Advice to choose PCIe expansion card for TS-653D

[DrFresh68]

This is my first post - I have searched but not found an answer.

I've bought the TS-653D and populated it with 6 14 TB disks in RAID 5. Now I want to install a PCIe expansion card and add two 1 TB M.2 NVMe SSD's in RAID 1 for system, apps and maybe some VM's. The RAID5 pool should be for storage only.

I see from the specs that the TS-653D supports PCIe gen 2 x2. So are there any reason for buying any other (i.e. later gen PCIe) than the QM2-2S-220A Card? This is somewhat cheaper than later generations - and I'd rather spend on the SSD's.

Any advice will be very much appreciated.

Thanks.

[P3R]

So are there any reason for buying any other (i.e. later gen PCIe) than the QM2-2S-220A Card?

It only support SATA M.2s, not the NVMe M.2s that you asked about.

I'm not sure if you're allowed to create a system volume on an expansion card? I would check that before pulling the trigger.

[DrFresh68]

Ahh yes, I didn't see that. Which card should I go for then? The QM2-2P-244A?

Well I was inspired by (amongst other reads) this thread (although the user gave up on his experiment): viewtopic.php?f=11&t=158052&p=771486&hi ... sd#p771486. AND just to be clear: I'm not looking for SSD caching, ONLY a SSD system/data volume.

Can anyone verify that it is possible to build a system/data volume on the SSD pool installed on the PCIe exp.? I'm willing to start all over (resetting the system and reinstalling everything; I'm still just experimenting).

[lousyfool]

Can anyone verify that it is possible to build a system/data volume on the SSD pool installed on the PCIe exp.?

Yes, I'm doing exactly that on a TS-253D: using a QM2-2P-244A with SSD as its own storage pool for system and apps, and the spinning disks for data only. Of course, there's no reason why you couldn't have a data volume on the PCIe SSD as well.

[PatsFan]

I'm following this thread as I am on a similar mission, this is also my first post on the forum.

A) I have repurposed a TS-653A to only host QVR Pro and store video files. It has 4x6TB (Raid 5) and 2x10TB (Raid 1)
B) I purchased a new TVS-872XT to replace the 653A as a local backup host and run some container apps (CumulusMX weather station). It currently has 4x14TB (Raid 5) and 2x1TB 2.5" SSD (System Volume).

Since installation I have added two M.2 1TB SSD's to the 872XT. I would like to use them as the system volume and pull the 2.5" format SSDs to give me 4 open slots for another Raid 5 array.

Larry

[DrFresh68]

DrFresh68 wrote: ↑Thu Jan 27, 2022 10:54 am
Can anyone verify that it is possible to build a system/data volume on the SSD pool installed on the PCIe exp.?

Yes, I'm doing exactly that on a TS-253D: using a QM2-2P-244A with SSD as its own storage pool for system and apps, and the spinning disks for data only. Of course, there's no reason why you couldn't have a data volume on the PCIe SSD as well.

Thanks! I'll do the purchasing and try it out. I'll post a followup here when done if anyone should be interested.

[Moogle Stiltzkin]

this is the latest youtube video on their expansion card

QM2-2P410GxT Series: Dual-Port QM2 PCIe Cards with M.2 2280 NVMe SSD Slots & 10GbE Ports for NAS/PC
https://youtu.be/ivMFRQV9YU0


they tell you whats new.

theres also another series that is strictly just add ethernet port, minus any sort of m.2 ssd support.

you can find the expansion cards listed here
https://www.qnap.com/en/product/series/interface-cards


note that the new ones have the "new" label, so you probably want to get those.

If you are not sure if your model supports, go to the product page for your qnap nas model, and there is a compatibility button, click that and select expansion card interface device. then it will list which expansion addon cards your model supports.


this is an example of how to install the expansion card. it's not particularly hard, you just need a screw driver
https://youtu.be/dCOkjLo6lN8

Can anyone verify that it is possible to build a system/data volume on the SSD pool installed on the PCIe exp.? I'm willing to start all over (resetting the system and reinstalling everything; I'm still just experimenting).

yes i think it will, but thats not a guarantee by me. if you are worried, try sending a helpdesk support ticket or better yet to sales, and ask there first. but i honestly think it will work to install qts and apps on the m.2 ssd on that addon card.

If i am not mistaken, the issue was, if you attempted to use a NON QNAP sanctioned pcie addon card, it's that which will not work when trying to install qts onto it and expect the system to boot. I could be wrong, but if i recall correctly, that was what was mentioned last time on that subject


i do have a x53D, but i don't have a spare addon card to test this for you, sorry