Synology is making ready to roll out new restrictions on third-party exhausting drives in its future community connected storage (NAS) gadgets later this yr, the corporate confirmed to Ars Technica. The modifications might make it a lot tougher to make use of third-party drives in Synology’s gadgets for typical use instances, like backing up family computer systems or as native media servers. The excellent news is that in case you already personal a Synology NAS, the corporate says the change received’t have an effect on you.
Synology says in an EU press launch that “beginning with Plus Collection fashions launched in 2025,” solely Synology-branded drives and people the corporate has licensed to satisfy its specs will “provide the complete vary of options and help.” In response to Ars, Synology plans to replace its compatibility lists to mirror which third-party drives that it has licensed.
The brand new restrictions imply that with out Synology-approved drives, you won’t be capable of do issues like pool storage between disks or make the most of drive lifespan evaluation provided by the corporate’s software program. The change doesn’t apply to Synology J- and- Worth-series gadgets, and received’t have an effect on consumer-grade Synology Plus gadgets that have been launched in 2024 and earlier. Nor will it have an effect on exhausting drives which are migrated to this yr’s gadgets from its current NAS techniques, in keeping with Synology’s press launch.
As for why it’s making this modification, a Synology spokesperson informed Ars, “Intensive inside testing has proven that drives that comply with a rigorous validation course of when paired with Synology techniques are at much less danger of drive failure and ongoing compatibility points.” The corporate says comparable issues in its press launch, writing that the restrictions will “scale back compatibility points and enhance system reliability and efficiency.” Synology didn’t instantly reply to The Verge’s request for remark.
Restrictions like this are irritating. To Synology’s credit score, it’s introducing them in a method that’s much less egregious than one thing like a printer firm blocking third-party ink with a software program replace. However that doesn’t repair the truth that house owners of its future NAS gadgets may have fewer decisions — and subsequently fewer possibilities to economize — with regards to shopping for the drives to stay into them.