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All our Synology reviews feature information on the DiskManager 3.0 Operating System and there is a very good reason for that. It is the best NAS operating system on the market – fully multitasking capable, allowing the end user to switch painlessly between applications and currently running tasks. While it runs better on the higher end Synology NAS systems with more memory, it still runs well on the low end NAS systems with 256MB of ram or less.
Generally when setting up a NAS system we need to find the IP via a router and start a configuration via the web browser interface. Synology however have their own dedicated networking software called ‘Synology Assistant' which locates all the Synology devices on the active network, and displays a variety of useful information. It is worth pointing out that every NAS system on the network requires a unique server name, otherwise problems can occur.
Configuration requires the .pat data file which can normally be downloaded directly from the Synology download center. In this case however as the product was not yet released it was not listed. The .pat file is supplied on the disc.
Installation takes around 10 minutes from start to finish, so it is a good time to make a cup of tea and read the literature on the disc.
After inital installation is completed, access to the DSM 3.0 interface software is granted and the NAS can be configured.
A step by step guide is presented, offering Raid 0, Raid 0, JBOD and later if desired there is a RAID Migration option from Basic to Raid 1.
Be aware that if error checking is enabled then the formatting process can take a very long time. Ideal if you have an older drive you aren't sure about, but if the drives are new then save time and use the quick format option.
There are many panels in DSM 3.0 which allow the user to check the status of the drives, with SMART information and temperature readouts available.
Synology offer full Jumbo Frame support, always a good thing to see included. We always use 9k settings for maximum performance with our gigabit switches.
The next step to networked goodness, is the configuration of a shared folder, which again is handled by an intuitive user interface panel. DSM 3.0 software can handle a maximum of 2048 user accounts, 256 user groups and 256 shared folders with a total of 256 concurrent connections over AFP, FTP or SAMBA. It is extremely capable. Macintosh users also get full cross platform support – with options even for Time Machine.
Immediately, this shared folder will appear within your network, accessible by any computer.
Synology currently also are offering support for specific Wireless dongles, an updated list of which you can find on their website.
DSM 3.0 has a tremendous level of support for many applications and networking protocols. The Media Server for instance is DNLA certified, and offers support for both Playstation 3 and Xbox 360.
The WebStation offers a virtual hosting system for up to 30 websites, as well as PHP and MySQL support.
Here is a list of some of the media support.
DLNA/UPnP Media Server
- Supported Audio Format: AAC, FLAC, M4A, MP3, Ogg, Vorbis, PCM, WAV, WMA, WMA VBR, WMA PRO, WMA Lossless
- Supported Video Format: 3GP, 3G2, ASF, AVI, DAT, DivX, DVR-MS, ISO, M2T, M2TS, M4V, MKV, MP4, MPEG1, MPEG2, MPEG4, MTS, MOV, QT, SWF, TP, TRP, TS, VOB, WMV, XviD, RV30, RV40, AC3, AMR, WMA3
- Supported Image Format: BMP, JPG (jpe, jpeg), GIF, ICO, PNG, PSD, TIF (tiff), UFO, RAW (arw, srf, sr2, dcr, k25, kdc, cr2, crw, nef, mrw, ptx, pef, raf, 3fr, erf, mef, mos, orf, rw2, dng, x3f)
- Supported Subtitles Format: srt, psb, smi, ass, ssa, sub, idx, ifo
Photo Station:
- Supported Image Format: BMP, JPG (jpe, jpeg), GIF, RAW (arw, srf, sr2, dcr, k25, kdc, cr2, crw, nef, mrw, ptx, pef, raf, 3fr, erf, mef, mos, orf, rw2, dng, x3f)
- Supported Video Format: 3G2, 3GP, ASF, AVI, DAT, DivX, FLV, M4V, MOV, MP4, MPEG, MPG, QT, WMV, XviD, RM, RMVB, VOB, RV30, RV40, AC3, AMR, WMA3
Download Station:
- Supported Download Protocols: BT/HTTP/FTP/NZB/eMule
- Custom BitTorrent Port Range
- BitTorrent / eMule Bandwidth Control
Audio Station
- Supported Audio Format: (USB Mode) AAC, FLAC, M4A, MP3, Ogg Vorbis, WMA, WMA VBR; (Streaming Mode)MP3, M4A, M4B
- Supported Playlist Format: M3U, WPL
- Internet Radio: SHOUTcast, RadioioDLNA
Tunes Server
- Supported Audio Format8: MP3, M4A, M4P, WAV, AIF
- Supported Video Format: M4V, MOV, MP4
- Supported Playlist Format: M3U, WPL
Print Server
- Max Printer #: 2
- Supported Protocols: LPR, CIFS, AppleTalk
Synology Packages
- Mail Station
- Squeezebox Server
- Webalizer
- phpMyAdmin
- Time Backup
iPhone and Android Applications
- DS photo+
- DS audio
- DS cam
The interface looks great. I have a windows nas but its very slow due to the CPu in it.
id like their 7 series model, might pick one up next year as I love the idea of more networked storage, instead of sharing between computers, it can be painful. surprisingly i found XP best for networking shared folders.
