The Icy Dock ExpressCage MB326SP-1B is a 6-bay 2.5" SATA/SAS SSD/HDD mobile rack that fits into a standard 5.25" optical drive bay, ideal for NAS servers, homelab systems, compact workstations, and small business servers. It combines high-density storage with Icy Dock's proven tool-less removable tray design, allowing quick hot-swaps and easy maintenance while securely supporting drives from 5-9.5 mm in height.

Designed for users who value flexibility and serviceability, the MB326SP-1B enables effortless drive upgrades, swaps, and replacements without opening the chassis - perfect for testing different drive types, expanding RAID volumes, or managing backups. With six hot-swap bays, it is particularly suited for applications that require larger drive pools in limited space, such as virtualization labs, SMB servers, surveillance systems, or media production environments.

High-Density Storage in Any 5.25" Optical Drive Bay
The MB326SP-1B transforms a single 5.25" bay into six individually hot-swappable 2.5" drive bays. Supporting SATA III 6 Gbps and single-channel SAS drives (SAS host required), this enclosure is ideal for building compact RAID arrays or expanding high-capacity NAS volumes. With the ability to power all six drives using only two 15-pin SATA power connectors, cable clutter is minimized - allowing for cleaner builds and improved airflow.

ExpressTray with Tool-Less & Screw Mounting
The MB326SP-1B features Icy Dock's ExpressTray system, designed to simplify drive installation and removal with a fully tool-less process. Drives can be secured to the tray in seconds - just align the front end of the drive with the built-in pins, press the connector side down, and it locks firmly into place. To remove, pull the rear latch tab and lift the drive upward.

For environments requiring additional stability, such as systems exposed to vibration or mobile enclosures, the tray also includes optional screw holes for extra drive retention. With its reinforced latching mechanism, the ExpressTray ensures reliable performance and long-term durability even under frequent drive swaps.

To handle the thermal demands of six drives, the MB326SP-1B is equipped with two rear-mounted 40 mm cooling fans, supported by ventilation holes around the chassis and trays. Users can select from three fan modes using a switch slider:

• HIGH - Maximum cooling performance
• LOW - Quiet operation for home or office environments
• OFF - Fan disabled for silent operation in low-power or low-heat setups

The stock fan can be replaced with any standard 40 mm 2-pin or 3-pin fan, offering flexible cooling options. Integrated cable management keeps long fan cables neatly organized, further improving system airflow.

Each drive bay is equipped with a dedicated activity LED, providing clear visual feedback when drives are in use. The soft-blue illumination is bright enough to monitor status without causing eye strain. In addition, the enclosure supports locking-latch SATA data and power connectors, ensuring secure cable connections that prevent accidental disconnection during operation. (Requires cables with locking-latch support.)

If you are looking to use a M.2 SATA SSD with the ExpressCage MB326SP-1B, pair it with our EZConvert MB703M2P-B M.2 SSD to 2.5" form factor adapter featuring tool-less adjustable locker to secure your M.2 in place. To learn more about EZConvert MB703M2P-B please visit this page.

Key Features

• Supports up to 6 x 2.5" SATA/SAS HDDs or SSDs into a single 5.25" bay
• Compatible with SATA 6 Gbps or SAS 3.0 12 Gbps (Single channel)
• Hot-swappable bays for quick and convenient drive replacement
• Accommodates 2.5" drives with 5 mm, 7 mm, and 9.5 mm height
• Active Power Technology (APT) - only powers up if there is a drive installed in the drive bay
• ExpressTray system: tool-less, removable trays designed for easy installation while maintaining the stability of tray-based designs
• Optional bottom-mounted screw holes for enhanced drive stability
• Individual blue LED indicators for each bay
• Dual user-upgradeable 40 mm fans for effective drive cooling
• Supports 3-pin fan connectors for aftermarket fan upgrades
• Two 15-pin SATA power connectors power all six drives
• Locking latch design for both 7-pin SATA connector and 15-pin power connectors to ensure secure connections
• Three-speed fan control: High / Low / Off
• Durable metal enclosure with heavy-duty ABS trays and door latches
• Ideal for power users, system builders, and applications requiring space-efficient 6-bay 2.5" hot-swap storage solutions

For more information, visit the product page.