QNAP ES1686dc R2: Enterprise NAS Designed for Continuous Availability
QNAP has expanded its enterprise storage lineup with the new ES1686dc R2, a powerful 16-bay SAS 12Gb/s NAS system featuring dual-active controllers that deliver high availability (HA) and resilient performance suited for demanding workloads. The system is designed for business-critical file storage, virtualization, and disaster recovery scenarios, ensuring near-zero downtime thanks to redundant components and seamless hot-swapping capabilities.
Dual Controllers and Performance Optimized for Enterprise Use
Let’s break it down. The ES1686dc R2 employs dual-active-active controllers to maximize uptime and distribute workloads efficiently. Each controller is equipped with an Intel® Xeon® D processor—configurable with 4-core or 8-core variants capped at 3.0 GHz Turbo—and up to 64 GB of ECC DDR4 memory. This hardware foundation supports sustained high throughput for virtualization and file server tasks.
ZFS-Based QES Operating System Enhances Data Integrity and Storage Efficiency
The system runs QNAP’s QES OS version 2.2, which is based on the ZFS file system. This brings several enterprise-grade features such as inline deduplication, compression, and self-healing capabilities that protect against silent data corruption. Enterprise users benefit from practically unlimited free snapshots for iSCSI LUNs and shared folders alongside SnapSync technology that expedites remote backup and disaster recovery readiness.
Connectivity and Expandability for Modern Enterprise Workloads
Each controller comes with four 10GbE SFP+ ports and additional PCIe slots to install 10GbE or 25GbE network cards, accelerating bandwidth-intensive tasks like media transfer and virtual machine operations. The device supports Fibre Channel SAN and NFS 4.1 protocols to boost interoperability and scalability in diverse environments.
Virtualization and Backup Features Tailored for Enterprise Demands
- Compatibility with VMware®, Microsoft®, and Citrix® virtualization platforms.
- Integration with VMware Site Recovery Manager (SRM) using SnapSync for robust remote backups.
- Support for iSER protocol improving VMware storage performance.
Scalable Storage Capacity with SAS Expansion Units
Businesses can scale storage capacity to petabyte levels by connecting up to sixteen 16-bay QNAP SAS expansion enclosures via dual-path SAS connections that ensure uninterrupted operation. Storage pools can be expanded dynamically, allowing enterprises to replace drives seamlessly and plan for growing data volumes.
Technical Specifications at a Glance
- Processor Options: Intel® Xeon® D-2142IT (8-core, 1.9 GHz base, 3.0 GHz Turbo), Intel® Xeon® D-2123IT (4-core, 2.2 GHz base, 3.0 GHz Turbo)
- Memory: Configurations with up to 64 GB DDR4 ECC RDIMM per controller
- Bays: 16 hot-swappable SAS 12Gb/s bays
- Redundancy: Dual-active-active controllers, redundant power supplies, NVRAM modules for power-failure protection
Pricing and Availability
The ES1686dc R2 is available immediately with a starting MSRP of 11,999 euros. This positions the system competitively for enterprise customers seeking high-availability, ZFS-based storage solutions optimized for virtualization, file serving, and backup.
On paper it’s powerful — in practice, we’ll see how it lives up to real-world enterprise demands. Still, with robust hardware specs combined with enterprise software features emphasizing data integrity and uptime, the ES1686dc R2 is clearly engineered to meet rigorous business continuity requirements.
