Qnap Fibre Channel Expansion Card Adapter 32G Host Bus 2X

Introducing the QNAP Fibre Channel Expansion Card, a purpose-built solution for businesses that demand scalable, secure, and high-performance SAN connectivity directly embedded within your NAS. This dual-port, 32G-capable host bus adapter unlocks flexible storage area networks by seamlessly integrating with your existing QNAP NAS ecosystem. Expect elevated throughput, reduced latency, and robust protection for data-in-transit as you extend your NAS into a powerful SAN fabric. With this expansion card, you gain a practical bridge between NAS storage and SAN infrastructure, enabling centralized management, simpler deployment, and the flexibility to connect multiple servers and storage devices while maintaining data integrity and operational efficiency.

• Dual-port 16Gb/32Gb per port: Expand with two Fibre Channel ports that support high-speed data transfers, enabling scalable SAN configurations and efficient LUN presentation across servers and virtualization hosts.
• Enterprise-grade performance: Designed to deliver high throughput and low latency to accelerate mission-critical workloads such as databases, virtualization, and large-scale backups on QNAP NAS systems.
• Enhanced security for data-in-transit: Robust protection for sensitive information as it moves across the Fibre Channel fabric, helping safeguard data across your storage network.
• Energy-efficient design: Optimized for enterprise reliability while minimizing power consumption and operating costs, ensuring your storage network remains responsive as you scale.
• Seamless QNAP integration: Built to integrate within the QNAP ecosystem, enabling straightforward setup, centralized management, and compatibility with existing Fibre Channel fabrics and storage networks.

Technical Details of Qnap Fibre Channel Expansion Card

• Product type: Fibre Channel Expansion Card Adapter for QNAP NAS
• Ports: 2 x Fibre Channel ports (dual-port expansion)
• Speeds per port: 16Gb/s and 32Gb/s per port, offering flexible performance for varied SAN workloads
• Interface: PCIe-based Fibre Channel Host Bus Adapter (designed to plug into compatible NAS PCIe slots)
• Key capabilities: LUN presentation and zoned access across servers, virtualization hosts, and storage devices; secure data-in-transit; centralized management within the QNAP ecosystem
• Security: Data-in-transit protection to help safeguard information as it traverses the Fibre Channel fabric
• Reliability and efficiency: Energy-efficient design paired with enterprise-grade reliability to support growing storage needs
• Compatibility: Engineered to operate within diverse IT environments and to integrate with existing Fibre Channel fabrics and switch fabrics when used with compatible QNAP NAS units

How to install Qnap Fibre Channel Expansion Card

• Power down your QNAP NAS and unplug it from the power source to ensure a safe installation.
• Open the NAS chassis and identify an available PCIe expansion slot suitable for the Fibre Channel card.
• Carefully insert the Fibre Channel Expansion Card into the PCIe slot until it seats firmly and is secure.
• Secure the card with a chassis screw to prevent movement during operation.
• Close the NAS chassis and reconnect power, then boot the device.
• Connect Fibre Channel cables to the two FC ports on the expansion card, aligning with your existing Fibre Channel fabric to ensure proper zoning and target access.
• Power on the NAS and access the QTS or operating environment. Install or confirm any required drivers/firmware updates for the FC card, if prompted.
• Enable Fibre Channel support within your NAS management interface and configure FC-related settings, including fabric discovery, zoning, and LUN presentation as needed.
• Configure zoning and LUN mappings across servers and storage devices to optimize performance and ensure correct access permissions.
• Validate connectivity by performing fabric discovery, monitoring link status, and testing data transfers to verify throughput and latency meet your requirements.
• Monitor health and utilization through the NAS management tools to ensure continued reliability as your SAN grows.

Frequently asked questions

• Q: What is the QNAP Fibre Channel Expansion Card? A dual-port Fibre Channel expansion card designed to add SAN connectivity to a QNAP NAS, enabling flexible, scalable Fibre Channel storage networks and centralized management within the QNAP ecosystem.
• Q: What speeds does it support? A: Each port supports 16Gb/s or 32Gb/s Fibre Channel, allowing you to tailor performance to your workload and fabric capabilities.
• Q: How many ports are available? A: The card provides two Fibre Channel ports, enabling dual-path connectivity or expanded access to multiple targets.
• Q: Is it compatible with all QNAP NAS models? A: It is designed to integrate with compatible QNAP NAS systems that support Fibre Channel expansion and are configured to work with FC fabrics. Always verify model compatibility with your specific NAS before purchase.
• Q: Does installation require additional software? A: You may need to enable Fibre Channel features in the NAS operating system and install any necessary drivers or firmware updates. Once installed, FC settings such as fabric discovery, zoning, and LUN mappings can be configured within the NAS management interface.
• Q: Can this card help reduce total cost of ownership? A: Yes. By enabling SAN connectivity within an existing NAS, you can consolidate storage infrastructure, leverage current Fibre Channel fabrics, and avoid a complete rebuild of your storage environment, all while maintaining centralized control and efficient operations.
• Q: What workloads benefit most from this expansion card? A: Mission-critical workloads that require fast, predictable storage access—such as databases, virtualization, disaster recovery replication, and large-scale backups—benefit from the high bandwidth and low latency of Fibre Channel SAN connectivity.