Synology DiskStation Manager (DSM) 7.0 review: The king of NAS OS keeps its crown
Source: Windows Central
Synology DiskStation seven.0 is finally here after two years of development. The OS powers millions of Synology network-attached storage (NAS) enclosures worldwide. The company claims DSM 7.0 to exist the largest update released for the Os, sporting a brand-new user interface, overhaul of numerous groundwork systems, every bit well every bit thousands of improvements.
We've been playing around with the beta version of DSM 7.0 and this review was created using build 7.0-41882, which is the most contempo release candidate before the June 29 public launch. Synology may have made changes to the release between the version we reviewed and the ane that will be released to live NAS enclosures.
Fix to find out what'south adjacent for the best Synology NAS? Here's what I constitute after spending many weeks with DSM 7.0.
Synology DSM 7.0
Bottom line: Version 7.0 of Synology's popular DiskStation Manager (DSM) OS makes some bully improvements to the user experience, as well as paves way for additional cloud support for some new and more advanced functionality.
The Skilful
- Smashing new design
- Enhanced security
- New Photos app
- Cloud-backed external services
- More responsive UI
The Bad
- Back up dropped for some features
- Update could break stuff
- No dark mode
Synology DSM 7.0: Refreshed UI blueprint
Source: Windows Central
The most obvious improvement with DSM 7.0 is the UI. Synology has given the interface throughout the Bone a refresh, making information technology feel more modern and in keeping with the current decade. Every bit before long every bit you lot hit the login screen, it'southward clear DSM offers a more than refined feel. Even with the same hardware, information technology'due south like shooting fish in a barrel to notice a considerable uptick in UI responsiveness.
Going back to DSM 6 and it immediately looks outdated. It's non a huge deviation, simply Synology managed to refine the UI with sharper images, curved windows, and fluid elements to make content pop a piddling more than. Because the company didn't endeavor to reinvent the wheel when it comes to NAS OS interfaces, moving from DSM 6 feels like a baby step.
DSM 6 (left) | DSM 7 (correct)
Synology DSM 7.0 simultaneously feels familiar and looks completely unlike.
Everything is where y'all left it in DSM 6, aside from a few deprecated features and Synology Photos and Moments, which are both now merged into a single application package. There are a few new additions to the Control Panel, including the power to manage what Synology calls the login portal — information technology's substantially the login page.
Compared to DSM half-dozen, which only really allowed you lot to write some text, this new login portal allows you to pigment the background with a single color or uploaded image. A logo can also be ready if office of an organization. Information technology's fifty-fifty possible to render HTML in the footer message, creating the possibility to work in some code.
If you are new to DSM (and to NAS in general), Synology ensures yous know your style effectually the basics of the OS upon commencement logging into DSM 7.0. A pop-upward will run y'all through all the absurd new features and improvements, and you'll have the opportunity to actuate some new services, which can exist done at a later date if you'd rather poke around at your own pace.
One event I practice take with the new UI is the lack of a dark mode. ASUSTOR managed to work one into its ADM 4.0 update, which is what will be going up against this release from Synology. Hopefully, 1 will make it sooner than later. If yous're a big fan of using USB devices similar wireless dongles, you're going to be out of luck with DSM seven.0, unfortunately.
Synology DSM 7.0: New features
Source: Windows Key
Synology didn't simply stop with the UI when applying some visual improvements. Official apps similar the Storage Director and Photos take been revamped with enough of new features. We're going to await at other changes, like the improved account security measures that support Windows Hello and other biometric authentication methods.
Storage Manager
Synology gave Storage Director some love with the DSM 7.0 update. Non just does it look modern thanks to the overall UI refresh, only at that place are some great changes to how data is presented. The dashboard is easier to decipher exactly what's going on with the installed drives. The volume usage is clearly displayed up acme, with drive data really represented by a render of the NAS.
This makes it like shooting fish in a barrel to pinpoint which drive in the array is having problems. The sidebar has been completely revamped too. Gone are the countless subsections, replaced past a hierarchical view that makes switching between volumes and pools seamless. A cool feature of Storage Manager, which makes it killer for NAS management, is the ability to supersede a faulty drive with a salubrious 1 without needing to rebuild the pool.
DSM 6 (left) | DSM 7 (right)
At that place's even a way to automate his procedure that works with hot spare drives — perfect if you need to replace drives with minimal to no downtime. With Supplant Drive, Machine Replacement, Fast Repair, and Machine Repair, Synology has numerous tools at the disposal to handle potential bulldoze issues without causing serious downtime.
