QNAP QM2-2P-344A interface cards/adapter Internal M.2 PCIe 3.0

The QNAP QM2-2P-344A is an internal M.2 PCIe 3.0 expansion card for NAS and storage servers. It supports two M.2 NVMe SSDs and uses a PCIe Gen3 x4 host interface to provide up to 32 Gbit/s transfer speeds. The card includes an active cooling module with heatsink and smart fan, LED indicators and thermal sensors, and a tool-less locking mechanism for straightforward SSD installation.

Advantages

This PCIe 3.0 expansion card offers high-bandwidth NVMe connectivity for NAS systems without requiring additional drivers or software. Built-in cooling and temperature monitoring maintain SSD performance and reliability, while the tool-less design simplifies drive installation. The card supports SSD caching, the creation of NVMe SSD volumes, and compatibility with QNAP Qtier auto-tiering to improve overall storage performance.

Suitable for

• Adding NVMe SSD cache to a QNAP NAS
• Creating super-fast NVMe SSD volumes for multimedia editing
• Improving IOPS for virtual machines and database workloads
• Deploying Qtier auto-tiering to maximise storage utilisation

Key specifications

• Interface: PCIe Gen3 x4 (PCIe 3.0)
• Supported drives: 2 × M.2 NVMe SSDs
• Maximum transfer rate: up to 32 Gbit/s
• Cooling: active cooling module (heatsink + smart fan)
• Indicators & sensors: LED indicators and thermal sensors
• Installation: tool-less, screw-less locking mechanism
• Dimensions (approx.): 68.9 mm × 170.5 mm × 19.3 mm
• Colour: brown, grey
• Package quantity: 1 piece

How to use

Install the QM2-2P-344A into an available PCIe slot on your NAS or storage server, then insert up to two M.2 NVMe SSDs using the tool-less locking mechanism. No additional drivers are required; the NAS should detect the card and drives automatically. Configure the SSDs in your NAS management interface to use them as SSD cache, create an NVMe SSD volume, or enable Qtier auto-tiering according to your storage needs. Monitor drive status and temperatures via the card's LED indicators and thermal sensor readings.

Recommendations

Use SSD caching for IOPS-sensitive workloads such as virtual machines and environments with many small files. For high-resolution photo and video editing, create an NVMe SSD volume (consider RAID for redundancy). Ensure the cooling module is unobstructed and monitor temperatures to maintain sustained performance.