Quantum QXS-524 12G

Overview

The Quantum QXS-524 12G is a high-performance RAID-node storage array system, part of the QXS-Series scale-out storage family from Quantum. Designed to support demanding unstructured data workflows — such as media & entertainment, large-file analytics, post-production, archive and collaborative editing — it provides enterprise-grade reliability, scalability and connectivity. With dual-active controllers, no single-point-of-failure architecture and flexible expansion options, it delivers both high throughput and resilience across clustered storage environments.
The 12G SAS architecture ensures high internal bus bandwidth and low latency, while front-end connectivity options (including 16/32 Gb Fibre Channel and 10/25 Gb Ethernet in the QXS-Series line) make it well suited for SAN and shared-storage deployments using a global namespace.
As part of the QXS-Series, it supports scale-up and scale-out growth — enabling organisations to start with a modest configuration and expand to multi-petabyte scale without forklift upgrades.

Features

• Engineered for throughput-intensive workflows: The QXS-Series is tuned for sequential I/O performance, making it ideal for large streaming files, multi-user editing and collaborative environments.
• High availability architecture: Includes dual-active RAID controllers, redundant power supplies, fans and hot-swappable components, eliminating single points of failure and helping maintain continuous operation.
• Modular and scalable: Available in multiple form-factors (2U, 5U) and bay counts, allowing capacity or performance to be added as workloads grow.
• Flexible connectivity: Front-end interfaces support modern SAN and Ethernet protocols; internal 12 Gb/s SAS back-end ensures high bandwidth for the storage modules.
• Broad workflow support: Compatible with shared-file-system environments enabling SAN (Fibre Channel) and NAS (via gateway) clients, and support for tiering and archive in unified namespace setups.
• Optimised for efficiency and density: The system’s architecture allows high capacity per rack unit, reducing data-centre footprint and lowering total cost of ownership across large-scale deployments.
• Seamless expansion and management: Adds expansion chassis or additional nodes without disrupting live workflows, simplifying lifecycle growth.

Specifications

System & Architecture

• Product: QXS-524 12G RAID Node / Storage Array Appliance.
• Back-end Bus: 12 Gb/s SAS connectivity (internal to drives and expansion).
• Front-end Connectivity Options: Fibre Channel (16 Gb / 32 Gb autosensing) or Ethernet (10 Gb / 25 Gb) depending on chassis.
• Controllers: Dual active/active RAID controllers (available in the QXS line) for high-availability.
• Drive Support: Supports both 2.5″ and 3.5″ HDD/SSD modules (depending on performance and density tier).
• Expansion: Scale-out via additional chassis; scale-up via increased drive counts per bay.
• Maximum Capacity (system level): For the broader QXS-Series line: up to ~6.7 PB in 20 rack-unit fully expanded configuration.
• Throughput (for 2U/5U models in the series): Up to ~12 GB/s read, ~10 GB/s write in high performance configurations.

Physical / Environmental

• Form Factor: Rack-mounted (e.g., 2U or 5U depending on variant).
• Dimensions (Representative for 2U chassis): Height 87.9 mm, Width ~483 mm (front), Width body ~443 mm, Depth ~576.8 mm to ~629.6 mm depending on chassis variant.
• Operating Temperature Range: Standard enterprise storage range ~5 °C to 35 °C (may vary by region and drive type).
• Power Supply: 100-240 Vac input, dual redundant PSUs typical (specific wattage depends on drive population).
• High-Availability Features: Redundant hot-swappable drives, power supplies, fans, controllers.

Drive & Storage Configuration Example

• Example configuration: QXS-524 12G with 24-bay 2U chassis supporting enterprise HDD/SSD modules; usable capacity depends on chosen drives, RAID level and overhead.
• Back-end drive interface: SAS 12 Gb/s; Front-end connectivity variable per deployment.
• RAID Levels & Data Protection: Designed to support enterprise RAID configurations and high availability to safeguard data and maintain service continuity.

Software / Workflow Support

• Integrates with global namespace file systems and shared-storage workflows enabling concurrent file access across many clients.
• Works in shared-storage workflows, enabling concurrent access for many users, and supports tiering, automatic archiving, and management of large unstructured data sets.