And because nosotros're storing more data than ever before, XS/XS+, SA, and FS series Synology NAS will have support for peta volumes.
Secure SignIn
Secure SignIn is Synology's way of getting NAS owners to rely less on passwords (and respective managers) past offering more ways to authenticate login attempts. Nosotros've had two-cistron authentication in DSM half-dozen, but the visitor took this a step further by improving the process to support multi-factor authentication, as well every bit a defended smartphone app.
Synology fabricated its NAS OS fifty-fifty more secure with DSM 7.0 and Windows Hello.
The Secure SignIn app uses authentication technologies commonly found in smartphones (recall how Google asks you to confirm an business relationship login attempt on smartphones), whereas FIDO2 relies on hardware security keys. The latter can be considered even more secure by using USB keys and biometric hallmark (Windows Hello, Touch ID).
It'south possible to employ FIDO2 or Secure SignIn without a password, allowing yous to get into DSM quicker, without sacrificing on business relationship security. Setting upward this functionality is incredibly straightforward, and the Bone runs you lot through configuring FIDO2, Secure SignIn, and 2FA codes.
Synology Photos
Photos continue to play an important role in our lives and the digital age transformed how we capture, manage, and showcase them. Synology used DSM 7.0 to combine Photo Station and Moments into a single solution. The new Synology Photos app on DSM 7.0 is stunning. If you accept plenty of photos, you'll enjoy backing them up to the NAS to see them on the large screen.
Because Synology combined Photograph Station and Moments, the new app supports intuitive media browsing, smarter media management, collaboration through sharing with others, and improved performance with everything being within a single package. Facial recognition was transferred to the Photos app, which volition employ machine learning wizardry to endeavour to categorize photos depending on who's in them.
Synology has a few smartphone apps available and a companion app is at present bachelor for Synology Photos. Whether you're using iOS or Android, it's possible to automatically dorsum up all your photos, only as you would to Google Drive, OneDrive, or iCloud. Information technology hasn't been easier to fix your own NAS to be the center of the household.
Synology DSM seven.0: Hybrid cloud back up
Source: Windows Primal
Synology is expanding its C2 deject platform with Hybrid Cloud. Businesses and domicile users don't want a cloud-based platform (hence why they take a NAS), simply external services can provide additional functionality that further enhances the experience. 2 hybrid cloud solutions launched with DSM 7.0: Active Insight and Hybrid Share. These features are clearly targeting power users and big businesses.
Active Insight
Active Insight is only a taste of what'southward to come from Synology for NAS deject support.
Active Insight is a must-accept tool for those who volition be managing multiple NAS enclosures across a single deployment. When connected to the same Synology account, information technology's possible to link all the NAS servers upwardly and monitor them through a single Agile Insight dashboard — much like y'all can with EnGenius network hardware.
So long as each NAS has 512MB of RAM (see our best NAS for domicile guide) and runs DSM vii.0, information technology'll testify up in Active Insight. You can think of Agile Insight as a more in-depth Resource Monitor. At that place'southward even a mobile app that can exist downloaded and connected. Equally well equally viewing metrics and resources usage across the range of NAS, events can be viewed, customized triggers set, and notifications sent to IT pros to diagnose.
Honestly, even for a modest dwelling-based setup, being able to view all your NAS on a unmarried view is a neat improver.
Synology Hybrid Share
Source: Windows Central
Hybrid Share is all about leveraging the capabilities of concrete on-site storage and the deject. It's possible to shop data on a difficult drive on your PC or a deject platform like OneDrive, just there's too a middle ground, which is where Synology is budgeted it with Hybrid Share — hence the proper name.
This is incredibly important for deployments that rely on local storage and connections betwixt sites, like big organizations. Those with accounts can connect through the net or local network and make changes that tin can exist practical across Synology C2. Non only does this protect against abuse and accidental deletion, but can also help improve access speeds.
Synology DSM vii.0: How to install the update
Source: Rich Edmonds / Windows Central
Installing DSM 7.0 couldn't exist easier. Your Synology NAS should provide a notification that a new major update is available. We recommend you create a backup of non only the NAS OS, but all the data stored on the hard drives. To install 7.0, simply run through the update installation process and log back into the NAS once it reboots.
Y'all'll be greeted by the new login page, also as a few helpful wizards to bear witness yous around the new update. If yous do not yet come across the update hitting your NAS, you can choose to wait or install it manually by downloading DSM 7.0 from the Synology website:
- Visit Synology Download Heart.
