Areca ARC-8028-24 12Gb/s SAS Expander – Enterprise Storage Expansion Solution
The ARC-8028-24 12Gb/s SAS expander is engineered for data centers and enterprises requiring scalable storage connectivity without performance compromise. This cable solution delivers intelligent drive management and bandwidth optimization, supporting up to 24 12Gb/s SAS or 6Gb/s SATA drives per expander. Built with an integrated ARM Cortex-R4 processor, it manages topology, enclosure, and drive health automatically—ideal for JBOD configurations, expander boxes, and high-density storage environments where reliability and speed matter.
Whether you're expanding legacy SAS infrastructure or building new storage arrays, the ARC-8028-24 eliminates bottlenecks with DataBolt™ Bandwidth Optimizer technology, ensuring 12Gb/s throughput to your host while buffering slower 6Gb/s devices seamlessly.
Key Features
- Supports up to 24 12Gb/s SAS or 6Gb/s SATA drives per expander unit
- 36-port flexible connectivity with 12 external and 24 internal SAS ports
- Integrated ARM Cortex-R4 processor for automatic topology and enclosure management
- DataBolt™ Bandwidth Optimizer buffers 6Gb/s data and transfers at 12Gb/s to host
- 12Gb/s per-port performance for maximum throughput
- LED enclosure management and drive status monitoring
- JBOD and expander box application support
- Cable-based solution for flexible deployment
Technical Specifications
| Specification |
Details |
| Manufacturer |
ARECA |
| Model Number |
ARC-8028-24 |
| SAS Interface Speed |
12Gb/s |
| SATA Support |
6Gb/s |
| Maximum Drive Capacity |
24 drives per expander |
| External SAS Ports |
12 |
| Internal SAS Ports |
24 |
| Total Port Connectivity |
36 ports |
| Processor |
ARM Cortex-R4 |
| Key Technology |
DataBolt™ Bandwidth Optimizer |
| Management Features |
Topology, enclosure, and drive management with LED support |
| Application Type |
JBOD, expander box |
| Connection Type |
Cable solution |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a 12Gb/s SAS expander and why do I need one?
A 12Gb/s SAS expander extends your storage connectivity by allowing a single SAS controller to manage multiple drives and enclosures. The ARC-8028-24 supports up to 24 drives, making it essential for data centers, NAS systems, and storage arrays that require scalable, high-speed drive expansion without replacing existing infrastructure.
How does DataBolt™ Bandwidth Optimizer improve performance?
DataBolt™ technology intelligently buffers slower 6Gb/s SATA or SAS devices and transfers data to your host at full 12Gb/s speed. This eliminates bandwidth mismatches between fast controllers and slower drives, maximizing throughput and reducing latency in mixed-speed storage environments.
Can the ARC-8028-24 work with both SAS and SATA drives?
Yes. The expander supports up to 24 12Gb/s SAS drives or 6Gb/s SATA drives per unit, or a mixed configuration. This flexibility allows you to optimize your storage array with the right drive types for your workload while maintaining full compatibility.
What management capabilities does the ARM Cortex-R4 processor provide?
The integrated processor handles automatic topology discovery, enclosure management, and drive health monitoring with LED status indicators. This reduces manual configuration overhead and provides real-time visibility into your storage infrastructure's health and performance.
