Radxa Taco High-Performance NAS and Router Platform for Raspberry Pi CM5 - Multi-Drive Storage Expansion, Software RAID, Dual Gigabit Ethernet, and Comprehensive IO for Home and Lab Network Storage Builds
The Radxa Taco is a purpose-built carrier board and platform designed specifically for the Raspberry Pi Compute Module 5, transforming the CM5 into a fully featured Network Attached Storage server and software router platform with massive multi-drive storage expansion, dual Ethernet networking, and comprehensive system control IO in a single board solution. Unlike generic CM4 or CM5 carrier boards adapted for storage use, the Taco is engineered from the ground up around the NAS and router application requirements of the Raspberry Pi CM5, with the storage interface count, networking capability, power input flexibility, and system control IO that a dedicated home or lab NAS platform demands rather than the general-purpose IO layout of a development carrier. The result is a CM5-powered NAS and router platform that competes directly with commercial NAS hardware in capability while retaining the open software ecosystem, active community support, and hardware customisability of the Raspberry Pi Compute Module platform.
Massive storage expansion capability is the central hardware differentiator of the Radxa Taco, providing multiple storage interface connections that allow far greater drive count and total raw storage capacity than any CM5 development carrier board in its class. Software RAID support allows multiple drives to be configured in RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 5, or other software RAID levels through the Linux operating system running on the CM5, providing data redundancy, performance striping, or a combination of both across the connected drive array without dedicated RAID controller hardware. High-speed dual Ethernet networking delivers the bandwidth and port isolation required for simultaneous NAS client access and WAN-to-LAN router operation, enabling the Taco to function as both the network storage server and the network gateway in a home or small office environment from a single CM5-powered platform. Flexible power input accommodates different power supply options for home and lab rack or desktop deployment scenarios, and the comprehensive IO and system control feature set covers the monitoring, management, and expansion requirements of a production-grade home NAS build.
Key Features
- Purpose-Built for Raspberry Pi CM5: Carrier board engineered specifically for the CM5 Compute Module with NAS and router application-optimised IO layout, storage interface count, and power design
- Massive Storage Expansion: Multiple storage interface connections supporting a high drive count for large raw storage capacity in home and lab NAS builds
- Software RAID Support: Linux software RAID across connected drives for data redundancy (RAID 1, RAID 5) and performance striping (RAID 0) without dedicated RAID controller hardware
- Dual Gigabit Ethernet: High-speed dual Ethernet ports for simultaneous NAS client access and WAN-to-LAN router operation from a single CM5-powered platform
- Router Platform Capable: Dual Ethernet networking enables concurrent NAS server and network gateway operation for combined home network storage and routing builds
- Comprehensive IO: Full system IO and control feature set covering monitoring, management, and expansion requirements of production-grade home and lab NAS deployments
- Flexible Power Input: Multiple power supply input options for desktop, home rack, and lab deployment scenario compatibility
- Open Software Ecosystem: Raspberry Pi CM5 platform retains full Linux operating system flexibility, active community support, and software customisability versus closed commercial NAS hardware
- Home and Lab NAS Optimised: Platform capability, storage expansion, and networking feature set matched to home media server, personal cloud, and small lab NAS deployment requirements
- Single Board Integration: NAS storage expansion, dual networking, system control IO, and CM5 carrier consolidated onto a single Taco platform board
Applications
- Raspberry Pi CM5-powered home NAS builds requiring multi-drive storage expansion, software RAID data redundancy, and dual Gigabit Ethernet client access
- Combined home NAS server and network router builds using dual Ethernet for simultaneous storage client access and WAN-to-LAN gateway operation
- Small office and home office personal cloud storage builds require a CM5-powered open Linux NAS platform with flexible power input and comprehensive system control
- Home media server builds requiring massive multi-drive raw storage capacity with software RAID resilience on a Raspberry Pi CM5 platform
- Home lab and enthusiast network storage builds requiring a purpose-built CM5 NAS carrier board versus a generic development carrier adapted for storage use
- Software-defined router and firewall builds using the dual Ethernet networking capability of the Taco platform with CM5 processing and open Linux routing software.
Massive Storage Expansion
Easily build a high-capacity, high-performance NAS or storage node with flexible storage options.
High-Speed Dual Ethernet Networking
Balanced compatibility and bandwidth for network-intensive applications. Ideal for soft routers, gateways, and edge computing devices.
Applications
Interfaces
