Synology DiskStation DS215+ 2-Bay NAS Review

Setup – There is more, Add-Ons & External Devices

There is so much more in Synology’s DiskStation Manager and it is simply too much to cover it all. The review would never end, but there are still a few things that I want to show you.

In case you should be missing features in the control panel, hit the Advanced Mode link at the top left and it will display the icons you couldn’t find before. See above and below for comparison.

One of the really useful features is the previously mentioned QuickConnect. It allows you to connect to your NAS with an easy URL no matter where you are.

DSM 5.2 also supports a long list of dynamic DNS services and can keep them updated with your external IP address. You can also configure port forwarding for your router directly from the NAS OS if the router has UPnP turned on.

Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are both supported with compatible USB sticks. This isn’t thought as much as a way of connecting your system to the network but rather to use as ad-hoc and connect wireless devices directly to the NAS. This could be useful in areas without normal wireless access.

Security is another important aspect of a NAS and Synology has it all covered from basic security features over to a firewall, autoblock features, and certificate usage.

The Info Center gives you a quick look at your systems status, from hardware info over uptime to storage usage and running services. No matter what you’re looking for, it’s found quickly.

The login page style can be customized and you can also pick the language for the DSM among a very long list of possibilities.

Media indexing and conversion is another cool feature and worth looking into if you’re going to use the NAS for movies, tv shows, and other media.

There are so many more things you can set up and customize in the operating system. It’s awesome.

External Devices

External storage devices are a great way to transfer files, create backups, and so much more and therefore it’s great that the Synology DS215+ supports both eSATA and USB 3.0 drives.

SMART information and tests are also available for the drives that support it and you can also format them here if you want that.

You can set default permissions for the external drives too, so you don’t need to do it every time you plug in a drive. EXT4 Write Cache is also supported, but should be used with care as it can lead to data-loss in the event of premature disconnection or power failure.

Add-Ons

There are a lot of add-ons in the Package Center. The most important ones are highlighted in the recommended section and they should cover most needs.

If you still are short of a function or two, then there is a very good chance that you’ll find it among all the other add-ons. There is also the possibility to install 3rd party add-on’s manual that you found somewhere else.