QNAP ES2486DC-2142IT-96G Enterprise ZFS NAS: Dual-Controller All-Flash SAN/NAS Storage System

Discover unrivaled reliability and blazing performance with the QNAP ES2486DC-2142IT-96G Enterprise ZFS NAS. Engineered for data centers and demanding enterprise workloads, this all-flash SAN/NAS storage system blends dual active controllers with an advanced ZFS-based architecture to deliver exceptional IOPS, ultra-low latency, and unprecedented data protection. Whether you’re consolidating virtualization, accelerating databases, or maintaining multi-protocol file shares, the ES2486DC-2142IT-96G provides the scalability, resilience, and efficiency required for modern business operations.

• Dual-active controllers for true high availability. For mission-critical environments, the ES2486DC-2142IT-96G employs two independent, active controllers that continuously coordinate to deliver nonstop access to data. This architecture minimizes downtime during maintenance or component failures, enables non-disruptive upgrades, and ensures service continuity for virtualization, ERP, and other latency-sensitive workloads.
• All-flash optimization with inline deduplication and compression. Designed to maximize storage efficiency and performance, this system leverages inline deduplication and compression to dramatically reduce effective capacity needs while boosting throughput. That means higher IOPS, lower latency, and lower total cost of ownership when running demanding applications such as SQL databases, VDI, and real-time analytics.
• ZFS-powered data integrity and advanced data services. The ES2486DC-2142IT-96G uses a ZFS-based storage engine offering end-to-end data integrity, robust protection against silent data corruption, and automatic data healing. Benefit from writable snapshots, clone provisioning, native compression, data scrubbing, and flexible RAID-like configurations (RAID-Z1/RAID-Z2) to safeguard your information with rock-solid reliability.
• Converged SAN and NAS for versatile workloads. This enterprise NAS doubles as a robust SAN/NAS controller, supporting iSCSI for block storage, NFS and SMB for file sharing, and replication features for remote site protection. It’s tailored for virtualization platforms, database servers, and large-scale file services, delivering consistent performance across multiple protocols without compromise.
• High memory capacity and scalable performance. Equipped with up to 96 GB of DDR4 ECC RAM and a high-throughput architecture, the ES2486DC-2142IT-96G maintains fast access to frequently accessed data and supports virtualization, databases, content collaboration, and backup workloads with sustained, predictable performance.

Technical Details of ES2486DC-2142IT-96G

• Processor: Intel Xeon D-2142IT
• Memory: Up to 96 GB DDR4 ECC RAM
• Storage architecture: Enterprise-grade drive bays compatible with 2.5"/3.5" SATA/SAS drives; hot-swappable for easy maintenance
• Storage OS: ZFS-based storage with QuTS hero integration, inline deduplication, and compression
• High availability: Dual active controllers for uninterrupted access and easier maintenance
• Networking: Flexible multi-Gig networking options with optimized data paths for high-throughput workloads
• Data protection: End-to-end checksums, scrubbing, snapshots, and replication to safeguard against data loss
• Management: Web-based GUI, CLI, and API access for automation and integration with existing IT tooling
• Power: Redundant, hot-swappable power supplies for maximum uptime
• Security: Enterprise-grade access controls and auditing to protect sensitive information

how to install ES2486DC-2142IT-96G

• 1) Prepare your data center or rack space with appropriate mounting rails and cooling to accommodate the ES2486DC-2142IT-96G’s form factor and power requirements. Ensure you have redundant power sources and an appropriately rated UPS if needed.
• 2) Connect the unit to the network using the recommended port configuration for your environment. Power on the system and monitor the boot sequence via the console or a connected monitor if available.
• 3) Access the management interface from a workstation on the same network. Use the default IP or discovery tools to locate the appliance, then follow the guided setup wizard to initialize the OS (QuTS hero) and establish initial administrator credentials.
• 4) Create a ZFS storage pool and configure redundancy. Define hot-spare drives if applicable, enable inline deduplication and compression, and set up preferred RAID-Z configurations to balance capacity and resilience according to your workload.
• 5) Enable essential data services and access protocols (NFS, SMB, iSCSI) for your clients, configure snapshots and replication to protect data, and integrate with your backup or disaster recovery plan. Finally, run a validation test to verify network throughput, latency, and failover behavior across controllers.

Frequently asked questions

What is the ES2486DC-2142IT-96G designed for?

The ES2486DC-2142IT-96G is designed for enterprises that require a high-availability, all-flash ZFS NAS/SAN storage solution. It combines dual active controllers, inline data reduction, and robust data protection to support virtualization, databases, large-scale file services, and critical workloads with predictable performance and strong fault tolerance.

Which protocols does it support?

It supports common enterprise storage protocols, including NFS and SMB for file shares, as well as iSCSI for block storage. This makes it suitable for virtualization environments, databases, and mixed workload consolidations while enabling seamless integration with existing IT ecosystems.

Can I upgrade the memory later?

Yes. The ES2486DC-2142IT-96G is designed for memory scalability and can be upgraded to higher RAM configurations within the supported ECC DDR4 range to meet growing workloads and virtualization needs.

Is this system suitable for virtualization and VDI?

Absolutely. With dual-active controllers, high IOPS from all-flash storage, and robust data services, the ES2486DC-2142IT-96G is well-suited for virtualization platforms and VDI deployments that demand low latency, fast boot storms, and consistent performance under heavy user loads.

What about data protection and disaster recovery?

Data protection is a core feature, including end-to-end data integrity checks from the storage layer, regular scrubbing, and native snapshots. Replication to remote sites supports disaster recovery plans, while inline deduplication and compression optimize capacity and bandwidth usage for backups and DR replication.

How do I manage and monitor the system?

Management is provided through a web-based GUI, CLI access, and API support, enabling you to monitor health, performance, capacity, and alerts. The system integrates with standard IT monitoring tools and can be scripted for automated workflows, making it easy to scale and maintain in enterprise environments.