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How many native drive bays and how much stated raw capacity does the AS6512RD have?
ASUSTOR lists twelve internal SATA positions for 3.5-inch HDDs, 2.5-inch HDDs or 2.5-inch SSDs. Its 216-TB maximum is raw arithmetic for twelve 18-TB drives, not usable capacity; RAID choice changes the result. The manufacturer's package page lists no data drives, and the exact compatible drive/firmware tuple still needs checking.
Explore this need in the finder →Does the AS6512RD provide a built-in single 5-Gbps Ethernet port?
No. Its fastest individual built-in ports are two separate 2.5GbE jacks; it also has two 1GbE ports. ASUSTOR's up-to-5-Gbps aggregation statement describes two ports combined under a supported setup, not a single 5GbE connector or guaranteed transfer speed. A PCIe network card is a separate optional purchase.
Explore this need in the finder →Can a twelve-bay AS6512RD mirror plan and the dual power supplies meet separate resilience needs?
They address different failure modes. ASUSTOR lists RAID 1 and its calculator limits one mirror to two drives, so a buyer-created compatible pair can use two of twelve SATA bays and leave ten open. The base package has no drives or initialized array. The exact hardware table lists two 350-W supplies, but both AC feeds need genuinely separate upstream power paths, and a mirror remains distinct from a backup.
Explore this need in the finder →The LOCKERSTOR 12RD (AS6512RD) is a 2U rackmount NAS for a buyer who needs twelve internal SATA positions and two power supplies in one chassis. Its appeal is not a promise of a particular transfer rate or a ready-to-use array: the manufacturer lists a four-port network layout, but the fastest built-in individual port is 2.5GbE, and the standard package lists no data drives. ASUSTOR’s support table currently labels the model Generally Available and marks software and technical support as Supported; that is manufacturer status, not proof of a U.S. retailer’s stock or warranty terms.
Twelve bays are the central decision
The hardware selector lists twelve hot-swappable positions for 3.5-inch SATA hard drives, 2.5-inch SATA hard drives, or 2.5-inch SATA SSDs. ASUSTOR’s 216 TB maximum-internal figure is twelve 18 TB drives multiplied together, and the specification warns that capacity changes with the RAID type. Treat that as raw arithmetic, not space available for files: a redundant layout consumes capacity, formatting and system data take their share, and this assessment does not verify an exact drive model, capacity, or firmware combination. Before buying disks, use ASUSTOR’s compatibility list for the exact model and intended drive revision. Twelve bays also do not mean one twelve-drive RAID 1 mirror. ASUSTOR’s RAID calculator says a single RAID 1 volume supports at most two drives. One possible owner-created arrangement is a compatible two-drive RAID 1 volume in two bays, leaving ten positions open. The package list contains no configured volume or data disks.Network ports: four sockets, not one faster link
ASUSTOR lists two 2.5-Gigabit Ethernet and two Gigabit Ethernet ports. For a requirement that names one built-in port, the documented ceiling is 2.5 Gbps. The two 2.5GbE ports may be combined in supported modes, but the manufacturer’s “up to 5 Gbps” statement is not a single 5GbE jack or a measured file-transfer result; the whole network path still matters. A PCIe slot is listed for an optional 10GbE card, but that does not make 10GbE built in or part of the base package. Check the exact card and installation constraints before counting on that upgrade.Power supplies add a different kind of resilience
The exact specification lists two 350 W supplies and identifies a redundant power supply. The installation guide includes a procedure for replacing a malfunctioning PSU, and the package page lists two AC cords. This is useful where a supply failure matters, but it is not drive redundancy. Two cords on the same failed circuit or UPS do not create independent power paths; plan upstream power separately. Likewise, a two-drive mirror and dual supplies solve different failure cases. RAID 1 can keep a volume available after one supported member-drive failure, subject to rebuild and drive condition; it does not protect against deletion, malware, theft, a failed chassis, or a mistake. Keep a separate backup and test restoring it. Do not let a “redundant” label stand in for a recovery plan.Rack fit and the supplied package need a close check
