SYNOLOGY Rack Station RS3621RPXS 2U 12-Bay NAS server barebone

Synology RS3621RPxs is a 12-bay rack storage server designed for small businesses requiring reliable, high-performance storage. Equipped with a 6-core processor, ECC memory, redundant power supplies, and the Btrfs file system, the RS3621RPxs provides high random read IOPS (up to 189,098 4K) and sequential read throughput (up to 4,718 MB/s) for compute-intensive services and mission-critical data protection.

Advantages

The unit emphasizes reliability through dual hot-swappable power supplies and fans, Synology High Availability for near-zero downtime, and Btrfs for data integrity and efficient snapshots. Built-in PCIe slots allow expansion and customization for additional networking or performance needs, while native support for 10GbE and SSD caching options significantly increase throughput and IOPS. Expansion units enable scaling to up to 36 drive bays to grow storage capacity with minimal intervention.

Key specifications

• Form factor: 12-bay rackmount storage server
• Processor: 6-core CPU (manufacturer unspecified)
• File system: Btrfs
• Redundancy: Dual hot-swappable power supplies and hot-swappable fans
• Performance: Up to 189,098 4K random read IOPS; up to 4,718 MB/s sequential read
• Expansion: Supports two RX1217(RP) expansion units to reach up to 36 drive bays
• PCIe: Two built-in PCIe slots for NICs, NVMe adapters, or other compatible cards
• Network: Supports 10GbE NICs and link aggregation
• SSD options: M.2 NVMe adapter cards with SNV3000 Series SSDs or 2.5” SAT5200 SSDs for cache
• Backup & replication: Hyper Backup and Snapshot Replication with RPO as low as 5 minutes
• Virtualization: iSCSI support for VMware vSphere (including VAAI), Windows ODX, OpenStack Cinder
• Recommended drives: Synology drives for 24/7 intensive workloads

How to use

Install drives into the 12 bays and connect network and power cables. Configure storage pools and volumes using Synology DSM, enable Btrfs to take advantage of snapshots and data protection, and install compatible PCIe cards (for example, 10GbE NICs or NVMe adapter cards) if higher throughput or SSD caching is required. Set up Hyper Backup and Snapshot Replication to secure data to local or remote targets and configure Synology High Availability between two identical units for failover. Expand capacity later by attaching RX1217(RP) expansion units as needed.

Recommendations

For sustained 24/7 performance and maximum compatibility, use Synology-branded drives and follow Synology’s compatibility lists when selecting PCIe cards, SSDs, and expansion units. Configure redundant power and high availability for systems hosting mission-critical services, and enable SSD cache for workloads requiring higher IOPS.