Synology Disk Station Manager 2.1 Firmware Officially Launched

Synology, Inc. announced the official release of Disk Station Manager 2.1, ending its successful beta program started in January 2009 that attracted over 8,000 valid applicants. The Disk Station Manager 2.1 further utilizes AJAX technology, adds new mail server capability with 1-click installation Mail Station add-on, enhances Synology Surveillance Station, storage management, user management, and privilege management, and adds support for 4 new languages. The Disk Station Manager 2.1 is packed with all newly shipped Synology Disk Station, and free upgrades will be available on Synology’s official website for most models.

The newly introduced Mail Station brings long awaited mail server capability to Synology Disk Station. Installation is a snap; it only takes 1 click to install. "The Mail Station is a viable alternative to offer significant cost savings to users," said Edward Lin, marketing director of Synology, Inc. "It offers an elegant web mail, SMTP, POP3, and IMAP."

The Surveillance Station 2 newly supports 69 new IP camera models, bringing the total supported models to 139. Audio streaming, auto-discovery feature that simplifies IP camera setup, and the redesigned management interface done with AJAX technology, all prove the Synology Surveillance Station 2 to be a great alternative to conventional NVR solutions.

File Station 2 further simplifies web-based file operations by introducing drag-n-drop, right-click actions, sub-folder privilege settings, and multiple file upload and download. "It’s a challenge to adopt the techniques to allow multiple-file operations on the web browser," said Allen Kao, RD manager of Synology. "We are proud to get it done."

RAID management now supports two new volume types: RAID 5+Spare and JBOD. Advanced RAID operations now allow changing a Basic volume to RAID 5 by adding two hard drives, or RAID 1 to RAID 5 by adding one hard drive.

Enhancement wise, the newly introduced Desktop only lists authorized applications after login; a Quick Search Box after login allows faster access to a setup page with ‘search while you type’ capability; ‘User Home’ feature automatically creates a home folder and a personal website address for each user; thus greatly minimizes administrator’s effort to assign shared folders for each user; Audio Station now supports multiple non-admin users to stream music on the server with a web browser; Local Backup and Network Backup are integrated into a wizard, with MySQL database backup added.

To summarize the key enhancements of the DSM 2.1 firmware, here are some details to consider:

Mail Server: The stand-alone Mail Station add-on provides one-step installation for your Synology Disk Station to become a mail server that supports Outlook-style web mail, SMTP, POP3 and IMAP.
New DSM 2.1 Interface: The new Synology Disk Station Manager 2.1 introduces a Windows-style login desktop. Only authorized applications are displayed after login. The Quick Search Box allows ‘search while you type’ for faster access to a setup page.
Enhanced RAID Management: RAID 5+Spare and JBOD volume types are newly supported, along with RAID migration from ‘Basic to RAID 5’ and ‘RAID 1 to RAID 5’.
Synology DX5/RX4 Support: With Synology DX5/RX4 attached, Disk Station users can easily expand storage capacity to up to 10 hard drives on the fly, or use the DX5/RX4 as a data backup target, all managed from the Disk Station Manager 2.1 interface (available on certain models only).
2.5" HDD Support: With the help of Synology 2.5" Disk Holder, Disk Station can be equipped with 2.5" hard drives and operates without its fan spinning under normal circumstances, thus provides quietness, power-saving, and reliability (available on certain models only).
AJAX-based File Station 2: The File Station 2 has a brand new interface that utilizes AJAX technology and brings you the familiar Windows experience with drag-n-drop and right-click actions. The File Station 2 further introduces multiple files upload and download, and remote un-archiving features.
AJAX-based Surveillance Station 2: The Surveillance Station 2 newly supports 69 IP cameras of renowned brands, including AXIS, ACTi, Vivotek, TRENDnet, and SparkLAN. Audio streaming is supported in live view, recording, and playback (MPEG4 only). The auto-discovery feature helps you search the IP cameras within LAN to simplify IP camera setup.
Sub-folder Privileges Setting: With elegant Linux-style privileges, authorized users are free to modify the privileges of folders, sub-folders, and files on the File Station 2. It’s no longer limited to the shared folder level.
Enhanced User Management: The ‘User Home’ feature automatically creates a home folder and a personal website address for each user; this greatly minimizes administrator’s effort to assign shared folders for each user. The application privilege setting allows the administrator to flexibly determine applications (FTP services, File Station, Audio Station, Download Station and Surveillance Station) each user can access. In addition, the administrator is now able to set up shared folder privileges for each user.
Enhanced Audio Station: The Audio Station now allows non-admin users to listen to music in both web streaming mode and USB mode.
Enhanced Photo Station 3: The search function helps visitors find the photo/album more easily. Furthermore, other than photo files, now you can choose to back up photo database via Local or Network Backup, including photo’s extended information, titles, descriptions, and comments from visitors.
Enhanced Backup: The new backup wizard integrates Network Backup and Local Backup to simplify backup process. MySQL database backup is also supported now.
Enhanced eMule Download: The eMule download engine is upgraded to support files larger than 4GB.
Case-Sensitive File System: The Case-sensitive file system is automatically supported after firmware upgrade to provide better Linux and Mac compatibility.
Network UPS: Users who own multiple Synology Disk Stations on the LAN can now use a single UPS to provide service at the same time with the Network UPS feature.
Dual-Printer Supported: Synology Disk Station now supports up to 2 USB printers at the same time.
Linux Version Assistant: A Linux version Synology Assistant is now available to help you easily search Synology Disk Station within the LAN environment.
4 New Languages Supported: Portuguese (Brazil), Portuguese (European), Turkish, and Hungarian management interfaces are now supported. It also takes effect on Synology Assistant, Synology Data Replicator 3, and Synology Download Redirector.

Together with Disk Station Manager 2.1 firmware, the Mail Station package is officially released at the same time, and the SqueezeCenter package is updated to version 7.3.2. Both packages are available on Synology website.

Availability
Synology Disk Station Manager 2.1 firmware upgrade applies for the following models: DS209+, RS408, RS408-RP, DS508, DS408, DS108j, RS407, CS407, CS407e, DS207+, DS207, DS107+, DS107, DS107e, and DS-106j. The Disk Station Manager 2.1 is packed with all newly shipped Synology Disk Station, and free upgrades are available for supported models.