The summary of ‘Synology DSM 7.2 HDD Compatibility (Summer '23)’

This summary of the video was created by an AI. It might contain some inaccuracies.

00:00:0000:22:58

The video discusses the ongoing compatibility issues between Synology NAS systems and third-party hard drives and SSDs, with a focus on the DSM 7.2 update. The speaker delves into Synology’s evolving stance, noting that while Synology has somewhat softened their approach, significant discrepancies remain between the use of first-party and third-party drives. Specifically, the video explores Synology's introduction of their own hard drives, such as the Hat 3300 and Hat 5300 series, which are optimized for certain newer models like the DS923, and the policy exclusion for older models like DS1621 XS Plus.

Through hands-on demonstrations, the speaker illustrates the limitations and processes involved with installing both first-party and third-party drives, shedding light on capacity recognition issues and the impact of Synology's stringent verification processes. Examples include the compatibility challenges with larger drives such as the 20TB Seagate Ironwolf Pro and the limitations with M.2 NVMe drives for storage pools under DSM 7.2.

The speaker criticizes Synology's current practice of listing third-party compatible drives through a dropdown menu, preferring the previous comprehensive listing method. Additionally, there is frustration over Synology’s shift towards favoring their own drives, which limits user options, particularly for high-capacity drives.

In conclusion, while Synology continues to refine and optimize integration with its own range of drives, users facing compatibility challenges with third-party drives are encouraged to provide feedback and engage in community forums for further support and discussion.

00:00:00

In this segment of the video, the speaker addresses the topic of hard drive and SSD compatibility with Synology NAS systems, particularly considering the recent halfway point of 2023 and the release of DSM 7.2. They discuss the ongoing contention between Synology and its users regarding third-party drive compatibility, noting that Synology has softened its stance in certain areas. The speaker emphasizes the importance of verifying drive compatibility for NAS systems, and explains that verifying each drive for different systems is time-consuming. They also touch on the legal precautions companies take when listing verified drives, which explains why not all compatible drives are listed across all NAS platforms.

00:03:00

In this segment of the video, the speaker discusses the compatibility of Synology NAS systems with third-party drives, particularly following the DSM 7.1 update. Initially, many users faced compatibility issues and warnings when using third-party drives, which was a significant point of contention. However, this policy only applied to higher-end models from the 21 and 22 series onwards. As of DSM 7.2, the situation has improved with a more seamless experience for third-party drives, though differences remain. The speaker demonstrates this using a DS923+ system running incompatible Western Digital Ultra Star drives without triggering system warnings. Additionally, Synology has introduced their own line of hard drives, based on Seagate technology, for better integration.

00:06:00

In this segment, the speaker discusses Synology’s approach to drive compatibility for their NAS devices, particularly praising Synology for their sensible handling of this issue. They highlight that while the new Hat 3300 and Hat 5300 drives are supported on newer NAS models like the DS923, older models like the DS1621 XS Plus do not have retroactive compatibility for the Hat 3300 drives. The speaker appreciates Synology’s decision not to retroactively add these drives to older systems, as it maintains consistency and avoids undermining the enterprise-only drive policy. The discussion also touches on how users may be impacted by choosing third-party drives and what features might be missed, with a note on the capabilities of DSM 7.2.

00:09:00

In this part of the video, the presenter demonstrates the process of installing a 16TB first-party hard drive (Hat 5300) into a storage system and setting it up using DSM 7.2 software. They show how to create a storage pool, configure a hot spare, and access drive health information. Following this, the first drive is removed, and a 20TB Seagate Ironwolf Pro drive, which is not on the compatibility list, is installed. This secondary installation highlights issues with compatibility and system limitations, specifically the inability to recognize drives larger than 18TB. The presenter mentions these limitations may be due to the verification process and suggests it could improve over time.

00:12:00

In this part of the video, the presenter demonstrates plugging in a third-party Seagate drive into the system, showing that it is immediately detected and can be managed despite not being on the compatibility list. The presenter creates a storage pool and confirms that a hot spare can be configured using the third-party drive, verifying it operates normally with all expected settings and health information visible. Later, the focus shifts to compatibility issues with M.2 NVMe drives. Although the system recognizes the drive and allows creating an SSD cache, Synology’s DSM 7.2 does not support using non-validated M.2 NVMe drives for storage pools, highlighting a limitation in the system.

00:15:00

In this part of the video, the speaker discusses the restrictions present in Synology’s DSM 7.2 platform regarding the use of third-party SSDs for creating SSD storage pools. While Synology allows certain functions with first-party drives, there remain limitations for third-party drives, specifically for M.2 NVMe storage pools. The speaker suggests that this limitation might be due to Synology’s drive verification processes but finds it inconvenient for users seeking better storage speeds and capabilities from third-party SSDs.

Additionally, the speaker addresses their dissatisfaction with how Synology lists hard drive compatibility on their website. Currently, Synology’s drives are listed by default, and third-party drives are accessed via a dropdown menu. The speaker prefers the previous method where all compatible drives were listed, allowing users to filter them as needed.

00:18:00

In this part of the video, the speaker discusses the compatibility of various hard drives with a specific NAS system. They mention that currently listed are seven WD, eight Seagate, and 36 Toshiba drives, but expect more drives to be added after verification. There is concern about the system’s capacity listing being limited to 14 TB, which seems odd, given that higher capacity drives exist and the system can handle them despite its 60-watt PSU. They criticize the limited compatibility list at launch and lament the removal of third-party drive options on some of the newer access level systems, identifying a shift towards supporting only Synology drives. They appreciate Synology’s consistent approach but regret the reduced compatibility options for users.

00:21:00

In this part of the video, the speaker discusses the use of third-party drives with Synology NAS systems. They highlight Synology’s release of their own regular class NAS hard drive for those not seeking full enterprise solutions, indicating a clear division in their product portfolio. There is a focus on Synology’s efforts to streamline higher-end systems with their own drive media, though concerns remain about compatibility listings for third-party drives, especially those greater than 14 to 16 TB. Users can still submit third-party drives for compatibility verification, but ongoing support and verification testing are noted to be shifting priorities. The speaker invites viewers to share their experiences and thoughts on using third-party drives and provides links to additional resources and forums for further advice and discussion.

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