QNAP TS-1673AU-RP-16G SAN/NAS Storage System

The QNAP TS-1673AU-RP-16G SAN/NAS Storage System is a premier, enterprise-grade storage solution engineered to streamline data management, accelerate workflows, and protect critical information. Built around a robust quad-core AMD Ryzen processor and 16GB of DDR4 RAM, this 16-bay rack-mount NAS delivers substantial horsepower for virtualization, databases, media editing, and collaborative workloads. Dual 2.5GbE networking ensures fast, reliable data transfer across teams, while a redundant power supply (RP) design minimizes downtime and keeps services online during power events. With a scalable architecture, flexible drive options, and a rich software stack, the TS-1673AU-RP-16G is purpose-built for growing businesses that demand performance, reliability, and effortless administration in a centralized storage hub.

• Quad-core AMD Ryzen processing and ample memory for demanding workloads – The TS-1673AU-RP-16G pairs a capable quad-core AMD Ryzen processor with 16GB of DDR4 RAM to deliver responsive, consistent performance under virtualization, containerization, large file transfers, and multi-user access. This combination is ideal for deploying multiple virtual machines, running containerized apps, and supporting data-intensive tasks such as video editing, database workloads, and high-traffic file services. The memory is upgradable, enabling you to scale performance as your business grows and your workloads become more demanding, all while keeping latency low and throughput high during peak periods. The result is a NAS that behaves like a private data center, accelerating workflows and reducing bottlenecks across departments.
• expansive 16-bay chassis with hot-swappable drives for scalable storage – The TS-1673AU-RP-16G offers a generous 16-drive bays, designed for flexibility and easy maintenance. With hot-swappable drive trays, you can add, replace, or upgrade disks without powering down the unit, ensuring minimal disruption to business operations. This chassis supports a mix of 3.5" HDDs and 2.5" SSDs to balance capacity and performance, enabling cost-efficient bulk storage alongside high-speed caching options. The NAS supports advanced RAID configurations and storage pools, helping you protect data while delivering predictable performance for backup, archiving, virtualization, and shared access across teams. Whether you’re building a centralized media library, a cross-site backup hub, or a robust SAN/NAS stack, this chassis scales with your data needs.
• fast, reliable networking with dual 2.5GbE ports and flexible connectivity – Networking is designed for speed and resilience. The TS-1673AU-RP-16G includes dual 2.5GbE LAN ports, providing significant bandwidth for simultaneous users and applications. You can implement link aggregation to boost throughput and create fault-tolerant connections, ensuring continuous access even if one network path experiences issues. With PCIe expansion options, you can add higher-speed NICs (such as 10GbE) or caching/SSD acceleration cards to tailor the system to your network and I/O requirements. This flexible networking foundation supports fast backups, rapid file sharing, database replication, and streaming workloads, making it a strong centerpiece for busy office environments and data-intensive operations.
• rich data management features for protection, recovery, and collaboration – The TS-1673AU-RP-16G is designed to guard data while enabling efficient collaboration. It runs the QNAP QTS operating system, delivering a feature-rich suite for storage, virtualization, and application deployment. You’ll find robust data protection tools, including snapshots, replication, and flexible backup options to cloud or offsite destinations. Shared folders, SMB/NFS/AFP support, iSCSI Target, and virtualization-ready capabilities enable IT teams to create scalable storage pools, provision volumes for virtual machines, and deliver seamless access to files across Windows, macOS, and Linux clients. Containerized applications, app-based analytics, and an App Center ecosystem expand the use cases—from enterprise backups to media libraries and remote-office productivity—ensuring teams stay productive without sacrificing control over data governance and security.
• optimized performance and future-ready expansion for growing businesses – The TS-1673AU-RP-16G is designed with growth in mind. Its powerful hardware, combined with scalable storage and flexible networking, supports evolving workloads—from data-intensive analytics to multi-site backups and hybrid cloud integration. The redundant power supply enhances reliability and uptime, while the ability to add PCIe-based expansion cards lets you tailor performance to your environment. Whether you’re consolidating dispersed file servers, building a virtualization-ready core, or creating a centralized SAN/NAS for media production pipelines, this QNAP model offers the balance of raw speed, storage capacity, security features, and manageability needed to protect your data and accelerate your business outcomes.

