More caution is needed when selecting a 10GbE adapter, however, as Synology is rapidly shrinking its third-party hardware compatibility list and focusing more on its own solutions. When we installed the same Emulex dual-port 10GbE adapter we’d used to test the DS1618+, the DS1621+ hung during the boot phase and would only accept a dual-port Intel X520 10GbE adapter. Synology DiskStation DS1621+ review: 10GbE performance You’ll need to upgrade the memory but the Virtual Machine Manager increases the appliance’s versatility as it can host VMs running just about any OS you choose plus extra instances of DSM. And then there’s Synology’s class-leading Surveillance Station which supports over 7,600 IP camera models and offers a remarkable range of video recording and management services. Synology DiskStation DS1621+ review: Verdict The more is always, the better in terms of capacity, but generally, you won't need drives larger than 250GB for caching. Creating M.2 storage pools requires the use of Synology-verified SSDs, which are rigorously tested under extreme temperature conditions. Thermal parameters for SSDs and NAS units are fine-tuned to ensure optimal management of thermal conditions under I/O-intensive environments. ( Learn more) Applications include thermostatic controls, industrial systems, consumer products, thermometers, or any thermal sensitive system

User-defined temperature settings are stored in nonvolatile memory so parts may be programmed prior to insertion in a system. Temperature settings and temperature readings are all communicated to/from the DS1621 over a simple two–wire serial interface. Synology SNV3400 series M.2 NVMe SSD drives can be installed through the built-in M.2 slots to enable SSD caching or create SSD storage pools. Drives are sold separately. After that, you can install them via the slot on the server's underside. The process is easy and painless. All you need is a small Philip-head screwdriver. Synology DS1821+: SSD caching upgrade As I mentioned in the review of the DS1621+, in most cases, SSD caching upgrade is unnecessary and won't increase the server's general copy speeds. Measures temperatures from –55°C to +125°C in 0.5°C increments. Fahrenheit equivalent is –67°F to 257°F in 0.9°F increments

A compact SMB NAS with great performance and a lot of flexibility

Performance figures are obtained through SMB sequential throughput tests using Windows Server 2016 Datacenter on a In our testing we saw performance for random access improve up to 2.1x using SSD caching, but for most uses it was a lot lower. The biggest real world difference was when running multiple virtual machines, which were a lot more responsive with SSD caching. We also tested with 16GB of RAM, which helped a lot for memory heavy applications. The Dallas Semiconductor brand is no longer in use, but its products and technology continue to be a part of Maxim's portfolio.

With that, let's proceed with the upgrade. For this post, I did the upgrades on a DS1821+, but the processes and parts are the same on a DS1621+. Synology DS1821+: RAM upgrade The DS1621+ has a PCIe slot, which supports a range of 10GbE networking cards. (Image credit: Future) You will need two drives if you want to cache for both writing and reading -- so it's a good idea to get two. By the way, you should only cache a hard drive volume. If you use SATA SSDs for storage, caching is unnecessary. On top of that, if you decide to cache, it's also a better idea to upgrade the server's network to 10Gbps -- more below -- or at least use its Link Aggregation feature to get a 2Gbps connection out of its two Gigabit ports. Is it its inclusion of dual M.2 NVMe SSD slots? No. The PCIe slot for expansion cards? Nope again! Actually wait... yes, those last two aredefinitely exciting, but they're not exactly new, and the DS1621+ truly stands out thanks to something that is: its AMD Ryzen CPU, which is a first for a Synology NAS, and a welcome change in a space that's dominated by Intel processors.Usable capacity for each volume will be lower than the maximum volume size and is dependent on the filesystem and the amount of system metadata stored. In a way, this post is about Synology hardware upgrades, specifically in RAM, storage, and 10Gbps network speed. In other words, if you're looking for the best 10Gbps NAS for the home (or small office), you're at the right place. However, the appropriate caching size depends on the server's storage volume that you want to cache. The Storage Manager app's SSD Cache Adviser function will give you a good idea of the cache size.

The DS1621+ comes populated with 4GB of ECC DDR4 in one slot of two slots, and can support up to 32GB. Despite the higher price, it’s great to see the ECC RAM used for improved protection against data corruption.The DS1621 Digital Thermometer and Thermostat provides 9–bit temperature readings which indicate the temperature of the device. The thermal alarm output, TOUT, is active when the temperature of the device exceeds a user–defined temperature TH. The output remains active until the temperature drops below user defined temperature TL, allowing for any hysteresis necessary. If you're using the DS1621+ and want to upgrade to the DS1821+ to take advantage of the two extra drive bays, the process is the same as when you migrate from one Synology server to another.

The 5-bay DX517 expansion unit uses an eSATA connection, which caps at 5Gbps, to connect to the server. Hardware specifications: Synology DS1821+ vs DS1621+ Synology DS1821+ vs DS1621+: Hardware upgrades are (almost) a must Synology’s productivity apps include the Office suite which is offered as a free alternative to Microsoft 365. It works with the Drive app to provide a central location for users to create documents, spreadsheets and presentations, collaborate on them together with others and keep them secure. What's more, each server has two built-in M.2 slots to host two NVMe SSDs -- a good upgrade option if you use the server for applications that can benefit from caching. There's no way to use these slots for general storage.And finally, the servers have a PCIe slot for an add-on card. In this case, you can use it to add 10Gbps connectivity to the servers -- another must if you're into Multi-Gig. You also get three USB 3.0 ports (one on the front) plus dual eSATAs. The latter is used for adding external drive bay expansions, and an extra 16 bays and 108TB total is possible. The NAS CPU itself has no fan on the heatsink, but the DS1621+ has dual rear 92mm fans that provide decent airflow, and keep your drive array from getting too hot. PCIe add-in cards, expansion units, and storage drives are sold separately. Refer to the compatibility list for compatible devices.