Areca ARC-1686-2NOD M.2 NVMe Hardware RAID Adapter
The Areca ARC-1686-2NOD is a professional-grade M.2 NVMe hardware RAID adapter engineered for high-performance storage environments requiring reliable data protection and accelerated I/O throughput. This PCIe Gen 4.0 x8 adapter delivers enterprise-class RAID functionality in a compact form factor, supporting dual M.2 NVMe bays with advanced hardware RAID technology. Ideal for data centers, workstations, and mission-critical applications, the ARC-1686-2NOD combines cutting-edge Broadcom controller technology with comprehensive power loss protection to ensure data integrity and system reliability.
Key Features
- Dual M.2 NVMe bay support with hardware RAID acceleration
- PCIe Gen 4.0 x8 host interface for maximum bandwidth utilization
- Broadcom SAS3908/SAS3916 1.6 GHz dual-core RAID-on-Chip (ROC) controller
- Multiple RAID levels: RAID 0, 1, 10, Single Disk, and JBOD modes
- Tri-mode connectivity: PCIe Gen 4 NVMe, 12Gb/s SAS, and 6Gb/s SATA M.2 drives
- Power Loss Protection (PLP) with on-board supercapacitor hold-up
- M.2 slot Power Disable feature for guaranteed data protection
- Compact PCIe form factor for seamless server and workstation integration
Technical Specifications
| Specification |
Details |
| Manufacturer |
Areca |
| Part Number |
1686-2NOD |
| Product Type |
M.2 NVMe Hardware RAID Adapter |
| Host Interface |
PCIe Gen 4.0 x8 |
| Drive Bays |
2x M.2 NVMe slots |
| RAID Controller |
Broadcom SAS3908/SAS3916 1.6 GHz dual-core ROC |
| Supported RAID Levels |
RAID 0, 1, 10, Single Disk, JBOD |
| Drive Compatibility |
PCIe Gen 4 NVMe, 12Gb/s SAS, 6Gb/s SATA M.2 |
| Data Protection |
Power Loss Protection (PLP) with supercapacitor |
| Form Factor |
PCIe 4.0 x8 adapter card |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an M.2 NVMe hardware RAID adapter and why do I need one?
An M.2 NVMe hardware RAID adapter like the ARC-1686-2NOD enables you to combine multiple NVMe SSDs into a single logical drive with RAID protection. This delivers improved performance, data redundancy, and fault tolerance compared to software RAID, making it essential for data-intensive workloads, virtualization, and mission-critical storage environments.
Does the Areca ARC-1686-2NOD support PCIe Gen 4 NVMe drives?
Yes, the ARC-1686-2NOD features a PCIe Gen 4.0 x8 host interface and supports PCIe Gen 4 NVMe M.2 drives alongside 12Gb/s SAS and 6Gb/s SATA M.2 options. This tri-mode connectivity ensures compatibility with current and legacy storage technologies while maximizing bandwidth for high-speed NVMe performance.
What RAID levels does this hardware RAID adapter support?
The ARC-1686-2NOD supports RAID 0 (striping for maximum performance), RAID 1 (mirroring for redundancy), RAID 10 (combined striping and mirroring), Single Disk mode, and JBOD (Just a Bunch of Disks). This flexibility allows you to optimize storage for your specific performance and protection requirements.
How does Power Loss Protection (PLP) protect my data?
The adapter includes an on-board supercapacitor hold-up and M.2 slot Power Disable feature that safeguards in-flight data during unexpected power events. This Power Loss Protection ensures data integrity and prevents corruption, critical for enterprise storage and high-availability systems.
