inkvisible 🍁

It's shameful how #Synology decided to take HP's path (and among other printers companies).

Somehow, their "proprietary hard drives" are "more trustworthy", or that is more "secure" or whatever...

In the excellent article, @kevinpurdy also wrote that "Synology does not manufacture its own hard drives but instead certifies and rebrands drives from Toshiba and Seagate (...)"

https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025/04/synology-could-bring-certified-drive-requirements-to-more-nas-devices/

I think that would be an interesting topic for @pluralistic

Synology could bring “certified drive” requirements to more NAS devices

German press release suggests expansion of the company’s “integrated ecosystem.”…

Ars Technica
Apr 17, 2025 at 7:32pmWeb
Show threadJoakim ForsApr 17, 2025
@inkvisible @kevinpurdy @pluralistic I’m in the market for some racked lowish-end NAS equipment. List just got shorter. ”Good”.
Show threadMidniteMikeWritesApr 17, 2025

@joakimfors @inkvisible @kevinpurdy @pluralistic

Got a Supermicro CSE-826 with an decent backplane from a local shop selling enterprise equipment for $150. I’ve been trying my darnest to get as comfortable as I can with a variety of standards/hardware so I can avoid stuff like this. Still have a lot to learn though and it is a challenge.

Show threadJoakim ForsApr 17, 2025
@MidniteMikeWrites @inkvisible @kevinpurdy @pluralistic Yeah. I’ll probably get some supermicro stuff and put Rockstore or plain Debian on them
Show threadRetroVideoGamesApr 17, 2025

@inkvisible @kevinpurdy @pluralistic another formerly good corporation commits suicide by enshitfication.

RIP Synology. The model I have already has some limitations on non-branded SSDs and I was mad when I found out about that.

Show threadIanApr 17, 2025
@retrovg @inkvisible @kevinpurdy @pluralistic I'd like to know any details around that since I'm literally 2 hours away from picking up a 2-bay DS723+ and planning to populate it with drives I'm "shucking" from Seagate backup externals.
Show threadRetroVideoGamesApr 17, 2025
@soviut @inkvisible @kevinpurdy @pluralistic same case as my device, it has two NVMe ports which it can only use to create another set of volumes if they are Synology-branded. With other brands, they can only be used as a cache for the volumes on HDDs.
Show threadIanApr 17, 2025

@retrovg @inkvisible @kevinpurdy @pluralistic Synology By "synology branded" I'm guessing you mean "synology approved"?

I'm just worried these drives I'm pulling from the backup enclosers aren't going to work for some reason.

Show threadRetroVideoGamesApr 17, 2025

@soviut @inkvisible @kevinpurdy @pluralistic all HDDs will work so that's not a problem.

The NVMes (which are full optional) only allow storing data on their own branded sticks, or caching on any brand.

Show threadIanApr 17, 2025
@retrovg @inkvisible @kevinpurdy @pluralistic Okay, thanks for the clarification. I didn't even know Synology had their own NVMe storage.
Show threadderekApr 17, 2025
@retrovg @inkvisible @kevinpurdy @pluralistic I know this isn't a "promote the alternatives" thread, but I was in the market for a home NAS, tried a Synology, was disappointed in how locked-down it was out of the gate. I returned the Synology and picked up a Ugreen 4-bay NAS for cheaper. Similar, if not better hardware specs, it doesn't lock down the hardware at all, and in fact let me install my own OS unlike Synology. Now let's hope Ugreen sees the advantages of being as open as they are and doesn't start locking down their NAS products too.
Show threadVincent 🌻🇪🇺 en 🌹☘️Apr 17, 2025

@inkvisible @kevinpurdy @pluralistic What a load of 💩

If it was essential, there wouldn’t be exceptions for existing users (and even drive shifts to newer models) without service degradation

If it were really advantageous to have ‘certified drives’ it wouldn’t need to be enforced

Not on Synology, but I fear this type of enshittificstion is contageous.

Show threadSeth G.Apr 17, 2025
@inkvisible I've been looking at #uGreen #NAS options. Any known issues with them?
Show threadPhilip KiffApr 17, 2025

I found the article somewhat unclear on what changes the new policy will bring.

I have a Synology DS15552+. As a few others note in this thread, there were already limitations on my NAS based on whether I installed drives that were listed in the official "Compatibility List" of supported drives. Will there be some other type of "certification" now?

The list of drives is far too short, yes, but I don't understand exactly what the new policy changes?

@kevinpurdy
@inkvisible @pluralistic

Show threadRCSMApr 17, 2025
@inkvisible @kevinpurdy @pluralistic Truenas Scale, what's that?
Show threadBrandonApr 17, 2025
@inkvisible and someone figured out how to mod the OS to stop caring so I don't think anyone actually buys their drives 🫠 @kevinpurdy @pluralistic @lisamelton
Show threadRed HoodApr 18, 2025
@inkvisible @kevinpurdy @pluralistic
Shame on them.
Show threadMatt GoddenApr 18, 2025
@inkvisible @kevinpurdy @pluralistic I suspect #UGREEN will build their software up to Synology standard, before Synology will bring their policies back down to User-Friendly.
Show threadMake 🍁Apr 18, 2025
@inkvisible @kevinpurdy @pluralistic This is stupid since there are maybe 3 actual manufacturers of magnetic disks these days. Shame on you Synology.
Show threadRomanApr 18, 2025
@inkvisible @kevinpurdy @pluralistic Synology is so out of touch that they still refuse to measure disk free space in GB/TB, insisting on percentages. With multi-tb volume having 5% free space (~100GB) is permanent alarm that can’t be reconfigured.
As result of that most of customers in permanent alarm and desensitized to it so when real disaster strikes users are not aware of it.
Show threadThe Vargarnir systemApr 18, 2025
@inkvisible @kevinpurdy @pluralistic Why the fuck would I want a "certified drive" requirement?
I don't have a NAS array cos I know the drives are reliable, I have it because I know that they are not!
like... fuck off, i'll just build my own!
Show threadПротест и сопротивлениеApr 18, 2025

@inkvisible @kevinpurdy @pluralistic "Certified" HDDs, really?

Every tech scam is simultaneously more laughable and more harmful than the last one. "Secure" boot. TPM. QVL RAM...

The only thing that enables this behavior is the total computer illiteracy of the public. With all due respect to Cory Doctorow, I find it hard to believe that anyone would actually buy a vendor-locked toaster. But in consumer electronics, this kind of absolute bullshit walks every time, sadly.