NetApp FAS Series FAS2520
The NetApp FAS2520 was an entry-level 2U LFF hybrid storage system housing 12 internal 3.5-inch SAS drives in a dual-controller enclosure. Focused on 10GBase-T Ethernet and iSCSI/NAS protocols, it provided small businesses with affordable enterprise data protection and simplified cluster deployment.
Specifications
| Brand | NetApp |
|---|---|
| Family | FAS Series |
| Form factor | 2U rack |
| Released | Jun 2014 |
| End of sale | Jun 2017 |
| End of support | Jun 2022 |
| Controller configuration | Dual controllers in 2U enclosure |
| Processor | Intel multi-core processors per controller |
| Memory | 36GB system memory per HA pair with NVRAM |
| Drive bays | Up to 12x internal 3.5-inch 6Gb SAS drives, expandable to 84 drives with DS4246 shelves |
| Supported drives | 7.2K NL-SAS HDDs and SAS SSDs |
| Maximum raw capacity | Up to 336TB raw per HA pair |
| Host connectivity | Onboard 10GBase-T and 1GbE ports |
| Storage protocols | iSCSI, NFS, SMB |
| Clustering | Up to 24 nodes (12 HA pairs) |
| Management | NetApp Clustered Data ONTAP |
Generations
- Next generation: NetApp FAS Series FAS2620
Works together
How the NetApp FAS Series FAS2520 connects to servers, storage and the network: 1 way, with the parts and products on each path.
File storage (NFS and SMB)
Front-end ports face the clients; back-end ports (on scale-out systems) connect the nodes to each other and need their own switch pair.
Servers
Cisco UCS C220 M4 1U rack
Cisco UCS C240 M4 2U rack
Cisco UCS C460 M4 4U rack
Dell PowerEdge R220 1U rack
Dell PowerEdge R430 1U rack
Dell PowerEdge R530 2U rack
Adapters for the server
BCM957414A4142CC Broadcom NetXtreme-E BCM57414 Dual-Port 25GbE SFP28 PCIe 3.0 Ethernet Network Adapter
BCM957416A4160C Broadcom NetXtreme-E BCM57416 Dual-Port 10GBASE-T PCIe 3.0 Ethernet Network Adapter
BCM957504A5041CC Broadcom NetXtreme-E BCM57504 Quad-Port 100GbE QSFP56 PCIe 4.0 Ethernet Network Adapter
540-BBGN Dell Broadcom 57412 Dual Port 10GbE SFP+ PCIe Adapter
Switches
Cisco Nexus 9504 modular chassis
Cisco Nexus 9516 modular chassis
Arista 7050X 7050SX-72Q 1U fixed switch
Arista 7280R 7280SE-64 1U fixed switch
Optics
QSFP-100G-CWDM4-AR Arista 100GBASE-CWDM4 QSFP28 Optical Transceiver Module
QSFP-100G-LR4-AR Arista 100GBASE-LR4 QSFP28 Optical Transceiver Module
QSFP-100G-SR4 Arista 100GBASE-SR4 QSFP28 Optical Transceiver
Plan and size it
- Draw this setup in the topology planner mrplanb.com
- Add up rack power and space rack-density.com
- NFS explained mrplanb.com
- Block vs object storage mrplanb.com
- Object storage Ledger mrplanb.com
Check compatibility with NetApp
Before you buy, confirm the exact configuration against the vendor's own lists: firmware levels, operating systems, adapters and optics that NetApp has tested with the NetApp FAS Series FAS2520.
- Compatibility NetApp Interoperability Matrix Tool (IMT) (free vendor sign-in)
- Specifications NetApp Hardware Universe (platform specs and supported parts)
- Support NetApp Support
Equivalent models from other brands
FAQ
Did the FAS2520 support Fibre Channel?
No, the FAS2520 was designed exclusively for Ethernet protocols (iSCSI, NFS, and SMB) using 10GBase-T and 1GbE ports.
What successor replaced the FAS2520?
The FAS2620 succeeded the FAS2520 in September 2016.
Buying or selling FAS2520?
New, refurbished or used. Tell us the quantity and condition and we connect you with a vetted reseller in your region, usually within one working day.
Sources
- NetApp FAS2500 Documentation, checked 2026-10-28
- NetApp Hardware Universe - FAS2520 Specifications, checked 2026-10-28