QNAP QDA-A2AR Two 2.5-inch SATA Drives in 3.5-inch SATA Drive Bay with RAID Support

Dual-Drive SATA Expansion with Built-In RAID in a 3.5-Inch Bay

The QNAP QDA-A2AR allows you to install two 2.5-inch SATA SSDs or HDDs in a single 3.5-inch SATA drive bay, expanding your storage options with flexible hardware RAID. Designed for use with PCs, workstations, and QNAP NAS, this plug-and-play adapter supports RAID 0, RAID 1, JBOD, and Individual modes, making it a reliable solution for high-speed applications or data protection.

Highlights

• Fits two 2.5-inch SATA SSDs or HDDs into one 3.5-inch SATA drive bay

• Supports up to 6Gbps file transfer speeds

• Tool-free hardware RAID selection: RAID 0, RAID 1, JBOD, Individual

• Compatible with Windows, Linux, and QNAP NAS systems

• Bootable on supported PC platforms

• Includes External RAID Manager for Windows users

• Sold in packs of four under order number QDA-A2AR-4PCS

Key Features

Flexible RAID Modes for Any Use Case

• RAID 0 for maximum speed by striping data across both drives

• RAID 1 for high redundancy and data protection

• JBOD for combined capacity without RAID overhead

• Individual mode for accessing both drives separately when supported

Note: RAID mode switching erases all drive data. Backup before use

Efficient Desktop or Workstation Storage

• Ideal for video editing, game development, or I/O intensive applications

• Works as a bootable RAID device in supported Windows and Linux PCs

• Fits 7mm to 9.5mm thick 2.5-inch SATA drives

• Does not require software or driver installation

Note: PC SATA controller must support port multipliers for Individual mode

Hardware RAID for NAS Performance Boost

• Offloads RAID processing from NAS CPU to maintain system efficiency

• Compatible with QNAP NAS systems running QTS 4.4.1 or QuTS hero h4.5.1 and above

• Ideal for SSD volume creation, tiered storage with Qtier, or SSD caching

• QTS detects QDA-A2AR as a single volume regardless of RAID level

Note: QTS does not support Individual mode

Smart Drive Monitoring and RAID Management

• QNAP External RAID Manager utility allows Windows users to
  • Monitor RAID health and disk status
  • Update firmware for the QDA-A2AR

System Requirements and Notes

• SATA port must supply 12V power to support QDA-A2AR

• Not compatible with TR-002 or TR-004 RAID expansion enclosures

• Do not install a QDA adapter inside another QDA adapter

• RAID 0/1 is best used with identical drive models and capacities

Summary

The QNAP QDA-A2AR provides a space-saving and performance-enhancing solution for integrating two 2.5-inch drives into one 3.5-inch bay. With hardware RAID and no software dependency, it suits creative professionals, system integrators, and NAS users looking to increase storage flexibility and performance. Whether for desktops or QNAP NAS, it is an ideal way to expand storage intelligently.

QNAP QDA-A2AR Specifications