Technical Details of QNAP TS-1673AU-RP-16G SAN/NAS Storage System

• Model: TS-1673AU-RP-16G
• Form factor: 3U rack-mount chassis
• CPU: Quad-core AMD Ryzen processor
• Memory: 16 GB DDR4 RAM (user-upgradable)
• Drive bays: 16 hot-swappable bays for 3.5" HDDs and 2.5" SSDs
• Networking: 2 x 2.5 GbE LAN ports with support for link aggregation and failover
• Storage features: RAID configurations and storage pools for flexible data protection
• Expansion: PCIe expansion slot for additional NICs or SSD caching/expansion cards
• Operating system: QTS (QNAP Turbo NAS) for apps, virtualization, and data management
• Redundancy: Redundant power supply (RP) for uptime and resilience

how to install QNAP TS-1673AU-RP-16G SAN/NAS Storage System

• Prepare the chassis: Unpack the TS-1673AU-RP-16G and verify that you have the required drives installed or ready for installation in the 16 bays. If you’re migrating from another system, back up critical data before proceeding. Install drives into hot-swappable trays as needed and ensure all trays are firmly seated.
• Connect power and network: Connect the redundant power supply cables and connect the dual 2.5GbE network ports to your switch or router. Power on the unit and wait for the initial boot to complete. If you plan to use link aggregation, ensure your switch supports LACP and configure it accordingly.
• Discover and initialize: On a computer on the same network, use QFinder Pro or open a web browser to locate the TS-1673AU-RP-16G. Launch the QTS setup wizard to initialize the system, set an administrator password, and configure network settings (IP address, DNS, gateways).
• Create storage and services: Set up a storage pool and volumes using the Storage & Snapshots utility. Choose appropriate RAID levels for your workload and create shared folders with proper access controls (SMB/NFS/AFP). Enable essential services such as backup, cloud integration, and iSCSI if you plan to present SAN targets to hosts.
• Protect and optimize: Implement snapshots, remote replication, and backup routines to protect data. Install applications from App Center (e.g., Virtualization Station, Container Station) to support virtualization and container workloads. Consider enabling security features like 2FA, TLS, and automatic firmware updates to maintain a strong security posture.

Frequently asked questions

• Q: What is the primary use case for the TS-1673AU-RP-16G?
  A: It is designed as a high-capacity, enterprise-grade SAN/NAS storage solution, ideal for SMBs and departments needing centralized storage, virtualization support, robust backups, and scalable performance for data-intensive workloads.
• Q: How many drives does it support and what are the drive options?
  A: It supports up to 16 drives in a hot-swappable bay configuration, with compatibility for 3.5" HDDs and 2.5" SSDs to balance capacity and speed.
• Q: Does this model have redundant power?
  A: Yes. The RP in the model name indicates a redundant power supply for increased uptime and reliability.
• Q: What network speeds can I expect?
  A: The system includes dual 2.5GbE LAN ports, enabling fast data transfers and the option to aggregate links for higher throughput and fault tolerance.
• Q: Can I use this NAS for virtualization and containers?
  A: Yes. With QTS, you can run Virtualization Station and Container Station, deploy virtual machines and containerized apps, and integrate with other IT workflows for consolidated storage and compute resources.
• Q: Is memory upgrade possible if I need more performance?
  A: The unit ships with 16GB of DDR4 RAM, and memory is upgradeable to accommodate growing workloads and more demanding applications.
• Q: What kind of data protection features does it offer?
  A: It supports RAID levels, storage pools, snapshots, and remote replication to help protect data from accidental deletion, corruption, or site outages.