Ive never really seen the need for a NAS system. nice looking product however.
Because you don’t try it ! Look at all services are proposed et economy of énergy in downloading without let your computer turned on as for exemple (FTP, HTTP, DDL, ED2K, BT) ! + all the web services hosted into your house unlike all free services on the web ! are you sur to know what they are looking for into your data ? me not, but i know that they look for information that they can exploit for marketing, like google or microsoft or all the websites who ask to subscribe a profile that they can track users traces !finally they déduce your comportement.
What I mean is that it is better to have a maximum data at home and what kind of device allows.
but I also use the google and microsoft sites to less sensitive data that I still want to save
Synology does not say everything, including the fact that it is an ajax to linux and therefore can add a lot of scripts made by users around the world. Scripts and programs that are very interesting for more than half
I am French and my English is rough, so I used google translate
DSM3.0 is amazing – a multitasking web-based UI. I like the front loading drives, but wish they would make their stations a bit less plasticy – more like the Netgear ReadyNAS for example. Support from Synology is amazing too – they are still releasing all their latest firmwares for my old DS108j which is nearly three years old now.
What can you do with the usb port ? Extend your stockage data ?
Yeah, and they can be used for backups too.
Nice review, one quitck question though that I may have skipped over…….does it support iTunes? I have the older 106j which has served me well for almost 4 years now and it provides iTunes library support for my audio, I wish it served video as well but alas I use the DLNA support to play that through my Xbox anyway!
Hi Anthony. yes there is full support for itunes. works great.
Nice review. Although I had hoped you would compare it to the DS211 in the conclusion. How does it compare to the DS211? Is the extra 4-5 MB/s worth the $130+ increase in price?
What’s the advantage of the “+” in real world scenarios?
Thanks,
SK
SK
http://www.synology.com/enu/products/compare_spec.php
Hi there
New to this NAS malarkey so a quick question please
Can this unit be used to solve off site backup issues we are having
Example:
Is it possible to hot swap a drive (it has 2 right?), allow the system to mirror to the newly inserted drive, then remove the drive off site?
Cheers
Hi Nigel,
It is possible to use internal disks to do backup :- I have 2 proposals:
1. Create a RAID 1 volume, remove 1 of the disk off site.
Since the volume is RAID 1, the data are mirrored to both disks. You can remove one disk (the volume would be degraded), move the disk to other place and place in a new one to fix the degraded volume. After the volume is fixed (mirrored), you can remove the disk again.
2. Use eSATA/USB to do backup. (recommended)
Please note that when RAID 1 is degraded, the data is not protected. You might lose your data if both disks are broken. I would suggest you to use eSATA backup. So you don’t have to make the volume degrade.
To do so, just attache a external disk to DS211+ and setup Local Backup to backup all the data to the external disk. You can also configure periodical backup (daily).
I have the DS210+, this is basically the same NAS with a new skin. not worth buying if you have bought any 2 bays models in the pass 2-3 years.
Does this allow web access via the nas without registering with a 3rd party website, similar to the buffalo linkstation 2TB?
FYI: The DS211+ supports a max of 6TB, not 4TB as stated in this review.
Hi, my questions may seem silly and/or repetition due to my very-very weak English, but I cannot answer them myself:
1) is it possible not to install any software to my PCs (minimal windows and minimal centOS), just configure the DS211+ on the web interface of the NAS in a browser? I want to avoid additional software installations, have to keep my systems under certain size.
2) does it have built in bittorent client? I mean there is the info at the 211 (not 211+) that it “functions as a 24×7 BitTorrent”. Is it true in case of 211+, too?
Many thanks!
Hi Peter.
Unlike traditional NAS systems, the Synology units need a software file to be written to the installed hard drives for the operating system to be installed and operational. this means you have to perform the initial setup via the dedicated software they supply, otherwise you can’t access it via an IP in a browser for general use.
Once it is setup and configured, you can deinstall the Synology PC software and access it fully from an IP via a browser.
All of the software you mention is inside the DSM package.
cool, thank you!
Hi, really good review!
Even though the Netgear ReadyNAS Ultra 2 have a more powerful CPU, and more RAM, I decided to order this piece from Synology. Partly because of the Web Station and SNMP support, partly because of the sleek OS and last but not least because of this review.
Now, it will take a few days before it arrive to my door and in the meantime I am curious to know if this model — 211+ — is capable of serving video at all? More specifically I am really curious to know if it is capable of serving MKV-files at 720p.
(In addition to the NAS I will be using Netgear Neo TV 350, which is also on its way.)
My intuition tells me that that it is ridiculous, that I need additional hardware (such as my computer or perhaps a PS3), but it sure would be fantastic if I could turn off my computer while watching a movie…
Very grateful for an answer within 48 hours.
Cheers!
Hi there, has anyone any experience using the Synology with Mac computers? how is the setup using a Mac?
thx. Ebbe