Synology SA3400 12-Bay 3.5″ Rackmount NAS

Introduction to Synology SA3400

The Synology SA3400 is a high-capacity, rack-mount NAS designed for enterprise-class storage needs. This robust 2U, 12-bay system delivers exceptional performance and flexibility with support for both SAS and SATA drives. Powered by an Intel Xeon D-1541 8-core processor and 16 GB DDR4 ECC RDIMM (expandable up to 128 GB), the SA3400 redefines what enterprise-scale businesses can expect from a NAS solution. Its dual 10GBASE-T and quad Gigabit Ethernet ports, paired with PCIe expansion slots, enable seamless networking and accelerated throughput—positioning the Synology SA3400 as a future-proof core or edge storage node.

 Core Benefits of Synology SA3400

The Synology SA3400 sets a high standard for performance, reliability, and scalability:

High-density, scalable storage: Supports up to 12 hot-swappable drives (3.5″ or 2.5″ SAS/SATA). Capable of expanding up to 96 or even 180 drives using RX1217sas or RX2417sas expansion units.

Powerful processing & memory: Built on an Intel Xeon D-1541 (8-core, 2.1–2.7 GHz) platform with 16 GB DDR4 ECC, expandable to 128 GB for intensive workloads.

High-speed connectivity: Out-of-box includes 2 x 10GBASE-T and 4 x 1GBASE-T LAN ports with link aggregation and failover support. Two PCIe 3.0 x8 slots allow additional 10/25GbE NICs for future expansion.

Superior performance stats: Delivers sequential throughput beyond 5,520 MB/s and up to 304,277 random IOPS—ideal for virtualization and demanding workloads.

Robust data protection & virtualization: Equipped with Synology Active Backup Suite, supports VMware, Hyper-V, OpenStack, and offers flexible RAID, snapshots, and Btrfs technologies.

Solid reliability and warranty: Built on a redundant 500W power module design, rated sound levels around 50 dB(A), and backed by a 5-year warranty.

Standout Features

Enterprise-Grade Hardware

The Synology SA3400 combines a powerful Xeon D CPU and ECC memory, delivering a robust platform for caching, virtualization, and heavy I/O performance.

Flexible Storage Bays & Expandability

Hot-swappable bays enable live drive servicing, while expansion units boost capacity up to 180 drives—ideal for archival demands or video surveillance workflows.

Connectivity & Expansion

Standard dual 10 GbE and quad 1 GbE ensures fast connectivity. PCIe slots let users upgrade to even faster NICs or add-on modules, offering future-proof flexibility.

Hybrid File System with Snapshots

The SA3400 supports Btrfs, offering advanced features like snapshot replication, data integrity protection, quotas, and self-healing to reduce loss risks. Nastown

Synology DSM Ecosystem

Harness powerful tools like Active Backup, Surveillance Station, Virtual Machine Manager, file services, and cloud backup—all via Synology’s intuitive management interface.

Resilient Build Quality

With a design that withstands 0–35 °C, dual power support, and low-noise fans, the SA3400 is built for mission-critical environments.

 Use Cases

Virtualization Infrastructure
Leverages high throughput and iSCSI support for VMware, Hyper-V, or OpenStack deployments, providing fast VM storage layer.

Surveillance Recording & Media Workflows
Ideal for video post-production and surveillance applications, easily handling hundreds of cameras and streams.

Backup and Disaster Recovery
Supports server and cloud backup tasks with snapshot replication, remote restores, and Active Backup Suite.

Unified File and IP SAN Storage
Functions as both NAS and iSCSI target for multi-protocol enterprise environments.

 Performance Advantages

Blazing throughput: Over 5.52 GB/s for sequential loads and 300K+ IOPS consistently.

Low latency and redundancy: Multiple link aggregation options paired with robust backup features ensure high availability.

Modular scalability: Grow storage seamlessly as requirements change, enabling cost-efficient ramp-up to petabyte-scale deployments.

 Real-World Insights

Users report excellent virtualization and surveillance app support, though noise levels (~50 dB) may require data center placement.  Another deployment reported sustained back-up performance with NVMe caching but noted potential bandwidth limitations on 10G ports.

Why Choose Synology SA3400?

High-density storage and enterprise-class performance

Flexible expansion for long-term scalability

Advanced data protection via Btrfs and DSM

Rich feature set optimized for virtualization, backup, and surveillance

Conclusion

The Synology SA3400 combines scalable storage, powerful performance, and enterprise-grade features with a user-friendly interface—making it a top-tier NAS for busy small to medium organizations. Whether powering virtual machines, archiving data, or managing large-scale video surveillance infrastructure, its flexibility and robust architecture ensure your storage grows with your business needs.

Check full specs and datasheet below: Spec sheet