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Synology recently released their latest operating system package which is a multitasking suite allowing the user to switch between applications and tasks, even if they are working in the background. This is all handled via a browser interface. We have looked at this before, but we felt it was worth a revisit for the DS210+ platform.
It is important to ensure that you get the newest software package from the Synology download center over here.
The first procedure is to install the Synology Assistant software package which is available on the supplied CD, or on the Synology website in the downloads section.
The firmware is then installed by locating the file on your desktop. This takes about 5 minutes in total.
Once the software is loaded you are greeted by a welcoming screen. If the hard drives are installed then you need to format them to set up shared folders.
The Synology software is intuitive and fast to respond. In a step by step procedure it instructs you how to set up your hard drive(s) and which Raid configuration you wish to use. For performance testing we selected Raid 0.
Thanks to the multitasking operating system you are able to navigate through the various panels and settings, while the drives are being configured. Synology include a wide variety of settings to cater for almost all demands.
As with all Synology products, there is also full support for Jumbo frames, up to 9k, which can dramatically enhance the transfer speed of larger files, if the rest of your network is compatible.
There is full support for iTunes and a Media server configuration. You can also add up to 16 IP cameras and use it as a surveillance station with full motion detection and automatic recording. The software supports Macintosh, Windows and Linux as well as local and AD authentication and user storage quotes. Replicator 3 handles scheduled backup and once a full copy has completed it secures new files and modifications to those files, on the fly.
A firewall allows you to specify rules to traffic on either network port and to selected IP addresses. You can define services with port numbers, allow or deny traffic and apply the specific rule to a port.
As well as being a multitasking operating system, DSM V3 is a very responsive package which never seems to slow down, even when you are performing several commands at the same time. This is right now probably the finest NAS operating system on the market.
