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I bought a SynologyNAS and I have regretted already 3-4 times. Apart from the software made available from the community, there is very little one can do with t

by atmosx 8mo ago

I bought a SynologyNAS and I have regretted already 3-4 times. Apart from the software made available from the community, there is very little one can do with this thing. Using LE to apply SSL to services? Complicated. Non standard paths, custom distro, everything hidden (you can’t figure out where to place the ssl cert of how to restart the service, etc). Of course you will figure it out if you spent 50 hours… but why? Don’t get me started with the old rsync version, lack of midnight commander and/or other utils. I should have gone with something that runs proper Linux or BSD.

tetris11 8mo ago
(Copied from an earlier comment of mine) There are guides on how to mainline Synology NAS's to run up-to-date debian on them: https://forum.doozan.com/list.php https://forum.doozan.com/list.php
PunchyHamster 8mo ago
You wanted a server and complain NAS is not just a server.
- Gud 8mo ago
  More like, user wanted an open operating system but chose a proprietary one.
- atmosx 8mo ago
  NAS is the primary function. But yes, I want full linux server that I can decide what to install and which protocol to use to upload and/or download files.
  - criddell 8mo ago
    Why not just leave the NAS to be a NAS and get a separate server? You're probably better off not trying to overload the NAS to be everything.
    - ssl-3 8mo ago
      Can you provide some details about this overloading concept?
    - Hikikomori 8mo ago
      Why do I want two things when I can have one? Newer nases with n100 or similar are pretty powerful for the cost/package.
  - lurking_swe 8mo ago
    is there a reason you didn’t consider one of the uGreen NAS’s?
reddalo 8mo ago
I'm so happy I didn't buy a NAS, Synology or not. I think a proper computer running Linux gives me so much more flexibility.
- butvacuum 8mo ago
  that's still a NAS.
paffdragon 8mo ago
You can run a container on Synology and install your custom services, tools there. At least that is what I do. For custom kernel modules you still need a Synology package for something like Wireguard. If you have OPNSense, it has an ACME plugin with Synology action. I use that to automatically renew and push a cert to the NAS. That said, since I like to tinker, Synology feels a bit restricted, indeed. Although there is some value in a stable core system (like these immutable distros from Fedora Atomic).
- Arrowmaster 8mo ago
  The extremely old kernel on Synology makes it hard or impossible to run some containers.
  - paffdragon 8mo ago
    I have a fairly recent DS920+ and never had issues with containers - I have probably 10+ containers on it - grafana, victoriametrics/logs, jellyfin, immich with ML, my custom ubuntu toolboxes for net, media, ffmpeg builds, gluetun for vpn, homeassistant, wallabag,... Edit: I just checked Grafana and cadvisor reports 23 containers. Edit2: 4.4.302+ (2022) is my kernel version, there might be specific tools that require more recent kernels, of course, but I was so far lucky enough to not run into those.
    - Arrowmaster 8mo ago
      While gluetun works great, there are other implementations of wireguard that fail without the kernel modules. I've also ran into issues from containers wanting the kernel modules for iptables-nft but Synology only has legacy iptables.
      - paffdragon 8mo ago
        I belive even for gluetun I had to add the WG kernel module. I think I used this to compile it for myself https://github.com/runfalk/synology-wireguard https://github.com/runfalk/synology-wireguard I know there are userspace implementations, but can't remember the specifics rn and don't have my notes with me. > kernel modules for iptables-nft I think you meant nftables. The iptables-nft package is meant to provide iptables interface for nftables for code that still expects that, afaik. I didn't run into that issue yet (knock-knock). According to docs nftables is available since kernel 3.13, so in theory it might be possible to build the modules for Synology. However, I don't think I will be buying another Synology in the future, mainly because of other issues like they restricting what RAM I can use or what I want to use the M2 slots for, or their recent experiment with trying to push their own drives only, etc. I might give TrueNAS a try if I am not bored enough to just build one on top of a general purpose OS...
tgpc 8mo ago
please don't do this to your synology leave it to serve files and iscsi. it's very good at it if you leave it alone, no extra software, it will basically be completely stable. it's really impressive
- aetherspawn 8mo ago
  Second this, just use it for files, it’s great for it. 10+ years uptime if you leave it alone.
joshstrange 8mo ago
Unless you know what you are walking into ahead of time I would not recommend Synology to someone who wants to host a bunch of stuff and also wants a NAS. I don’t touch any of the container/apps stuff on my Synology(s), they are simply file servers for my application server. For this purpose, I find Synology rock solid and I’ve been very happy with them. That said, I’ll probably try out the UniFi NAS offerings in the near future. I believe Synology has semi-walked-back its draconian hard drive policy but I don’t trust them to not try that again later. And because I only use my Synology as a NAS I can switch to something else relatively easily, as long as I can mount it on my app server, I’m golden.
alexalx666 8mo ago
I bought Synology RS217 for $100 last year and it's the best tech purchase I made in years. The software it comes with is the best web interface I experienced in years. The simplicity, stability and attention to detail reminds me of old macs. I have macmini as application server and did not expect to use Synology for anything but file storage / replication. However it comes with a great torrent client that I use all the time now. We also use Synology Office instead of google docs now. It exceeded all my expectations and when it dies, I will immediately buy one of the new rack stations they offer.
tbyehl 8mo ago
> Using LE to apply SSL to services? Complicated. https://github.com/JessThrysoee/synology-letsencrypt https://github.com/JessThrysoee/synology-letsencrypt > there is very little one can do with this thing. It has a VMM and Docker. Entware / opkg exist for it. There's very little that can't be done, but expecting to use an appliance that happens to be Linux-based as a generic Linux server is going to lead to challenges. Be it Synology, TrueNAS, or anything else.

by atmosx 8mo ago

tetris11 8mo ago

(Copied from an earlier comment of mine) There are guides on how to mainline Synology NAS's to run up-to-date debian on them: https://forum.doozan.com/list.php https://forum.doozan.com/list.php

PunchyHamster 8mo ago

You wanted a server and complain NAS is not just a server.

