Synology
Synology Inc. () is a Taiwanese corporation that specializes in network-attached storage (NAS) appliances. Synology's line of NAS is known as the DiskStation for desktop models, FlashStation for all-flash models, and RackStation for rack-mount models. Synology's products are distributed worldwide and localized in several languages. Synology's headquarters are located in Taipei, Taiwan, with subsidiaries located around the world. In 2018, product review website Wirecutter described Synology as a longtime "leader in the small-business and home NAS arena", albeit still a newcomer in the field of Wi-Fi routers. 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. The two began to write a new operating system called Filer OS based on Berkeley Software Distribution (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 then, Synology has grown to about 650 employees worldwide. Liao  and Wong are still with the company, with Liao serving as President of Synology America Corp. and Wong serving Chairman of Synology Inc. Product overview. 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 and Android. 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 FlashStation. The Synology FlashStation is an all-flash version of the DiskStation. Synology RackStation. Synology RackStation is a rack-mounted version of the DiskStation. It  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 Manager. The Synology Router Manager (SRM) was derived from the DiskStation Manager (DSM). The Wi-Fi router RT1900ac comes without a modem, but users can connect an ADSL or cable modem on the WAN port, or a variety of 3G/4G modems on the USB port. The RT2600ac  supports up to 2.53Gbps while running a 1.7 GHz dual core CPU. It uses MU-MIMO and beamforming with a hardware acceleration engine. Synology C2. Synology C2 is a cloud for safe data that boosts efficiency with secure and reliable cloud solutions for storage, password management, file sharing, and backup. 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.