Synology Releases DX517 5-Bay Expansion Unit

Synology didn’t just launch two new NAS devices today, they also launched a new expansion enclosure called the DX517. The Synology DX517 provides an easy way to scale up to 5 additional hard drives on-the-fly to your already existing setup without usage interruption or it can be used as a backup target.

With the new DX517 expansion unit, users can expand the RAID volume on their Synology host on-the-fly, without having to reformat existing hard drives. That ensures a seamless capacity expansion without service downtime and headaches. The Synology DX517 can also be used as a dedicated local backup destination for Synology DiskStation. When created as a separate volume, DX517 provides a great backup solution to its local hard disks in case of system failure.

The new expansion enclosure has its own built-in power supply, removing the need for power bricks on the floor. It connects through a single eSATA connection, but it has some Synology customisation. The custom cable and connectors allow Synology DiskStation units to discover and configure the units automatical.

The expansion units are green too, in the sense of energy consumption. they can be sent into a Deep Sleep when they aren’t being used which saves on the electricity bill as well as increasing the installed drive’s lifetime.

Two 80mm fans keep the unit cool under any condition and the Synology DX517 is backed by a 3-year warranty. The warranty can optionally be extended to 5 years in most regions.

Feature Highlights

• Online volume expansion
• Dedicated local backup solution
• Hot-swappable drive tray design
• Synchronised system operation with DiskStation

The new Synology DX517 comes with an MSRP of £436.80 inc VAT or €428 before taxes.