-
Select your NAS model using the drop-downwardly menus.
Source: Windows Primal - Modify the Os Version to "7.0."
- Select the DSM version you're updating from, as well as 7.0 in the menus under the 7.0.
- Click on Download.
- Log into your NAS.
- Go to Control Panel > Update & Restore > Transmission DSM Update.
- Click Browse and select the downloaded DSM vii.0 update file.
- Click OK to update DSM.
Synology DSM 7.0: Competition
Source: Windows Primal
The competition is heating upwardly for Synology. DSM has e'er been regarded by many (including ourselves) to exist the very all-time OS for NAS enclosures. If y'all're looking for an like shooting fish in a barrel-to-use server to get up and running in no fourth dimension at all, wait no further than a Synology enclosure. That's starting to alter with ASUSTOR, QNAP, and other vendors upping their OS game.
DSM 7.0 is incredibly important. Non merely for Synology to flex its cloud muscles and showcase how a hybrid approach can work for those who require physical storage but can employ internet-based features. Information technology's also a required footstep to go along the company ahead of its competitors in terms of software. The company played it prophylactic simply did a fine task refreshing the UI to brand information technology feel more responsive.
The closest competitor is likely going to be ASUSTOR with ADM 4.0. Some highlight features include a night mode theme (which DSM seven.0 lacks), customizable designs to the login page, new search features, and a Web Center for creating an online content server. It's going to be interesting to meet how the two software suites stack upward once they both go alive.
For at present, Synology remains the top dog in the NAS game with DSM 7.0.
Synology DSM 7.0: Should yous update?
Source: Rich Edmonds / Windows Central
You should update if ...
Y'all want the latest OS version
The latest release of DSM is a great update for Synology NAS owners. Information technology'due south more responsive, more than modern-looking, and has plenty of improvements backside the scenes that make 7.0 the OS to run on your Synology enclosure.
You want the latest cloud-backed features
As well as plenty of NAS-based improvements, Synology is working the power of the cloud to enhance the NAS experience. It's not as intrusive as other applications may lead you lot to believe, and there are some excellent features showcased with DSM 7.0.
You want a more responsive UI
The login page is customizable (across a uncomplicated bulletin) and the entire OS feels more responsive. Information technology's not a major refresh or a completely new UI, but everything feels faster. Fifty-fifty on a bottom powerful NAS, you should notice a considerable improvement.
Y'all should non update if ...
Yous have a heavily customized installation
If yous've customized the DSM OS beyond what'due south available out-the-box within the control console, you tin await to run into DSM vii.0 break a few things. If you rely on features that are at present deprecated, updating to vii.0 probably isn't wise until an alternate solution is found.
You have an onetime NAS
Synology has a list of supported NAS for DSM 7.0. If your NAS is considerably quondam, it's probably best to stick with the Os version you're on now. Agree out until the time's correct for yous to replace the enclosure with a newer model.
You utilize sure USB hardware
With 7.0, Synology reaffirmed the discontinuation of support for USB hardware like wireless dongles. If yous make utilise of such hardware, you lot're going to need to stick to a version of DSM that includes support.
A NAS OS update is a lot like Windows, Linux, and other PC operating systems. Running the latest version is always recommended for security and the latest features. Synology did an excellent chore with DSM seven.0, making it experience more than responsive on the same enclosure hardware. The addition of deject-based features is also a welcome to further enhance the NAS capabilities.
I've used DSM 7.0 on the DS220+, DS420+, and DS1621+. All 3 NAS enclosures were bully to use with the latest changes to DSM. No issues were encountered while installing the update on various enclosures, also equally all the additional apps and services.
While there are some features and functionality that accept been deprecated for DSM 7.0, there are so many improvements that brand this a less painful update. And then long equally you're non using a Synology NAS enclosure from years ago, DSM vii.0 is a solid release that should be installed right abroad. Best of all, it's a complimentary update.
Synology DSM 7.0
Bottom line: Synology's Os is the best in the business, and it but inched a niggling further ahead of the competition with version seven.0. In that location's enough to love with this update on Synology NAS enclosures.
Synology DS220+
Synology got mostly everything correct with the DiskStation DS220+. Information technology has a really good processor, upgraded DDR4 RAM, two drive bays, and dual 1Gb LAN ports, but it's just a shame about the lack of 2.5Gb LAN or M.two slots.
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