BUFFALO TeraStation 5420: 64TB 4-Bay Rackmount NAS with Drives Included

The BUFFALO TeraStation 5420 is a high-performance, business-oriented NAS that brings scalable storage, reliable data protection, and straightforward administration to any professional environment. Equipped with four 16TB drives already included, this 64TB capacity delivers immediate value for backups, shared folders, media libraries, virtualization tasks, and collaborative workflows. Housed in a 1U rackmount chassis, the TeraStation 5420 is designed to live in data closets and server rooms, where steady operation and quiet cooling are essential. With enterprise-grade features, responsive performance, and a familiar management interface, it’s an excellent choice for small to mid-size teams that need central storage they can trust.

• 64TB of total storage included (4 x 16TB drives) for immediate, out-of-the-box capacity that scales as your business grows; ideal for centralized backups, large file sharing, and multimedia workflows.
• Four hot-swappable drive bays support flexible RAID configurations (such as RAID 0, 1, 5, 6, and 10) to balance performance and data protection according to your needs, without downtime.
• 1U rackmount form factor with tool-less drive trays and robust cooling makes installation in standard 19-inch racks straightforward, while maintaining a compact footprint for networked environments.
• Dual Gigabit Ethernet ports provide resilient network connectivity, with options for link aggregation or failover to maximize throughput and uptime in busy offices.
• Comprehensive data sharing and protection features, including SMB/NFS/FTP support, user and group permissions, remote replication, scheduled backups, and easy USB backup options for local redundancy.

Technical Details of BUFFALO TeraStation 5420

• Capacity: 64TB total storage (4 x 16TB drives included)
• Bays: 4 x 3.5" hot-swappable drive bays
• RAID support: RAID 0/1/5/6/10 (configurable for performance and redundancy)
• Form factor: 1U rackmount chassis for standard 19" racks
• Networking: 2 x Gigabit Ethernet ports with potential for link aggregation/failover
• Interfaces: USB 3.0 port for local backups and peripheral, plus onboard management features
• Power: Reliable, rack-ready power supply designed for continuous operation

how to install BUFFALO TeraStation 5420

Setting up the BUFFALO TeraStation 5420 is a straightforward process that gets your team connected quickly. Use these general steps to have your NAS online and ready to serve files, backups, and applications.

Step 1: Unbox and prepare for rack installation. Remove the unit from its packaging and verify the four included 16TB drives are securely seated in the hot-swappable bays. If you already have a rack, mount the TeraStation 5420 using the provided rails and ensure adequate clearance for cooling and cable management.

Step 2: Mount and connect to power and network. Place the unit in your rack, connect the included power cord to a reliable power source, and attach Ethernet cables to the two Gigabit Ethernet ports. If your network supports link aggregation or failover, configure this in advance or during the initial setup to maximize uplink reliability.

Step 3: Power on and locate the device. Turn on the TeraStation 5420 and use your computer to scan the local network for the device's IP address. Many networks will assign a DHCP address automatically; if your IT team uses a specific IP scheme, apply it during the initial configuration.

Step 4: Access the web management console. Open a browser and enter the NAS’s IP address to launch the setup wizard. The intuitive web interface guides you through initial parameters, including time zone, administrator password, and basic network settings.

Step 5: Configure storage and RAID. In the storage/volume management section, select your preferred RAID mode (0/1/5/6/10) based on your performance and redundancy requirements. Create a storage volume or volumes across the four drives, and consider separating data volumes by department or project to optimize performance and permissions.

Step 6: Create shares and set access. Establish shared folders for team collaboration, client projects, or backups. Use user accounts and groups to assign read/write permissions, and enable access controls and auditing as needed to maintain data governance across your organization.

Step 7: Enable backup and sync features. Configure scheduled backups to protect critical data, enable remote replication to another BUFFALO NAS or cloud target if supported in your license, and set up USB-based backups for additional local protection. Don’t forget to test restore procedures to confirm data integrity.

Step 8: Update firmware and monitor status. Check for the latest firmware version in the administration panel and apply updates to ensure compatibility with evolving features and security improvements. Set up email or SNMP notifications to stay informed about drive health, network status, and capacity warnings.

Step 9: Integrate with your environment. Map network drives on Windows or connect via NFS/SMB from Linux/macOS clients. Create automation scripts or connect with virtualization platforms if your workflow requires centralized storage for virtual machines, containers, or shared development resources.

Step 10: Establish ongoing maintenance. Schedule periodic checks of drive health, verify RAID integrity, monitor firmware versions, and review access logs. Regular maintenance helps sustain performance and reliability, ensuring the BUFFALO TeraStation 5420 remains a dependable backbone for your business data.

Frequently asked questions

• What is included with the BUFFALO TeraStation 5420 package? Answer: The system arrives with a 4-bay rackmount chassis, four 16TB drives installed for a total of 64TB, power cables, and mounting hardware. The exact contents can vary by region, but the essential components for rack deployment and storage are included.
• Can I mix drives from different manufacturers in the TeraStation 5420? Answer: It is generally recommended to use drives of similar performance and capacity for consistent RAID behavior and reliability. Always follow Buffalo’s guidance for drive compatibility when configuring RAID volumes.
• Does the TeraStation 5420 support cloud or remote backups? Answer: Yes, it supports standard backup workflows, including scheduled local backups and remote replication to compatible targets. Cloud integration options may vary by firmware version and regional availability.
• What RAID levels are supported? Answer: The device supports multiple RAID configurations (RAID 0/1/5/6/10) to balance performance, capacity, and redundancy according to your data protection strategy.
• Is the BUFFALO TeraStation 5420 suitable for small business environments? Answer: Absolutely. Its 4-bay architecture, integrated backup options, easy management interface, and rackmount design make it well-suited for small to mid-size teams needing reliable centralized storage with straightforward administration.