Synology Inc.

Company history

Synology Inc. was founded in January 2000, when Cheen Liao and Philip Wong left Microsoft to pursue an independent project. Liao was a Development Manager in the Microsoft Exchange Server Group, while Wong was a Sales Director for Microsoft in Taiwan. Both began to write a new operating system called Filer OS based on BSD, which was to be used with Fastora NAS hardware to create a NAS solution. To integrate their NAS software tightly with hardware, Synology released its first complete solution in 2004, the DiskStation DS-101. Since the release of its first DiskStation, Synology Inc. has grown to about 450 employees worldwide. Both Liao and Wong are still with the company, with Liao serving as President of Synology America Corp. and Wong serving Chairman of Synology Inc.

Company milestones

Synology DiskStation Manager (DSM)

Synology’s primary product is the Synology DiskStation Manager (DSM), a Linux based software package that is the operating system for the DiskStation and RackStation products. The Synology DSM is the foundation of the DiskStation, which integrates the basic functions of file sharing, centralized backup, RAID storage, multimedia streaming, virtual storage, and using the DiskStation as a network video recorder. Synology also provides free mobile applications for its users, including support for iOS, Android, Windows Phone, and Kindle Fire. Synology offers frequent updates to its DSM, with major updates happening twice a year and minor updates throughout the year. As of January 2016, Synology has provided these updates free-of-charge, and they are available for DiskStations for as long as the hardware can support the newer functions of the DSM.

Synology DiskStation

The Synology DiskStation is the network attached storage (NAS) appliance which is produced to run the Synology DSM OS. The DiskStation is a pedestal/tower embedded NAS appliance, which ranges from one bay to as many as twelve bays within a single enclosure. Some models feature storage scalability, where physical units may be tethered together for additional storage, without the need for volume recreation or loss of availability.

Synology RackStation

The Synology RackStation is "rack mounted" version of the DiskStation, that features all of the same abilities of the DiskStation with the exception that it is meant to be enclosed in a 19-inch rack cage. Some of Synology's rack models feature redundant power supplies. As with its desktop-oriented brethren, select models of the RackStation also feature storage scalability.

Synology Router

The Synology Router Manager (SRM) got derived from the DiskStation Manager (DSM). The wifi router RT1900ac comes without a modem, but you can choose what ADSL or cable modem to connect on the WAN port, or you can choose from a variety of 3G/4G modems to connect to the USB port.

DSM Extensibility

Synology's software architecture allows for third-party add-on application integration. Hundreds of third-party applications are available in addition to Synology's own catalog. Command line access via SSH or Telnet is available. Access to development tools and APIs are also available on Synology's website. Third-party applications can be written in an interpreted programming language such as PHP or compiled to binary format. Public APIs allow custom applications to integrate into Synology's web-based user interface. Installers using the SPK format can install third-party applications directly on the DSM operating system.

Vulnerabilities

In 2014, a piece of ransomware emerged, dubbed "Synolocker", that targeted Synology devices.