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DiskStation

DiskStation

Overview

What is DiskStation?

DiskStation is a line of network-attached storage (NAS) solutions from Synology headquartered in Taiwan.

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Recent Reviews

TrustRadius Insights

Synology DiskStation has become a go-to solution for many clients looking to replace their Apple-based servers and improve file sharing …
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DiskStation Review

9 out of 10
July 22, 2021
Incentivized
Synology DiskStation acts as our onsite file server as well as internal messaging chat system. We are able to seamlessly integrate it as a …
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Awards

Products that are considered exceptional by their customers based on a variety of criteria win TrustRadius awards. Learn more about the types of TrustRadius awards to make the best purchase decision. More about TrustRadius Awards

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Product Details

What is DiskStation?

Synology's storage solutions provide data availability and simplify IT challenges with software and data management tools.

DiskStation Features

  • Supported: Network Attached Storage
  • Supported: Acts as the user's own Private Cloud
  • Supported: Offers a variety of sizes to suit the user's needs

DiskStation Competitors

DiskStation Technical Details

Deployment TypesOn-premise
Operating SystemsLinux
Mobile ApplicationApple iOS, Android, Mobile Web

Frequently Asked Questions

DiskStation is a line of network-attached storage (NAS) solutions from Synology headquartered in Taiwan.

QNAP NAS, Veeam Data Platform, and TrueNAS are common alternatives for DiskStation.

Reviewers rate Support Rating highest, with a score of 9.7.

The most common users of DiskStation are from Small Businesses (1-50 employees).
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Comparisons

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Reviews and Ratings

(83)

Community Insights

TrustRadius Insights are summaries of user sentiment data from TrustRadius reviews and, when necessary, 3rd-party data sources. Have feedback on this content? Let us know!

Synology DiskStation has become a go-to solution for many clients looking to replace their Apple-based servers and improve file sharing capabilities. Users rely on this product for a range of use cases, from serving as a backup solution with built-in tools like Hyperbackup and Cloud Sync, to managing large amounts of information across departments and warehouses. It is also utilized as a versatile file server, photo management solution, VPN server, and Active Directory Server. Additionally, Synology DiskStation offers an inexpensive way to add storage to servers, provides backup space, and acts as a replacement for servers in other locations. This low-cost NAS solution requires low maintenance and excels at storing archived data. It is commonly used as network-attached storage for smaller offices and serves as a backup server, eliminating tapes and offering deduped backups with offsite data repositories. Companies rely on Synology DiskStation to save documents, collaborate on projects, and ensure centralized storage for work files. With its beautiful operating system, large storage capacity, and included backup solutions, this product earns praise from users who appreciate its seamless file sharing capabilities, easy access to files, and speed of file transfer.

Easy-to-use Interface: Many users have praised the simplicity and intuitiveness of the storage controls' user interface, finding it easy to navigate and manage their files efficiently.

Convenient Remote Access: Several reviewers have mentioned that the built-in DDNS/QuickConnect tool provided by the product makes it effortless to access their files and data remotely, adding a level of convenience and ease of use to their experience.

Competitive Pricing: A significant number of users have found the price of the unit itself to be very competitive compared to other options they considered. They consider it a cost-effective solution for their storage needs, making it an attractive choice.

Lack of Timely Updates: Several users have expressed frustration over the lack of timely updates for the next operating system, with some stating that they have been waiting for over 2 years. This indicates a significant delay in delivering new features and improvements to customers.

Inconsistent Customer Support: According to multiple reviewers, customer support from Synology is inconsistent and unreliable, varying depending on the nature of the problem. Some users have reported difficulties in getting prompt and effective assistance, which can be frustrating when encountering issues or needing technical help.

Cumbersome Reporting Process: Many users find the reporting process in Synology software to be cumbersome due to the excessive number of reports. This makes it difficult to manage them efficiently and slows down productivity.