Gud 8mo ago
More like, user wanted an open operating system but chose a proprietary one.
atmosx 8mo ago
NAS is the primary function. But yes, I want full linux server that I can decide what to install and which protocol to use to upload and/or download files.
- criddell 8mo ago
  Why not just leave the NAS to be a NAS and get a separate server? You're probably better off not trying to overload the NAS to be everything.
  - ssl-3 8mo ago
    Can you provide some details about this overloading concept?
  - Hikikomori 8mo ago
    Why do I want two things when I can have one? Newer nases with n100 or similar are pretty powerful for the cost/package.
- lurking_swe 8mo ago
  is there a reason you didn’t consider one of the uGreen NAS’s?

reddalo 8mo ago

I'm so happy I didn't buy a NAS, Synology or not. I think a proper computer running Linux gives me so much more flexibility.

butvacuum 8mo ago
that's still a NAS.

paffdragon 8mo ago

You can run a container on Synology and install your custom services, tools there. At least that is what I do. For custom kernel modules you still need a Synology package for something like Wireguard. If you have OPNSense, it has an ACME plugin with Synology action. I use that to automatically renew and push a cert to the NAS. That said, since I like to tinker, Synology feels a bit restricted, indeed. Although there is some value in a stable core system (like these immutable distros from Fedora Atomic).

Arrowmaster 8mo ago
The extremely old kernel on Synology makes it hard or impossible to run some containers.
- paffdragon 8mo ago
  I have a fairly recent DS920+ and never had issues with containers - I have probably 10+ containers on it - grafana, victoriametrics/logs, jellyfin, immich with ML, my custom ubuntu toolboxes for net, media, ffmpeg builds, gluetun for vpn, homeassistant, wallabag,... Edit: I just checked Grafana and cadvisor reports 23 containers. Edit2: 4.4.302+ (2022) is my kernel version, there might be specific tools that require more recent kernels, of course, but I was so far lucky enough to not run into those.
  - Arrowmaster 8mo ago
    While gluetun works great, there are other implementations of wireguard that fail without the kernel modules. I've also ran into issues from containers wanting the kernel modules for iptables-nft but Synology only has legacy iptables.
    - paffdragon 8mo ago
      I belive even for gluetun I had to add the WG kernel module. I think I used this to compile it for myself https://github.com/runfalk/synology-wireguard https://github.com/runfalk/synology-wireguard I know there are userspace implementations, but can't remember the specifics rn and don't have my notes with me. > kernel modules for iptables-nft I think you meant nftables. The iptables-nft package is meant to provide iptables interface for nftables for code that still expects that, afaik. I didn't run into that issue yet (knock-knock). According to docs nftables is available since kernel 3.13, so in theory it might be possible to build the modules for Synology. However, I don't think I will be buying another Synology in the future, mainly because of other issues like they restricting what RAM I can use or what I want to use the M2 slots for, or their recent experiment with trying to push their own drives only, etc. I might give TrueNAS a try if I am not bored enough to just build one on top of a general purpose OS...

tgpc 8mo ago

please don't do this to your synology leave it to serve files and iscsi. it's very good at it if you leave it alone, no extra software, it will basically be completely stable. it's really impressive

aetherspawn 8mo ago
Second this, just use it for files, it’s great for it. 10+ years uptime if you leave it alone.

joshstrange 8mo ago

Unless you know what you are walking into ahead of time I would not recommend Synology to someone who wants to host a bunch of stuff and also wants a NAS. I don’t touch any of the container/apps stuff on my Synology(s), they are simply file servers for my application server. For this purpose, I find Synology rock solid and I’ve been very happy with them. That said, I’ll probably try out the UniFi NAS offerings in the near future. I believe Synology has semi-walked-back its draconian hard drive policy but I don’t trust them to not try that again later. And because I only use my Synology as a NAS I can switch to something else relatively easily, as long as I can mount it on my app server, I’m golden.

alexalx666 8mo ago

I bought Synology RS217 for $100 last year and it's the best tech purchase I made in years. The software it comes with is the best web interface I experienced in years. The simplicity, stability and attention to detail reminds me of old macs. I have macmini as application server and did not expect to use Synology for anything but file storage / replication. However it comes with a great torrent client that I use all the time now. We also use Synology Office instead of google docs now. It exceeded all my expectations and when it dies, I will immediately buy one of the new rack stations they offer.

tbyehl 8mo ago

> Using LE to apply SSL to services? Complicated. https://github.com/JessThrysoee/synology-letsencrypt https://github.com/JessThrysoee/synology-letsencrypt > there is very little one can do with this thing. It has a VMM and Docker. Entware / opkg exist for it. There's very little that can't be done, but expecting to use an appliance that happens to be Linux-based as a generic Linux server is going to lead to challenges. Be it Synology, TrueNAS, or anything else.