Synology Inc. is a Taiwanese manufacturer of network attached storage (NAS) devices that was founded in April 2000. Their products are developed with the customers' need of security, performance, energy savings, and a broad range of functionality in mind.
Synology contacted us and offered one of their newest products for review; the Synology Disk Station DS409slim. When I was first researching the item it was so new that there were no other reviews online, and even the Synology website didn't have the DS409slim listed yet. A few weeks later and much more information is available on the four (2.5" SATA) drive network attached storage device shown in the promotional image below.
Before diving in into the review, let's see some of what Synology has to say about the Disk Station DS409slim. For a complete list of features and specifications please visit the
official product page.
Features:
Synology Disk Station DS409slim is designed to provide users with a budget-friendly solution for easy file sharing and backup. The snap-in 2.5” hard drive design brings low power consumption, quiet operation, reliability and easy disk replacement in a compact design. Its sophisticated software, Synology Disk Station Manager 2.1, delivers ease of use and variety of features.
» Green, Quiet, and Reliable:
The DS409slim is designed to work with 2.5” hard drives. The low power consumption characteristic of 2.5” hard drives will lower your electricity bill, as well as reduce your carbon footprint. The smart fan design keeps the DS409slim’s fan off under normal operations and spinning up at a very low speed only when needed, thus minimizing the noise level. In addition, 2.5” hard drives have reduced vibration, increased MTBF (mean time before failure), and shock tolerance. It not only extends hard drive’s lifespan, but also provides better reliability.
» Multimedia & Entertainment:
Synology Download Station 2 functions as a 24x7 BitTorrent, FTP, HTTP, eMule, and NZB download center. The newly-integrated eMule download engine allows search-n-download capability with a web-browser without installing additional desktop applications. Synology Audio Station supports music, Internet radio stations, and iPod playback with connected USB speakers. An optional direction-free Synology Remote allows you to freely enjoy your music. Web-streaming mode allows your music to be shared with multiple users over the Internet. UPnP support allows users to stream multimedia files with an UPnP Digital Media Adapter (DMA) on a stereo system or a TV-set. Sony PS3 and Microsoft Xbox360 are also supported. iTunes Server is an easy way to share music to other iTunes clients over the network. Password protection prevents unauthorized sharing.
» Easy Storage & Backup:
USBCopy provides a plug-n-save solution to store data. With just one touch on the Copy button, it quickly backs up the data on an USB storage device to the pre-defined location on the DS409slim.
Synology Data Replicator 3 allows Windows users to back up desktop data to the DS409slim. Users can select immediate, sync, or scheduled backup according to their needs. The Network Recycle Bin ensures all deleted files are recoverable from the recycle bin.
» Internet Sharing:
Synology Photo Station 3 simplifies photo, video, and blog sharing over the Internet. Customized themes and various selections are available for personalization. The Cooliris support delivers a dazzling 3D photo browsing effect.
» Eco Friendly:
Synology Disk Station is designed and developed perpetually with the concept of energy saving. Compared with average PC counterparts, Synology Disk Station consumes a relatively low amount of power and hibernates when not in use. This not only helps to save energy but also extends the lifespan of the hard disk. Synology Disk Station truly earns the title of “green product” because of the unique Scheduled Power On/Off feature. Finally, all Synology products are produced with RoHS compliant parts and packed with recyclable packing materials. Synology recognizes its responsibility as a global citizen and is continually working to reduce the environmental impact of the products we create.