Attribute Ratings

Reviews

(1-2 of 2)
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Score 8 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
We utilized Synology DiskStation as NAS to replace the Windows file server on our smaller sites. It has helped us reduce the need to set up a server for smaller offices. We were also able to utilize the built-in and free backup solution Hyperbackup to backup to the cloud (either AWS or Azure) and reduced the need to purchase a backup solution, tapes, and the need for an offsite tape repository for data air gaping. We have also used it as a SAN on or DEV/QA VMWare cluster as well as a medium office. It provided us with a cost-effective solution for medium-sized offices that did not require enterprise-level SAN solutions using iSCSI. Finally, we had used it as a backup server replacing our previous tape drive solution. Using the Synology Diskstation has allowed us to forgo having to purchase tapes and offsite storage facilities for them. We use Synology's Active Backup for Business to backup the data. As an added bonus, backups are deduped allowing more backup frequency. Furthermore using Hyperbackup to send the data to either AWS or Azure provides us an offsite data repository for our backups.
  • Synology's NAS feature provides cost-effective and flexible file server solutions. The ability to expand the array dynamically is a great feature. It helps reduce the footprint needed when setting up a small office.
  • The Hyperback utility is a flexible and powerful backup solution. It can backup the NAS shares as well as other components of the DiskStation. It provides the option to replicate the data to another Synology as well as to the cloud. It is compatible with AWS, Azure, GCP, etc.
  • Active Backup for Business is another great backup solution that is available on Synology. It can be used to back up a physical server, VMWare virtual machines, SMB shares, etc. It can do deduplication, reducing the required storage for backups and allowing for more iterations.
  • A more robust search feature in Filestation. It is sometimes difficult to search for files in the DiskStation.
  • Improvement on the clustered NAS setup. We've had headaches after setting up a NAS cluster. Once in a while, it goes haywire and we have to figure out if there is any data loss.
  • Better support process now that they are delving into more enterprise solutions. Having the ability to call support instead of e-mails would be great especially on critical issues.
  • Expand dual controller options for the DiskStation.
The Synology DiskStation is well suited as a NAS solution, easy enough to mirror a Windows file server shares setup. Access to the Hyperbackup utility eliminates the need to purchase a tape backup solution. A portable USB drive can be used as the initial backup target. For air gap purposes can connect Hyperbackup to the various cloud providers such as AWS, Azure, GCP to copy backup data there. Utilizing it as a backup solution has also been great, instead of purchasing a tape solution, tapes and an offsite tape repository. Active Backup for Business is another excellent backup utility for physical servers, VMWare virtual machines, etc. Restoring files is fairly intuitive. Until Synology introduced the dual controller setup, using it as a SAN was less appropriate as there was occasional downtime when the controller had an issue but this was less important for the scenarios we were using it for. It would be more of a concern if we had used it for things that require more robust uptime requirements. Overall we are happy with the features of the Synology DiskStation.
  • The ability of the DiskStation to function as a NAS and to be used a file server.
  • The ability to expand the DiskStation file system without downtime when additional space is required. We just added a drive and were able to expand the files system.
  • Hyperbackup is great to back up the shares on the NAS and the ability to connect it to the cloud to air gap the backups was a bonus.
  • Active Backup for Business allowed us to back up physical servers, VMWare, etc. It also comes with the DiskStation without the need to purchase it.
  • The SAN feature using iSCSI is a great feature when you just need a cost-effective solution.
  • The ROI is great on the NAS solutions compared to purchasing a server to be set up as a file server.
  • Active Backup for business backup utility gave us a great ROI compared to the traditional tape backup solution we used to have.
  • The ability to air gap our backups to the cloud provided great ROI instead of purchasing tapes and setting to rent or utilize offsite storage for our data.
  • The SAN solution also provided a great ROI compared to for example the HPE MSA SAN line.
