Synology is getting ready to roll out new restrictions on third-party onerous drives in its future community connected storage (NAS) units later this yr, the corporate confirmed to Ars Technica. The adjustments might make it a lot tougher to make use of third-party drives in Synology’s units for typical use circumstances, like backing up family computer systems or as native media servers. The excellent news is that in the event 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 line with Ars, Synology plans to replace its compatibility lists to replicate which third-party drives that it has licensed.
The brand new restrictions imply that with out Synology-approved drives, you may not be capable to do issues like pool storage between disks or reap the benefits of drive lifespan evaluation provided by the corporate’s software program. The change doesn’t apply to Synology J- and- Worth-series units, and received’t have an effect on consumer-grade Synology Plus units that have been launched in 2024 and earlier. Nor will it have an effect on onerous drives which might be migrated to this yr’s units from its present NAS techniques, in line with Synology’s press launch.
As for why it’s making this variation, a Synology spokesperson informed Ars, “In depth inner testing has proven that drives that observe a rigorous validation course of when paired with Synology techniques are at much less threat of drive failure and ongoing compatibility points.” The corporate says related 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 means 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 units may have fewer decisions — and due to this fact fewer probabilities to economize — in terms of shopping for the drives to stay into them.