Synology DiskStation DS3612xs review
Synology’s latest desktop NAS appliance is the biggest desktop appliance on the market, with a twelve-drive capacity and 10-Gigabit upgrades. Dave Mitchell finds out if it’s also the fastest and takes a look at the new DSM 4.0 beta, too.
Synology has also added cloud file sharing and backup services to the DS3612xs. The ezCloud service can use Synology's free DDNS service for secure remote access to shares, while its Cloud Station tool provides a simple, but effective, syncing service for up 32 file versions.
Cloud Station keeps multiple file versions on the appliance, which can be searched through for restoration via the DSM 4.0 interface.
The Cloud Station package need to be installed on the appliance and then registered. Synology's QuickConnect feature does away with the need to create router port forwarding rules though, and instead a code just needs to be entered in the Cloud Station interface.
Synology's QuickConnect feature does away with the need to create router port forwarding rules.
Once a local folder has been selected, Cloud Service will then sync it with a predefined folder on the appliance in the user's home directory whenever its contents change. The system worked very well during out tests, although we did find that Norton AntiVirus Sonar will try to block the sync service.
Not only is the DS3612xs currently the largest desktop appliance on the market, but it's also one of the fastest. Its enormous expansion potential makes it a good long-term investment and the number of features Synology is packing into its NAS appliances makes many competing products look positively archaic in comparison.
Verdict
This high capacity desktop appliance delivers top performance over Gigabit and 10-Gigabit networks, and offers a huge expansion potential via high-speed Infiniband ports. Synology’s list of storage features is probably the best currently available and the next version of its DSM will add useful cloud backup services.
Chassis: Desktop
CPU: 3.1GHz Core i3-2100
Memory: 2GB DDR3 ECC expandable to 6GB
Storage: 12 x 3.5in.or 2.5in SATA II hard disk hot-swap bays
RAID: Software managed
Array support: RAID0, 1, 5, 6, Hybrid, hot-spare and JBODs
Network: 4 x Gigabit
Other ports: 4 x USB2, 2 x Infiniband expansion
Expansion: 1 x PCI-e X8 Gen 2
Management: Web browser
Software: Synology Assistant, Data Replicator 3
Options: Diskless DX1211 12-bay expansion unit, £750 ex VAT
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