Synology Release DiskStation Manager 2.3 Firmware Update

Synology make a number of different NAS products that you can use in your home or office network. Today they announced the release of the DiskStation Manager 2.3 firmware update which brings a number of new and enhanced features, including a surveillance app for the iPhone.

Here is the full press release:

Synology^® Announces the Official Release of DiskStation Manager 2.3 Firmware, introducing Synology Hybrid RAID, EZ-Internet Wizard, Shared Folder Encryption, Surveillance iPhone^® App and Enhanced Applications.

Taipei, Taiwan—March 8, 2010—Synology^® Inc. today officially released DiskStation Manager 2.3 (Synology DSM 2.3) firmware that has attracted participation of over 8,200 enthusiastic users in the beta program since January 2010. Synology DSM 2.3 introduces simple volume management with the new Synology Hybrid RAID (SHR), EZ-Internet Wizard, shared folder encryption, surveillance iPhone^® App, backup to the cloud with Amazon S3^®, and enhanced versions of File Station, Surveillance Station, Photo Station, and Audio Station.

“We continue to provide customers with easy to use features and applications,” said Edward Lin, marketing director of Synology Inc. The SHR simplifies RAID setup by optimizing the disk capacities with data redundancy when different sized hard drives are used. The EZ-Internet Wizard guides users through the steps to establish access to the DiskStation from the Internet, including firewall settings, PPPoE setup or DDNS registration, including router port forwarding configuration. “Thank you for an amazing product that keeps getting better for each release,” commented Ole Anders Bøe from Norway, a participant of the DSM 2.3 beta rewards program.

Flexible security is added with AES 256-bit shared folder encryption to ensure data security and sub-folder backup is also supported in addition to “shared folders”. Amazon S3^® is supported as a backup target. Additional new features include a new iPhone app, the Synology DS cam, which allows users of Surveillance Station to live view their IP cameras, take snapshots, and view recorded events with their iPhone or iPod touch^®. DS cam is available for download free of charge at the Apple^® App Store.

The Synology DiskStation experience just got better with new enhancements to File Station 3, Surveillance Station 4, Photo Station 4, and Audio Station 2.

In addition to the Synology DSM 2.3 release, the Synology Assistant and Synology Data Replicator 3 are also updated with new features:

New Synology Assistance

Photo Uploader utility is available in the new Synology Assistant to allow uploading photos and videos to the DiskStation with photo thumbnails and H.264 films pre-generated within the client computer.

Wake on LAN utility allows remotely turn on of selected DiskStation models over the local area network by entering the device MAC address.

New Data Replicator 3

Data Replication 3 enhances the compatibility of Windows^® 7. In addition, backing up emails in Windows^® Live Mail is supported.

Availability

The new Synology DSM 2.3 firmware, Synology Assistant and Data Replicator 3 apply for the following models:

DS1010+, DS710+, DS410j, DS210j, DS110j, RS409+, RS409RP+, RS409, DS509+, DS409+, DS409, DS209+II, DS209+, DS209, DS209j, DS109+, DS109, DS109j, DS409slim, RS408, RS408-RP, DS508, DS408, DS108j, RS407, CS407, CS407e, DS207+, DS207, DS107+, DS107, and DS107e

They come with all newly shipped DiskStations and the free download is also available at

http://www.synology.com/support/download.php?lang=enu

The live demo site of the Synology DSM 2.3 is available at

http://www.synology.com/enu/products/demo/index.php

Synology at a Glance

Founded in 2000, Synology is a young and energetic company dedicated to developing high-performance, reliable, versatile, and environmentally-friendly Network Attached Storage (NAS) products. Our goal is to deliver user-friendly solutions and solid customer service to satisfy the needs of businesses, home offices, individual users and families.

I have a DS409 Slim that I have been using and will post a review of soon, along with a review of the new firmware update.