Why can't I use my PCIe/NVMe SSD for storage?
Last modified date:
2023-01-11
Applicable Products
All NAS models
Symptom
When creating or expanding a storage pool or static volume, you are unable to select certain PCIe/NVMe SSDs installed on your NAS.
Causes
There are two common reasons why a PCIe/NVMe SSD cannot be used for storage on your NAS:
Cause | Details |
|---|---|
| The SSD is incompatible with the NAS. | While QNAP tries to ensure compatibility with as many mainstream SSD brands and models as possible, some models may still be unsupported. |
| The SSD is installed via a third-party M.2-to-PCIe adapter card. | QNAP cannot guarantee the compatibility of third-party expansion cards with QNAP devices. For optimal performance, we recommend using a QNAP QM2 expansion card if you want to install M.2 SSDs via a PCIe slot. |
Solution
To ensure the SSD can be used for storage, please use a compatible SSD and expansion card, and a suitable installation method, to ensure the SSD can be used for storage.
For the list of compatible SSDs and expansion cards for your NAS, visit https://www.qnap.com/compatibility/.
For details on how different SSD types can be used on a QNAP NAS, see the following table:
SSD Type | Installation Method | Storage Space | SSD Cache |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCIe/NVMe M.2 SSD | QNAP QM2 expansion card | Yes | Yes |
| PCIe/NVMe M.2 SSD | Native M.2 slot on the NAS | Yes | Yes |
| PCIe/NVMe M.2 SSD | Third-party M.2-to-PCIe adapter card | No | Yes |
| PCIe form-factor SSD | PCIe slot on the NAS | No | Yes |
| SATA 2.5” SSD | NAS drive bay | Yes | Yes |
| SATA M.2 SSD | QNAP QM2 expansion card | Yes | Yes |
| SATA M.2 SSD | Native M.2 slot on the NAS | Yes | Yes |
Note
In QTS, you cannot use newly installed disks to expand existing Qtier storage pools. Once Qtier is enabled on a storage pool, the pool cannot be expanded.
