across offices or remote locations. The TeraStation 51220 combines a robust NAS operating system, flexible RAID options, and a suite of data-management features to streamline IT administration while keeping your data safe, accessible, and easy to scale as your business grows. Whether you’re managing creative work, large databases, virtual machine backups, or shared file repositories, the 51220 offers the performance and reliability today’s workflows demand.

• Massive capacity in a compact rackmount form: 12 hot-swappable bays hold twelve 8TB drives for a total of 96TB of raw storage. The design fits standard 19-inch racks, making it ideal for data centers, server rooms, and office IT closets that require scalable, centralized storage with straightforward expansion paths.
• High-performance, business-grade NAS hardware: Built to handle intense workloads, the 51220 is engineered for smooth multitasking, rapid file transfers, and persistent uptime. Its architecture supports sustained read/write throughput to accelerate collaborative projects, large file transfers, and data-intensive applications across your LAN.
• Comprehensive data protection and flexible RAID options: Protect your files with configurable RAID levels (including RAID 0, 1, 5, 6, 10) and JBOD. This range of options enables you to balance performance and redundancy according to your tolerance for downtime and data loss, while maintaining fast recovery in case of drive failure.
• Cross-platform access and secure sharing: The BUFFALO TeraStation 51220 supports major network protocols (SMB, NFS, AFP) and trusted backup workflows. It creates a seamless bridge between Windows, macOS, and Linux clients, with centralized user permissions and share management to safeguard sensitive data.
• Effortless administration and remote management: The web-based management console provides a clean, intuitive interface for initial setup, monitoring, and ongoing maintenance. Features like scheduled backups, user quotas, and alerting help IT teams stay on top of performance and security without adding complexity.

Technical Details of BUFFALO TeraStation 51220

• Model and form factor: 12-bay rackmount NAS in a 2U chassis designed for standard 19-inch racks.
• Storage configuration: 12 x 8TB hard drives included, for a total raw capacity of 96TB. Hot-swappable drive bays enable maintenance without power downtime.
• RAID support: Flexible RAID levels including RAID 0, 1, 5, 6, 10 and JBOD to optimize performance, capacity, and redundancy according to your business needs.
• Networking: Dual Gigabit Ethernet ports with support for link aggregation/failover to improve throughput and provide resilience for critical file sharing workloads.
• Connectivity: USB 3.0 host ports for convenient peripheral connections, backups, and quick data transfers to or from external media.
• Protocols and access: SMB, NFS, and AFP for cross-platform file sharing; WebDAV and FTP options to support varied access requirements across environments.
• Management and security: Web-based admin interface for setup and ongoing management; user permissions, quota controls, and alerting for proactive monitoring of health and capacity.
• Power and efficiency: Energy-conscious NAS design suitable for 24/7 operation in business environments; optimized for reliable uptime and efficient performance per bay.
• Operating system: TeraStation NAS OS, engineered for stable operation, routine software updates, and compatibility with common enterprise backup and synchronization workflows.
• Physical considerations: Rack-mountable enclosure designed for data centers and communications rooms with secure mounting and straightforward maintenance access.

how to install BUFFALO TeraStation 51220

Installing the BUFFALO TeraStation 51220 is a straightforward process designed to get teams up and running quickly while ensuring data integrity and security from first power-on. Follow these practical steps to deploy the 51220 in your office or data center:

• Prepare your rack and workspace: Ensure you have a compatible 19-inch rack, adequate ventilation, and a clean area for cabling. Verify power availability and network reach to your switch or router.
• Mount the NAS in the rack: Slide the 2U enclosure into an available rack unit and secure it with screws to prevent movement during operation. Attach any required rails if your rack uses them.
• Connect power and network: Connect the power cord to a reliable power source and connect the NAS to your network using the included Ethernet ports. If your environment supports link aggregation, configure it on your switch for improved performance.
• Power on and access the admin interface: Turn on the unit and use a web browser on a connected computer to reach the NAS management interface. The initial setup wizard will guide you through basic configuration.
• Configure storage and users: Choose your RAID level, initialize the drives, and create storage pools or volumes. Set up user accounts, groups, and share permissions to control access across teams.
• Create shares and map clients: Create shared folders with clear naming conventions. Map these shares on Windows, macOS, and Linux clients to enable seamless access for all users.
• Enable backups and security features: Configure scheduled backups to protect data from accidental deletion or corruption. Implement access controls, encryption options where applicable, and alert notifications for critical events.
• Monitor and maintain: Regularly check health alerts, capacity usage, and performance metrics from the management console. Plan for drive replacements or expansions as your data grows.

Frequently asked questions

• What does the BUFFALO TeraStation 51220 include? The package comprises a 12-bay rackmount NAS with twelve 8TB drives pre-installed, ready for immediate deployment in a network environment. It includes essential accessories for rack mounting and basic setup, along with the required cables for power and network connections. For precise contents, refer to the product box or official documentation.
• What RAID configurations are supported? The 51220 supports a range of RAID levels, including RAID 0, 1, 5, 6, 10, and JBOD. This flexibility lets you tailor redundancy and performance to your protection needs and capacity goals, making it suitable for backups, file sharing, and collaborative workloads.
• Can this NAS be accessed by Windows, macOS, and Linux clients? Yes. The device exposes shares via common network protocols such as SMB, NFS, and AFP, enabling smooth cross-platform access. This makes it simple to integrate into mixed-OS environments without complex workarounds.
• Is remote management supported? Absolutely. The BUFFALO TeraStation 51220 includes a web-based management interface that enables remote configuration, monitoring, and alerting. IT teams can manage user access, backups, and system health from a central console.
• What kind of security features are available? The system provides user and group permissions, share-level controls, and alerting to identify issues promptly. Depending on the model and firmware, encryption options may be available to protect data at rest, along with secure remote access and policy-driven backups.
• How scalable is the 51220? With 12 drive bays and RAID flexibility, the 51220 is designed to grow with your storage needs. When you outgrow the current capacity, you can expand by replacing drives with larger ones or migrating to larger-capacity enclosures and reorganizing storage pools as required.