Synology Disk Station DS107+ NAS Server

Introduction:

Once again, I find myself receiving a product from a company I have never heard of before. Synology, in their own words is about “Providing a secure way of storing and sharing digital content, Synology products are stylish in appearance, compact in size and energy efficient.” It pretty much sums everything up I think. Networked or External USB/eSata enclosures is the recipe of the day for Synology, and lately, myself as well. Over the last year, I have either reviewed, or purchased almost a dozen different devices that all do nearly the same task. Most of them use Gigabit Ethernet or USB 2.0. And aside from drive capacity and RAID levels, nothing seems to get interesting until you get up to the high priced - high end models.

Retail box

Ultra!

And simple too

When I read the specs of the DS107+, I really started to regret never hearing about them before now. Seemingly, all the features that you normally don't see until the $600+ price range, just in a sleek single drive case. Plus some new features I've never seen before, in any price range.

Features:

Specs:

• Hardware

• CPU Clock Rate: 500 MHz

• RAM Size: 64MB or 128MB

• Internal HDD: 3.5” SATA(II) X1

• External HDD Interface: USB 2.0 port X3, eSATA port X1

• Size: 160mm X 218mm X 63mm

• Weight: 0.81kg

• LAN: Gigabit X1

• Fan: X1(50mmX50mm)

• Power Recovery

• AC Input Power Voltage: 100V to 240V

• Power Frequency: 50Hz to 60Hz, Single Phase

• Max Capacity (Internal HDD): 1 TB (See Supported HDD)

• Operating Temperature: 50 to 95°F (10 to 35°C)

• Storage Temperature: -40 to 185°F (-10 to 70°C)

• Relative Humidity: 5% to 95%RH

• Maximum Operating Altitude: 10,000 feet

While features like the iTunes server, backup, FTP and print server are very common, the Download Server and Web Server really peak my attention.

Retail box

Ultra!

And simple too

How many NAS units do you know of that can act as a stand alone PHP web server, with MySQL databases? Plus you get the brilliant system of allowing the DS107+ to download files on its own. Directly from a website, FTP server, or even more importantly, over BitTorrent!

Install:

Back panel

locked

open

There isn’t much in the way of install, as you can see by the quick start instruction flap on the inside of the box. Out of the box, there are no screws installed, so all you do, is slide the cover over and pull it off. Screw a hard drive in the mount, plug in the wires, and slide the cover back on. 2 screws in the back secure the cover.

unlatched

Hard drive cage

Rear ports

Plugging the DS107+ into my router, I installed the software from Synology, it found the NAS on my network, and initialized it. Formatting took very little time, and everything was up and running in about 20 minutes from opening the box.

Front ports

500GB Seagate

Cables

Setting up the services and permissions I wanted took a little longer, but the menu system is laid out very well.

Ready to install

Connected

Height

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