Synology might convey “licensed drive” necessities to extra NAS gadgets

Synology, maker of network-attached storage (NAS) gadgets, will seemingly take away superior options from its Plus gadgets that aren’t utilizing exhausting drives supplied by, or licensed by, Synology itself, beginning with its 2025 lineup.

A report on the German web site HardwareLuxx (translated by Google) and a press launch on Synology’s German-language web site seem to verify Synology’s technique. The corporate, which sees “vital advantages” to its “proprietary exhausting drive answer” (additionally per Google’s translation), shall be “increasing [its] built-in ecosystem to the Plus collection.” For these Plus collection fashions launched in 2025, solely Synology’s personal exhausting drives, and third-party drives licensed by Synology, will provide “the complete vary of capabilities and help.” Synology’s launch states that it could present the “highest ranges of safety and efficiency, whereas additionally providing considerably extra environment friendly help.”

Ars has contacted Synology’s US places of work for remark and can replace this publish with any response.

There’s some likelihood that this transfer may very well be restricted to Germany or simply the EU. Sustaining region-specific firmware is feasible, if not environment friendly. Synology has beforehand rolled out its licensed drive necessities for higher-end machines globally.

If you have already got Plus-level or larger Synology {hardware}, this potential incoming change will not impression you, not less than till your subsequent improve. It’s also possible to take current drives from a Synology setup and transfer them right into a 2025 or newer Plus mannequin and proceed having full help. Synology had already carried out this requirement for its XS Plus and rack-mounted fashions, notionally obliging these house owners to make use of Synology-approved drives.

What you may lose from utilizing non-Synology-approved exhausting drives might embody pool creation and help for any points. De-duplication, lifespan evaluation, and computerized HDD firmware updates might additionally disappear on non-approved drives, Synology’s press launch suggests.