The hardware table gives a chassis size of 88 × 439 × 535 mm (H × W × D) and a device weight of 11.7 kg. Allow for rear cables, airflow, drive service, and the loaded system’s weight. The specification lists two 60 mm fans and a 0–40°C operating range; a quiet, unventilated cupboard is not equivalent to a suitable rack. Measure usable rail depth, not just the face opening. The listed package contains one AS6512RD, a quick-install guide, two AC cords, two Cat 5e network cables, and 48 screws each for 3.5-inch and 2.5-inch drives. It does not list data drives or rack rails. ASUSTOR sells a separate rail kit for rackmount models, but a generic compatibility statement does not establish that the kit is in a particular seller’s box or fits your cabinet depth. Confirm the exact sales package, rails, return path, and warranty channel before ordering.What the older platform can—and cannot—tell you
The selector lists a quad-core Intel Atom C3538 at 2.1 GHz, 8 GB of installed DDR4 SO-DIMM memory, four memory slots, and a 128 GB maximum. It lists 115 W during operation and 67 W in disk hibernation; these are manufacturer figures, not independent measurements or a forecast for a particular drive set. Buyers with sustained compute-heavy workloads should compare software support and workload requirements rather than interpreting bay count as processing capacity. The most useful comparison is with another exact chassis, not a product name alone. The AS6504RD is a four-bay 1U family sibling with two 250 W supplies; the AS6512RD is a twelve-bay 2U chassis with two 350 W supplies. Their capacity, power draw, rack depth, and internal drive layout differ. Neither the shared “RD” suffix nor the family page settles seller contents, a local offer, or drive compatibility.Bottom line
Consider the AS6512RD when twelve native SATA bays, rackmount installation, and dual-PSU hardware are central needs, and when a 2.5GbE individual-port ceiling is adequate or a separately installed NIC has been verified. It is a poor fit if you need built-in 10GbE, expect twelve drives and rails in the box, want a desktop enclosure, or need a compact low-noise location. Check the drive list, rack depth, optional accessories, package details, status, and seller terms against your actual purchase before treating this manufacturer reference as a specific retail offer.Key specifications
Key details at a glance
| Internal drive bays | 12 bays |
|---|---|
| Documented internal drive media | 3.5-inch SATA HDD / 2.5-inch SATA HDD / 2.5-inch SATA SSD |
| Built-in Ethernet ports | 2 x built-in individual 2.5-Gigabit Ethernet (2.5G/1G/100M) / 2 x built-in individual Gigabit Ethernet (1G/100M) |
| Fastest individual Ethernet port | 2.5 Gbps |
| Installed system memory | 8 GB |
| Maximum listed memory | 128 GB |
| Listed storage arrangements | Single / JBOD / RAID 0 / RAID 1 / RAID 5 / RAID 6 / RAID 10 |
| USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports | 4 |
| Dimensions (H × W × D) | 88 x 439 x 535 mm (H x W x D) |
| Weight | 11.7 kg |
| Hardware warranty | 3 years |
| Data drives included in listed package | No |
| Processor | Intel Atom C3538 |
| CPU cores | 4 |
| Installed memory type | 8 GB DDR4 SO-DIMM, one 8-GB module pre-installed |
Use the exact model’s instructions for operating limits, supplied equipment and version differences.
Sources for this review
Sources for this assessment
- ASUSTOR LOCKERSTOR 12RD (AS6512RD), manufacturer product ID 75
- ASUSTOR AS6512RD exact hardware and software specification, product ID 75
- ASUSTOR AS6512RD manufacturer package contents, product ID 75
- ASUSTOR product support-status table, AS6512RD row
- ASUSTOR RAID calculator, AS6512RD model selection and RAID 1 limit
- ASUSTOR drive compatibility list and drive guidance
- ASUSTOR AS65XXR English Quick Installation Guide, applicable to AS6512RD
- ASUSTOR exact-model front product image for AS6512RD
- ASUSTOR exact-model rear product image for AS6512RD
- ASUSTOR AS-Rail accessory listing for 1U/2U/3U rackmount systems
- ASUSTOR optional PCIe network-card listing with AS6512RD among applicable models
Check your setup before choosing a NAS
Use the finder to narrow documented desk/shelf or rack formats, internal-bay minimums, a single Ethernet-port rating and optional redundancy requirements.