Synology RX1217 Drive Enclosure - Infiniband Host Interface Rack-mountable

The Synology RX1217 Drive Enclosure delivers scalable, high-performance storage expansion for Synology RackStation deployments. Designed to seamlessly extend your existing SAN-like capabilities, this 12-bay chassis provides ample room for future growth while preserving data integrity and minimizing downtime. With an Infiniband host interface, rack-mountable construction, and hot-swappable drive bays, the RX1217 is the ideal companion for businesses that rely on fast backups, robust virtualization, and large-scale media libraries. Whether you’re expanding a warehouse of virtual machines, growing a seamless backup target, or provisioning archive storage for a growing organization, the RX1217 makes it easy to increase capacity without sacrificing reliability or performance.

• Scale storage effortlessly: add 12 hot-swappable bays to a Synology RackStation and expand an existing RAID volume directly in DSM without reformatting, minimizing downtime and preserving data integrity for busy environments.
• High-speed connectivity: the Infiniband host interface delivers premium throughput and low latency, enabling rapid large-file transfers, efficient backups, and smooth data replication across storage nodes.
• Rack-ready design: a sturdy 2U, rack-mountable enclosure built for data centers, server rooms, and office racks, with tool-free drive installation for quick capacity upgrades.
• Flexible drive compatibility: supports a range of SATA drives (hot-swappable) to tailor performance and capacity to your workload, whether you prioritize capacity, performance, or a balance of both.
• Reliability and scalability: compatible with redundant power options (RP) in the appropriate configurations, enabling reliable operation in critical environments and easy future expansion as data needs evolve.

Technical Details of Synology RX1217

• Drive Bays: 12 hot-swappable bays for SATA drives, enabling large-scale capacity expansion.
• Interface: Infiniband host interface for high-bandwidth, low-latency connectivity to a Synology RackStation.
• Form Factor: 2U rack-mountable enclosure designed for standard data center racks.
• Drive Compatibility: supports hot-swappable SATA drives (drives must be compatible with the connected RackStation and enclosure guidelines).
• RAID and Expansion: supports direct RAID expansion on the host RackStation without reformatting, preserving existing data and RAID volumes during growth.
• Power Options: compatible with redundant power supply configurations (RP) for enhanced reliability in critical environments.
• Use Case: ideal for volume expansion, backups, virtualization, media libraries, and large-scale data archival within Synology ecosystems.

how to install Synology RX1217

Installing the RX1217 is straightforward and designed to minimize service disruption. Follow these steps to add capacity to your Synology RackStation environment:

• Prepare your rack: Place the RX1217 in a suitable 2U rack location with adequate airflow and accessible power outlets.
• Power down or plan a maintenance window: For best results, perform expansion during a maintenance window or when the RackStation can tolerate a brief pause in services.
• Install in rack: Secure the enclosure into the rack using standard mounting rails or brackets, ensuring a stable, level installation.
• Connect connectivity: Use the appropriate Infiniband cables to connect the RX1217 to the RackStation’s expansion ports. Verify connections are secure and the cables are rated for your network speed.
• Insert drives: Open the RX1217 drive bays and insert SATA drives in your preferred configuration. Ensure drives are fully seated and locked into place.
• Power up: Restore power to the enclosure and verify LED indicators indicate a healthy state on startup.
• Configure in DSM: On the RackStation, open Storage Manager and access the volume management/RAID management area. Initiate the RAID expansion using the RX1217 as the expansion target, and follow the prompts to extend the existing volume without reformatting.
• Monitor and verify: After expansion completes, monitor performance and space usage, run integrity checks if needed, and verify that backups or virtualization workloads can access the newly available capacity.
• Documentation and policy: Update your storage policies and documentation to reflect the expanded capacity and any changes in storage paths or pool configurations.

Frequently asked questions

• What is the RX1217 used for? It is a 12-bay drive enclosure designed to expand storage for Synology RackStation systems. It enables direct RAID expansion without reformatting, making it ideal for growing data volumes, backups, virtualization, and media libraries.
• Can I expand my storage without taking the RackStation offline? Yes. The RX1217 supports expansion without data loss or reformatting, allowing you to grow capacity with minimal disruption to running services when paired with DSM's expansion tools.
• Does the RX1217 support hot-swapping? Yes. The drive bays are hot-swappable, enabling you to replace or upgrade drives without powering down the enclosure in most scenarios.
• Do I need a specific RackStation model to use the RX1217? The RX1217 is designed to work as an expansion unit with compatible Synology RackStation models that support external expansion and Infiniband connectivity. Check compatibility with your NAS model in the Synology product compatibility guide.
• Is redundant power available for the RX1217? Redundant power options are available in RP configurations for enhanced reliability in critical deployments, reducing the risk of downtime due to power supply failure.