Synology has updated its policy regarding the use of hard drives with its Plus Series NAS systems, which are aimed at small to medium businesses and advanced home users. Customers are now required to use Synology’s proprietary hard drives to access the full range of features offered by these devices. While it is still possible to use non-certified drives, this limits access to essential functionalities such as health reports, volume deduplication, lifespan analysis, and automatic firmware updates. In addition, support for third-party drives may be restricted or non-existent.
Background on Drive Certification
Historically, very few companies manufacture hard drives, and Synology does not produce them directly. Instead, their branded hard drives are essentially rebranded models from major manufacturers like Seagate, Toshiba, or Western Digital, which may include specific firmware modifications to ensure compatibility with Synology’s systems.
Implications for New Purchases
This new requirement affects only the 2024 Plus Series models and later, while earlier models remain exempt. Users of the Plus Series are mandated to procure drives from Synology or certified partners to leverage the full capabilities of the devices. This could limit customer choices, as they won’t be able to select from the broader market of hard drives.
Business Rationales
Synology’s approach to requiring its branded drives mirrors practices in enterprise-level solutions, where reliability takes precedence. Companies often invest heavily in storage systems to ensure optimal performance and data security. Smaller businesses, however, may hesitate to invest in these proprietary drives when less expensive third-party alternatives exist that offer identical functionalities.
Performance and Reliability Claims
According to Synology, making the use of their branded drives mandatory stems from the positive results seen with their high-performance NAS options. The company asserts that customers will gain increased efficiency, performance, and reliability with the new Plus Series systems. Recent controversies, such as a fraudulent HDD incident involving Seagate’s NAS drives, may also motivate Synology to emphasize reliability through its own branded products.
Workarounds for Existing Users
Existing Synology NAS users who wish to adopt the new Plus Series devices may find a workaround. If they currently utilize unsupported drives in an older Synology system, they can migrate these drives to the new Plus model without restrictions. This workaround involves setting up the drive in an older device first, which could provide a cost-saving avenue for some customers.
As the NAS landscape continues to evolve, customers are advised to consider the implications of these changes on their purchasing decisions.