We had used an HPE MSA for one of our offices, the ROI was not as good as the Synology DiskStation due to the price. It required more of a setup needing to have a Windows OS to manage it. While the DiskStation just needed a few clicks to set up. There was no additional software that came with it such as Hyperbackup. We needed to purchase a backup solution on top of the MSA purchase. There were just more features on the Synology that gave it a leg up in terms of ROI compared to the HPE solution.
600
They represent users using the Synology NAS as a file server. We have 6-8 small offices that do not hear an enterprise server to function as their file server, the Synology fits their small office needs without a major investment in equipment. IT people using Synology as a SAN for their VMWare environment. This includes 3-4 medium-sized offices that have about 5-10 virtual machines in their environment. As the backup solution to 2-3 of our medium offices that do not have VMWare, it gives them a great ROI compared to traditional tape-based backup solutions.
8
The infrastructure group provides setup and tier-three support for the Synology's be it the NAS, SAN, or backup solutions. Using the Synology as a NAS requires minimum support from the local office, only requiring connectivity to the device. We are able to configure the unit remotely completely. Synology has a DiskStation discovery tool to set up the array, configure the IP, etc. The skill required to support Synology DiskStation is network understanding. Experience with network file shares. A background in backup concepts and cloud concepts especially in setting up AWS buckets, Azure blob storage, etc.
  • Utilizing Synology DiskStation as a NAS appliance for users file server.
  • SAN functionally using iSCSi for smaller VMWare ESXi implementation.
  • Using Hyperback to backup NAS file shares and copy the data to the cloud provides to air gap the data.
  • Active Backup for Business to backup physical systems, VMWare virtual machines, etc.
  • Synology DiskStation enabled us to utilize Azure to copy data and sunset our physical tapes and offsite tape repository.
  • Active Backup for business gave us great ROI compared to traditional tape library solutions. Eliminating the need to purchase tapes and worry about tape rot.
  • Great ROI for smaller offices. No need to purchase expensive servers using Windows. Also eliminates the need to purchase a Windows server license for the operating system.
  • With the implementation of dual controller setups. We would probably start to utilize it for more critical applications in a SAN capacity, giving us better ROI compared to other SAN solutions.
  • We will be setting it up to provide our MAC users with their own file server. Previously we would either use a MAC server or an application providing MAC file structure emulation.
  • Utilize multiple Synology for data replication between offices.
It provides us with great ROI compared with other solutions. It is also a versatile product, having NAS and SAN product lines depending on the business requirement. Furthermore, the implementation of dual controller lines would allow us to consider it for more critical applications to supplement the more enterprise-level SAN solution. It also is a wonderful backup solution, having all the applications available after purchase of the appliance without the further need to purchase additional software or licensing.
Paul Tedder | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 9 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
We have two Synology DiskStations. One we use in our production environment as network file storage for all of our users as well as a general file share. The other we use as offsite backup. We take our Virtual Servers VHDs and back them up there. Using Rsync we also backup our on-prem Synology.
  • Software interface is not overwhelming and relatively easy to use.
  • Reliable. Never have any issues with it.
  • Pricing. Much less expensive than other options we looked at.
  • It's different than a Microsoft solution - things laid out differently.
  • Meets our needs so hard to identify examples of improvement.
It does not replace a SAN, but for light to general usage, it has worked great for us. The web interface works well. I like it so much that I bought a smaller version to use in my home.
  • ROI is high since the cost is much less than other products and dramatically cheaper than a SAN.
  • Very little support needed - I spend hardly any time doing support on the device.
We transitioned from a standard Windows File Server. This solution is much cheaper. Easy to use and extremely reliable. We will be replacing our two Synology boxes in 2020 with newer versions.
Haven't really used their support, but I don't think it is all that robust. There does seem a good community of users though.
50
Our entire operation uses it. Everyone has a shared folder on Synology.
1
Basic IT skills
  • File Server
  • VM offsite backup
  • General file storage
We are planning on buying two more this year.
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