Synology launches free upgrade for DiskStation Manager

Synology has today released the latest update to its popular DiskStation Manager software. While the ‘4.2' version name itself might not sound like much – the company's CEO claims that this is one of the biggest advances in storage software for some time. KitGuru considers a free demonstration over on stand D48 in Hall 2 at CeBIT. In the meantime, here's the skinny.

As you know, KitGuru is populated by more than its fair share of Grumpy Old Men. Indeed, every time we see a Grumpy Old Men special on TV, we half expect to be presenting it. There are a lot of bugbears and pet hates in our lives, but one of the more popular ones is ‘version numbers'.

Most version numbers are absolutely useless in telling you what you're buying. If you're not sure, then line up some of the Intel mobile processor codes and ask a mate what they're getting for their cash. Most won't know. We're all aware of the challenges, so that's why it's important to lay out the changes to DSM 4.2 in detail. If you're a Synology user, then you will be getting a heap of benefits. You can get a live demo here or read the following:-

• No Charge
  First up, this is a FREE download – so you can improve your life without paying a penny
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• Agile, Reliable Storage
  DSM 4.2 features LUN Snapshot and Clone to provide up to 256 snapshots per LUN and near-instant duplication of virtual copies of a LUN, with no impact on system performance and minimal extra storage space. Synology High Availability (SHA) now supports more DiskStation/RackStation, and together with Global hot spare disks, ensures business continuity across enterprise and SMB environments. Two-step verification reinforces security with a predefined password and a six-digit one-time code
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• Optimised Manageability
  RADIUS server enhances Wi-Fi security and offers centralised authentication for access control. DNS server allows users to own domain names of their choice and centrally host different services. Disk Usage Report visualises storage usage for IT admins, generating storage reports to ensure best storage utilisation. Server management is further simplified with Task Scheduler, which performs assigned tasks according to users’ pre-defined schedule. Furthermore, Synology NAS can provide TFTP service to create a PXE environment, allowing users to boot up systems over the network
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• Streamlined Cloud Architecture
  The enterprise-ready Cloud Station supports nearly unlimited user accounts and merges easily in to LDAP and AD environments. Amazon Glacier BackupBeta provides a budget-friendly data archiving and backup solution. Data management becomes more efficient with up to 52% of performance gains in file transfers to Mac. File Station has made file management even easier by supporting hotkeys and Thumbnail View
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• Multimedia Streaming
  Video Station supports soundtrack selection, HDHomeRun DVB-T TV tuner and multi-channel TV streaming and recording. It also allows users to watch movies on AirPlay and DLNA devices, with their mobile device as a remote control. With a revamped user interface that realises simplicity in design, Audio Station supports Bluetooth A2DP technology to empower music lovers with the ability to enjoy high-quality sound all around. Photo uploads are more efficient with not only the intuitive drag-n-drop feature in Photo Station but also Photo Station Uploader that additionally accelerates thumbnail conversion
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• Fingertip Control
  All the data can be automatically and securely synced over SSL encryption via DS cloud, where iOS/Android users can specify sync rules by file type and size, as well as the option to sync only on WiFi connection. DS video is an easy way to stream movies to mobile devices, where users can continue from where they were left off on the last device. DS photo+ can automatically and instantly uploads iOS/Android users’ photos onto Photo Station. QuickConnect now supports DS photo+, DS audio and DS cloud to remove the hassle of configuring port forwarding and make remote data access even more effortless and easier

Vic Hsu, CEO of Synology told us, ““Synology has once again pushed the possibilities of NAS servers to new dimensions by releasing DSM 4.2”.
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He added, “It helps businesses achieve agility as well as productivity in big data storage, and reshapes users’ multimedia experience with a suite of advanced features”.

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Here are some shots of the cool stuff, according to Synology:-
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KitGuru says: It's nice to know that software development does not stand still – and that your investment in hardware will be matched by the determination of the vendor to make its products even better, after sale, at no extra cost. The graphics card companies have been offering this kind of value-add for years and it's very cool. More power to Synology for launching DSM 4.2 with such a rich feature set.
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